Barony

The Intel Core i5-12400F pairs with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT in Barony, a 2015 roguelike that rewards high frame rates given its fast-paced, procedural dungeon crawling. The data shows this combo delivers exceptional performance across all tested settings, with the CPU’s six cores and twelve threads proving more than adequate for the game’s workload, while the GPU’s 16 GB of VRAM and RDNA 2.0 architecture handle the visual demands with ease. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizes the combo’s standing among 1702 tested combinations, and offers practical settings guidance based solely on the provided facts.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a desktop processor from the Core 12th Gen series, built on Intel’s Alder Lake-S architecture using a 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, which is critical for a roguelike like Barony where frame pacing and responsiveness matter more than raw multi-threaded throughput. The CPU provides 6 cores and 12 threads, a configuration that easily handles the game’s logic, enemy AI, and procedural generation routines. In synthetic benchmarks, its single-thread performance is strong—scoring 909 in 3dmark_single_thread, 234 in cinebench_r15_singlecore, and 3481 in passmark_single_thread—which aligns with Barony’s reliance on single-threaded game logic.

Multi-threaded scores reinforce that the CPU is not a bottleneck here. The i5-12400F achieves 16518 in cinebench_r23_multicore, 6937 in cinebench_r20_multicore, and 9138 in geekbench_multicore. Its passmark_multithread score is 19433, with a 3dmark_max_threads score of 5912. These numbers indicate the processor has ample headroom for background tasks or streaming while gaming, though Barony itself likely uses only a fraction of these resources. The CPU’s 18 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 memory support further ensure that data feeding the GPU is delivered without stutter. Notably, the i5-12400F’s percentileVsAllCpus is 77, meaning it outperforms 77% of all CPUs in the benchmark database, and its nearest rivals—like the Intel Core i7-8700K (deltaPct 0.1%) and AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS (deltaPct -0.7%)—are essentially equal in average score, confirming that this chip is a solid mid-range performer.

In Barony, the CPU’s role is to maintain a stable frame rate floor. The measured FPS data shows no signs of CPU-induced dips; even at 1080p Low, the combo hits 434.7 FPS, which is far beyond any display refresh rate. The boost clock of 4.40 GHz provides the single-core speed necessary for high minimum frame rates, while the 12 threads ensure that any background processes from the game’s procedurally generated maps do not cause hitches. The lack of integrated graphics on this chip (null) means the RX 6800 XT handles all rendering, which is expected in a dedicated gaming setup. Overall, the CPU’s performance profile suggests it is perfectly matched to prevent any CPU-side limiting in this title.

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

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 200 FPS. This is the lowest average at 1080p among the tested presets, but still well above the 144 Hz threshold for most monitors, indicating the GPU is the primary constraint at this setting.

*Q: How does the combo rank among all tested CPU-GPU combinations in Barony?*

A: The combo rank is 581 out of 1702 tested combinations, placing it in the top 34% of all systems. This rank reflects the balance between the i5-12400F and RX 6800 XT, which together deliver high frame rates but are not the absolute top-tier pairing for this game.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between Low and Ultra at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 146.6 on Low to 69 on Ultra, a difference of 77.6 FPS. This large gap shows how much the GPU’s rendering load increases with higher settings, as the CPU remains capable at both extremes.

*Q: Does the GPU’s 16 GB VRAM cause any limitations in Barony?*

A: The data shows no VRAM-related issues, as the highest measured average FPS at any resolution is 434.7 at 1080p Low, and even at 4K Ultra the average is 69 FPS. The 16 GB GDDR6 memory with 512.0 GB/s bandwidth provides ample headroom for this roguelike’s assets.

Q: How does the i5-12400F compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-8700K?

A: The i5-12400F’s average benchmark score is 19221, while the i7-8700K scores 19210, resulting in a deltaPct of 0.1%. This means the i5-12400F is essentially tied with the older i7-8700K in overall performance, showing that newer architecture compensates for fewer cores.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded across all tested settings?

