Barony

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER delivers a performance profile in Barony that is heavily dictated by the graphics settings and resolution, with the data revealing a system capable of exceptional frame rates at 1080p but one that becomes increasingly GPU-bound as resolution climbs. The measured results show a wide variance, from a high of 314.9 FPS at 1080p Low to a low of 50.1 FPS at 4K Ultra, indicating that while the CPU is powerful, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and Turing architecture are the primary constraints at higher visual presets.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 provides the highest average frame rates across all settings, with a peak of 314.9 FPS on Low and 146.6 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 2560x1440 reduces performance significantly, with Ultra dropping to 90.7 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-core performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K's average benchmark score of 49166 is 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X's 49062 and 1% higher than the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H's 48698. It is 0.4% lower than the Intel Core i5-14600KF's 49367.

Q: Is the RTX 2070 SUPER's memory bandwidth a limiting factor in this game?

A: The GPU has a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus. Given the significant frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K, the data suggests that the GPU's memory capacity and bandwidth are likely constraints at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the performance percentile of the RTX 2070 SUPER compared to all GPUs?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has a percentile rank of 65, meaning it performs better than 65% of all GPUs in the benchmark database. Its average benchmark score is 22206.

Q: Does the CPU's boost clock play a significant role in the game's performance?

A: The i5-14600K has a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, which is a high value from the FACT PACK. This high clock speed likely contributes to the high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4642, which helps maintain high frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations in this game?

A: The combo ranks 1055 out of 1702 tested combinations in Barony, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. This suggests that while the hardware is capable, other combinations achieve better measured performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor from the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. These specifications indicate a CPU that excels in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads, which is relevant for a roguelike game like Barony where game logic and entity updates can be demanding. The CPU's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32881 and single-core score of 4642 are high, with the single-core score being particularly important for maintaining consistent frame pacing in games that may not fully utilize all 14 cores.

The benchmark data shows that the CPU holds up well against its nearest rivals. It is 0.2% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X in average benchmark score, which is a negligible difference, but it is 1% faster than the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H. This places the i5-14600K in a competitive position, though the differences are small enough to suggest that gaming performance will be more influenced by the GPU. The CPU's 24 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory provide a solid foundation, but the measured FPS in Barony suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in most scenarios, especially at higher resolutions.

At 1080p Low, the average FPS of 314.9 is extremely high, which indicates that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to reach such frame rates. The high boost clock of 5.30 GHz likely contributes to this, as roguelike games often have a single main thread that handles game logic. The data implies that the CPU is more than sufficient for the game's demands, and the performance ceiling is primarily set by the GPU.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is based on the Turing architecture with a TU104 chip, featuring 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1605 MHz and boost clock is 1770 MHz, with a memory clock of 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). The GPU has 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, which are specifications that suggest capable performance for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the 8 GB VRAM may be a limitation at 4K.

The measured FPS data reveals that the GPU is the main limiting factor as resolution increases. At 1080p, the GPU delivers very high frame rates across all settings, from 146.6 FPS on Ultra to 314.9 FPS on Low. However, at 1440p, the Ultra preset drops to 90.7 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to 50.1 FPS. This pattern is consistent with a GPU that is being pushed to its limits at higher resolutions, where the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth become more critical. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1651 and Passmark G3D score of 18169 place it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a mid-range performer.

The RTX 2070 SUPER's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX A400, which is 0.5% slower, and the AMD Radeon RX 5700, which is 2.5% slower. This shows that the GPU is competitive with other cards in its class, but it is not a high-end part. The 8 GB VRAM is a potential concern for 4K gaming, as the data shows a significant performance drop from 1440p to 4K, suggesting that the GPU's memory and bandwidth are strained at that resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER ranks 1055 out of 1702 tested combos in Barony. This places it in the 62nd percentile of all tested combinations, meaning that about 62% of the combos tested perform better. This ranking is notable because the CPU is a high-end part, but the GPU is a mid-range component, and the data suggests that the GPU holds back the overall performance.

The rank indicates that there are many other combos that achieve higher frame rates in this game, likely those with more powerful GPUs. The CPU's performance is not the issue, as it ranks in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, but the GPU's 65th percentile rank drags down the overall combo. This is a clear case where the GPU is the bottleneck, and upgrading the graphics card would likely yield a significant improvement in the combo's rank.

The data implies that for users with this combo, the performance is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it is not a top-tier setup for 4K. The rank of 1055 out of 1702 suggests that there is headroom for improvement, and the system's performance is limited by the GPU's capabilities, particularly at higher resolutions and settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo depends on the resolution and the desired frame rate. At 1080p, all settings are playable, with even the Ultra preset achieving an average of 146.6 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. For a smooth experience with high visual fidelity, the High preset at 1080p is recommended, as it delivers 201.4 FPS, which is a 37% improvement over Ultra while still offering good visuals.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers 124.5 FPS, which is excellent for most gamers, while the Ultra preset drops to 90.7 FPS. The Medium preset at 148.4 FPS provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. For 4K gaming, the data shows that the High preset achieves 66.6 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target, but the Ultra preset falls to 50.1 FPS, which may be too low for a smooth experience. In this case, the Medium preset at 80.3 FPS is a better choice, as it provides a playable frame rate while maintaining acceptable visuals.

The data suggests that the High preset is the sweet spot for this combo across all resolutions, as it consistently provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. For users who prioritize frame rate over visuals, the Low preset can be used to achieve extremely high frame rates, particularly at 1080p where it reaches 314.9 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed view of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 314.9 on Low to 146.6 on Ultra, with High at 201.4 and Medium at 232.6. This shows that the system is capable of very high frame rates at 1080p, with even the most demanding preset staying above 146 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates drop significantly. The Low preset achieves 201.6 FPS, which is still very high, but the Ultra preset falls to 90.7 FPS. The High preset at 124.5 FPS and Medium at 148.4 FPS provide good options for 1440p gaming, but the drop from 1080p is noticeable, with the Ultra preset losing 38% of its performance.

At 3840x2160, the performance is much lower. The Low preset achieves 104.3 FPS, which is still playable, but the High preset drops to 66.6 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 50.1 FPS. The Medium preset at 80.3 FPS is the best option for 4K gaming, as it provides a frame rate above 60 FPS. The data clearly shows that the combo is not ideal for 4K Ultra gaming, as the GPU is unable to maintain high frame rates at that resolution and setting.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and reveals the limiting component. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 314.9, which drops to 201.6 at 1440p and 104.3 at 4K. This represents a 36% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 67% drop from 1080p to 4K. Similarly, at Ultra settings, the FPS drops from 146.6 at 1080p to 90.7 at 1440p and 50.1 at 4K, which is a 38% and 66% drop, respectively.

This scaling pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The CPU, with its high boost clock and strong multi-core performance, is likely not the limiting factor, as the frame rates at 1080p are extremely high. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are likely being saturated at 4K, leading to the significant performance drop. The data implies that the RTX 2070 SUPER is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, and for 4K, users would need to lower settings or consider a more powerful GPU.