Barony

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT paired with the Intel Core i5-9400 delivers a wide spread of frame rates in Barony, ranging from a demanding 57.2 FPS at 4K Ultra to a blistering 394.4 FPS at 1080p Low. The data shows a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, with the CPU's six cores becoming a more significant factor only when the graphical load is lightened. This combination ranks in the 56th percentile of all tested configurations, indicating a solid, mid-to-high-tier pairing that excels at high refresh rate 1080p and 1440p gameplay.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic pattern of GPU limitation. At 1080p High, the combo produces 252.3 FPS, but this drops to 159.8 FPS at 1440p High and further to 86.1 FPS at 4K High. This represents a 65.9% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K at High settings. The scaling is even more dramatic at Low settings, where the 394.4 FPS at 1080p falls to 251.1 FPS at 1440p and 126.5 FPS at 4K, a 67.9% total decrease. These steep drops indicate that the RX 7700 XT's rendering pipeline is the primary bottleneck; as pixel count increases, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are taxed heavily.

The pattern holds across all settings presets. At Medium, the frame rate goes from 289.7 FPS at 1080p to 182.9 FPS at 1440p, then 97.4 FPS at 4K. At Ultra, the numbers are 178.9 FPS, 111.8 FPS, and 57.2 FPS respectively. The consistency of these drops—roughly 40-45% reduction for each resolution step—suggests a well-balanced system where the GPU is the sole limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the 1080p and 1440p results to be closer together, as the resolution increase would have less impact on the frame rate. The fact that 1080p Low produces 394.4 FPS, a figure well beyond typical monitor refresh rates, confirms that the i5-9400 is capable of feeding the GPU with frames efficiently at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark database places this specific CPU-GPU combination at rank 741 out of 1702 tested combos for Barony. This position, roughly in the 56th percentile, puts it in the upper-middle tier of all possible pairings. The ranking reflects the balanced nature of the components: the RX 7700 XT is a strong performer, but the i5-9400, while competent, is not a top-tier processor for this title. The data suggests that many combos with newer or higher-core-count CPUs outrank this one, particularly at lower resolutions where the CPU's role is amplified.

The GPU's individual benchmark scores help contextualize this rank. The RX 7700 XT achieves a Passmark G3D score of 22547 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 132758, placing it in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 with a delta of 0.0%, and the AMD Radeon RX 570 with a delta of -0.2%, indicating a tight cluster of similar-performing cards. However, the combo's rank of 741 out of 1702 suggests that the CPU is holding the pairing back from reaching the GPU's full potential, likely capping performance in CPU-light scenarios. The i5-9400's own percentile of 50% versus all CPUs reinforces this view; it is an average processor by modern standards.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 provides six cores and six threads, running at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This configuration, based on the Coffee Lake architecture and built on a 14 nm process, is a solid mid-range part from its generation. For Barony, a roguelike title, the data indicates that the CPU is sufficient to drive high frame rates, but it does not have the headroom of more modern processors. The L3 cache is 9 MB shared, and the system uses dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, which is adequate for this game's demands.

The benchmark results show a CPU that performs predictably. In Cinebench R23, the i5-9400 scores 7969 points in multi-core and 1125 points in single-core tests. These scores place it near the Intel Core i3-10305 and Intel Core i3-1125G4, with delta percentages of 0.2% in the average benchmark score. The fact that the 1080p Low result of 394.4 FPS is not dramatically higher than the 1440p Low result of 251.1 FPS suggests that even at low settings, the GPU is still doing significant work. However, the 1080p Ultra result of 178.9 FPS versus the 1080p Medium result of 289.7 FPS shows a clear scaling with GPU load, implying the CPU can handle these frame rates without becoming the primary bottleneck. The CPU's 65W TDP and end-of-life production status indicate it is a mature, efficient design, but not one that offers excessive performance reserves for future titles.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across all common resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. With Low settings, it achieves 394.4 FPS, which is exceptionally high. Medium settings produce 289.7 FPS, High settings yield 252.3 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 178.9 FPS. This scaling shows that even at 1080p, the GPU is the primary determinant of performance, with the settings preset having a significant impact on the final frame rate.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain highly playable. Low settings still deliver 251.1 FPS, which is above the refresh rate of most 1440p gaming monitors. Medium settings produce 182.9 FPS, High settings yield 159.8 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 111.8 FPS. This suggests that 1440p High is a sweet spot for this combo, providing a smooth experience without pushing the GPU to its limits. At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more demanding. Low settings produce 126.5 FPS, which is still respectable, but Medium drops to 97.4 FPS, High to 86.1 FPS, and Ultra to 57.2 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only configuration that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that the RX 7700 XT's 12 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus are sufficient for most scenarios but not for maxed-out 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain 100+ FPS?

