Barony

Barony is a roguelike title from 2015, and the measured performance data for the Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combination shows a configuration that is heavily skewed toward CPU capability. The system delivers playable frame rates across the board, but the relationship between the processor's substantial core count and the graphics card's mid-range position defines the experience. The data indicates that this pairing can handle the game at high refresh rates in most scenarios, though the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700K is a 20-core processor with 28 threads, based on the Raptor Lake architecture and built on Intel's 10 nm process. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz, and it boosts to 5.60 GHz. The CPU has 33 MB of shared L3 cache, along with 80 KB of L1 and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration and connects via PCIe Gen 5 with 16 lanes. This processor sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 69355.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i7-14700K demonstrates exceptional multi-threaded performance, scoring 33440.5 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 18544 in Cinebench R20 multi-core. Its single-core results are equally strong, with Cinebench R23 single-core at 2160 and Geekbench single-core at 2569. The Passmark multi-thread score of 52392 and single-thread score of 4472 reinforce this pattern. Compared to its nearest rivals, the i7-14700K is essentially on par with the AMD EPYC 9115, showing only a 0.1% delta in average score. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X sits 0.2% ahead, the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is 0.7% ahead, and the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is 0.9% ahead. These are all within a narrow band, suggesting the i7-14700K is competitively positioned among high-end desktop processors.

For Barony, which is a roguelike game likely relying on game logic and procedural generation, the CPU's 20 cores and 28 threads provide ample processing headroom. The game was released in 2015, and the data suggests it is not particularly demanding on modern hardware. At 1080p Low settings, the measured average FPS reaches 287, which is a strong indicator that the CPU is not a bottleneck in most scenarios. The high boost clock of 5.60 GHz helps with single-threaded performance, which is often critical for game simulation and logic. The CPU's percentile ranking versus all CPUs at 94 means it outperforms the vast majority of processors, and this is reflected in the frame rates that exceed 100 FPS at 1440p and 183 FPS at 1080p on High settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU built on TSMC's 12 nm process, with a die size of 445 mm² and 10,800 million transistors. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's base clock is 1470 MHz with a boost clock of 1650 MHz, and memory runs at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). It features 2176 shading units, 136 texture mapping units, and 64 raster operation units, along with 34 RT cores and 272 tensor cores. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

In terms of benchmark performance, the RTX 2060 SUPER scores 16462 in Passmark G3D and 6721 in Passmark GPU Compute. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2011. The GPU sits in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18093. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, which is 0.4% faster, and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700, which is 0.5% faster. Interestingly, the AMD Radeon RX 460 is listed as 1.5% faster, and the Intel Arc A770M is 1.6% faster, though these deltas are small and likely within measurement variance.

The GPU's role in Barony becomes apparent when examining the measured FPS data. At 4K Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 43, which is below the 60 FPS threshold commonly considered smooth. This indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the limiting component at the highest resolution and settings. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for most games, and Barony, being a 2015 roguelike, likely does not push VRAM limits. However, the GPU's raw compute power, estimated at 7.181 TFLOPS FP32, is what determines performance at 4K. The boost clock of 1650 MHz helps maintain frame rates at lower resolutions, but the GPU cannot keep up with the CPU's capabilities when the graphical load increases.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a clear scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 287. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 181, a reduction of 37%. At 4K Low, the average is 95, which is 67% lower than 1080p Low. This scaling suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck at lower resolutions, as the frame rates are exceptionally high and likely limited by the game engine or VSync. At 1080p High, the average is 183 FPS, which drops to 116 FPS at 1440p High, a 37% reduction, and further to 60 FPS at 4K High, a 67% reduction from 1080p. This pattern indicates that the GPU becomes increasingly dominant as resolution increases.

The data for Medium settings shows similar trends. At 1080p Medium, the average is 213 FPS with a minimum of 181 and maximum of 245. At 1440p Medium, the average is 135 FPS with a minimum of 114 and maximum of 155. At 4K Medium, the average is 70 FPS with a minimum of 60 and maximum of 81. The minimum FPS values at 4K Medium and 1440p Medium are notable, as they show the GPU can occasionally dip below the average, but still maintain playable levels. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a 37% drop in average FPS across all settings, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is approximately 48% for Low, 48% for High, and 48% for Medium. This consistent scaling pattern suggests that the limiting component is the GPU, as the CPU would likely not cause such uniform percentage drops across all settings.