A: The lowest average FPS is 69, measured at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is the only tested configuration that dips below 70 FPS, indicating that 4K Ultra is the most demanding scenario for this combo.

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

Examining the measured FPS across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves 279.2 FPS; at 1440p High, it drops to 177.9 FPS; and at 4K High, it falls to 94.2 FPS. This represents a 66% reduction from 1080p to 4K, which is consistent with the GPU handling the increased pixel count. The same trend holds for Ultra settings: 200 FPS at 1080p, 127.2 FPS at 1440p, and 69 FPS at 4K—a 65.5% drop. These consistent percentages strongly indicate that the RX 6800 XT is the limiting component at higher resolutions, as the CPU’s performance does not degrade with resolution.

The data also shows that the scaling is not perfectly linear. From 1080p to 1440p, the FPS drops by roughly 36% (e.g., 279.2 to 177.9 on High), while from 1440p to 4K, the drop is about 47% (177.9 to 94.2). This steeper decline at 4K suggests that the GPU’s shading units, 4608 in total, are increasingly saturated as pixel count quadruples. The GPU’s boost clock of 2250 MHz and 20.74 TFLOPS of FP32 performance are substantial, but 4K resolution still pushes the card to its limits. Conversely, at 1080p, the FPS values (up to 434.7 on Low) far exceed what any CPU could bottleneck, confirming that the i5-12400F is not a limiting factor at any resolution.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings also widens with resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low (434.7) and Ultra (200) is 234.7 FPS, while at 4K, the difference is 77.6 FPS (146.6 vs. 69). This narrowing gap at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU’s fixed pixel throughput becomes the dominant constraint, making settings adjustments less impactful on overall FPS. For players targeting 4K, the data suggests that even dropping from Ultra to High (94.2 FPS) yields a meaningful improvement, while moving to Medium (110.1 FPS) or Low (146.6 FPS) provides even more headroom.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo rank in Barony is 581 out of 1702 tested combinations, placing this pairing in the upper third of all systems. This rank is a holistic measure that accounts for both CPU and GPU performance in this specific game. Given that the i5-12400F has a percentileVsAllCpus of 77 and the RX 6800 XT has a percentileVsAllGpus of 87, the combo’s rank of 581 reflects a slight underperformance relative to the sum of its parts. This suggests that Barony may be more sensitive to GPU performance than CPU, as the GPU’s higher percentile does not fully translate into a top-500 rank.

Comparing to other combos, the data does not provide specific rival combos, but the rank itself is informative. With 1702 total combinations, a rank of 581 means there are 1121 combos that perform worse and 580 that perform better. The top-tier systems likely pair higher-end CPUs (e.g., newer Core i9 or Ryzen 9 parts) with flagship GPUs, but the i5-12400F + RX 6800 XT still delivers playable frame rates at all tested settings. The nearest rival GPUs, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER (deltaPct 2.6% from the RX 6800 XT’s average score) or the Intel Arc A550M (deltaPct 0.5%), show that the RX 6800 XT is competitive but not dominant in raw benchmark scores.

For Barony, the rank suggests that this combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it is not optimized for 4K Ultra, where the FPS drops to 69. The rank of 581 also implies that users with this combo should not expect top-tier performance in other demanding titles, but for a roguelike like Barony, the performance is more than sufficient. The data’s measured FPS values at 1080p (all above 200 FPS) and 1440p (all above 127 FPS) indicate that the combo excels in this genre, where frame rate stability is prized.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers exceptional results: Low settings produce an average of 434.7 FPS, Medium reaches 322.8 FPS, High achieves 279.2 FPS, and Ultra still manages 200 FPS. These numbers are all well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common in gaming monitors, meaning users can enable Ultra settings without sacrificing smoothness. The gap between Low and Ultra is 234.7 FPS, showing that the GPU has significant headroom at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but scales down predictably. Low settings yield 275 FPS, Medium drops to 203.1 FPS, High hits 177.9 FPS, and Ultra falls to 127.2 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result is the first setting where the average FPS drops below 144, indicating that users with 144 Hz monitors may need to adjust settings to Medium or High for maximum smoothness. The delta between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 147.8 FPS, a smaller absolute difference than at 1080p but still substantial.