A: The data shows that at 1440p Medium, the combo achieves 182.9 FPS, and at 1440p High it produces 159.8 FPS. Even at 1440p Ultra, it maintains 111.8 FPS, so all tested settings at 2560x1440 exceed the 100 FPS threshold. At 4K, only Low settings with 126.5 FPS and Medium settings with 97.4 FPS come close to or exceed that target.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its direct rivals?

A: The Intel Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2305. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i3-10305, scores 2300, a delta of 0.2%. The Intel Core i3-1125G4 also scores 2299, also a 0.2% delta. The Intel Xeon E-2134 scores 2295, a 0.4% delta, while the Intel Core i7-8809G scores 2319, a -0.6% delta, meaning the i5-9400 is slightly ahead of the i7-8809G.

Q: Is the GPU the main bottleneck at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, the data indicates this. At 4K High, the combo produces 86.1 FPS, while at 1080p High it produces 252.3 FPS, a 65.9% drop. This steep decline with increasing resolution is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the RX 7700 XT's rendering capabilities are the limiting factor.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset achieves 394.4 FPS, while the Ultra preset achieves 178.9 FPS. This represents a 54.6% reduction in frame rate when moving from Low to Ultra, showing that the settings preset has a substantial impact on the GPU workload.

Q: How does this combo rank against all tested configurations?

A: The combo holds a rank of 741 out of 1702 tested combos. This places it in the upper-middle portion of the database, indicating that it is a capable pairing but not at the very top tier of performance.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K Low, it achieves 126.5 FPS, and at 4K Medium, it achieves 97.4 FPS. However, 4K High drops to 86.1 FPS, and 4K Ultra falls to 57.2 FPS. It is playable at 4K, but users seeking 60+ FPS should stick to Medium or High settings.

Settings Recommendations

For a balance of visual quality and performance, the 1440p High preset is the clear recommendation. The measured 159.8 FPS at this setting is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate common on many gaming monitors, providing a smooth and responsive experience. The jump from High to Ultra at 1440p costs 48 FPS (from 159.8 to 111.8), a significant 30% reduction that may not be worth the visual gains in a roguelike title. For users with 1080p monitors, the High preset at 252.3 FPS is the best choice, as it offers a massive frame rate buffer for any potential performance dips. The Ultra preset at 1080p still delivers 178.9 FPS, but the extra graphical fidelity is unlikely to be noticeable during fast-paced gameplay.

For 4K displays, the Medium preset is the optimal choice. The 97.4 FPS at 4K Medium is close to the 100 FPS mark and provides a good balance between visual detail and smoothness. The High preset at 4K drops to 86.1 FPS, which is still acceptable, but Medium offers a more comfortable margin. The Ultra preset at 4K should be avoided for competitive play, as the 57.2 FPS result is below the 60 FPS threshold and would likely feel less fluid. The Low preset at any resolution offers exceptionally high frame rates—394.4 FPS at 1080p, 251.1 FPS at 1440p, and 126.5 FPS at 4K—but sacrifices visual quality. This setting is only recommended for users prioritizing absolute frame rate over graphics, such as those with very high refresh rate 1080p displays. Overall, the data shows that this combo is best utilized at 1440p with High settings, where it delivers a near-ideal blend of performance and visual fidelity.