Barony

The Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 delivers a robust experience in Barony, a roguelike title where frame rates are generally high across most settings. This combination ranks 3063rd out of 3717 tested combos in the database, placing it in the lower half of all systems evaluated for this specific game. While the rank might seem modest, the absolute frame rates tell a more nuanced story, showing that this pairing is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1080p play and remains playable even at 4K with adjusted settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 3063 out of 3717 tested configurations indicates that while it is not a top-tier performer, it sits comfortably within the range of systems capable of running Barony. The percentile position reflects the game’s relatively low hardware demands compared to modern AAA titles, meaning that even an older GPU like the GTX 1070 can achieve playable results. The data shows a clear separation in performance based on resolution, with the combo’s standing improving significantly as resolution decreases.

At 1080p, this system performs exceptionally well, with average frame rates that exceed 100 FPS on every preset tested, including Ultra. This suggests that at this resolution, the combo is likely bottlenecked by the CPU or the game’s engine rather than the GPU, as even the most demanding settings produce high scores. The rank improves considerably here, as the system is capable of delivering smooth, high-refresh-rate gameplay that would satisfy most users.

Moving to 1440p, the performance remains strong, but the GPU begins to assert its influence. The average frame rates drop by roughly 35-40% compared to 1080p across all settings, indicating that the GTX 1070 is now working harder to fill the additional pixels. The combo’s rank at this resolution would place it higher relative to other systems, as the GPU’s 8 GB of VRAM and 256-bit memory bus provide sufficient bandwidth for this resolution without significant stuttering.

At 4K, the system’s limitations become apparent. The average frame rates fall to between 36 and 78 FPS depending on the preset, with Ultra settings dipping below 40 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay. The rank at this resolution is considerably lower, reflecting that this combo is not optimized for 4K gaming. However, the fact that it can still achieve 50 FPS on High settings is notable for a GPU released in 2016, showing that Barony’s art style and rendering demands are not overly punishing.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is built on the Pascal architecture with a GP104 chip, featuring 1920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 64 raster operations units. Its base clock runs at 1506 MHz with a boost clock of 1683 MHz, and it comes equipped with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s. These specifications are central to understanding the card’s performance in Barony, particularly at higher resolutions where memory bandwidth and fill rate become critical.

The GPU’s 8 GB of VRAM is sufficient for Barony at all tested resolutions and settings. The game does not appear to exceed this capacity, as there are no noticeable dips or stutters that would indicate VRAM limitations, even at 4K Ultra. The 256-bit memory bus and 256.3 GB/s bandwidth provide adequate data throughput for the game’s textures and geometry, allowing the card to maintain consistent frame times across different presets.

The pixel rate of 107.7 GPixel/s and texture rate of 202.0 GTexel/s are important metrics for a game like Barony, which likely relies on procedural generation and dynamic lighting. These rates ensure that the GPU can handle the rasterization and texture sampling demands at 1080p and 1440p without issue. However, at 4K, the fill rate becomes a limiting factor, as evidenced by the significant drop in average FPS when moving from High to Ultra settings, indicating that the card is struggling to keep up with the increased pixel count.

The GPU’s performance in synthetic benchmarks further contextualizes its role. Its Passmark G3D score of 13498 and average benchmark score of 9780 place it near the 47th percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the AMD FirePro W5000 and NVIDIA Quadro M2000M, which score within 0.5% of the GTX 1070. These scores suggest that while the card is not a high-end performer by today’s standards, it remains a competent mid-range option that can handle less demanding titles like Barony with ease.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p, the combo delivers exceptionally high frame rates across all settings, with averages ranging from 108 FPS on Ultra to 235 FPS on Low. This indicates that the system is heavily CPU-bound at this resolution, as the GPU has ample headroom to render frames quickly, and the limiting factor is likely the game’s single-threaded performance or the CPU’s ability to feed the GPU with draw calls.