At Ultra settings, the pattern is more pronounced. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 131 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, the average is 83 FPS, a 37% drop. At 4K Ultra, the average is 43 FPS, a 67% drop from 1080p. The fact that 4K Ultra falls below 60 FPS indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER is the primary constraint, and the CPU's high core count does not compensate for the GPU's limited throughput at high resolutions. The data suggests that for this game, resolution scaling is a reliable indicator of GPU load, and the i7-14700K has ample headroom even at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across all settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 287 FPS, which is the highest recorded value. The Medium preset averages 213 FPS with a minimum of 181 and maximum of 245. High settings average 183 FPS, and Ultra settings average 131 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a consistent scaling, with Ultra being 54% slower than Low.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 181 FPS. Medium averages 135 FPS with a minimum of 114 and maximum of 155. High averages 116 FPS, and Ultra averages 83 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is uniform across settings, with each preset showing approximately a 37% reduction in average FPS. The minimum FPS at 1440p Medium is 114, which is above the 60 FPS target, indicating smooth gameplay.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 95 FPS. Medium averages 70 FPS with a minimum of 60 and maximum of 81. High averages 60 FPS, and Ultra averages 43 FPS. The 4K Medium settings maintain a minimum of 60 FPS, which is the threshold for smooth gameplay, while High settings exactly hit 60 FPS on average. Ultra settings fall below this threshold, averaging 43 FPS, which may be noticeable in a fast-paced roguelike.

The data shows that the combination of i7-14700K and RTX 2060 SUPER can handle Barony at 1080p with any settings at frame rates exceeding 130 FPS. At 1440p, all settings except Ultra remain above 100 FPS, with Ultra at 83 FPS. At 4K, only Low and Medium settings achieve averages above 60 FPS, with High at exactly 60 FPS and Ultra at 43 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Barony, this specific pairing ranks 2616 out of 3717 combos. This places it in the lower half of all tested configurations, which is notable given the CPU's high performance. The rank suggests that while the i7-14700K is a top-tier processor, the RTX 2060 SUPER limits the overall combo's standing. The GPU's 62nd percentile ranking versus all GPUs is significantly lower than the CPU's 94th percentile, and this disparity is reflected in the combo's overall rank.

The combo rank of 2616 out of 3717 indicates that many other CPU-GPU pairings achieve better performance in Barony. This is likely because the game is not particularly demanding on the CPU, and the GPU becomes the deciding factor. The data shows that at 1080p, the frame rates are high, but at 4K, the GPU struggles. Other combos with more powerful GPUs would likely rank higher, even if their CPUs are less capable. The i7-14700K's strength in multi-threaded tasks does not translate to a high ranking in this game, as the GPU is the bottleneck at higher resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved with this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 287, recorded at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, at Medium settings the average is 70 FPS with a minimum of 60 FPS. High settings average exactly 60 FPS, but Ultra settings drop to 43 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700K has an average benchmark score of 69355, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 9115 and 0.2% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 18093.

Q: What is the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 183 at 1080p to 116 at 1440p and 60 at 4K, representing a 67% reduction from 1080p to 4K.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 43, which indicates the GPU is the limiting factor, as the CPU has ample headroom with its 20 cores and 28 threads.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p, all settings deliver high frame rates, with Ultra averaging 131 FPS. This makes Ultra the best choice for visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. The 131 FPS average is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a responsive experience for a roguelike game.

For 1440p, the Medium preset offers the best balance, averaging 135 FPS with a minimum of 114 FPS. This ensures no drops below 114 FPS, which is excellent for consistent gameplay. High settings at 1440p average 116 FPS, which is also smooth, but the minimum FPS is not recorded. Ultra settings at 1440p average 83 FPS, which is playable but may show occasional dips. For the best experience at 1440p, Medium is recommended.

For 4K, the Medium preset is the safest choice, averaging 70 FPS with a minimum of 60 FPS. This guarantees the frame rate never drops below 60 FPS, which is the standard for smooth gameplay. High settings average exactly 60 FPS, but without a recorded minimum, there is a risk of dips below 60 FPS. Low settings average 95 FPS, which is also viable, but the visual quality is reduced. Ultra settings at 4K average 43 FPS, which is below the smooth threshold and should be avoided. The data indicates that the RTX 2060 SUPER is best utilized at Medium settings for 4K, while the i7-14700K ensures the CPU does not cause any frame rate limitations.