Barony

Barony is a roguelike that scales heavily with raw CPU throughput, and the Intel Core i7-13700K provides that in spades. With 16 cores and 24 threads running at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost of 5.40 GHz, the processor is a top-tier contender for this title. The data shows this combo achieves a 42% percentile ranking among all CPUs, sitting comfortably above the median, with an average benchmark score of 46881. Its nearest rivals in synthetic tests include the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375, both of which score within 0.3% of the i7-13700K, indicating that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this pairing. For a game like Barony, where procedural generation and simulation logic can hammer a single thread, the i7-13700K’s single-thread performance—evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 1136 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2116—ensures that game logic remains fluid even when the GPU is pushing high frame rates. The CPU’s 30 MB of shared L3 cache also helps with the rapid data access patterns typical of roguelike dungeon generation, reducing latency that could otherwise cause hitches.

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

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor built on Intel’s Raptor Lake architecture, using a 10 nm process node. Its high boost clock of 5.40 GHz is the standout feature for Barony, as the game’s turn-based yet real-time hybrid combat and dynamic world generation often rely on a few heavily loaded threads. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU achieves a passmark single-thread score of 4333 and a 3DMark 2-thread score of 2262, which are strong indicators of its ability to handle the game’s main thread. The multithreaded scores are equally robust—Cinebench R23 multicore hits 30745, and passmark multithread reaches 45887—meaning that when Barony spawns numerous AI entities or performs complex pathfinding across the dungeon, the extra cores can be utilized to keep frame times consistent. The CPU’s percentile vs all CPUs is 89, placing it in the top 11% of all processors tested, and its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, scores only 0.2% higher on average, a negligible difference in real-world gaming. For this specific game, the data suggests the CPU is more than sufficient; the bottleneck will almost always be the GPU, especially at higher resolutions. The processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus, and while the game’s memory bandwidth demands are modest, the 30 MB L3 cache provides a generous buffer for frequently accessed game assets.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves at 1080p, and at which settings?

A: The highest average FPS is 315, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This indicates that the combination of the i7-13700K and RX 9060 can push frame rates far beyond typical monitor refresh rates when graphical fidelity is reduced.

Q: How does the CPU’s benchmark score compare to its closest rival, and does that difference matter for Barony?

A: The i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 46881, which is 0.2% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 5900’s score of 46971. This 0.2% delta is negligible for Barony, as the game’s performance is more dependent on single-thread speed and GPU capabilities, both of which are ample in this setup.

Q: Is the GPU a limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 48, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Even at High settings, the average is 66 FPS, suggesting that the RX 9060 is the primary constraint at 4K, while the CPU has headroom to spare.

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank among all tested system combinations for Barony?

A: The combo ranks 1704 out of 2935 total tested combinations, placing it in the 58th percentile. This indicates that while it’s not a top-tier setup for this game, it outperforms the majority of systems, particularly in mid-range and high-refresh-rate scenarios.

Q: Does the RX 9060’s synthetic benchmark performance align with its in-game results?

A: The GPU’s average benchmark score is 16014, with a percentile of 59 vs all GPUs. Its closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, scores 16129, which is 0.7% higher. In Barony, the GPU’s performance scales as expected; at 1080p Low settings it achieves 315 FPS, but at 4K Ultra it falls to 48 FPS, reflecting a typical resolution-dependent curve.

Q: Are there any settings where the minimum FPS is reported, and what does that tell us about stability?

