Barony

# Barony with Intel Core Ultra 5 245 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 combination delivers exceptionally high frame rates in Barony, a roguelike title from 2015. Across all tested resolutions and settings, the measured average FPS never falls below 58 frames per second, indicating that this pairing is far more than sufficient for the game's demands. The data shows a system that is heavily GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while at 1080p the CPU's strong single-thread performance allows the RTX 3070 to stretch its legs, producing frame rates that exceed 380 FPS on low settings.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. This is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, belonging to the Core Ultra Series 2 generation. The processor supports DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, and includes 24 MB of shared L3 cache alongside 3 MB of L2 cache per core.

For a game like Barony, which is a roguelike and not a heavily threaded modern title, the single-thread performance is paramount. The CPU's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4648 and multi-core score of 32924 show a strong balance. However, the single-core score is particularly relevant; it places this processor in the 90th percentile among all CPUs. The nearest rivals in overall average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G at a 0.4% lower score, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 at 0.5% lower, and the Intel Core i5-14600K at 0.8% higher. The data indicates that the Ultra 5 245's high boost clock of 5.10 GHz is likely the driving factor behind the excellent 1080p results, where the CPU's ability to feed the GPU becomes the bottleneck.

The processor's 14 threads are more than sufficient for Barony's workload. In the measured FPS data, the 1080p Low preset produces an average of 385 FPS, which is the highest recorded. This suggests that even at such high frame rates, the CPU is not the limiting factor. The Passmark single-thread score of 4394 and the data encryption score of 30236 further underscore the processor's capability in handling the game's logic and AI routines without causing frame drops. The combination of a 3 nm process node and a 5.10 GHz boost clock means the CPU can sustain high clocks without thermal throttling, which is crucial for maintaining consistent frame times in a game that can run at hundreds of frames per second.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the benchmark database for Barony, this specific CPU-GPU combination ranks 1230 out of 2935 tested combos. This places it in roughly the 58th percentile of all tested systems, which is a strong showing given the game's age and the relatively modern components. The rank is influenced by the fact that many combos in the database may use higher-end GPUs or newer processors, but the data shows that this pairing still outperforms a majority of systems tested.

The combo rank of 1230 reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU. While the RTX 3070 is a capable card, it is not the top-tier option, and the Ultra 5 245 is a mid-range desktop processor. However, the combination's performance is heavily skewed by the GPU at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 58, which is the lowest recorded. This indicates that the combo's rank is likely dragged down by 4K Ultra results, while its 1080p performance would rank much higher if isolated. The delta between the combo's rank and its potential at lower resolutions suggests that users targeting 1080p or 1440p will find this pairing in the upper echelon of tested systems, while 4K enthusiasts may find the GPU as the limiting factor.

The nearest rival GPUs to the RTX 3070 include the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT with a 0.7% higher average score, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 with a 1% higher score, and the AMD Radeon HD 7970M with a 1.1% higher score. These rival scores are based on synthetic benchmarks, not in-game results, but they contextualize the GPU's overall capability. The RTX 3070 sits in the 61st percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17208. This is a solid mid-range position, and when paired with a CPU that ranks in the 90th percentile, the combo's overall rank of 1230 makes sense.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 385. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 243 FPS, a reduction of 37%. Going further to 4K Low, the average falls to 127 FPS, a 47% drop from 1440p. This pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting component at higher resolutions, as the CPU has ample headroom to process the game's logic at any resolution.

The scaling is even more pronounced at higher settings. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 176. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 111 FPS, a 37% reduction. At 4K Ultra, the average is 58 FPS, a 48% drop from 1440p. This consistent ~35-50% reduction per resolution step across all settings strongly suggests that the RTX 3070's rendering capabilities, particularly its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, are the bottleneck. The GPU's pixel rate of 165.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 317.4 GTexel/s are being fully utilized at 4K, while at 1080p the GPU is likely not saturated, allowing the CPU's boost clock of 5.10 GHz to push frame rates to their limits.

The data also reveals that the difference between Low and Ultra settings at a given resolution narrows as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 209 FPS (385 vs 176). At 4K, the difference is 69 FPS (127 vs 58). This indicates that at 4K, the GPU is so heavily loaded that changing settings has a smaller relative impact on frame rate, whereas at 1080p, the GPU has enough headroom to render higher settings without significant FPS loss. The limiting component is unambiguously the GPU at 4K, while at 1080p the system is well-balanced.