At 3840x2160, the performance reflects the GPU’s workload. Low settings produce 146.6 FPS, Medium achieves 110.1 FPS, High reaches 94.2 FPS, and Ultra drops to 69 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only configuration below 70 FPS, and even the High preset barely exceeds 90 FPS. For 4K gaming, users should prioritize Low or Medium settings to maintain frame rates above 110 FPS. Across all resolutions, the data shows no min or max FPS values (null), so only averages are available for analysis. This breakdown highlights a consistent pattern: the combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p, while 4K requires compromises in settings.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p displays, Ultra settings are clearly the best choice, as the average FPS of 200 far exceeds any monitor’s refresh rate, and the visual quality improvement over High (279.2 FPS) or Medium (322.8 FPS) is worth the FPS trade-off. Even at Ultra, the frame rate is more than double the 60 FPS standard, so there is no reason to lower settings unless maximizing FPS for competitive play, where Low (434.7 FPS) offers the absolute highest headroom.

For 1440p, the recommendation is more nuanced. Ultra settings at 127.2 FPS are playable but may not fully saturate a 144 Hz monitor, causing potential screen tearing or missed frames. High settings at 177.9 FPS provide a better balance, ensuring the average FPS stays above 144, while Medium at 203.1 FPS offers even more headroom. Low settings at 275 FPS are excessive for most users, so High is the recommended preset for 1440p to combine visual fidelity with smooth performance.

At 4K, the data clearly favors Low or Medium settings. Low at 146.6 FPS is excellent for 4K, allowing smooth gameplay on 120 Hz or 144 Hz displays, while Medium at 110.1 FPS is still highly playable. High at 94.2 FPS is acceptable for 60 Hz monitors but may cause stutter on higher-refresh displays, and Ultra at 69 FPS is only suitable for 60 Hz panels. For the best experience at 4K, Medium settings offer the best compromise between visual quality and frame rate, as the difference between Medium and High is only 15.9 FPS, but the jump from Ultra to Medium is 41.1 FPS. Ultimately, 1080p Ultra and 1440p High are the sweet spots for this combo, while 4K users should stick to Medium or Low.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is a high-end GPU from the Radeon RX 6000 series, built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture with a 7 nm process. It features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 512.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is more than sufficient for Barony’s textures and effects. The GPU’s base clock is 1825 MHz, with a boost clock of 2250 MHz and a game clock of 2015 MHz, providing the raw speed needed for high frame rates. Its 4608 shading units, 288 TMUs, and 128 ROPs contribute to a pixel rate of 288.0 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 648.0 GTexel/s, which directly impact how quickly the GPU can render frames at various resolutions.

The GPU’s FP32 performance of 20.74 TFLOPS is a key factor in the measured FPS results. At 1080p, the GPU is rarely stressed, as evidenced by the 434.7 FPS on Low settings. At 4K, however, the GPU’s workload increases significantly, and the FPS drops to 69 on Ultra, indicating that the shading units are fully utilized. The 16 GB VRAM ensures that no texture streaming or memory capacity issues arise, even at 4K Ultra, where modern games often exceed 8 GB. The GPU’s percentileVsAllGpus of 87 shows it outperforms 87% of all GPUs in the database, with its average benchmark score of 49982 placing it near rivals like the NVIDIA RTX A1000 (deltaPct -1.7%) and Intel Arc A550M (deltaPct 0.5%).

The GPU’s role in Barony is clearly dominant, as resolution scaling shows the CPU is never the bottleneck. The boost clock of 2250 MHz provides the high frequency needed for single-threaded game rendering, while the 512.0 GB/s bandwidth ensures data flows efficiently. The GPU’s 300 W TDP and dual-slot design indicate it is a power-hungry component, but the measured FPS justifies this. In summary, the RX 6800 XT is the primary driver of performance in this combo, and its capabilities align with the observed frame rates across all tested settings.