Barony

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER delivers a highly capable 1080p and 1440p experience in Barony, but 4K Ultra settings push the combination past its comfort zone. The data shows a clear hierarchy: this combo is built for high-refresh-rate play at mainstream resolutions, with 4K reserved for those willing to dial back settings.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings presets, revealing a system that transitions from CPU-bound at lower resolutions to firmly GPU-bound at 4K. At Low settings, the average frame rate collapses from 288.8 FPS at 1080p to 96.4 FPS at 4K, a reduction of 192.4 FPS. This massive delta indicates that at 1080p Low, the RTX 2060 SUPER is nowhere near its limits; the processor is the primary driver of performance.

The scaling pattern becomes more moderate as settings increase. At High settings, the drop from 181 FPS at 1080p to 117.8 FPS at 1440p, and then to 59.3 FPS at 4K, shows a classic GPU-load curve. The 4K High result of 59.3 FPS is just shy of the 60 FPS target, suggesting that the graphics card is the limiting component at this resolution. The Ultra preset amplifies this trend, with 4K Ultra producing 41.3 FPS, a figure that falls well below playable standards for many users.

The most telling data point is the gap between Low and Ultra at each resolution. At 1080p, the spread is 154.8 FPS (288.8 vs 134), while at 4K it shrinks to 55.1 FPS (96.4 vs 41.3). This compression of the settings range at higher resolutions is definitive proof that the GPU becomes the bottleneck as pixel count rises. The CPU has enough headroom to push far more frames at 1080p, but the RTX 2060 SUPER's raw throughput caps performance once 4K is engaged.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F brings a 6-core, 12-thread configuration with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. In Barony, a roguelike title that does not demand massive thread counts, this processor's single-thread performance is the key asset. The benchmark data supports this: the processor scores 2029 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 14372 in multi-core, with a Geekbench single-core score of 1979. These numbers indicate a strong per-core capability that prevents CPU-induced frame drops in the game's logic-heavy scenes.

The processor's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for this workload. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 288.8 FPS, which is well beyond what most displays can show, indicating the CPU is not a limiting factor at this resolution. The Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 6036 and single-core score of 852 further corroborate that the processor has ample headroom for a roguelike's typical CPU demands.

The i5-11400F sits in the 75th percentile among all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 17181. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, which scores 17189 (a delta of 0%), and the Intel Core i7-1260P, which scores 17212 (a delta of -0.2%). This means the processor is essentially performance-parity with these mobile-oriented chips, though the desktop i5 has the advantage of sustained power delivery. For Barony, the CPU's job is to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle game logic; the data shows it does so without breaking a sweat, even at high frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is the star of this show, and its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is more than adequate for Barony's texture and geometry demands. The GPU's base clock of 1470 MHz and boost clock of 1650 MHz, combined with 2176 shading units, deliver a solid foundation for the measured frame rates. The FP32 throughput of 7.181 TFLOPS is the raw compute figure that drives the 4K results.

The card's 63rd percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19774, places it in the mid-to-upper tier of graphics hardware. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN (score 19706, delta 0.3%), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (score 19680, delta 0.5%), and the NVIDIA Quadro K5200 (score 19623, delta 0.8%). The RTX 2060 SUPER is effectively tied with these cards in synthetic benchmarks, but in Barony, its real-world performance is what matters.

At 4K Ultra, the GPU produces 41.3 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. This is the clearest sign that the GPU is the limiting component at high resolutions and settings. The card's 8 GB VRAM is not the issue here; rather, it is the raw shading and texture processing power that falls short. At 1440p Ultra, the same combo delivers 81.6 FPS, indicating a sweet spot where the GPU's capabilities align well with the rendering load. The RTX 2060 SUPER's 64 ROPs and 136 TMUs are sufficient for the roguelike's visual style, but the 4K Ultra result shows that this card is best paired with 1080p or 1440p displays for maximum fluidity.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Barony?

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. The measured data shows 96.4 FPS at 4K Low and 69.5 FPS at 4K Medium. At 4K High, it drops to 59.3 FPS, and 4K Ultra falls to 41.3 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for high-refresh-rate monitors?

