Barony

Barony, the roguelike title from 2015, presents an interesting case for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination. The measured performance data places this pairing at rank 1555 out of 2935 tested combos, situating it in the 53rd percentile of all systems evaluated for this game. This mid-pack ranking suggests a configuration that is competent but not exceptional, with the data indicating that the specific balance of CPU and GPU resources creates a bottleneck profile worth examining closely.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1555 out of 2935 tested configurations places it slightly above the median for Barony, a game that is not particularly demanding by modern standards. This positioning indicates that while the system handles the game smoothly across most settings, it does not achieve the top-tier performance that would push it into the upper quartile of tested systems. The rank reflects a combination that is well-balanced for mainstream gaming but does not excel in raw frame throughput compared to higher-end pairings.

The CPU component, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245, holds an average benchmark score of 48995, which places it in the 90th percentile among all CPUs tested. This strong processor performance is tempered by the GPU's more modest standing; the RTX 4060 achieves an average benchmark score of 17639, landing in the 61st percentile among all GPUs. The discrepancy between the CPU's high percentile and the GPU's lower percentile suggests that the graphics card is the limiting factor in this pairing, which aligns with the combo's mid-pack ranking in Barony.

When examining the CPU's nearest rivals, the data shows a remarkably tight cluster of performance. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G scores 49196, a mere 0.4% higher than the Ultra 5 245, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 sits 0.5% higher at 49228. The Intel Xeon Gold 5318H trails by 0.6% with a score of 48698, and the Intel Core i5-14600K lags 0.8% behind at 48618. This grouping indicates that the Ultra 5 245 delivers performance squarely within the expected range for its class, with no significant outliers among comparable processors.

For the GPU, the RTX 4060's nearest rivals show similarly tight margins. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 scores 17666, just 0.2% higher, while the AMD Radeon 780M trails by 0.3% at 17588. The AMD Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 complete the grouping with scores of 17551 and 17509, representing 0.5% and 0.7% deltas respectively. These close scores reinforce the notion that the RTX 4060's performance is well-characterized by its percentile ranking, with no dramatic deviations from comparable hardware.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 brings 8 GB of GDDR6 memory to the table, operating on a 128-bit bus with a memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU's base clock runs at 1830 MHz, boosting to 2460 MHz under load, with memory clocked at an effective 17 Gbps. These specifications define the graphics card's capability to handle texture streaming and frame buffer operations in Barony, a game that relies on procedural generation and dynamic lighting effects.

The GPU's Ada Lovelace architecture, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, contains 3072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 ROPs. The presence of 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores indicates that the card is equipped for advanced rendering features, though Barony's roguelike graphical style may not fully utilize these capabilities. The card's FP32 performance of 15.11 TFLOPS provides the raw computational throughput needed to maintain high frame rates at lower resolutions.

The RTX 4060's pixel rate of 118.1 GPixel/s and texture rate of 236.2 GTexel/s determine how quickly it can fill the screen and apply texture details. In Barony, which features tile-based environments and particle effects, these rates prove adequate for smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p, but the 8 GB VRAM capacity becomes a consideration at higher resolutions where memory pressure increases. The GPU's 115 W TDP and dual-slot form factor make it a power-efficient option that fits within a 300 W suggested PSU envelope.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 provides 14 cores and 14 threads, a configuration that emphasizes raw core count over simultaneous multithreading. Base clocks run at 3.50 GHz with a boost capability up to 5.10 GHz, giving the processor substantial single-thread performance for game logic and physics calculations. The Arrow Lake architecture, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, incorporates 17,800 million transistors across a 243 mm² die, with a 24 MB shared L3 cache facilitating fast data access for frequently used instructions.

The CPU's memory support for DDR5 with dual-channel configuration yields a memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s, which proves sufficient for feeding the GPU in Barony's scenarios. The processor's integrated Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU provides a fallback display option, though the discrete RTX 4060 handles all rendering duties in this configuration. The 65 W TDP keeps thermal output modest, allowing the processor to maintain boost clocks during extended gaming sessions.

Benchmark results show the Ultra 5 245 achieving a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32924 and a single-core score of 4648, indicating strong performance in both threaded and single-threaded workloads. Passmark tests reveal a multi-thread score of 38706 and a single-thread score of 4394, with floating-point math reaching 120548 and integer math at 91187. These scores demonstrate that the CPU can handle the procedural generation and AI calculations that Barony performs, ensuring that the processor does not become a bottleneck in most gaming scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080 resolution, the measured frame rates show excellent performance across all settings. Low settings achieve an average of 340 FPS, while Medium settings deliver 253 FPS with a minimum of 215 and maximum of 291. High settings produce 217 FPS on average, and Ultra settings still maintain a robust 156 FPS average. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system operates well beyond the refresh rates of most monitors, providing headroom for demanding scenes or recording software.