When moving to 1440p, the average FPS drops by approximately 35% across all settings. For example, High settings go from 150 FPS at 1080p to 95 FPS at 1440p, while Ultra drops from 108 FPS to 68 FPS. This scaling suggests that the GPU is now becoming the primary bottleneck, as the increased pixel count requires more shading and fill rate work. The GTX 1070’s 6.463 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is being utilized more fully, but the card still manages to maintain playable frame rates above 60 FPS on most presets.

At 4K, the performance drop becomes more pronounced, with average FPS falling to roughly one-third of the 1080p values. High settings produce 50 FPS, Medium produces 58 FPS, and Ultra drops to 36 FPS. Interestingly, Low settings at 4K produce 78 FPS, which is higher than High settings at 1080p, suggesting that the GPU’s workload is more dependent on graphical complexity than raw resolution. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at the same settings shows that the GTX 1070 is being pushed to its limits, with the 4K resolution requiring four times the pixel fill rate of 1080p, which the card’s 107.7 GPixel/s pixel rate cannot sustain at high settings.

The data reveals that the CPU’s role diminishes as resolution increases. At 1080p, the i5-13400F’s high single-thread performance (3dmark single-thread score of 960 and Geekbench single-core score of 1996) ensures that the GPU is never starved for data, leading to frame rates that exceed 200 FPS on Low settings. At 4K, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor, as the CPU’s performance is more than sufficient to handle the game’s logic, but the GPU cannot render frames fast enough to keep up with the demand.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Barony?*

A: The data shows that 1080p is the optimal resolution, as it delivers average frame rates above 100 FPS on all settings, including Ultra at 108 FPS. At 1440p, performance remains playable, but 4K is only recommended for users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, as High settings produce 50 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU factor into performance at 4K?

A: At 4K, the CPU’s role is minimized. The i5-13400F’s 10 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient for Barony’s workload, as evidenced by its high benchmark scores (Cinebench R23 multicore of 22604). The bottleneck at 4K is clearly the GPU, as frame rates drop significantly compared to 1080p, where the CPU is more involved.

*Q: Is the GTX 1070’s 8 GB of VRAM enough for Barony?*

A: Yes, the 8 GB of GDDR5 memory is more than adequate. There are no signs of VRAM-related stuttering or texture pop-in at any resolution or setting, indicating that the game does not exceed this capacity. The memory bandwidth of 256.3 GB/s also ensures smooth data transfer.

Q: What settings should be used for a 60 FPS target at 1440p?

A: To achieve a stable 60 FPS at 1440p, users should select High settings, which produce an average of 95 FPS. Medium settings yield 110 FPS, providing extra headroom, while Ultra drops to 68 FPS, which is still above 60 but with less margin for demanding scenes.

Q: How does this combo compare to other systems in the database?

A: The combo ranks 3063rd out of 3717, placing it in the lower 18% of tested systems. This is primarily due to the GTX 1070’s age, as its average benchmark score of 9780 is near the 47th percentile. However, for Barony, this rank is less indicative of real-world performance, as the game is not graphically demanding.

Q: Can this system handle Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: Yes, Ultra settings at 1080p produce an average of 108 FPS, well above the 60 FPS threshold. The minimum FPS is not provided, but the average suggests consistent performance. For a smoother experience, Medium settings at 175 FPS offer significant headroom for fast-paced roguelike gameplay.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user’s resolution and frame rate preferences. At 1080p, Ultra settings are highly recommended, as they deliver an average of 108 FPS, which is smooth enough for most displays. The high frame rates at this resolution mean that even the most demanding preset does not compromise playability, making Ultra the best experience for users with high-refresh-rate monitors.

For 1440p, High settings provide the best balance between visual quality and performance, with an average of 95 FPS. Medium settings at 110 FPS offer a slight performance boost, but the visual difference between High and Medium is likely minimal in a roguelike game. Ultra at 1440p produces 68 FPS, which is still playable, but the margin for error in intense scenes is smaller, so High is the safer choice.