A: The data indicates 1080p is optimal for high refresh rates. The combo achieves 288.8 FPS at 1080p Low and 181 FPS at 1080p High, both well above 144 Hz. At 1440p, the High preset still delivers 117.8 FPS, which is suitable for 120 Hz displays.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: At 1080p Low, the CPU is likely the limiting factor since the GPU has headroom, as evidenced by the 288.8 FPS result. At 4K, the GPU is definitively the bottleneck, with the Ultra preset producing 41.3 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 19774, which is 0.3% ahead of the GTX TITAN, 0.5% ahead of the RTX 2070, and 0.8% ahead of the Quadro K5200. These are effectively performance ties.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average is 117.8 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings. This is a smooth experience for most displays and represents a good balance of visual quality and performance.

Q: Is the i5-11400F a strong performer for gaming?

A: Yes, its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2029 and multi-core score of 14372 indicate strong performance. It ranks in the 75th percentile of all CPUs, making it a capable gaming processor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured frame rate data for this combination is as follows:

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers 288.8 FPS on Low settings, 215.1 FPS on Medium, 181 FPS on High, and 134 FPS on Ultra. These results show that even at the highest 1080p preset, the system maintains frame rates well above 60 FPS, making this resolution the safest choice for competitive play.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's workload. Low settings yield 180.1 FPS, Medium produces 132.1 FPS, High drops to 117.8 FPS, and Ultra settles at 81.6 FPS. All of these figures are playable, with Ultra still exceeding 60 FPS by a comfortable margin.

At 3840x2160, the results are mixed. Low settings achieve 96.4 FPS, which is smooth, and Medium produces 69.5 FPS. High settings drop to 59.3 FPS, which is borderline for 60 Hz displays, and Ultra falls to 41.3 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for many users. The 4K data clearly shows that this combo is not designed for maximum settings at this resolution.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data suggests that the High preset at 1440p offers the best overall experience. At 117.8 FPS, it provides a fluid frame rate that exceeds standard 60 Hz displays and approaches 120 Hz territory. The jump from Medium to High at 1440p costs only 14.3 FPS (from 132.1 to 117.8), while the visual improvements are typically substantial. In contrast, the jump from High to Ultra at 1440p costs 36.2 FPS (from 117.8 to 81.6), which is a steep price for marginal visual gains.

For 1080p users, the Ultra preset at 134 FPS is the recommend choice. This provides the best visual quality while still maintaining frame rates that exceed 120 Hz, ensuring compatibility with high-refresh-rate monitors. The data shows that the step from High to Ultra at 1080p costs 47 FPS (from 181 to 134), but the resulting 134 FPS is still well above the 60 FPS minimum for a smooth experience.

For 4K displays, the Medium preset at 69.5 FPS is the best compromise between visual fidelity and performance. It offers a significant improvement over Low (96.4 FPS to 69.5 FPS is a 26.9 FPS drop) but remains comfortably above 60 FPS. The High preset at 59.3 FPS is borderline, and Ultra at 41.3 FPS is not recommended for sustained play. The data is clear: 4K users should stick to Medium or Low settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Barony, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER ranks 1235 out of 1702 total combos. This places it in the 73rd percentile of all tested configurations, indicating that it performs better than the majority of systems tested for this game. The rank of 1235 out of 1702 means there are 467 combinations that outperform it, but a significantly larger number (1234) that it outperforms.

This mid-tier ranking is consistent with the hardware's specifications. The CPU's 75th percentile ranking and the GPU's 63rd percentile ranking combine to produce a system that is solidly above average but not at the top tier. The data suggests that this combo is well-suited for Barony's roguelike gameplay, which does not demand extreme hardware. The measured frame rates at 1080p and 1440p are excellent, and even the 4K results are acceptable at lower settings.

The ranking position of 1235 out of 1702 should be interpreted as a confirmation of this combo's balanced nature. It is not a high-end enthusiast build, but it is far from a low-end setup. For the target audience of Barony players, this combination offers a reliable and smooth experience across the most common gaming resolutions. The data indicates that users seeking higher rankings would need to invest in more powerful hardware, but for this game's requirements, the i5-11400F and RTX 2060 SUPER provide a strong foundation.