Barony

The Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination delivers exceptional performance in Barony, ranking in the 82nd percentile of all tested configurations. The data confirms this pairing is overwhelmingly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while the CPU proves more than sufficient even at 1080p, where frame rates exceed 470 FPS on Low settings. Benchmarks show a system capable of maxing out the game at 4K with an average of 79 FPS, yet the scaling patterns suggest users can prioritize visual fidelity without sacrificing playability.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i5-10400F provides a 6-core, 12-thread configuration based on the Comet Lake architecture. Its base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz are modest by modern standards, but the benchmark data indicates that this is not a bottleneck in Barony. The CPU's percentile rank of 68 places it above most processors, with an average benchmark score of 14185. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6756E (deltaPct 0.2) and AMD EPYC 7552 (deltaPct 0.5), showing the i5-10400F performs nearly identically to enterprise-class parts in synthetic tests.

The roguelike genre typically relies on single-thread performance for game logic, and the i5-10400F delivers a solid 3dmark_single_thread score of 688 and a Cinebench R23 single-core result of 1451. These scores are adequate to drive Barony's simulation without issue. The 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth further ensure the CPU can feed the RTX 4070 SUPER at high frame rates. The evidence for CPU adequacy is clear: at 1080p Low, the system achieves 474 FPS, which is far beyond any display refresh rate and indicates the graphics card is the limiting factor even at this resolution.

The 3dmark multi-thread scores tell a similar story. With a 16-thread score of 4748 and a max-thread score of 4735, the CPU scales well across its 12 threads. PassMark multithread performance of 12115 and integer math at 41471 show strong throughput for a mid-range desktop chip. The Cinebench R20 multicore score of 4318 and R23 multicore score of 10283 confirm that the i5-10400F can handle any background tasks while gaming. For a game like Barony, which likely does not require massive thread counts, the 6-core/12-thread design is more than sufficient.

The CPU's 65 W TDP and Intel Socket 1200 compatibility make it a sensible pairing for the RTX 4070 SUPER. The data shows that as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, the FPS drop is more pronounced, which is the expected behavior when the GPU becomes the primary constraint. Specifically, the High preset drops from 333 FPS at 1080p to 210 FPS at 1440p and 110 FPS at 4K, a loss of 223 FPS between 1080p and 4K. This pattern indicates the CPU maintains its performance headroom across all tested settings.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the dominant component in this pairing, with a percentile rank of 83 among all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 43223. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB (deltaPct -0.1) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile (deltaPct -1), showing the desktop RTX 4070 SUPER is only marginally behind a mobile flagship. The GPU's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus provides 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth, which is ample for Barony's texture demands at 4K.

Clock speeds are high, with a base of 1980 MHz and boost up to 2475 MHz. The Ada Lovelace architecture, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, delivers 35.48 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The 7168 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 80 ROPs provide the raw throughput needed for the frame rates observed. The GPU's 220 W TDP and 1x 16-pin power connector are typical for this class, and the PCIe 4.0 x16 interface ensures no bandwidth bottleneck.

The GPU's benchmark results are consistent with its strong in-game performance. The PassMark G3D score of 29995 and Geekbench OpenCL score of 172795 indicate high compute capability. The 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4627 is competitive. The GPU's 56 RT cores and 224 tensor cores are present but unused in this roguelike, which likely does not employ ray tracing or DLSS. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 79, but it still maintains playable frame rates.

The VRAM capacity of 12 GB is not a constraint in Barony, as even at 4K Ultra, the game runs at 79 FPS. The measured FPS data across all settings and resolutions shows no signs of VRAM-related stuttering or reduced performance. The GPU's memory clock of 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective) and 198.0 GPixel/s pixel rate are sufficient to handle the game's rendering demands. The GPU's production status is end-of-life, but its performance in this title remains strong.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance across all resolutions. At 1080p, Medium delivers 388 FPS with a minimum of 330 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in the most demanding scenes. The minimum FPS of 330 is higher than the average FPS of the High preset at 1080p (333 FPS), making Medium a safer choice for consistent frame times. At 1440p, Medium produces 245 FPS with a minimum of 208 FPS, which is still far above any display's refresh rate.

The Ultra preset is the only setting that dips below 100 FPS, achieving 79 FPS at 4K. While this is playable, the jump from High to Ultra at 4K results in a 31 FPS drop (from 110 to 79), which is a 28% reduction. The data suggests that the visual difference between High and Ultra may not justify this performance hit, especially since High at 4K still delivers 110 FPS. For users with 144Hz or 165Hz displays, High at 1440p (210 FPS) or 4K (110 FPS) is the recommended choice.

The Low preset provides the highest frame rates, with 474 FPS at 1080p and 172 FPS at 4K, but it likely sacrifices significant visual fidelity. The Medium preset's minimum FPS values (330 at 1080p, 208 at 1440p, and 109 at 4K) are all above 100 FPS, making it the most reliable option for maintaining high refresh rates without worrying about frame drops. The data shows a clear hierarchy: Low > Medium > High > Ultra in terms of FPS, but Medium offers the best compromise between quality and performance.