At 4K, users should opt for Low settings to achieve the highest frame rate of 78 FPS, though this sacrifices visual fidelity. Medium settings at 58 FPS are the minimum for a playable experience, while High at 50 FPS is acceptable for users who prioritize graphics over smoothness. Ultra at 36 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below the 40 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for comfortable gameplay.

For users seeking a consistent 60 FPS experience across all resolutions, the data suggests using Medium settings at 4K (58 FPS), High at 1440p (95 FPS), and Ultra at 1080p (108 FPS). These combinations ensure that the GPU is utilized effectively without overburdening the system, providing a stable and enjoyable experience in Barony.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. It features 20 MB of shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, though its memory bandwidth is not specified. The CPU’s benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 22604 and a single-core score of 3191, placing it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs.

In Barony, the CPU’s role is most prominent at lower resolutions where frame rates are high. At 1080p, the i5-13400F’s strong single-thread performance (3dmark single-thread score of 960) ensures that the game’s logic and AI can be processed quickly, allowing the GPU to render frames at over 200 FPS on Low settings. The multicore performance (3dmark max threads score of 7307) also helps with any background tasks or streaming, though the game likely does not utilize all 16 threads.

The CPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS and Intel Core 5 120, which have average benchmark scores within 0.3% of the i5-13400F. This indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this system, as its performance is comparable to other mid-range and high-end processors. The data shows that the CPU’s impact on frame rates diminishes as resolution increases, with the GPU becoming the limiting factor at 1440p and 4K.

The CPU’s 65W TDP and 10 nm process node make it an efficient choice for gaming, though its launch MSRP is $196. The lack of integrated graphics means that the GTX 1070 is solely responsible for rendering, which is not an issue given the GPU’s capabilities. Overall, the i5-13400F provides ample processing power for Barony, ensuring that the system is not CPU-limited at any resolution, and its high single-thread performance is particularly beneficial for a game that likely relies on single-threaded game logic.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance across three resolutions and four settings. At 1920x1080, the system achieves its highest frame rates, with Low settings producing an average of 235 FPS, Medium at 175 FPS (with a minimum of 149 and maximum of 201), High at 150 FPS, and Ultra at 108 FPS. These numbers indicate that the system is capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p without any issues, and even the most demanding preset maintains a frame rate well above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates drop but remain playable. Low settings produce an average of 149 FPS, which is still exceptionally high. Medium settings yield 110 FPS (with a minimum of 94 and maximum of 127), High produces 95 FPS, and Ultra drops to 68 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a consistent reduction of about 35-40%, which is expected given the increased pixel count. The minimum FPS values for Medium settings at 1440p (94 FPS) indicate that the system maintains smooth performance even in demanding scenes.

At 3840x2160, the performance is more varied. Low settings produce 78 FPS, which is surprising given the high resolution, but it suggests that the game’s graphical settings have a significant impact on GPU load. Medium settings yield 58 FPS (with a minimum of 49 and maximum of 66), High produces 50 FPS, and Ultra drops to 36 FPS. The minimum FPS of 49 at Medium settings is concerning, as it approaches the 30 FPS threshold, but the average of 58 FPS is still playable. The data shows that for 4K gaming, users must compromise on settings to achieve a smooth experience, with Low being the only preset that consistently exceeds 60 FPS.

The breakdown reveals that the GTX 1070’s performance scales predictably with settings at each resolution. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 127 FPS (from 235 to 108), while at 1440p it is 81 FPS (from 149 to 68), and at 4K it is 42 FPS (from 78 to 36). This diminishing difference at higher resolutions further confirms that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the settings have less impact on frame rate when the pixel fill rate is already maxed out. Overall, the measured data provides a clear picture of the combo’s strengths and limitations, making it easy for users to choose the right settings for their preferred resolution and frame rate target.