Barony

Barony is a roguelike title from 2015 that, on paper, does not appear to be a demanding showcase for modern hardware. However, the measured FPS data for the Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination reveals a nuanced performance profile that shifts dramatically based on resolution and graphical presets. The data indicates this pairing is capable of delivering exceptionally high frame rates at 1080p, but the RTX 2060 becomes a significant limiting factor as resolution scales toward 4K, particularly when ray tracing or high-fidelity settings are engaged. The following analysis breaks down the measured results, ranks this specific combo against other tested configurations, and examines the respective roles of the CPU and GPU in shaping the final output.

Resolution Scaling

The most striking observation from the measured data is how average frame rates collapse as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 261 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same Low preset drops performance to 165 FPS, a reduction of approximately 37%. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average falls further to 86 FPS, which is about 48% lower than the 1440p result and 67% lower than the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where the number of pixels to render directly impacts the frame rate.

The behavior becomes even more revealing when examining the higher quality presets. With High settings, the average FPS goes from 167 at 1080p, to 105 at 1440p, and finally to 55 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K at High is a 67% reduction in average FPS, which mirrors the Low preset's relative decline. However, the absolute numbers show that the GPU is struggling more at 4K with higher settings, as the 55 FPS average at 4K High is below the 60 FPS threshold commonly associated with smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset demonstrates the most severe scaling, with averages of 120 FPS at 1080p, 76 FPS at 1440p, and only 39 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is less than one-third of the 1080p Ultra figure, indicating that the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM and TU106 chip are overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and maximum graphical features.

The performance scaling suggests the limiting component is predominantly the GPU. The Intel Core i7-14700KF, with its 20 cores and 28 threads, is highly unlikely to be the bottleneck at any resolution in this roguelike title. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would typically have the most influence, the system reaches 261 FPS, which is far above what most displays can even refresh. As resolution increases, the GPU's workload grows faster than the CPU's, and the frame rate drops accordingly. This is the classic signature of a GPU-limited configuration. The fact that the 4K Medium preset records a minimum FPS of 55 and a maximum of 74, with an average of 64, further indicates that the GPU is working hard to maintain playable frame rates, but it is far from the headroom seen at lower resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

In the context of all tested hardware combinations for Barony, this specific pairing of the Core i7-14700KF and RTX 2060 ranks at position 2937 out of 3717 total combos. This places it in the 79th percentile of all tested configurations, meaning roughly 79% of other combos perform better in this specific game. The rank is a composite measure that likely accounts for performance across multiple settings and resolutions, and it clearly indicates that while this setup is not a top-tier performer, it is also far from the bottom of the list. The low rank relative to the CPU's capabilities is directly attributable to the GPU's mid-range standing.

To contextualize the CPU's contribution, the Core i7-14700KF holds a 94th percentile ranking against all CPUs in general benchmark suites, with an average benchmark score of 70163. Its nearest rivals in general CPU performance are the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, which scores 0.2% higher, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, which scores 0.4% higher. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is 1% faster, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is 0.9% slower. These sub-1% deltas indicate that the i7-14700KF is at the very top of the general CPU performance hierarchy. However, in Barony, the combo rank is dragged down by the GPU. The RTX 2060's general GPU percentile is 58, with an average benchmark score of 15290. Its closest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 (0% delta), the AMD Radeon 680M (0.1% faster), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (0.6% slower). This places the GPU in the middle of the pack, which aligns with the combo's overall rank.

The discrepancy between the CPU's top-tier general performance and the combo's mid-pack ranking in Barony is a clear indicator of load balancing. The data strongly suggests that the game's frame rate is being capped by the GPU's fill rate and compute throughput, not by the CPU's processing power. In a title that is less graphically intensive, this CPU might push the combo rank much higher, but the measured results for Barony show that the RTX 2060 is the constraining factor in almost every scenario.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is built on the Turing architecture, fabricated on a 12 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 445 mm² and a transistor count of 10,800 million. It features 1920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1680 MHz. Memory is provided by 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. The memory clock is rated at 1750 MHz, with an effective data rate of 14 Gbps. In terms of compute, the card delivers 6.451 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 12.90 TFLOPS of FP16 performance (at a 2:1 ratio). It also includes 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores, making it capable of hardware-accelerated ray tracing, though the game's performance at 4K Ultra suggests that these features are demanding.

The 6 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor in the 4K results. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS falls to 39, which is likely below the playable threshold for many users. While the exact VRAM usage is not provided in the data, the severe performance drop from Medium (64 FPS) to Ultra (39 FPS) at 4K suggests that the GPU is running out of memory or hitting a bandwidth wall. The 336.0 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, as evidenced by the high frame rates, but it appears insufficient for the massive pixel throughput required at 4K with maximum texture quality and post-processing effects. The RTX 2060's general GPU percentile of 58 and its average benchmark score of 15290, which is nearly identical to the GTX 580, reinforce that this is a mid-range part that is being pushed beyond its ideal operating envelope at 4K Ultra.