A: Only the Medium settings at each resolution report minimum FPS values. At 1080p Medium, the min is 199 FPS; at 1440p Medium, it’s 126 FPS; and at 4K Medium, it’s 66 FPS. These minimums are relatively close to the averages, indicating that the game maintains stable frame pacing under medium graphical loads, without severe drops.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo delivers 315 FPS, which drops to 199 FPS at 2560x1440 (a 37% reduction) and further to 104 FPS at 3840x2160 (a 48% reduction from 1440p). This steep decline as resolution increases strongly indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the limiting component at higher pixel counts. The GPU, with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus providing 288.0 GB/s bandwidth, is designed for 1080p and 1440p gaming, not 4K ultra settings. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 201, which is still very high, but at 4K Ultra, it plummets to 48 FPS—a 76% drop from 1080p High. This pattern is consistent across all settings: the gap between 1080p and 1440p is roughly 30-40%, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is another 40-50%, showing that the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are being saturated. The CPU, on the other hand, shows no signs of bottlenecking, as its synthetic scores suggest it could handle even higher frame rates if the GPU were faster. For players targeting 4K, the data suggests that Low or Medium settings are necessary to maintain playable frame rates, with 104 FPS at 4K Low being the only 4K option above 100 FPS. At 1440p, Medium settings yield 148 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors, and even Ultra at 1440p hits 91 FPS, which is playable for most titles. The resolution scaling data makes it clear that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where the CPU’s strength can be fully utilized without being held back by the GPU.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks 1704 out of 2935 tested system combos in Barony, placing it in the 58th percentile of all systems. This ranking is notably lower than what the individual component benchmarks might suggest. The CPU alone sits in the 89th percentile among all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 59th percentile among all GPUs, yet their combined performance in this game is only slightly above average. This discrepancy arises because Barony is not a graphically intensive title; it relies more on CPU logic and less on GPU rendering. Therefore, a system with a weaker CPU but a stronger GPU might rank higher, as the GPU becomes the primary driver of FPS at higher resolutions. The combo’s rank of 1704 indicates that while it’s in the top 58% of systems, there are 1703 other combos that perform better, likely featuring more powerful GPUs like the RTX 3060 Ti (which scores 0.7% higher on the GPU benchmark) paired with CPUs that are slightly weaker but still sufficient. The delta between the RX 9060 and its nearest rivals—such as the AMD Radeon RX 7700, which scores 1% lower—shows that the GPU is in a mid-range segment, and this directly impacts the combo’s overall placement. For context, if the GPU were swapped for a higher-tier card, the combo’s rank would likely improve significantly, but as configured, it’s a balanced mid-ranger that excels at 1080p and 1440p but struggles to stand out in the overall rankings. The data also shows that the combo’s performance is consistent with its component scores; the CPU’s 0.2% deficit to the Ryzen 9 5900 and the GPU’s 0.7% deficit to the RTX 3060 Ti both contribute to a system that’s competitive but not class-leading.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all settings produce playable frame rates, but the sweet spot is High settings, which delivers 201 FPS. This is more than enough for any high-refresh-rate monitor, and it offers better visual fidelity than Low (315 FPS) or Medium (235 FPS) without the performance cost of Ultra (144 FPS). The jump from Medium to High is only a 14% FPS reduction, but the visual improvement is noticeable in Barony’s dungeon environments. At 2560x1440, High settings again provide the best balance, with 127 FPS, which is still above 120 FPS for smooth gaming. Medium at 1440p yields 148 FPS, which is slightly higher, but High offers better shadows and textures that can help with visibility in dark corridors. Ultra at 1440p drops to 91 FPS, which is still playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. For 3840x2160, the situation changes drastically. Ultra settings produce 48 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold and likely to feel stuttery. High settings at 4K give 66 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. Medium settings at 4K give 77 FPS, with a minimum of 66 FPS, which is the best compromise for 4K gaming. Low settings at 4K hit 104 FPS, but the visual quality is significantly degraded, making it a poor choice for a game that relies on environmental cues. Therefore, the recommended presets are: High at 1080p and 1440p for the best balance of visuals and performance, and Medium at 4K for a stable 77 FPS average with a minimum of 66 FPS. If 4K is a priority and visual fidelity is less important, Low at 104 FPS is the only way to exceed 100 FPS at that resolution.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo’s performance is exceptional across the board. Low settings produce an average FPS of 315, which is the highest recorded in the dataset. Medium settings yield 235 FPS, with a minimum of 199 FPS and a maximum of 270 FPS, showing consistent frame delivery. High settings drop to 201 FPS, still far above any practical refresh rate. Ultra settings at 1080p deliver 144 FPS, which is exactly 144 FPS for 144Hz monitors, making it a viable option for those who want maximum visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. At 2560x1440, Low settings achieve 199 FPS, which is a significant drop from 1080p but still very high. Medium settings at 1440p are the most stable, with an average of 148 FPS, a minimum of 126 FPS, and a maximum of 170 FPS. High settings at 1440p produce 127 FPS, which is borderline for 144Hz displays but excellent for 120Hz panels. Ultra at 1440p falls to 91 FPS, which is still above 60 FPS and playable for most users. At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more constrained. Low settings give 104 FPS, which is the only 4K setting above 100 FPS. Medium settings at 4K yield 77 FPS, with a minimum of 66 FPS and a maximum of 89 FPS, indicating some variance but generally stable performance. High settings at 4K drop to 66 FPS, which is just at the 60 FPS threshold, but the lack of minimum FPS data suggests it may dip lower. Ultra at 4K is the worst performer, with 48 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay and likely to cause noticeable stuttering in fast-moving scenes. The data shows a clear trend: the combo excels at 1080p and 1440p, with High settings being the sweet spot, while 4K requires either Medium or Low settings to maintain playable frame rates. The minimum FPS values, only available for Medium settings, highlight that stability is best at this preset, with the 1080p Medium minimum of 199 FPS being particularly impressive.