Barony

Barony is a roguelike that rewards high frame rates more than most genres, and the Intel Core i5-14400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combo delivers them in abundance. This pairing sits at rank 84 out of 1702 tested combos in the database, placing it in the top 5% of all configurations tested for this specific game. The data shows that this is a high-tier setup that will never leave you wanting for responsiveness, even if the CPU is not the absolute top-end option available.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 84 out of 1702 tested configurations is a strong indicator of its overall capability in Barony. This places it comfortably ahead of the vast majority of systems, with only 83 other CPU-GPU pairings producing higher average frame rates across the tested settings and resolutions. The CPU itself, the Intel Core i5-14400F, holds an 88th percentile ranking against all CPUs in the database. This suggests the processor is not a bottleneck in this pairing, especially considering its multicore performance. In Cinebench R23, the i5-14400F achieves a multicore score of 21914 and a single-core score of 3093, which are robust figures for a desktop chip. When compared to its nearest rivals, the Intel Core i7-12800H (avg score 32513, deltaPct 0), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645 (avg score 32446, deltaPct 0.2), and the Intel Core i7-13705H (avg score 32586, deltaPct -0.2), the i5-14400F is effectively performance-equivalent, with deltas of less than 1%. This means that for Barony, the specific choice between these CPUs will not yield a noticeable difference in frame rates.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the dominant component in this combo, and its specifications explain why the frame rates are so high. It features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a massive 960.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. This is a critical factor for a game like Barony, which can load many assets and effects during a run. The GPU also has a high boost clock of 2617 MHz, which helps drive the raw compute performance needed to maintain high frame rates. Its architecture, Blackwell 2.0 on a 5 nm process, contains 10752 shading units and 112 ROPs, contributing to a pixel rate of 293.1 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 879.3 GTexel/s. These figures are more than sufficient to handle the graphical demands of a roguelike, even at high resolutions. The GPU holds an 89th percentile ranking against all GPUs, and its benchmark scores are substantial, with a Passmark G3D score of 36565 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 264461. The data indicates that the RTX 5080 is not the limiting factor here; it has more than enough headroom to push extreme frame rates, and the measured FPS numbers confirm this.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-14400F a bottleneck for the RTX 5080 in Barony?

A: No. The CPU's 88th percentile ranking and its performance parity with rivals like the Intel Core i7-12800H (deltaPct 0) and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7645 (deltaPct 0.2) show it can keep up with the GPU. The 21914 multicore score in Cinebench R23 indicates sufficient processing power for game logic.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve the highest frame rates?

A: At 1080p, the combo reaches 638.2 FPS on Low settings and 405 FPS on High. At 1440p, it still achieves 401 FPS on Low and 257.2 FPS on High. For 4K, the frame rates are lower, with 211.3 FPS on Low and 136.1 FPS on High, but these are still excellent for a roguelike.

Q: How does the RTX 5080's memory bandwidth affect 4K performance?

A: The 960.0 GB/s of bandwidth from the 16 GB GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus is a key reason the 4K frame rates remain high. Even at Ultra settings, the combo maintains an average of 94.6 FPS at 3840x2160, which shows the memory subsystem is well-suited for high-resolution textures and effects.

Q: Should I use Low or Ultra settings for a competitive edge in Barony?

A: If you want the absolute highest refresh rate, Low settings at 1080p provide 638.2 FPS. However, High settings at 1080p still produce 405 FPS, which is far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors, so you can opt for better visuals without sacrificing smoothness.

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

A: The RTX 5080's nearest rival is the Intel Arc A570M, which has an average score of 58239 (deltaPct 1.6), meaning the 5080 is approximately 1.6% faster. It also leads the Intel Arc Pro A60 (60326, deltaPct -1.9) by 1.9%. These are minor differences, but the 5080 sits at the top of this group.

Q: What is the launch MSRP for the components in this combo?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F has a launch MSRP of $196, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 has a launch MSRP of 999 USD.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data provides a clear picture of performance across all settings. At 1920x1080, the combo produces an average of 638.2 FPS on Low, 472 FPS on Medium, 405 FPS on High, and 291.9 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 2560x1440, the averages are 401 FPS on Low, 297.7 FPS on Medium, 257.2 FPS on High, and 181.4 FPS on Ultra. At the demanding 3840x2160 resolution, the frame rates drop to 211.3 FPS on Low, 157.7 FPS on Medium, 136.1 FPS on High, and 94.6 FPS on Ultra. These numbers illustrate a consistent scaling pattern; the delta between Low and Ultra is roughly 54% at 1080p (from 638.2 down to 291.9 FPS), and the same pattern holds at higher resolutions. The GPU's power is evident because even at 4K Ultra, the average is still nearly 95 FPS, which is well above the standard 60 FPS target for smooth play.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals how the load shifts. At High settings, the average FPS goes from 405 at 1080p, to 257.2 at 1440p, and finally to 136.1 at 4K. This represents a 37% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 47% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is more aggressive at higher resolutions, which is typical. At Low settings, the drop is steeper in absolute terms: from 638.2 FPS at 1080p to 401 FPS at 1440p (a 37% decrease), and then to 211.3 FPS at 4K (a 47% decrease from 1440p). This pattern indicates that the RTX 5080 is being stressed more as resolution increases, but the CPU maintains its part, as the frame rates do not collapse. The fact that 4K Low still produces 211.3 FPS confirms that the GPU is the primary driver of performance here, but the i5-14400F has enough headroom to avoid becoming a limiting factor.

Settings Recommendations

For most players, the High preset at 2560x1440 offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. The data shows 257.2 FPS average at this setting, which is more than enough for any high-refresh-rate monitor and provides a significantly better visual experience than Low or Medium. If you are playing on a 4K display, the High preset at 3840x2160 (136.1 FPS) is the recommended choice, as it maintains a high frame rate while still looking excellent. For those who prioritize maximum smoothness above all else, especially in a fast-paced roguelike where reaction time matters, the Low preset at 1080p (638.2 FPS) is the extreme option, but it comes at the cost of visual quality. The Ultra preset is not recommended for serious play, as the 94.6 FPS at 4K is still playable but shows a 30% decrease from High, offering diminishing returns in graphical quality for a significant FPS hit. Based on the measured rows, High is the sweet spot across all resolutions, providing a frame rate that is never below 136 FPS while delivering a richer visual presentation.