Barony

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT delivers a remarkably consistent experience in Barony, a roguelike that clearly favors high frame rates. The measured data reveals a combination that is capable of crushing 1080p and 1440p, while still providing a playable, though less fluid, 4K experience. The benchmark results paint a picture of a system where the GPU takes the lead at higher resolutions, but the CPU proves more than sufficient for this title's demands at lower settings.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is significant, but the pattern is not uniform across all settings. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 280 at 1920x1080 to 177 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 103 FPS (36.8%). Moving from 1440p to 4K at Low settings, the average drops from 177 to 92 FPS, a further reduction of 85 FPS (48.0%). This steep decline at higher resolutions strongly indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT's rendering capabilities become the primary limiting factor as pixel count increases.

The scaling pattern shifts when we look at High settings. The transition from 1080p (179 FPS) to 1440p (113 FPS) results in a 66 FPS drop (36.9%), and the move from 1440p to 4K (59 FPS) results in a 54 FPS drop (47.8%). While the percentage drops are similar to Low settings, the absolute frame rates at 4K fall below the 60 FPS threshold, highlighting that the GPU is being pushed to its limits. The data implies that the RX 5700 XT has ample headroom at lower resolutions, but its pixel throughput is the bottleneck preventing high refresh rates at 4K.

Interestingly, the Ultra preset shows a similar pattern but with lower overall performance. The jump from 1080p Ultra (128 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (81 FPS) is a 47 FPS decrease, and the subsequent drop to 4K Ultra (42 FPS) is a 39 FPS decrease. The 4K Ultra result of 42 FPS confirms that this combination is not suited for maximum fidelity at 4K. The data suggests that the scaling is largely predictable and GPU-bound, with the CPU maintaining a sufficient frame feed even at the lower resolutions where the GPU can produce very high frame rates.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, built on the RDNA 1.0 architecture with the Navi 10 chip, is the central component in determining the frame rates at higher resolutions. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides a substantial 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is essential for handling the texture and geometry data at 4K. The GPU's boost clock of 1905 MHz and game clock of 1755 MHz help drive its 9.754 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. These specifications translate directly to the measured results, where the GPU's compute and memory bandwidth are the deciding factors between a playable and a stuttering experience at 4K.

The GPU's performance percentile of 59 against all GPUs places it in the upper-midrange tier, and its benchmark results reinforce this position. Its Passmark G3D score of 16277 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2134 are indicative of its capabilities. The data shows that the RX 5700 XT is a capable 1440p performer, as evidenced by the high average FPS at that resolution (113 FPS on High, 177 FPS on Low). However, the 4K results, where the average FPS at High settings is 59 and at Ultra is only 42, reveal the card's limitations when pushed to higher pixel counts. The GPU is clearly the dominant factor in the scaling from 1440p to 4K, as the CPU's role becomes less critical when the GPU is saturated.

The nearest rivals to the RX 5700 XT, based on average benchmark scores, include the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (deltaPct 0.1), NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell (deltaPct -0.3), and AMD Radeon PRO W7500 (deltaPct -0.3). These are all within a very tight performance band, suggesting that the RX 5700 XT's core performance is competitive with these workstation and professional cards. However, in Barony, the RX 5700 XT's specific strengths and weaknesses will determine its real-world performance, and the data shows it is quite strong in this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400, a 6-core, 6-thread processor from the Coffee Lake architecture, plays a supporting role in this pairing. Its base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.10 GHz are adequate for feeding the GPU. The processor's 9 MB of shared L3 cache is a notable asset for gaming, as it reduces the need to access slower system memory. The i5-9400's performance percentile of 47 against all CPUs places it in the middle of the pack, but its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6629 and a single-core score of 935, show it has enough power to avoid being a bottleneck in most gaming scenarios.

In Barony, the CPU appears to have little trouble keeping up with the GPU's demands. At 1080p Low, the average FPS of 280 is extremely high, suggesting that the CPU is not limiting the frame rate even when the GPU is producing hundreds of frames per second. The single-core performance is often critical for roguelikes, and the i5-9400's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 935 and Geekbench single-core score of 1389 indicate a solid foundation. The data implies that the CPU's six physical cores are more than sufficient for this title, as the game likely does not utilize a massive number of threads.

