Barony

Barony is a roguelike that, on this particular Intel Core i5-14400F and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT combination, presents a fascinating case of performance scaling. The data indicates that at 1080p, the system is heavily CPU-bound, delivering frame rates that approach or exceed 300 FPS. As resolution increases, the load shifts to the GPU, revealing a smooth and predictable decline in performance that ultimately caps out at 4K with a 52 FPS average on Ultra settings. The benchmark results show a configuration that is exceptionally powerful for high-refresh-rate 1080p and 1440p gaming, but which requires careful settings management to maintain a locked 60 FPS at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The performance trajectory from 1080p to 4K is a textbook example of how resolution impacts a system's bottleneck. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are extraordinarily high, with the Low preset hitting 344 FPS and even the demanding Ultra preset achieving 157 FPS. These numbers are so high that they outpace the capabilities of most high-refresh-rate monitors, indicating that the CPU is the primary limiting factor at this resolution. The GPU is not being fully utilized, as it is capable of rendering frames much faster than the processor can feed it data.

Moving to 2560x1440, the scaling is nearly linear. The Low preset drops from 344 FPS to 217 FPS, a reduction of 37%. High settings see a similar proportional drop from 219 FPS to 138 FPS (a 37% decrease). This consistent scaling suggests that while the CPU is still a significant factor, the GPU is beginning to take on a more substantial workload. The 1440p results remain exceptionally playable, with even the Ultra preset maintaining a 99 FPS average, well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

The transition to 3840x2160 reveals where the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck. The Ultra preset plummets to a 52 FPS average, a 47% reduction from its 1440p score. High settings manage a 72 FPS average, which is a 48% drop from 1440p. The Medium preset's average of 84 FPS with a minimum of 72 FPS shows that even mid-range settings are heavily taxed at 4K. The Low preset, at 113 FPS, remains fluid, but the sharp drop-off across all presets indicates that the RX 6700 XT's GPU compute and memory bandwidth are the limiting factors at this resolution. The data suggests that 4K gaming is possible, but only at lower settings for a consistently high frame rate.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture, plays a pivotal role in the 4K results. Its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a 384.0 GB/s bandwidth, which is the primary resource for high-resolution textures. The benchmark data shows that the GPU is the dominant constraint at 4K, with frame rates dropping sharply as settings increase. This is a direct consequence of the GPU's compute throughput and memory subsystem being pushed to their limits.

The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 2321 MHz and a boost of 2581 MHz, are relatively high, suggesting strong performance per compute unit. The 2560 shading units and 40 ray accelerators are responsible for the pixel and texture processing. The measured pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s and texture rate of 413.0 GTexel/s are substantial, but at 4K resolution, the sheer number of pixels required to fill the screen overwhelms these capabilities at higher presets. The difference between the Medium preset's 84 FPS average and the Ultra preset's 52 FPS average at 4K highlights the significant cost of the extra visual effects and texture quality in the Ultra profile.

In comparison to its nearest rivals, the RX 6700 XT holds its ground. The benchmark data shows it performs within 0.5% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 and within 1.1% of the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell in average benchmark scores. This is a remarkable result, showing that the RX 6700 XT delivers competitive raw performance in this game. However, the 4K FPS data reveals that this performance is not sufficient to maintain high frame rates at maximum settings, making the GPU the clear deciding factor in the 4K experience.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its performance is critical in understanding the high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p. The processor's boost clock of 4.70 GHz and 20 MB of shared L3 cache provide the low-latency, high-frequency execution that Barony's game logic and physics require. The benchmark results at 1080p, particularly the 344 FPS average on Low settings, indicate that the CPU is not a bottleneck at this resolution; it is capable of delivering instructions to the GPU faster than the GPU can render them.

The CPU's multi-core and single-core performance scores from Cinebench R23 (21645 multicore, 3055 singlecore) and Geekbench (11268 multicore, 2058 singlecore) place it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U and Intel Core i9-11900, have average scores within 0.2% of the i5-14400F, demonstrating that this processor is a top-tier performer for gaming workloads. This is evident in the 1440p results, where the CPU continues to deliver high frame rates, allowing the GPU to be the limiting factor only at 4K.

