Barony

Barony is a roguelike that, on the surface, appears modest in its graphical demands, but the measured frame rates for the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination reveal a surprisingly wide performance envelope. The data indicates this pairing is capable of delivering highly playable frame rates across a broad spectrum of resolutions and settings, with the primary bottleneck shifting decisively based on the configuration chosen. This analysis walks through the measured results, contextualizes the combo's standing among other tested systems, and examines the specific contributions of the CPU and GPU to the overall experience.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K is the clearest indicator of where the system’s balance lies. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo produces an average of 217 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 drops that to 137 FPS, a reduction of approximately 37%. Further scaling to 3840x2160 yields 72 FPS, which is a 67% drop from the 1080p figure. This steep decline as resolution increases is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario at higher pixel counts.

However, the scaling pattern is not uniform across all settings. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 340 FPS at 1080p to 215 FPS at 1440p, and then to 112 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 37% and 48% respectively. This suggests that even at Low settings, the GPU is still the limiting factor at 4K, though the CPU has more headroom to push frames at lower resolutions. The gap between Low and High settings at the same resolution also widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference is 123 FPS (340 vs 217), while at 4K it shrinks to 40 FPS (112 vs 72). This compression of the settings delta at higher resolutions further confirms that the RTX 4060’s rendering throughput, rather than the CPU’s processing speed, becomes the primary constraint as pixel count rises.

The data shows that the system is exceptionally strong at 1080p, where even Ultra settings maintain an average of 156 FPS. At 1440p, the system remains highly capable, with High settings delivering 137 FPS and Ultra still producing 98 FPS. The 4K results are playable but more demanding, with High settings at 72 FPS and Ultra dropping to 51 FPS. This pattern indicates that for users targeting high refresh rate monitors, 1080p and 1440p are the sweet spots, while 4K is viable for a smooth 60+ FPS experience only if settings are kept to High or below.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of 3,717 tested combos for Barony, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 holds the 2,000th position. This places it almost exactly in the middle of the field, which is a notable finding given the high absolute frame rates achieved. The percentile ranking suggests that while the combo delivers excellent performance in isolation, many other configurations in the database are capable of even higher frame rates, likely due to more powerful GPUs that can better exploit the game’s engine at lower resolutions.

The mid-pack ranking is particularly interesting when considering the CPU’s own standing. The Core i5-14400F sits in the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, indicating it is a strong processor relative to the broader market. Yet, the combo’s overall rank in Barony is dragged down by the GPU’s relative position. The RTX 4060 is in the 61st percentile among all GPUs, which is respectable but not class-leading. This disparity between the CPU’s high percentile and the GPU’s more moderate one suggests that in Barony, the graphics card is the limiting factor for achieving top-tier rankings. The data implies that to climb significantly higher in the combo rankings, a more powerful GPU would be necessary, even though the current configuration is already delivering triple-digit frame rates at mainstream resolutions.

The measured results show that this combo is a balanced mid-range performer. It is not a top-tier contender for maximum frame rates, but it is far from a weak link. The 2,000th rank out of 3,717 combos places it in the 54th percentile of tested systems, meaning it outperforms a slight majority of configurations. For a game like Barony, which is a roguelike where gameplay smoothness is more critical than raw graphical fidelity, this level of performance is more than adequate for a competitive or immersive experience.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the driving force behind the frame rates in this configuration. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s, which is sufficient for the textures and effects in Barony at the tested resolutions. The 3,072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 render output units are the physical hardware that processes the graphical workload. The card’s boost clock of 2460 MHz, up from a base of 1830 MHz, allows it to dynamically increase its performance under load, which is evident in the high average frame rates at 1080p.

The GPU’s role becomes more pronounced as resolution increases. The measured data shows a clear trend where the frame rate drops are proportionally larger when moving from 1440p to 4K compared to the 1080p to 1440p transition. This is consistent with the GPU’s pixel fillrate and memory bandwidth being taxed more heavily at higher resolutions. The RTX 4060’s 118.1 GPixel/s pixel rate and 236.2 GTexel/s texture rate are adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 4K results show a more significant performance hit, particularly at Ultra settings where the average drops to 51 FPS.

The GPU’s benchmark scores provide additional context. Its Passmark G3D score of 19,545 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2,302 indicate a solid mid-range performer. The nearest rivals in the GPU benchmark database include the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which scores slightly higher (17,666 vs 17,639, a delta of -0.2%), and the AMD Radeon 780M, which scores slightly lower (17,588, a delta of 0.3%). These close scores suggest that the RTX 4060 is squarely in the middle of its performance class, which aligns with its 61st percentile ranking. The GPU’s 15.11 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power is more than enough for Barony’s roguelike visuals, which do not typically leverage heavy compute shaders or ray tracing effects.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a comprehensive view of the system’s capabilities across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the system delivers exceptional performance. Low settings produce an average of 340 FPS, which is far beyond the refresh rate of any standard monitor. Medium settings yield 253 FPS, with a minimum of 215 FPS and a maximum of 291 FPS, showing tight frame pacing. High settings average 217 FPS, and even Ultra settings maintain a healthy 156 FPS average. This resolution is clearly where the combo shines, offering headroom for high refresh rate displays.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains very strong. Low settings average 215 FPS, which is still incredibly smooth. Medium settings produce 160 FPS, with a minimum of 136 FPS and a maximum of 183 FPS. High settings deliver 137 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 98 FPS. The results at 1440p indicate that the combo can comfortably drive high refresh rate monitors at this resolution, with only Ultra settings falling below the 100 FPS mark. For most users, High settings at 1440p would be the optimal balance of visual quality and performance.

