Barony

The Intel Core i5-14400F and AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT combination delivers a striking performance profile in Barony, a 2015 roguelike. The measured FPS data reveals a system that scales decisively with resolution and settings, offering a clear picture of where each component's influence begins and ends. The benchmark results indicate a pairing that is heavily GPU-limited at 4K, but which transitions into a more CPU-sensitive state at 1080p, with the frame rates at lower settings suggesting a headroom that the graphics card cannot fully utilize at higher resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured rows to interpret what the numbers mean for the player experience, from the dominant bottleneck at 4K to the optimal settings for maximizing fluidity.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is the most decisive indicator of this system's balance. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces an average of 286 FPS, but this falls to 94 FPS at 4K Low, a reduction of 192 FPS (roughly 67%). This steep decline is the classic signature of a GPU bottleneck; as the pixel count quadruples, the rendering workload on the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT increases dramatically, and the frame rate adjusts accordingly. The data shows the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed it frames at lower resolutions, but the graphics card's fill rate and shading power are exhausted.

Moving from 1080p to 1440p, the drop is less severe but still pronounced. For instance, High settings produce 183 FPS at 1080p but 115 FPS at 1440p, a 68 FPS reduction. This indicates that while the GPU is still the primary constraint, the gap narrows slightly, suggesting the CPU is beginning to play a more significant role in maintaining those higher frame rates. The trend continues when comparing High settings at 1440p (115 FPS) to 4K (60 FPS), where the GPU's workload becomes the sole focus, halving the frame rate. The data implies that as resolution scales, the i5-14400F's 10 cores and 16 threads are never the limiting factor, leaving the RX 6600 XT to determine the ceiling for performance.

The most telling comparison is between the Ultra settings across resolutions. At 1080p Ultra, the combo averages 131 FPS, but this plummets to 83 FPS at 1440p and further to 43 FPS at 4K. This demonstrates that the most demanding settings amplify the GPU bottleneck. The 4K Ultra result of 43 FPS is the only measured row that dips below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this configuration is not suitable for the highest fidelity at the highest resolution. The scaling pattern confirms that the limiting component at 4K is unequivocally the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, whose 8 GB of VRAM and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth are strained by the 3840x2160 pixel count.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F, with its 10 cores, 16 threads, and boost clock of 4.70 GHz, appears to be more than sufficient for Barony. At 1080p Low, the average frame rate of 286 FPS suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck, as the GPU is still able to produce very high numbers. The data indicates that the processor's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic, and at these frame rates, the 20 MB of shared L3 cache and high single-core performance (evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3055) ensure that data is processed quickly.

The CPU's influence becomes more apparent when examining the scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p. The frame rate drops from 286 FPS to 131 FPS, a 155 FPS reduction, which is largely attributed to the increased GPU load from higher visual fidelity. However, the fact that the CPU can maintain over 130 FPS in all settings at 1080p suggests it is not a limiting factor in this game. Even at 1440p, the lowest average FPS is 83 FPS on Ultra, indicating the CPU has no trouble keeping up with the GPU's output. The benchmark results show that the Raptor Lake architecture is well-suited for this title, with the processor's 65 W TDP indicating efficiency under load.

The CPU's headroom is most evident in the 4K results. The difference between Low (94 FPS) and Ultra (43 FPS) at 4K is 51 FPS, which is a massive gap. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect these numbers to be closer together, as the resolution changes would not affect the CPU's workload as much. Instead, the wide variance proves the GPU is the sole constraint at 4K, with the i5-14400F waiting idly for the next frame to render. The data suggests that for a game like Barony, the CPU's 16 threads are underutilized, and its primary job is to maintain a consistent frame pacing, which it does admirably given the high average FPS across all settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the best experience per the data is achieved at 1440p with High settings, yielding 115 FPS on average. This resolution provides a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The High preset at 1440p strikes a balance, as the Ultra preset at this resolution drops to 83 FPS, which is still playable but leaves less headroom for demanding scenes. The data shows that High settings at 1440p are the sweet spot, offering a 32 FPS advantage over Ultra while presumably retaining most of the visual fidelity.

For players prioritizing maximum fluidity, 1080p High at 183 FPS is the best choice. This setting provides a very high frame rate that is ideal for fast-paced action, and the jump to Ultra at 131 FPS is not worth the 52 FPS penalty, according to the data. The Low preset at 1080p (286 FPS) is excessive, as it likely sacrifices too much visual quality for a frame rate that exceeds the refresh rate of most monitors. The Medium preset at 1080p (213 FPS) is a viable middle ground, but the High preset offers a better balance of quality and performance.