The data suggests that the CPU's role is to provide a high ceiling for performance. As resolution increases and the GPU becomes the bottleneck, the CPU's workload decreases, allowing it to feed frames without issue. The 219 FPS average at 1080p High settings and 138 FPS at 1440p High settings are excellent examples of the CPU's ability to keep up with the GPU. It is only at 4K, where the GPU's rendering time per frame exceeds the CPU's frame delivery time, that the system's overall performance is constrained by the graphics card.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Barony at 4K with a stable 60 FPS?

A: No, not at the highest settings. The data shows the Ultra preset at 3840x2160 averages 52 FPS. However, the High preset at 4K averages 72 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 84 FPS, which are both above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution for maximizing frame rate on this hardware?

A: The 1920x1080 resolution provides the highest frame rates, with the Low preset achieving 344 FPS and the Ultra preset reaching 157 FPS. The 2560x1440 resolution offers a strong balance, with the Ultra preset still maintaining a 99 FPS average.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The CPU is the primary limiting factor at 1080p. The frame rates are so high (e.g., 344 FPS on Low) that the GPU is not being fully utilized, and the processor's ability to handle game logic is the constraint.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 1440p?

A: The average FPS drops by roughly 37% across all settings when moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440. For example, the High preset drops from 219 FPS to 138 FPS.

Q: Is the 12 GB of VRAM on this GPU sufficient for 4K gaming in Barony?

A: The benchmark data suggests it is sufficient, as the 4K results show the GPU is the bottleneck, not a lack of memory. The 12 GB capacity is enough to handle the textures at 4K, but the GPU's processing power limits the frame rate.

Q: How does this system's performance compare to other hardware?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is within 0.5% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 and within 1.1% of the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell. The CPU's average score is within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark data provides clear guidance for optimizing the experience on this system. For players prioritizing the highest possible frame rates, the 1080p Low preset is the clear choice, delivering a 344 FPS average. This is ideal for competitive play or for users with very high refresh rate monitors. However, the visual quality is minimal.

For a balanced experience at 1080p, the High preset is recommended. It offers a 219 FPS average, which is still exceptionally high, while providing significantly better visual fidelity than Low. The Ultra preset, at 157 FPS, is also viable and is the best choice for players who want maximum visual quality without sacrificing the fluidity of the game, as it remains well above 144 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the sweet spot. It delivers a 138 FPS average, which is perfect for 144Hz monitors, and provides a substantial visual upgrade over 1080p. The Ultra preset, at 99 FPS, is also a solid choice for 100Hz or 120Hz displays. The Medium preset, at 161 FPS, is available for those who want to prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity.

For 4K gaming, the High preset is the recommended setting. It achieves a 72 FPS average, which is above the 60 FPS target for most displays. The Medium preset, at 84 FPS, is a good alternative if you want a larger frame rate buffer, but the visual difference between Medium and High is often worth the slight performance cost. The Ultra preset, at 52 FPS, is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact measured average FPS (and minimum/maximum where available) for each resolution and settings combination.

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

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

| 3840x2160 | High | 72 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 113 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 84 | 72 | 97 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 52 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | High | 138 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 217 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 161 | 137 | 185 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 99 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | High | 219 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 344 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 256 | 217 | 294 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 157 | N/A | N/A |

The data indicates a clear hierarchy of performance. At 1080p, the system is exceptionally powerful, with all presets exceeding 150 FPS. The 1440p results show a significant step down, but remain highly playable. The 4K results are the most demanding, with only the Low and Medium presets maintaining frame rates above 80 FPS. The variance between minimum and maximum FPS for the Medium presets is also worth noting; at 1080p, the range is 217-294 FPS, while at 4K it is 72-97 FPS, showing that lower resolutions are more susceptible to CPU-driven spikes.