Barony

The Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti pairing in Barony represents a high-end desktop configuration that delivers exceptional frame rates across all tested settings. Benchmark data shows this CPU sits in the 96th percentile against all processors, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44,557 and a single-core score of 6,290. The 20-core, 28-thread design with a 3.40 GHz base clock and 5.60 GHz boost clock provides substantial headroom for a roguelike title, where the primary bottleneck is typically the GPU rather than the CPU. This combination ranks 434th out of 1,702 tested combos in this game, placing it comfortably in the top quarter of all configurations.

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

The i7-14700KF brings 20 cores and 28 threads to the table, running at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and boosting up to 5.60 GHz. This Raptor Lake Refresh architecture chip features 33 MB of shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, though the benchmark results here do not distinguish between memory types. For Barony, a roguelike that relies heavily on procedural generation and game logic calculations, the high single-thread performance is particularly relevant. The Geekbench single-core score of 2,972 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6,290 indicate that the CPU can handle the game's simulation and AI workloads without creating a frame-time bottleneck, even at high frame rates.

The multi-threaded capabilities are also substantial, with Passmark multithread score of 52,425 and Cinebench R23 multi-core at 44,557. While Barony may not fully utilize all 28 threads, the sheer compute headroom ensures that background processes and game logic never interfere with rendering performance. The CPU's percentile ranking of 96 versus all CPUs means it outperforms 96% of processors on the market, and its average benchmark score of 70,104 places it in close competition with the Intel Core i7-14700K (70,074, 0% delta) and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (70,420, -0.4% delta). This near-parity with top-tier rivals suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor in any of the measured FPS results.

In practical terms for Barony, the CPU's 5.60 GHz boost clock is what allows the game to maintain minimum frame rates well above playable thresholds. The data shows that even the most demanding setting at 4K Ultra produces an average of 72.3 FPS, indicating that the CPU is providing consistent frame delivery without stutter-prone dips. The Passmark physics score of 2,961 reinforces that the processor handles the game's collision detection and entity management efficiently.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The RTX 3080 Ti is the primary driver of visual performance in this configuration. Built on the Ampere architecture with a GA102 chip, this GPU features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, delivering 912.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The 10,240 shading units and 80 RT cores provide 34.10 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, which is more than sufficient for a roguelike's rendering demands. The GPU's 1,365 MHz base clock boosts to 1,665 MHz, and the memory runs at 19 Gbps effective. With a Passmark G3D score of 26,896, this card sits in the 83rd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41,224.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the RTX 3080 Ti's average score is 41,224, which puts it -0.5% behind the RTX 3090 (41,441) and -0.9% behind the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (41,610). The data shows the GPU's performance is tightly clustered with these alternatives, meaning the 12 GB VRAM capacity is the differentiator rather than raw compute. For Barony, the 12 GB frame buffer is more than adequate, as the game's art style and texture complexity do not approach the card's memory limits. The measured FPS results demonstrate that the GPU scales predictably with resolution and settings changes, with 1080p Low hitting 470.6 FPS and 4K Ultra dropping to 72.3 FPS.

The bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s ensures that texture streaming and asset loading do not cause hitches, even when moving between procedurally generated rooms. The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4 compatibility align well with modern rendering paths, though Barony's roguelike nature means the visual effects are typically not as demanding as AAA first-person shooters. The GPU compute score of 15,282 and OpenCL score of 191,309 suggest that any compute-based post-processing effects the game might use will run smoothly.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific CPU-GPU pairing achieves a rank of 434 out of 1,702 tested combinations in Barony, placing it in the top 25.5% of all configurations. This ranking reflects the balance between the CPU's strong single-thread performance and the GPU's high-end rasterization capabilities. Given that the CPU ranks in the 96th percentile and the GPU in the 83rd percentile independently, the combo rank of 434 suggests that the GPU is the more limiting factor in this pairing for Barony's workload. The delta between the combo's rank and the individual component percentiles indicates that there are many combinations with slightly stronger GPUs that achieve better frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions.

