Barony

Barony, a roguelike originally released in 2015, presents an interesting case for hardware analysis. The measured frame rates for the Intel Core i5-14400F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT combination reveal a system that is exceptionally capable at this title, with performance characteristics that shift dramatically based on resolution and quality settings. The data indicates that this pairing is rarely a bottleneck, though the game’s engine still shows clear scaling trends that point to the GPU as the primary performance governor at higher loads.

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

The Intel Core i5-14400F 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 4.70 GHz. Its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory make it a versatile desktop part. In the context of Barony, a title that is not typically demanding on multi-threaded workloads, the CPU’s role appears to be one of providing a high ceiling that the game rarely stresses. The benchmark results show that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 395 FPS, which is an extraordinarily high figure that strongly suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor at these lower graphical loads.

The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as a Passmark multithread score of 25470 and a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 21645, place it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating a strong performer for general and multi-threaded tasks. However, its single-thread performance, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3055 and a Passmark single-thread score of 3701, is what often matters more for older game engines like the one powering Barony. The data shows that even at 4K Ultra, where the GPU is heavily taxed, the average FPS drops to 60, but this is still a playable frame rate, and it is plausible that the CPU is still delivering frames faster than the GPU can render them. The processor’s performance relative to its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i9-11900 (0.2% delta), confirms that it sits in a competitive performance bracket, but for this specific game, the core count and clock speeds appear sufficient to feed the GPU without becoming a constraint, as evidenced by the high frame rates at lower resolutions.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with the Navi 32 chip, is the clear driver of performance in this pairing. Its 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s, and the GPU boost clock reaches 2544 MHz. The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution and graphical settings increase, the frame rates drop in a way that is consistent with GPU-bound scenarios. For instance, moving from 1080p High (252 FPS) to 4K High (83 FPS) shows a substantial performance hit, which is expected when the GPU’s pixel and texture processing capabilities are pushed harder. The GPU’s Passmark G3D score of 22547 and its 67th percentile ranking among all GPUs indicate it is a solid mid-to-high-end part, but not a top-tier one.

The RX 7700 XT’s performance becomes the defining factor at higher settings. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 60, which is exactly the target for many gamers and suggests that the GPU is working near its limit. At 1440p Ultra, the system achieves 114 FPS, showing that the card has enough headroom for high-refresh-rate gaming at this resolution. The GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile (0.5% delta) and the RTX 4060 Mobile (-0.8% delta), show that it is competitive within its class, though its desktop-oriented design and higher power envelope (245 W TDP) are not directly reflected in these scores. The data implies that for Barony, the RX 7700 XT is the component that dictates the performance ceiling, and its capabilities are more than sufficient for smooth gameplay at all tested presets, even if the highest settings at 4K push it to its limits.

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

Q: What is the performance difference between the High and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset yields an average of 159 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 114 FPS. This represents a 45 FPS reduction, or a 28.3% decrease in average frame rate, when moving from High to Ultra settings.

Q: How does the system perform at 1080p with Low settings, and what does that indicate about the CPU's involvement?

A: The system achieves an average of 395 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This exceptionally high frame rate strongly indicates that the Intel Core i5-14400F is not a bottleneck in this scenario, as the GPU is likely not fully saturated at these lower graphical loads.

Q: Is the 12 GB VRAM of the RX 7700 XT a limiting factor at 4K in Barony?

A: The data shows the system runs 4K High at 83 FPS and 4K Ultra at 60 FPS. While these are playable, the significant drop from 1440p suggests the GPU is under heavy load. The fact that it still achieves 60 FPS at 4K Ultra implies that VRAM capacity is not causing a hard limit, though the GPU’s processing power is clearly being taxed.

Q: What are the minimum FPS figures recorded, and at which settings?

A: The only settings with recorded minimum FPS values are the Medium presets. At 1080p Medium, the minimum is 250 FPS; at 1440p Medium, it is 157 FPS; and at 4K Medium, it is 82 FPS. This shows that even the lowest frame rate dips at 4K Medium are well above the threshold for smooth play.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested combinations in Barony?

A: The combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT ranks 1388th out of 3717 tested combos for this game. This places it in the top 37.3% of all tested systems, indicating a strong performance level overall.

Q: Does the game’s performance scale more with resolution or with settings?

