Barony

Barony is an older roguelike title, yet the benchmark data for the Intel Core i5-14600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER reveals a configuration that handles it with overwhelming force. The measured frame rates across all resolutions and settings are exceptionally high, indicating that this combination is far more powerful than the game demands. The data suggests a system that provides a smooth experience even at 4K, with the primary bottleneck shifting between the CPU and GPU depending on the resolution and preset chosen.

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

The Intel Core i5-14600KF is a 14-core processor with 20 threads, built on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its base clock is 3.50 GHz, and it can boost up to 5.30 GHz, which are strong figures for a desktop CPU. The processor's benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32544 and a single-core score of 4594. This single-core performance is particularly relevant for Barony, as many roguelikes rely heavily on a single primary game thread for logic and world simulation.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 90 indicates it outperforms the vast majority of all tested CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 49394 places it in close competition with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which has an average score of 49228, a negligible 0.3% difference. This suggests the i5-14600KF is a top-tier performer, and in a game like Barony, this raw processing power translates to very high frame rates, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is not the limiting factor.

At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 316 FPS. This extraordinarily high frame rate is a direct result of the CPU's ability to feed the GPU with data quickly. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache and the high boost clock ensure that the game's logic, pathfinding, and procedural generation are processed without creating a bottleneck. The data indicates that at this resolution and setting, the i5-14600KF is the dominant component, pushing the frame rate to a level where the GPU's rendering speed is the only thing preventing an even higher score. The CPU's performance headroom is vast, as evidenced by the fact that even at 4K Ultra, the system still maintains a playable 48 FPS, suggesting the processor is never the primary constraint in this title.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1605 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz. The GPU's benchmarks show a Passmark G3D score of 18169, and it sits in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its performance is closely matched by rivals like the Intel Arc A750, which has an average score of 20582, a 1.5% difference, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, with a 1.2% difference. This places the RTX 2070 SUPER firmly in the mid-to-high range of graphics cards.

In Barony, the GPU's role becomes more apparent as the resolution increases. The game is not graphically demanding, but the 8 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for its textures and effects. At 4K Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 48 FPS, which is a clear sign that the GPU is now the limiting component. The data shows a significant performance cost for the highest visual quality at 4K, with the average FPS falling from 78 at Medium to 48 at Ultra, a decrease of 30 FPS. This indicates that the RTX 2070 SUPER's processing power is being fully utilized at that resolution and setting.

The GPU's 9.062 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is ample for this title. The difference between Low and High settings at 4K is 104 FPS versus 67 FPS, a 37 FPS drop, which highlights the GPU's workload scaling with visual fidelity. The data implies that while the CPU has no trouble keeping up, the RTX 2070 SUPER's fill rate and shader processing are what determine the final frame rate at higher resolutions. The GPU is a capable partner, but it is the component that will cause frame rates to dip when settings and resolution are pushed to their limits.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER ranks at 2153 out of 3717 tested combinations in Barony. This rank, which places it in the top 58% of all combos, might seem surprisingly low for a system with such high individual component scores. However, this ranking is relative to all other tested systems, many of which likely feature more recent and powerful GPUs. The data suggests that while this combo is powerful, it is not at the very top of the charts because the RTX 2070 SUPER is a previous-generation card.

The combo's rank of 2153 does not reflect poorly on its performance in absolute terms. The measured frame rates are all exceptionally high, and the system is capable of running the game at 4K Ultra with an average of 48 FPS. The ranking is more a reflection of the competitive landscape, where newer GPUs like the RTX 3070 Mobile or the Intel Arc B570, which are close rivals to the RTX 2070 SUPER, might be paired with equally strong CPUs to achieve even higher frame rates.