At 3840x2160, the system starts to show its limits. Low settings average 112 FPS, which is still playable. Medium settings produce 83 FPS, with a minimum of 71 FPS and a maximum of 96 FPS, indicating some variance but generally stable performance. High settings drop to 72 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Ultra settings average 51 FPS, which is below the ideal for fast-paced action. The 4K results clearly show that the RTX 4060 is the limiting factor, as the frame rates scale almost linearly with the reduction in settings, suggesting the GPU is fully saturated.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve 144 FPS?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080, all settings from Low (340 FPS) to Ultra (156 FPS) exceed 144 FPS. At 2560x1440, Low (215 FPS), Medium (160 FPS), and High (137 FPS) are close, but only Low and Medium exceed 144 FPS. For a consistent 144 FPS experience, 1080p with any settings is the safest choice, while 1440p requires Medium or lower.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are 112 FPS on Low, 83 FPS on Medium, 72 FPS on High, and 51 FPS on Ultra. For a smooth 60+ FPS experience, High settings or lower are recommended. Ultra settings will result in an average below 60 FPS.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32,279. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U, scores 32,233, which is a 0.1% difference. The Intel Core i9-11900 scores 32,226 (0.2% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS scores 32,354 (-0.2% delta). These scores are nearly identical, indicating the i5-14400F is on par with these competitors in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance percentile?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is in the 61st percentile among all GPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score is 17,639. It is closely matched with the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (17,666, -0.2% delta) and the AMD Radeon 780M (17,588, 0.3% delta).

Q: Does the combo’s ranking in Barony reflect its overall hardware strength?

A: The combo ranks 2,000th out of 3,717 tested combos for Barony. This mid-pack ranking is lower than the CPU’s 83rd percentile ranking but close to the GPU’s 61st percentile ranking. The data suggests that the GPU is the primary factor limiting the combo’s rank in this game.

Q: Are there any settings where the frame rate drops below 60 FPS?

A: Yes, at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 51 FPS. This is the only tested configuration where the average falls below 60 FPS. All other combinations of resolution and settings maintain an average of at least 72 FPS.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.70 GHz provide substantial single-thread performance, which is critical for a game like Barony that likely relies on a primary game logic thread. The CPU’s 20 MB of shared L3 cache helps reduce memory latency and improve data access for frequently used game assets. The processor’s Passmark single-thread score of 3,701 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,055 indicate strong per-core performance.

In the context of Barony, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage the game’s simulation logic. The measured frame rates at 1080p, where the CPU has more influence, show that the i5-14400F is more than capable of keeping up with the RTX 4060. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 340 FPS, which is a strong indicator that the CPU is not a bottleneck at lower resolutions. The high minimum frame rates at Medium settings (215 FPS at 1080p, 136 FPS at 1440p) also suggest stable CPU performance without significant hitches.

The CPU’s benchmark scores show it is a well-rounded performer. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21,645 and Geekbench multi-core score of 11,268 indicate strong multi-threaded capabilities, though Barony may not fully utilize all 16 threads. The CPU’s 83rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32,279, places it above the vast majority of processors. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U and Intel Core i9-11900, have nearly identical average scores, confirming that the i5-14400F is a competitive mid-range to high-end desktop processor. The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combo’s performance; it provides ample headroom for the GPU to be the primary determinant of frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, the system is so powerful that even Ultra settings (156 FPS) provide a high refresh rate experience. Users with 144Hz or 165Hz monitors can confidently select High (217 FPS) or Ultra (156 FPS) settings without any concern for frame rate drops. For those seeking absolute maximum frame rates, Low settings at 340 FPS are available, but the visual quality trade-off is unnecessary for most.

At 2560x1440, the recommendation is to use High settings, which deliver 137 FPS. This provides excellent visual fidelity while maintaining a frame rate that is well above 60 FPS and close to 144 FPS. Medium settings (160 FPS) are also an excellent choice if users prefer a higher frame rate buffer. Ultra settings (98 FPS) are still playable and offer the best visuals, but the frame rate drops below 100 FPS, which may be noticeable on high refresh rate displays. Low settings (215 FPS) are overkill for most monitors and sacrifice too much visual quality.

For 3840x2160, the data indicates that High settings (72 FPS) are the best balance of visual quality and performance, providing a smooth experience just above 60 FPS. Medium settings (83 FPS) offer a slightly higher frame rate with a minor reduction in visual fidelity, and the measured minimum of 71 FPS ensures no significant drops. Low settings (112 FPS) are the best choice for users who prioritize frame rate above all else at 4K. Ultra settings (51 FPS) are not recommended for a smooth experience, as the average falls below 60 FPS, which can introduce stutter in fast-paced gameplay. Overall, the combo is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p with High or Ultra settings, while 4K users should stick to High or Medium to maintain a consistent 60+ FPS experience.