A: The data shows both have significant impacts. For example, at High settings, moving from 1080p (252 FPS) to 4K (83 FPS) results in a 67% drop. At 1440p, moving from Low (249 FPS) to Ultra (114 FPS) results in a 54% drop. This indicates that both resolution and settings are major factors, but the resolution scaling is slightly more pronounced.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how this system handles Barony across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system is exceptionally fast, with the Low preset achieving an average of 395 FPS. The Medium preset delivers 294 FPS, with a minimum of 250 FPS and a maximum of 338 FPS. High settings drop the average to 252 FPS, while the Ultra preset still maintains a robust 181 FPS. These numbers suggest that at 1080p, the system is overwhelmingly GPU-bound, as even the highest settings produce frame rates far beyond what most displays can show.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains very high but shows a clear scaling down. The Low preset achieves 249 FPS, nearly matching the 1080p High result. Medium settings produce an average of 185 FPS, with a range of 157 to 213 FPS. High settings yield 159 FPS, and Ultra drops to 114 FPS. This pattern shows a steady decline as the pixel count increases, but even the lowest number at this resolution (114 FPS) is well above the 60 FPS target for most gamers. At 3840x2160, the system starts to show its limits. Low settings still deliver a very playable 130 FPS, and Medium settings achieve 97 FPS with a minimum of 82 FPS. High settings drop to 83 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to exactly 60 FPS. This breakdown highlights that the RX 7700 XT is a capable 4K performer for this game, provided settings are managed, with Ultra being the only preset that hits the 60 FPS baseline.

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

The resolution scaling data reveals a classic GPU-bound pattern. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 252 at 1080p to 159 at 1440p, a 36.9% decrease, and then further to 83 at 4K, a 47.8% decrease from 1440p. This steep decline is characteristic of a system where the GPU is doing the heavy lifting, as the number of pixels to process quadruples from 1080p to 4K, but the CPU’s workload remains relatively constant. The fact that the system can still achieve 83 FPS at 4K High indicates that the RX 7700 XT has substantial headroom, but the scaling shows that the GPU is the primary constraint.

The pattern is similar for the Low preset, where FPS drops from 395 at 1080p to 249 at 1440p (a 37% drop) and then to 130 at 4K (a 47.8% drop from 1440p). This consistent percentage drop across different settings suggests that the limiting factor is purely the GPU’s pixel throughput. The CPU’s high single-thread performance, as seen in its benchmarks, is likely sufficient to keep up with the frame generation demands even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is less stressed. This is evidenced by the massive 395 FPS figure, which is near the practical limits of many game engines. The data strongly implies that for this combination, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is the bottleneck at all resolutions, and the Intel Core i5-14400F provides ample computational headroom.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. For gamers with a 1080p 144Hz or 240Hz monitor, the High preset at 252 FPS is an excellent choice, as it offers a significant visual improvement over Medium (294 FPS) while still providing frame rates that far exceed any display’s refresh rate. The Ultra preset at 181 FPS is also viable for 144Hz displays, but the 71 FPS drop from High to Ultra may not justify the visual gains for a roguelike where clarity is not always paramount. At 1440p, the High preset at 159 FPS is the sweet spot for 144Hz monitors, as it provides a smooth experience while maintaining a high level of detail. The Ultra preset at 114 FPS is suitable for 60Hz or 120Hz displays, but those with 144Hz+ screens would benefit more from the higher frame rate of Medium (185 FPS).

At 4K, the choices are more constrained. The High preset at 83 FPS is recommended for 60Hz displays, as it offers a robust frame rate that is well above the target. The Medium preset at 97 FPS is a better option for those who want a higher frame rate buffer, but the visual difference might be noticeable. The Ultra preset at 60 FPS is playable, but it sits exactly at the 60 FPS baseline, which means any minor dips could cause noticeable stutter. The Low preset at 130 FPS is overkill for most 4K displays, which are typically 60Hz, and the visual fidelity loss is likely too great. Overall, the High preset at 1440p appears to be the best balance of visual quality and performance, offering 159 FPS, which is a great experience for a fast-paced roguelike.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14400F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT ranks 1388th out of 3717 tested combos in Barony. This ranking places it in the 62.7th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms more than 62% of the configurations in the database for this specific game. This is a strong result, especially considering that the game is lightweight and often playable on modest hardware. The ranking suggests that this particular pairing is well above average, providing a high level of performance that is likely to satisfy most users seeking high refresh rates or 4K gaming.

The rank is likely influenced by the fact that Barony is not particularly demanding on either the CPU or GPU, allowing even mid-range components to achieve high frame rates. The i5-14400F’s strong single-thread performance and the RX 7700 XT’s solid rasterization power make for a complementary pairing that excels in this title. Compared to other combos in the database, this system is not at the very top, but it is comfortably in the upper echelon. The data indicates that for a game like Barony, where the graphical demands are moderate, the RX 7700 XT is more than enough to push high resolutions, and the i5-14400F ensures that there is no CPU-induced frame pacing issues. This ranking reflects the balance of the two components, offering a reliable and high-performance experience in this roguelike without the need for top-tier enthusiast hardware.