The data implies that the combo is balanced, but the GPU is the weaker link. The CPU is a top-10% performer, while the GPU is in the 65th percentile. This imbalance means that in a game like Barony, the system's overall rank is dragged down by the GPU's relative position. The high average FPS at 1080p and 1440p shows that the combo is more than sufficient for high-refresh-rate monitors, but its rank in the database is a reminder that there are more powerful pairings available. The performance is great, but the combo's position is a result of the GPU's age relative to the CPU's modernity.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system's performance across different resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system delivers outstanding results. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 316 FPS. At Medium, the average is 235 FPS, with a minimum of 200 and a maximum of 270. High settings yield an average of 202 FPS, and Ultra settings produce an average of 145 FPS. These numbers show that at 1080p, the system is never challenged, and even the most demanding settings provide a frame rate that is well above what any standard monitor can display.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain very high. Low settings average 199 FPS, Medium averages 148 FPS (with a min of 126 and max of 171), High averages 127 FPS, and Ultra averages 91 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant but expected, with the Ultra setting falling by 54 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is starting to work harder, but the system still provides a very smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the performance is still playable but the GPU's limits become evident. Low settings average 104 FPS, Medium averages 78 FPS (with a min of 66 and max of 89), High averages 67 FPS, and Ultra averages 48 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 56 FPS, which is the largest difference across any resolution. This data shows that for a consistently smooth 60 FPS experience at 4K, users would need to stick to Medium settings or lower. The frame rate data is clear: this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can push very high refresh rates, but it can still manage 4K with some compromises.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a high refresh rate?

A: At 1920x1080, the system averages 202 FPS on High settings, which is ideal for a 144Hz or 240Hz monitor. Even at 2560x1440, the average FPS on High is 127, which is still excellent for a high-refresh-rate display.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, it can, but with compromises. At 4K with Medium settings, the average FPS is 78, which is smooth. However, at Ultra settings, the average drops to 48 FPS, which may not be ideal for fast-paced gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600KF has an average benchmark score of 49394, which is 0.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7900's score of 49228. The performance difference is negligible.

Q: Is the RTX 2070 SUPER a bottleneck for the i5-14600KF in Barony?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 48 FPS, indicating the GPU is being fully utilized. At 1080p Low, the CPU is more of a factor, as the GPU can render frames quickly enough to hit 316 FPS.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between 1080p and 4K on High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the average FPS is 202. At 4K High, the average FPS is 67. This is a drop of 135 FPS, or roughly 67%.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The lowest minimum FPS recorded in the data is 66, which occurs at 4K with Medium settings. This is still a playable frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo depends on the user's display and preference for visual quality. For users with a 1080p high-refresh-rate monitor (144Hz or higher), the High settings preset is the best choice. It delivers an average of 202 FPS, which is well above the refresh rate, and provides a better visual experience than Low settings. For those with a 1440p monitor, High settings are also recommended, as the average of 127 FPS is still very high and will make full use of most 144Hz displays. Ultra settings at 1440p, with an average of 91 FPS, are also viable if visual fidelity is the priority.

At 4K, the recommendation is to use Medium settings. The average of 78 FPS is smooth and provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. High settings at 4K drop the average to 67 FPS, which is still playable, but Medium offers a more consistent experience with a minimum FPS of 66. Ultra settings at 4K, with an average of 48 FPS, are not recommended for a smooth experience. The data indicates that Medium at 4K is the sweet spot for this combo, as it provides a frame rate that is high enough for most games while maintaining a solid level of visual detail.

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

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic pattern of GPU limitation. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 316 at 1080p to 199 at 1440p and finally to 104 at 4K. This is a drop of 117 FPS (37%) from 1080p to 1440p, and a further drop of 95 FPS (48%) from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is not linear, and the percentage drop increases with resolution, which is typical when the GPU becomes the bottleneck.

At High settings, the pattern is similar, with FPS dropping from 202 at 1080p to 127 at 1440p and 67 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 75 FPS (37%), and from 1440p to 4K is 60 FPS (47%). This consistent percentage drop across settings suggests that the GPU is the primary factor limiting performance as resolution increases. The CPU's performance is not affected by resolution in the same way, so the fact that frame rates drop so significantly at 4K points directly to the RTX 2070 SUPER being the limiting component.

The data implies that the i5-14600KF has plenty of headroom to support a more powerful GPU. The frame rate differences between 1080p and 4K are almost entirely due to the GPU's rendering load. At 1080p Low, the system hits 316 FPS, likely a limit imposed by the CPU's single-thread speed or the game's engine, but at 4K Ultra, the GPU is maxed out, resulting in 48 FPS. This scaling behavior confirms that for this combo, the CPU is the stronger component, and users looking for higher 4K performance would need to upgrade the GPU before the CPU.