The measured data supports this interpretation: at 1080p, the frame rates are so high (296.5 FPS on High, 470.6 FPS on Low) that the CPU becomes the limiting factor, as the GPU is not fully stressed. At 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 72.3 FPS, which is still well above playable but shows the GPU's scaling limits. The combo's rank of 434 out of 1,702 means there are 433 combinations that perform better in this game, likely featuring more powerful GPUs like the RTX 3090 or RTX 5070 (which are within 1.1% of the 3080 Ti's average score) paired with similarly strong CPUs. However, the combination is significantly better than the median tested combo, indicating that this is a high-performing configuration for Barony.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of this combo's performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the results are consistently high: Low settings produce 470.6 FPS, Medium reaches 347.5 FPS, High achieves 296.5 FPS, and Ultra drops to 211.4 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is heavily CPU-bound, as even the Ultra preset maintains over 200 FPS, leaving the GPU with significant headroom. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 55% reduction in frame rate, which is typical for roguelikes with varying shadow and lighting effects.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains excellent. Low settings deliver 296.1 FPS, Medium produces 220.6 FPS, High achieves 191.1 FPS, and Ultra drops to 135.8 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p reduces frame rates by approximately 37-38% across all settings, which is consistent with the increase in pixel count. At this resolution, the GPU begins to play a more significant role, but the system still delivers smooth gameplay even on Ultra. The 135.8 FPS at 1440p Ultra demonstrates that this combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1440p monitors.

At 3840x2160, the performance is still respectable but shows the GPU's limits. Low settings produce 157.9 FPS, Medium reaches 116.1 FPS, High achieves 98.5 FPS, and Ultra drops to 72.3 FPS. The 4K Ultra result of 72.3 FPS is the only measured figure that falls below the 100 FPS threshold, but it remains above the 60 FPS standard for playability. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K shows a 54% reduction in frame rate, similar to the 1080p scaling, indicating that the game's settings have a consistent impact on GPU load regardless of resolution. The jump from 1440p to 4K reduces frame rates by roughly 47-50%, which reflects the doubling of pixel count.

FAQ

Q: Is this CPU-GPU combo good for high-refresh-rate 1080p gaming in Barony?

A: Yes, the data shows exceptional performance at 1080p. Even at Ultra settings, the combo achieves 211.4 FPS, and at Low settings it reaches 470.6 FPS. This means the system can easily drive a 240Hz monitor without any frame rate concerns.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-14700K?

A: The i7-14700KF has an average benchmark score of 70,104, which is essentially identical to the i7-14700K's 70,074, showing a 0% delta. This means the KF variant (which lacks integrated graphics) performs on par with the K version in this game's workload.

Q: What is the expected performance at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 72.3 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth playability, though it is the lowest result in the entire dataset.

Q: How does the GPU compare to the RTX 3090 in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 3080 Ti has an average benchmark score of 41,224, which is 0.5% lower than the RTX 3090's 41,441. This small delta indicates near-identical performance in synthetic benchmarks, though the RTX 3090 has more VRAM (not specified in the data).

Q: Does the CPU's high core count benefit Barony's performance?

A: The CPU's 20 cores and 28 threads provide substantial multi-threaded capability, as shown by the Passmark multithread score of 52,425. While Barony may not fully utilize all cores, the high single-thread performance (Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6,290) is more critical for this roguelike's frame rate consistency.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain over 200 FPS?

A: At 1920x1080, all settings except Ultra maintain over 200 FPS (Low: 470.6, Medium: 347.5, High: 296.5). At 2560x1440, only Low (296.1 FPS) and Medium (220.6 FPS) exceed 200 FPS. The data shows 1080p Medium or High provides the best balance for very high refresh rates.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. For 1080p gaming, the High preset at 296.5 FPS provides an excellent balance between visual quality and performance, leaving enough headroom for any potential frame drops during intense gameplay sequences. The Medium preset at 347.5 FPS offers additional safety margin for players with 360Hz monitors, while the Ultra preset at 211.4 FPS is still highly playable and delivers the best visual experience.

For 1440p, the High preset at 191.1 FPS is the recommended choice for most players, as it provides smooth gameplay on 144Hz and 165Hz monitors while maintaining good visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 220.6 FPS is preferable for those with 240Hz displays, and the Ultra preset at 135.8 FPS remains viable for 120Hz panels. At 4K, the High preset at 98.5 FPS offers the best experience for 60Hz displays, while the Medium preset at 116.1 FPS provides additional headroom for 100Hz panels. The Ultra preset at 72.3 FPS is playable but shows the system's limits at this resolution.

The data suggests that the High preset provides the most consistent experience across all resolutions, with frame rates ranging from 98.5 FPS at 4K to 296.5 FPS at 1080p. This preset balances the GPU's shading load with the CPU's frame delivery, ensuring that neither component becomes a bottleneck. Players prioritizing maximum frame rates should choose Low settings, which deliver 470.6 FPS at 1080p and 157.9 FPS at 4K, while those seeking visual quality should select Ultra, which maintains at least 72.3 FPS across all tested resolutions. The Medium preset offers a middle ground, with 347.5 FPS at 1080p and 116.1 FPS at 4K, making it a safe default for mixed-use scenarios.