Barony

Barony, a roguelike from 2015, proves to be remarkably forgiving on modern hardware. The pairing of the Intel Core i5-12400 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers frame rates that far exceed the demands of most titles, let alone a game with this age and genre. The data shows a system that is almost entirely GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but at 1080p, the CPU begins to show its influence on maximum frame rates. The measured results across the three primary resolutions and four quality presets paint a clear picture of a combo that offers headroom for virtually any display configuration.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 12th-generation Alder Lake desktop processor featuring 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It relies on 18 MB of shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, though the benchmark data does not specify which type was used. The CPU’s benchmark profile is strong for its class, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs tested. Its multi-threaded performance is highlighted by a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 15989 and a Geekbench multicore score of 8564, while single-thread performance is represented by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2257.

In the context of Barony, a game whose core mechanics are turn-based and procedural, the CPU’s 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient. The game’s logic, world generation, and enemy AI do not appear to be particularly taxing on modern architectures. The data suggests that at 1080p with Low settings, the CPU is capable of pushing the frame rate to 340 FPS, which is a 57% increase over the 217 FPS achieved at High settings. This indicates that at lower graphical loads, the CPU’s single-thread performance becomes a more significant factor, though it still does not become a bottleneck in the traditional sense, as the frame rates remain exceptionally high.

The CPU’s score in the Passmark multithread test is 18747, and its average benchmark score is 18683. This places it in close competition with the AMD EPYC 7643, which has a delta of -0.1%, and the Intel Core i7-1355U, which has a delta of -0.3%. The data implies that for a game like Barony, the Core i5-12400’s processing power is largely in excess of what is required. The bottleneck analysis, based on the FPS scaling, shows that the CPU is not the limiting component at 4K, where the GPU takes over, but it does set a ceiling for how high the frame rate can go at 1080p, even if that ceiling is around 340 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific configuration of the Intel Core i5-12400 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is ranked 2000 out of 3717 tested combos for Barony. This places it in the 46th percentile of all system pairings, which is a somewhat surprising result given the high absolute frame rates achieved. The ranking indicates that while this combo is capable of excellent performance, many other tested systems—likely those with more powerful CPUs or GPUs—can achieve even higher frame rates, particularly at lower resolutions where the CPU’s limits are more visible.

The combo’s rank is likely dragged down by the fact that Barony is not a demanding title. A system with a top-tier CPU and GPU could easily push frame rates into the 400-500 FPS range at 1080p, whereas this combo tops out at 340 FPS. The data suggests that the ranking is relative to the absolute performance ceiling of other combinations, not an indication that this system struggles to run the game. In fact, the measured FPS at every resolution and setting is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay, even on high-refresh-rate monitors.

The GPU itself is ranked in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17639. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (delta -0.2%) and the AMD Radeon 780M (delta 0.3%), which shows it is a solid mid-range performer. However, the combo’s overall rank of 2000 out of 3717 suggests that the pairing with the Core i5-12400 does not push it to the top tier of performance for this specific game. The bottleneck shifts to the CPU at lower resolutions, but the high FPS numbers ensure this is a non-issue for actual gameplay.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Barony at 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the data shows an average of 51 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. While this is the lowest frame rate of all tested configurations, it remains above the 30 FPS threshold for playability and is suitable for slower-paced roguelike gameplay.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve 144 FPS?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 137 FPS, which is close to the 144 FPS target. To consistently hit 144 FPS, dropping to 1920x1080 with High settings yields an average of 217 FPS, providing ample headroom.

Q: How does the performance scale from 1080p to 1440p?

A: On High settings, the average FPS drops from 217 at 1920x1080 to 137 at 2560x1440, a 37% reduction. This indicates that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as the resolution increases, but the frame rates remain very high.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the frame rate reaches 340 FPS. The GPU’s role is diminished at this setting, and the results suggest the CPU’s single-thread performance is what prevents the frame rate from going even higher, though it is far from a problematic bottleneck.

Q: What are the minimum FPS values for this combo?

A: The minimum FPS data is only provided for the Medium preset. At 1920x1080, the minimum is 215 FPS, at 2560x1440 it is 136 FPS, and at 3840x2160 it is 71 FPS. These minimums are all well above the standard 60 FPS target.

Q: How does this combo's rank compare to its overall performance?