For competitive play, where frame rate is paramount, Medium at 1440p or 4K is ideal, as it maintains minimum FPS above 200 and 100 respectively. For casual play, High at 4K provides a 110 FPS average, which is smooth on most displays. The Ultra preset is only recommended for users who prioritize maximum visual quality over frame rate, as the 79 FPS average at 4K is still playable but not optimal for fast-paced action.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this CPU and GPU combination in Barony?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 474, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This indicates the system is heavily GPU-bound, with the CPU capable of supporting frame rates well beyond typical display refresh rates.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 SUPER compare to its nearest rival in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 43223, which is 0.1% lower than the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB (43262) and 1% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile (43667). The deltaPct values show the desktop card is nearly identical to the Quadro in performance.

Q: At which resolution does the system maintain a minimum FPS above 200?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the system achieves a minimum FPS of 208 and an average of 245. This is the only resolution and setting combination where the minimum FPS exceeds 200, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 172 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 79 FPS. This represents a 93 FPS difference, showing that Ultra settings impose a significant performance penalty on the GPU at 4K.

Q: How does the CPU's single-thread performance compare to its multi-thread performance in the context of Barony?

A: The CPU's 3dmark_single_thread score is 688, while its max_threads score is 4735. This indicates strong multi-threading capability, but for Barony, the single-thread performance is more relevant. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1451 shows adequate performance for game logic.

Q: Is the 12 GB VRAM sufficient for 4K gaming in Barony?

A: Yes, the data shows that at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the system averages 79 FPS. This indicates the 12 GB GDDR6X memory is not a limiting factor, as the game runs smoothly without any indication of VRAM-related issues.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS scaling across resolutions clearly identifies the GPU as the primary bottleneck in this system. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 474 at 1080p to 329 at 1440p and 172 at 4K. This represents a 31% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 48% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering workload increases quadratically with resolution.

For the High preset, the frame rates are 333 FPS at 1080p, 210 FPS at 1440p, and 110 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 123 FPS (37%), and from 1440p to 4K is 100 FPS (48%). This pattern is similar to Low settings, confirming that the GPU is the limiting factor at all quality levels. The Ultra preset shows the steepest scaling, with 239 FPS at 1080p, 151 FPS at 1440p, and 79 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 37% and 48%, respectively, which is nearly identical to the other presets.

The consistent scaling pattern across all settings indicates that the CPU is not a significant constraint. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively flat across resolutions, especially at lower settings where the GPU workload is lighter. Instead, the FPS drops proportionally with the pixel count, which is the classic signature of a GPU-limited system. The 4K to 1080p ratio for High settings is 110/333 = 0.33, meaning 4K achieves only 33% of the 1080p frame rate, which is close to the theoretical 25% pixel count difference.

This data suggests that users with high-refresh-rate 1080p monitors will see the most benefit from this GPU, while those with 4K displays should stick to High or Medium settings to maintain playable frame rates. The CPU's performance headroom is evident at 1080p Low, where the 474 FPS average far exceeds what any current display can show, further confirming that the i5-10400F is not holding back the RTX 4070 SUPER.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 474 FPS, which is the fastest recorded in the entire dataset. Medium settings produce 388 FPS with a minimum of 330 FPS and a maximum of 446 FPS. The High preset averages 333 FPS, while Ultra drops to 239 FPS. All 1080p configurations provide frame rates well above any display's refresh rate, making this resolution ideal for maximum performance.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show the GPU's increasing workload. Low settings average 329 FPS, Medium produces 245 FPS with a minimum of 208 FPS and a maximum of 282 FPS. The High preset averages 210 FPS, and Ultra delivers 151 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum FPS of 208 is a key metric, as it ensures consistent performance above 200 FPS for the majority of gameplay. The 1440p results are strong, with every preset except Ultra maintaining an average above 200 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly stressed. Low settings average 172 FPS, Medium delivers 128 FPS with a minimum of 109 FPS and a maximum of 147 FPS. High settings average 110 FPS, and Ultra drops to 79 FPS. The Medium preset is notable for having the only recorded minimum FPS (109) at 4K, which is still playable. The Ultra preset's 79 FPS average is the lowest in the dataset but remains above the typical 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay.

The measured data shows a clear progression: each resolution step halves the pixel count, and the FPS scales accordingly. The 1080p to 1440p transition results in a 31-37% FPS drop, while the 1440p to 4K transition results in a 48% drop. The Medium preset consistently provides the most balanced experience, with minimum FPS values of 330, 208, and 109 across the three resolutions. These minimums are all above 100 FPS, making Medium the safest choice for users who prioritize consistent frame pacing over maximum visual fidelity.