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

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS values are as follows: Low settings produce 385 FPS, Medium settings produce 287 FPS with a minimum of 244 and a maximum of 330, High settings produce 246 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 176 FPS. The 1080p results are exceptionally high, with even the Ultra preset delivering over 170 FPS, which is far beyond the refresh rate of most monitors. The Medium preset's minimum FPS of 244 indicates that the system rarely dips below 240 FPS, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate displays.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS values are: Low settings produce 243 FPS, Medium settings produce 181 FPS with a minimum of 154 and a maximum of 208, High settings produce 155 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 111 FPS. The 1440p results still show excellent performance, with the Low preset exceeding 240 FPS and the Ultra preset remaining above 100 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 154 FPS suggests that even during intensive scenes, the frame rate stays above 150 FPS, which is smooth for most gaming scenarios.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS values are: Low settings produce 127 FPS, Medium settings produce 95 FPS with a minimum of 80 and a maximum of 109, High settings produce 81 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 58 FPS. The 4K results are the only area where the system shows any sign of strain. The Low preset still delivers over 120 FPS, which is impressive, but the Ultra preset drops to 58 FPS, which is just at the threshold of playability for many users. The Medium preset's minimum of 80 FPS indicates that 4K Medium is a viable option for a smooth experience, but the Ultra preset is best avoided for high-refresh-rate 4K monitors.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is built on the Ampere architecture, using the GA104 chip manufactured on an 8 nm process at Samsung. It features 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units, along with 46 ray tracing cores and 184 tensor cores. The GPU operates with a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 1725 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective) across a 256-bit bus. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory provides a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s.

For Barony, the GPU's role is primarily to render the game's voxel-based environments and lighting effects. The 8 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for this game, as evidenced by the fact that even at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 58, which is not a memory-related bottleneck but rather a compute limitation. The GPU's FP32 performance of 20.31 TFLOPS and its texture rate of 317.4 GTexel/s are the key specs driving the frame rates. The data shows that the RTX 3070 is a consistent performer, with its Passmark G3D score of 22214 placing it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU's boost clock of 1725 MHz is relatively modest compared to newer cards, but it is sufficient for a 2015 roguelike. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, where the Ultra preset produces 58 FPS, which is exactly half the 1080p Ultra result of 176 FPS. This halving of performance from 1080p to 4K is typical for a GPU with this level of compute power, as the pixel count quadruples while the GPU's pixel rate of 165.6 GPixel/s becomes the constraint. The GPU's 8 GB VRAM is not a limiting factor in Barony, as the game does not appear to require more than that, even at 4K Ultra.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 176 FPS, which is well above 144 Hz and even close to 240 Hz. The High preset at 246 FPS is also excellent, but the visual improvement from High to Ultra is worth the 70 FPS drop for most users, as 176 FPS is still exceptionally smooth. The Medium preset at 287 FPS would be the choice for competitive play on a 240 Hz or 360 Hz monitor, but the Ultra preset provides the best visual experience without sacrificing playability.

At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset at 111 FPS is the recommended choice for a 120 Hz monitor, as it sits just below the refresh rate and provides the best visual fidelity. However, the High preset at 155 FPS is better suited for a 144 Hz or 165 Hz display, offering a perfect balance of frame rate and quality. The Medium preset at 181 FPS is the best option for 240 Hz 1440p monitors, though the visual downgrade from High to Medium is noticeable. The Low preset at 243 FPS exceeds 240 Hz and is only recommended for extreme competitive play where visual quality is secondary.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset at 95 FPS is the best experience, as it offers a smooth frame rate above 90 FPS while maintaining reasonable visual quality. The High preset at 81 FPS is also viable for 60 Hz or 75 Hz monitors, but the Medium preset's minimum of 80 FPS ensures that frame drops are rare. The Ultra preset at 58 FPS is only suitable for 60 Hz displays, and the Low preset at 127 FPS, while fast, sacrifices too much visual quality for a roguelike where atmosphere matters. For 4K users, the Medium preset is the clear recommendation, as it provides the best combination of smoothness and fidelity.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Barony?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 385, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that exceeds 380 FPS in the data.

Q: Can this system handle 4K Ultra settings in Barony?

A: Yes, but with a caveat. The 4K Ultra preset produces an average FPS of 58, which is playable on a 60 Hz monitor but not ideal for higher refresh rates. The 4K Medium preset at 95 FPS is a better option for smoother performance.

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

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 has an average benchmark score of 48995. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 49196 (0.4% higher), the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 49228 (0.5% higher), and the Intel Core i5-14600K scores 48618 (0.8% lower). The differences are minimal, within 1%.

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

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17208. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, scores 17083, which is 0.7% lower.

Q: Does the 8 GB VRAM on the RTX 3070 cause issues at 4K in Barony?

A: The data does not indicate any VRAM-related performance drops. The 4K results show a smooth scaling pattern from Low to Ultra, suggesting that 8 GB is sufficient for this game. The bottleneck at 4K is the GPU's compute performance, not memory capacity.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among all tested systems in Barony?

A: This combination ranks 1230 out of 2935 tested combos. This places it in the upper half of all systems, reflecting its strong performance at 1080p and 1440p, while its 4K Ultra performance is the weakest link.