At 4K, the data recommends Medium settings, which produce an average of 70 FPS with a minimum of 60 FPS. This is the only 4K row that maintains a playable frame rate without dipping below 60 FPS. The High preset at 4K (60 FPS) is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 43 FPS is not advisable for a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 4K appears to be the optimal choice for those who must play at this resolution, as it provides a 27 FPS boost over Ultra while staying within the playable range. The Low preset at 4K (94 FPS) is an alternative, but it likely compromises too much on visual detail.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT ranks 2665 out of 3717 tested combos in Barony. This places it in the lower half of the database, which is surprising given the high frame rates measured. The percentile data for the individual components offers context: the CPU ranks in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, and the GPU ranks in the 70th percentile among all GPUs. However, the combo rank suggests that many other combinations of hardware produce higher frame rates in this specific game, likely due to more powerful GPUs.

The rank indicates that while this combo is capable, it is not a top-tier performer in Barony. The nearest rivals for the CPU include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i9-11900 (0.2% delta), which are closely matched. For the GPU, the nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 (0.7% delta) and the Intel Arc A350M (-0.8% delta), which are also similar in performance. The combo's rank of 2665 suggests that the game is demanding on the GPU, and the RX 6600 XT, while competent, is outclassed by many higher-tier cards that push the combo higher in the rankings.

The data implies that the CPU is not the reason for the low rank, as its performance is above average. Instead, the GPU is the limiting factor, as its percentile (70) is lower than the CPU's (83). This is corroborated by the resolution scaling analysis, which showed the GPU bottleneck at 4K. The combo rank in Barony reflects the game's reliance on GPU throughput, and while the RX 6600 XT is capable of high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, it falls short of the top performers in the database, resulting in a rank that is below the median.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this combo in Barony?*

A: The highest average FPS is 286, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

*Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming in Barony?*

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K Medium settings, the combo averages 70 FPS with a minimum of 60 FPS. However, at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 43 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32279, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (32233) and 0.2% higher than the Intel Core i9-11900 (32226). It is also 0.2% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (32354).

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The minimum FPS is only recorded for the Medium settings at each resolution: 60 FPS at 4K, 114 FPS at 1440p, and 181 FPS at 1080p. No minimum FPS data is available for other settings.

Q: Does the GPU have a higher or lower benchmark score than its nearest rival?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT has an average benchmark score of 24442, which is 0.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 (24277) and 0.8% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (24236). It is also 0.8% lower than the Intel Arc A350M (24647).

Q: Which resolution and settings provide the best balance of FPS and quality?

A: The data suggests 2560x1440 with High settings, which yields an average of 115 FPS. This is significantly higher than the 83 FPS at Ultra, and it offers a better visual experience than 1080p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average FPS for each resolution and settings combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|---|---|---|---|---|

| 3840x2160 | High | 60 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 94 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 70 | 60 | 81 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 43 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | High | 115 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 181 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 134 | 114 | 155 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 83 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | High | 183 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 286 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 213 | 181 | 245 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 131 | N/A | N/A |

The data shows a clear performance hierarchy. At 1080p, the system is highly capable, with all settings exceeding 130 FPS. At 1440p, the performance remains strong, with the lowest average being 83 FPS on Ultra. At 4K, the system struggles on the highest setting, but Medium remains playable with a 70 FPS average. The Medium settings rows are the only ones with complete min/max data, showing a minimum of 60 FPS at 4K, which is the lowest recorded minimum across all tested configurations.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, with its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, is the primary driver of performance variance in Barony. The GPU's 2048 shading units and 64 ROPs are tasked with rendering the game's pixel-heavy environments, and the data shows that its capabilities are stretched at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the GPU is able to produce high frame rates, but as resolution increases, its limitations become apparent. The 256.0 GB/s bandwidth is a key constraint, as higher resolutions require more data to be transferred to and from the VRAM.

The GPU's benchmark scores corroborate its mid-range positioning. Its Passmark G3D score of 16461 places it in the 70th percentile among all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 (0.7% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER (1.1% delta). The RTX 2080 SUPER being a close rival in average score (24170) is notable, as it is a much older card, suggesting the RX 6600 XT has good compute performance. However, in Barony, the GPU's role is to maintain frame rates across settings, and the data shows it can handle 1080p and 1440p well, but it falls short at 4K Ultra.

The GPU's clock speeds—base 1968 MHz, boost 2589 MHz, and game 2359 MHz—are relatively high, which helps at lower resolutions. The 10.60 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is sufficient for the game's shader complexity, but the 8 GB VRAM capacity may be a concern for future titles. In this game, the measured results indicate that the GPU is the bottleneck at 4K, as the FPS drops from 94 on Low to 43 on Ultra, a clear sign that the rendering load is overwhelming the card's resources. The data suggests that for a smooth 4K experience, a more powerful GPU would be necessary, as the RX 6600 XT is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming.