Barony

The Intel Core i5-10400F pairs with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT to deliver remarkably high frame rates in Barony, a 2015 roguelike that clearly does not stress modern hardware. The CPU is a 6-core, 12-thread Comet Lake part with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its benchmark profile suggests solid, if not class-leading, throughput; it scores 10297 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 1453 in single-core, with a Passmark multithread score of 12115. The CPU’s 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are adequate for a game of this era. The data shows that the processor sits at the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7552 and the Intel Core i5-8500, with average score deltas of just 0.4% and -1.1% respectively. This places the i5-10400F in a tightly contested mid-range tier.

The CPU’s thread scaling is worth noting. Its 3DMark scores progress from 688 single-thread to 1350 for 2 threads, 2560 for 4 threads, 3929 for 8 threads, and 4748 for 16 threads. The jump from 8 to 16 threads is modest, indicating that the 12-thread design extracts most of its performance from the first eight threads. In Barony, which is a roguelike with turn-based or action-RPG mechanics, the workload is unlikely to leverage all 12 threads efficiently. The measured FPS at 1080p Low reaches 470.6, which is so high that it suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions. The Passmark physics score of 696 and data encryption score of 4100 hint at moderate compute capability, but these metrics are not directly tied to game rendering. Instead, the CPU’s role here appears to be providing sufficient single-thread performance and memory bandwidth to keep the RX 7900 XT fed, which it does with headroom to spare.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-10400F and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT ranks 401st out of 1702 tested combos in Barony. That places it in the top 23.5% of all configurations, which is a strong showing given the game’s age and the fact that many newer titles would bottleneck this CPU. The data indicates that the combo is not near the top of the chart, despite the GPU being a high-end part. This suggests that the i5-10400F, while capable, does hold back the RX 7900 XT in some scenarios. However, the rank is still respectable because Barony is not a demanding title; the average FPS numbers are high across all settings.

The gap between this combo and the absolute best is likely due to CPU-bound scenarios at lower resolutions. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile (deltaPct 0.0%) and the NVIDIA CMP 70HX (deltaPct 0.3%), have similar average benchmark scores, but the CPU’s rivals are all within a 1.2% delta. This means the combo’s rank is more influenced by the CPU than the GPU. For a game like Barony, the 401st rank out of 1702 is a comfortable position, but it does not reflect the GPU’s full potential. The data suggests that pairing this GPU with a stronger CPU would yield a higher rank, but the current configuration still delivers excellent playable frame rates. The percentile of the GPU itself is 82nd, indicating it is a high-tier part, while the CPU is at the 73rd percentile, creating a slight imbalance.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals where the bottleneck shifts. At 1080p High, the combo achieves 321.8 FPS, but at 1440p High it drops to 206.6 FPS, and at 4K High it falls to 105.7 FPS. This is a classic pattern: as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the limiting component. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 35.8%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 48.8%. At 1080p Low, the FPS is 470.6, which is extremely high and indicates the CPU is barely working. At 4K Low, the FPS is 170, showing that even with low settings, the GPU is still the primary constraint.

The data implies that at 1080p, the CPU is not the bottleneck at all; the frame rates are so high that the GPU is likely idling or waiting for draw calls. At 4K Ultra, the FPS drops to 73.4, which is still playable but shows a significant load on the GPU. The scaling from Medium to Ultra at 4K is steep: 125 FPS at Medium down to 73.4 FPS at Ultra, a 41.3% reduction. This suggests that Ultra settings impose a heavy pixel and shading load that the RX 7900 XT handles with some difficulty. The limiting component at 4K is clearly the GPU, as the CPU’s 12 threads are more than enough for the game’s logic. The resolution scaling demonstrates that this combo is versatile, but users targeting 4K should expect to lower settings to maintain high refresh rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured results are exceptionally high. Low settings produce 470.6 FPS, Medium yields 376.7 FPS, High gives 321.8 FPS, and Ultra drops to 233.4 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 50.4%, which is substantial but leaves the game well above any refresh rate threshold. At 2560x1440, the numbers remain strong: Low achieves 317.5 FPS, Medium 239.6 FPS, High 206.6 FPS, and Ultra 147.2 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 30-35% across settings, which is expected for a GPU with a 320-bit memory bus and 800.0 GB/s bandwidth.

At 3840x2160, the performance is still playable but shows the GPU’s limits. Low settings deliver 170 FPS, Medium 125 FPS, High 105.7 FPS, and Ultra 73.4 FPS. The Ultra setting at 4K is the only configuration that falls below 100 FPS, making it unsuitable for high-refresh-rate monitors. The data shows that the RX 7900 XT, with its 20 GB of GDDR6 memory and 5376 shading units, is well-equipped for 1440p gaming, but 4K Ultra pushes it to its limits. The minimum and maximum FPS are not recorded, but the averages are stable enough to suggest consistent performance. The measured FPS breakdown indicates that the ideal sweet spot for this combo is 1440p High or Ultra, where the frame rates exceed 147 FPS, providing a smooth experience.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is the dominant component in this combo, with a Navi 31 chip on a 5 nm process from TSMC. It has 5376 shading units, 336 texture mapping units, and 192 ROPs, along with 84 RT cores. The GPU’s boost clock is 2394 MHz, with a game clock of 2025 MHz, and it draws 300 W of power. The 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 320-bit bus provides 800.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is crucial for high-resolution textures. The GPU’s benchmark scores are impressive: it scores 29009 in Passmark G3D and 169834 in Geekbench OpenCL, placing it at the 82nd percentile of all GPUs.

In Barony, the GPU’s role is to render the game’s environments and effects, which are not graphically intensive. However, the data shows that at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 73.4 FPS, indicating that the GPU is still being taxed by the game’s settings. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile and the NVIDIA CMP 70HX, have nearly identical average scores, confirming that the RX 7900 XT is a top-tier part. The FP32 performance of 51.48 TFLOPS is more than sufficient for this game, but the data suggests that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and ROP count are the key factors at higher resolutions. The GPU’s 800.0 GB/s bandwidth ensures that texture streaming is not a bottleneck, but the 192 ROPs limit pixel fill rate at 4K Ultra. The GPU’s role is clearly to provide headroom for future titles, as Barony does not fully utilize its capabilities.

FAQ

*Q: Is the Intel Core i5-10400F a bottleneck for the RX 7900 XT in Barony?*

A: The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 470.6 FPS, which is so high that the CPU is not limiting performance. However, at 4K Ultra, the FPS drops to 73.4, indicating the GPU becomes the bottleneck. The CPU’s 12 threads and 4.30 GHz boost are sufficient for this game.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain high FPS?

A: The measured FPS shows that 1440p High yields 206.6 FPS and 1440p Ultra yields 147.2 FPS, making it the ideal resolution for a balance of quality and speed. At 4K, even High settings only reach 105.7 FPS, which is lower but still playable.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: This combo ranks 401st out of 1702 tested combos in Barony. This places it in the top 23.5% of all configurations, which is strong for a game of this age, though the CPU does limit the GPU’s potential.

Q: How much FPS drops from 1080p to 4K?

A: At High settings, the FPS drops from 321.8 at 1080p to 206.6 at 1440p and 105.7 at 4K. This represents a 67.2% drop from 1080p to 4K, confirming the GPU is the primary constraint at higher resolutions.

*Q: Is the GPU overkill for Barony?*

A: The RX 7900 XT has 20 GB of memory and 51.48 TFLOPS, which is far more than needed for a 2015 roguelike. The data shows that even at 4K Ultra, the GPU is only pushed to 73.4 FPS, suggesting the game does not fully utilize its capabilities.

Q: What settings provide the best experience per the measured data?

A: For a high refresh rate monitor, 1440p High or Ultra is recommended, as both exceed 147 FPS. At 4K, Medium settings at 125 FPS offer a better experience than Ultra at 73.4 FPS, unless visual fidelity is prioritized.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the best experience for this combo depends on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1920x1080, all settings are playable, but Ultra at 233.4 FPS is the best choice for maximum visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. For 2560x1440, High (206.6 FPS) or Ultra (147.2 FPS) are ideal, as both exceed 144 Hz, making them suitable for high-refresh-rate displays. At 3840x2160, Medium (125 FPS) is the recommended setting, as it provides a smooth experience while maintaining a decent visual quality. Ultra at 4K (73.4 FPS) is playable but may feel less responsive on high-refresh-rate monitors.

The data suggests that the GPU has enough power to handle High settings at 1440p without issue, and the CPU will not bottleneck these frame rates. For users with a 60 Hz monitor, 4K Ultra at 73.4 FPS is acceptable, but for competitive play, 1440p Ultra or 1080p Ultra are better. The Low settings at 1080p (470.6 FPS) are excessive unless the user has a very high refresh rate monitor (480 Hz+). The sweet spot is clearly 1440p High, where the combo delivers 206.6 FPS, balancing image quality and performance. Medium settings at 4K (125 FPS) are also a solid choice, as they avoid the steep performance penalty of Ultra settings. Overall, the measured data indicates that users should prioritize 1440p for the best balance, with High or Ultra both being excellent options.