The i5-9400's nearest rivals, including the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (deltaPct -0.2) and Intel Core i7-10710U (deltaPct 0.3), have nearly identical average benchmark scores. This suggests that the i5-9400 is firmly in a performance tier where it can provide consistent frame pacing. The fact that the FPS does not collapse at lower resolutions, where CPU overhead is more likely to be exposed, is a strong indicator that the CPU is not a limiting factor in this combination. The data suggests that the i5-9400 is a capable partner for the RX 5700 XT in this specific game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combination performs exceptionally well across all settings. The Low preset yields an average of 280 FPS, while the Medium preset produces an average of 209 FPS, with a minimum of 177 and a maximum of 240 FPS. The High preset delivers an average of 179 FPS, and the Ultra preset still maintains a very high average of 128 FPS. These numbers indicate that the system is more than capable of driving high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p, even with the most demanding settings. The gap between Low and Ultra is 152 FPS, showing that the GPU is heavily utilized but still has plenty of performance to spare.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's workload. The Low preset averages 177 FPS, which is a significant drop from 1080p but still excellent. The Medium preset averages 132 FPS, with a minimum of 112 and a maximum of 151 FPS. The High preset averages 113 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 81 FPS. These results confirm that 1440p is the sweet spot for this hardware, offering high frame rates even on the High and Ultra presets. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is consistent, with roughly a 35-40% drop in average FPS across all presets.

At 3840x2160, the limitations of the GPU become apparent. The Low preset averages 92 FPS, which is still playable. The Medium preset averages 69 FPS, with a minimum of 58 FPS. The High preset averages 59 FPS, which is right at the edge of the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset, however, drops to an average of 42 FPS, which is not ideal for a fast-paced roguelike. The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is overkill, 1440p is ideal, and 4K is only viable for lower settings. The Medium preset's minimum FPS of 58 at 4K is the only recorded minimum that dips below 60 FPS, suggesting that most settings can maintain a reasonably stable frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is ranked 2760 out of 3717 tested combos in Barony. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the ranking, which is somewhat surprising given the high frame rates measured. This discrepancy suggests that many other tested combinations in the database are capable of even higher frame rates, likely due to more powerful CPUs or GPUs. The rank of 2760 indicates that while this combo is far from the bottom, it is not competitive with the top-tier systems in this database.

The percentile ranking of this combo implies that there are 957 other configurations that perform better in this game. This could be due to the CPU's mid-range standing (47th percentile) or the GPU's 59th percentile. However, the measured FPS data shows that the combo is very capable in absolute terms. The ranking likely reflects the presence of many high-end systems in the database, not a weakness in this specific pairing. The i5-9400's average benchmark score of 2254 and the RX 5700 XT's average score of 16361 are both respectable, but they are not at the top of their respective charts.

The data suggests that this combo is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, but its overall rank in the database is dragged down by the sheer number of more powerful combinations. The fact that the combo achieves a 59 FPS average at 4K High reflects its capability, but the rank of 2760 shows that many other systems can do better. For a player with this hardware, the data implies that they should stick to 1440p to get the best experience, as the system's ranking is more competitive at that resolution than at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this hardware is at 2560x1440 with the High preset, which produces an average of 113 FPS. This resolution and setting combination offers a perfect balance between visual fidelity and performance, providing a smooth and responsive experience that is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 1440p is the clear sweet spot, as it delivers a significant visual upgrade over Medium while maintaining a high frame rate.

For players who prioritize maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 1920x1080 (280 FPS) or 2560x1440 (177 FPS) is the best choice. These settings are ideal for competitive play or for those with high-refresh-rate displays. The Medium preset at 1440p, with an average of 132 FPS, is also a strong option for those who want a balance between quality and speed. At 4K, the only recommended preset is Low, which averages 92 FPS. The Medium and High presets at 4K, at 69 and 59 FPS respectively, are borderline playable, but the Ultra preset at 42 FPS is not recommended for a game that requires quick reactions.

The data clearly shows that the Ultra preset should be avoided at 4K, and even at 1440p, its 81 FPS average is lower than the High preset's 113 FPS. The visual difference between High and Ultra is often minimal, but the performance cost is significant. Therefore, the High preset is the recommended choice for the best overall experience. For 1080p, all presets are viable, but the Ultra preset at 128 FPS is still excellent. The recommendation is to prioritize 1440p High for the best combination of image quality and frame rate.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution and settings for this hardware in Barony?*

A: The best experience is at 2560x1440 with the High preset, yielding an average of 113 FPS. This provides a high frame rate with good visual quality, far exceeding the 60 FPS target.

*Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Barony?*

A: Yes, but with limitations. The Low preset at 3840x2160 averages 92 FPS, and the Medium preset averages 69 FPS. The High preset averages 59 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to 42 FPS, which is not recommended.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: At higher resolutions like 4K, the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is the primary limiting factor. At 1080p and 1440p, the CPU is sufficient, as evidenced by the very high frame rates (up to 280 FPS at 1080p Low).

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This combo is ranked 2760 out of 3717 tested combinations in Barony. While this is in the lower-middle of the database, the measured FPS is still very high, indicating the rank is due to the presence of many more powerful systems.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 177 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 81 FPS. This is a difference of 96 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for maximum visual fidelity.

Q: What are the minimum FPS figures for the Medium preset?

A: At 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum FPS is 177. At 2560x1440 Medium, it is 112, and at 3840x2160 Medium, it is 58. This shows a stable frame rate at lower resolutions, with a dip below 60 FPS only at 4K.