The GPU's performance in Barony is also reflected in its synthetic benchmarks. It scores 14111 in PassMark G3D, which is a measure of 3D graphics performance, and 5488 in PassMark GPU Compute. In DirectX 11, it scores 110, while in DirectX 12, it scores 53. These scores are relative and show that the card is more adept at older APIs than newer ones, which may influence how the game engine utilizes its features. The measured FPS data, however, is the most direct evidence: the GPU is capable of 261 FPS at 1080p Low, but only 39 FPS at 4K Ultra. This 85% performance reduction across the resolution and settings spectrum is the definitive measure of its role in this combo.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Barony with this hardware for the highest frame rate?

A: The data shows the highest average FPS is achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings, reaching 261 FPS. Even at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the average is 120 FPS, which is far above the refresh rate of most standard monitors.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the limiting factor. The Core i7-14700KF ranks in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the RTX 2060 ranks in the 58th percentile of GPUs. The frame rate drops significantly with resolution, which is a sign of GPU limitation.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Barony?

A: It can, but with compromises. At 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 86, which is playable. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 39 FPS, which is likely too low for smooth gameplay. The 4K Medium preset offers an average of 64 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rivals in general performance?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580, has a score of 15283, showing a 0% delta. The AMD Radeon 680M is 0.1% faster with 15270, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is 0.6% slower with 15199.

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

A: The only recorded minimum FPS values are for the Medium preset. At 3840x2160, the minimum is 55 FPS. At 2560x1440, the minimum is 104 FPS. At 1920x1080, the minimum is 165 FPS.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations for Barony?

A: This combo ranks 2937 out of 3717 total tested combos, placing it in the lower-mid range of all configurations tested for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four graphical presets. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are 261 FPS for Low, 194 FPS for Medium, 167 FPS for High, and 120 FPS for Ultra. The Medium preset at this resolution has a recorded minimum of 165 FPS and a maximum of 224 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the averages drop to 165 FPS for Low, 123 FPS for Medium, 105 FPS for High, and 76 FPS for Ultra. The Medium preset at 1440p shows a minimum of 104 FPS and a maximum of 141 FPS. At the highest resolution, 3840x2160, the averages are 86 FPS for Low, 64 FPS for Medium, 55 FPS for High, and 39 FPS for Ultra. The 4K Medium preset has a minimum of 55 FPS and a maximum of 74 FPS.

The data shows a consistent pattern: as resolution increases, the frame rate drops by a nearly proportional amount for each preset. For example, at Low settings, the difference between 1080p and 1440p is 96 FPS, and between 1440p and 4K is 79 FPS. At Ultra settings, the differences are 44 FPS and 37 FPS, respectively. This suggests that the GPU's rendering pipeline is being saturated at higher resolutions, and the card's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary determinants of the final output. The minimum FPS values for the Medium preset are also informative; they are consistently about 85% of the average FPS, indicating a relatively stable frame pacing without severe stutters.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 14th Generation processor from Intel, based on the Raptor Lake architecture and manufactured on a 10 nm process. It has 20 cores and 28 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The CPU supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration and has a 33 MB shared L3 cache. Its general performance is exceptional, as evidenced by a 94th percentile ranking among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 70163. In Cinebench R23, it scores 44167 in multi-core and 6235 in single-core tests. In Geekbench, it scores 21462 in multi-core and 2578 in single-core. These figures place it firmly in the high-end desktop segment.

However, the CPU's role in Barony appears to be minimal, as the game's frame rates are likely governed by the GPU. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (261 FPS) is high enough that even a significantly slower CPU would likely not be the limiting factor at lower resolutions. The fact that the average FPS at 4K Ultra is only 39 suggests that the CPU is not being challenged, as the GPU is taking far longer to render each frame. The CPU's single-thread performance, which is critical for many game engines, is strong at 6235 in Cinebench R23, but the game's roguelike genre often involves complex procedural generation and AI calculations, which could benefit from the CPU's 28 threads. Nevertheless, the data does not show any signs of CPU bottlenecking; the frame rate scaling with resolution is purely consistent with GPU limitations. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, have nearly identical general benchmark scores, but the combo rank for this specific pairing is what it is, and the CPU is not the reason for the mid-pack position.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, all presets are playable, with even Ultra settings achieving an average of 120 FPS. For users with a 144 Hz or 165 Hz monitor, the High preset at 167 FPS or the Medium preset at 194 FPS would be ideal choices to maximize smoothness. The Low preset at 261 FPS is excessive for most displays but could be useful for competitive play or to minimize input latency. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset drops to 76 FPS, which is still playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced action. The High preset at 105 FPS or the Medium preset at 123 FPS offers a better balance between visual quality and performance for 1440p displays, especially those with a 120 Hz or 144 Hz refresh rate.

For 4K gameplay, the recommendations are more constrained. The Ultra preset at 39 FPS is generally not recommended, as it may result in a less responsive experience. The High preset at 55 FPS is borderline playable, but the Medium preset at 64 FPS is the best option for a smooth 60 FPS experience at 4K. The Low preset at 86 FPS provides additional headroom, though it sacrifices visual fidelity. The data suggests that the Medium preset is the sweet spot for 4K on this hardware, as it delivers the only preset with a minimum FPS (55) that does not drop below the 60 FPS threshold for sustained periods. For users who prioritize frame rate over visual quality, the Low preset at 86 FPS is a viable alternative. In summary, the best experience per the measured rows is to use High settings at 1080p, Medium settings at 1440p, and Medium settings at 4K, as these configurations provide the highest frame rates while maintaining a reasonable level of graphical detail.