A: The combo is ranked 2000 out of 3717 tested combos for Barony. Despite this mid-pack rank, the measured frame rates are exceptionally high, indicating that the rank is skewed by other systems with higher-end components that can achieve even more extreme FPS numbers.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the data reveals a wide range of performance depending on the preset. The Low preset yields an average of 340 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 253 FPS, with a minimum of 215 FPS and a maximum of 291 FPS. The High preset produces an average of 217 FPS, and the Ultra preset brings the average down to 156 FPS. The progression shows a clear drop as graphical fidelity increases, with the most significant single-step decrease occurring between Medium and High, where the average FPS falls by 36 FPS.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but scale down predictably. The Low preset averages 215 FPS, the Medium preset averages 160 FPS, with a minimum of 136 FPS and a maximum of 183 FPS. The High preset averages 137 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 98 FPS. The difference between the Low and Ultra presets at this resolution is 117 FPS, which is a substantial gap but still leaves the Ultra preset comfortably above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system’s performance is more moderate, though still strong for the game. The Low preset delivers an average of 112 FPS, the Medium preset averages 83 FPS, with a minimum of 71 FPS and a maximum of 96 FPS. The High preset averages 72 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to an average of 51 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K shows a 61 FPS difference, which is a more pronounced percentage drop than at lower resolutions, underscoring the GPU’s increased workload.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. Its boost clock is rated at 2460 MHz, and it has 3072 shading units. The GPU’s performance metrics, including a Passmark G3D score of 19545 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 95057, position it as a capable mid-range card, ranking in the 61st percentile of all GPUs.

In Barony, the GPU’s role becomes increasingly dominant as the resolution and settings increase. At 1080p Low, the frame rate of 340 FPS suggests the GPU is not fully utilized, as the CPU is likely the primary driver of that result. However, at 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 51, which is a 85% reduction from the 1080p Low result. This steep decline highlights the GPU’s memory bandwidth and shading capacity as the key constraints at higher resolutions. The 8 GB VRAM is not a limiting factor for this title, as the game’s textures and assets are not demanding enough to require more.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score include the AMD Radeon 780M (delta 0.3%) and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 (delta 0.5%), which shows it is a solid step above integrated graphics but not in the same league as high-end discrete cards. For Barony, the RTX 4060 provides more than enough raw power to ensure high frame rates at 1440p and even 4K, though the Ultra preset at 4K will require a tolerance for sub-60 FPS performance.

Settings Recommendations

For players targeting a 60 FPS experience at 4K, the High preset is the optimal choice, as it delivers an average of 72 FPS, with the Medium preset offering a higher average of 83 FPS if extra headroom is desired. The Ultra preset at 4K, with its 51 FPS average, is not recommended for smooth gameplay on standard 60 Hz displays, as it dips below the refresh rate. The data suggests that the Medium preset at 4K provides the best balance, with a minimum FPS of 71 that ensures no significant stuttering.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is a viable option for 60 Hz gameplay, with an average of 98 FPS. However, for players with 144 Hz monitors, the High preset is the better fit, as it achieves 137 FPS, which is close to the refresh rate ceiling. The Medium preset at 160 FPS is also a strong choice, providing a buffer above 144 FPS. The data indicates that the High preset is the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming.

At 1920x1080, all presets are playable, but the Ultra preset’s 156 FPS average is the minimum for a 144 Hz display. For 240 Hz monitors, the High preset at 217 FPS is necessary, while the Low preset at 340 FPS offers the highest possible frame rate for competitive play. The medium preset, with a minimum FPS of 215, is a safe recommendation for consistent performance on high-refresh-rate displays, ensuring no dips below the 144 Hz threshold.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K provides insight into the system’s balance. On High settings, the average FPS at 1920x1080 is 217, which drops to 137 at 2560x1440, a 37% decrease. Moving to 3840x2160, the average FPS falls to 72, which is a 47% decrease from the 1440p result and a 67% decrease from the 1080p result. This pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting component as resolution increases, with its workload scaling almost linearly with the pixel count.

The scaling is even more pronounced on the Low preset. The average FPS at 1080p is 340, which drops to 215 at 1440p (a 37% decrease) and then to 112 at 4K (a 48% decrease from 1440p). This suggests that at Low settings, the CPU is less of a factor, and the GPU’s raw throughput dictates the frame rate. The fact that the percentage drop from 1440p to 4K is similar across High and Low presets (47% vs. 48%) implies that the GPU is consistently the bottleneck at these resolutions, regardless of the graphics load.

The data implies that the Core i5-12400 is not a limiting factor at resolutions above 1080p. The frame rate scaling is smooth and predictable, which is a characteristic of a system where the GPU is fully saturated. At 1080p, the CPU’s influence is visible in the 340 FPS cap on Low settings, but this is not a practical concern. The resolution scaling analysis confirms that this combo is best suited for 1440p gaming, where it can deliver high frame rates on High settings, and is also capable of a solid 4K experience on Medium or High presets.