Moving to 2560x1440 resolution, the frame rates remain highly playable. Low settings produce 215 FPS average, Medium settings deliver 160 FPS with a range of 136 to 183, High settings achieve 137 FPS, and Ultra settings maintain 98 FPS average. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is noticeable but does not compromise the gaming experience, as even the Ultra preset at 1440p stays above 90 FPS.

At 3840x2160 resolution, the system begins to show its limits. Low settings still manage 112 FPS average, Medium settings deliver 83 FPS with a minimum of 71 and maximum of 96, and High settings produce 72 FPS average. Ultra settings at 4K drop to 51 FPS average, which remains playable but approaches the threshold where frame pacing issues could become noticeable in fast-paced roguelike gameplay. The progression across resolutions shows a clear pattern of diminishing returns as pixel count increases.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling behavior from 1080p to 4K reveals important insights about the system's bottleneck characteristics. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 340 FPS, while at 4K Low it drops to 112 FPS, representing a 67% reduction in frame rate. This substantial drop indicates that the GPU becomes increasingly constrained as resolution increases, even at low settings where the CPU has more headroom to feed frames.

For Medium settings, the scaling shows 253 FPS at 1080p dropping to 83 FPS at 4K, a 67% decrease that mirrors the Low setting pattern. High settings demonstrate a similar trend with 217 FPS at 1080p falling to 72 FPS at 4K, a 67% reduction. Ultra settings show the steepest decline, going from 156 FPS at 1080p to 51 FPS at 4K, representing a 67% drop that is consistent with the other presets.

The uniform 67% reduction across all settings when moving from 1080p to 4K strongly indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The CPU's performance remains consistent regardless of resolution, as evidenced by the high scores in synthetic benchmarks, but the RTX 4060's 8 GB VRAM and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth struggle to maintain frame rates as pixel count quadruples. The proportional scaling demonstrates that the system is well-balanced at lower resolutions but becomes GPU-bound at higher ones.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 sufficient for Barony?

A: Yes, the CPU's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4648 and multi-core score of 32924 provide ample processing power for Barony's procedural generation and game logic. The processor ranks in the 90th percentile among all CPUs, ensuring it does not bottleneck the system in this game.

Q: How does the RTX 4060's 8 GB VRAM affect 4K performance?

A: The 8 GB GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus with 272.0 GB/s bandwidth becomes a limiting factor at 3840x2160 resolution. Ultra settings at 4K average only 51 FPS, while Low settings achieve 112 FPS, indicating that memory capacity and bandwidth constrain high-resolution performance.

Q: What is the best setting for competitive play?

A: At 1080p, Low settings provide 340 FPS average, well above any display refresh rate, while Medium settings still deliver 253 FPS with a minimum of 215. For competitive play where maximum frame rate is prioritized, Low or Medium settings at 1080p offer the highest performance headroom.

Q: How does this combo compare to similar hardware?

A: The combo ranks 1555 out of 2935 tested systems for Barony. The CPU's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, scores only 0.4% higher, while the GPU's closest competitor, the AMD Radeon HD 7790, is 0.2% higher, indicating this pairing performs as expected for its class.

Q: Can this system handle 1440p gaming with high settings?

A: Yes, at 2560x1440 with High settings, the system averages 137 FPS, and Ultra settings maintain 98 FPS. These frame rates provide smooth gameplay with high visual quality, making 1440p High or Ultra the sweet spot for this configuration.

Q: Why does Ultra performance drop so sharply at 4K?

A: The 51 FPS average at 4K Ultra represents a significant step down from the 98 FPS at 1440p Ultra. This 48% reduction is driven by the GPU's limited VRAM and bandwidth, which cannot sustain the memory-intensive Ultra preset at 4K resolution.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance for optimal settings based on resolution and desired performance. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 156 FPS average, which is more than sufficient for any display, making it the recommended choice for maximum visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. The High preset at 217 FPS offers additional headroom for users with high-refresh-rate monitors or those who prefer extra margin for demanding scenes.

For 2560x1440, the High preset at 137 FPS provides an excellent balance between visual fidelity and performance, while Ultra at 98 FPS remains playable for most users. The Medium preset at 160 FPS offers a middle ground for those who prioritize frame rate over visual details. Users with 144 Hz monitors will find the High preset ideal, while those with 60 Hz displays can comfortably use Ultra settings.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset at 83 FPS delivers the best overall experience, providing smooth gameplay with reasonable visual quality. The High preset at 72 FPS remains viable for users who prefer higher fidelity, but the Ultra preset at 51 FPS should be avoided unless frame rate consistency is not a priority. The Low preset at 112 FPS serves as a fallback for users who demand maximum smoothness at 4K, though the visual compromise may not be worth the frame rate gain for most players.

The data reveals that this system operates most efficiently at 1080p and 1440p, where the balance between CPU and GPU allows for high frame rates across all settings. At 4K, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, and users should expect to reduce settings to maintain playable performance. The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 provides a dependable gaming experience for Barony, with the processor's strong single-thread performance ensuring that game logic never becomes a bottleneck.