Barony

Barony is a roguelike that leans on procedural generation and tight gameplay loops, and the measured data for this Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination reveals a system with clear strengths and a notable limitation at the highest settings. The benchmark results show a configuration that can deliver high refresh rates at mainstream resolutions, but struggles to maintain playable frames at 4K with maximum graphical fidelity. This analysis examines the measured FPS data, the roles of the CPU and GPU, and how this pairing ranks against other tested configurations.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo if I want to stay above 144 FPS?

A: At 1920x1080, the data shows average FPS of 160 on High, 186 on Medium, and 250 on Low, all of which exceed 144 FPS. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset (158 FPS) achieves this target, while High (101 FPS) and Medium (117 FPS) fall short.

Q: How does this combo's overall ranking look among all tested systems?

A: The combo rank in game is 2332 out of 2935 tested combos. This places it in the lower half of all tested configurations, indicating that while it can run the game, many other systems achieve better performance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck at 4K?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. The average FPS drops dramatically from 160 at 1080p High to 53 at 4K High, a reduction of 107 FPS. This steep scaling curve with resolution is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, especially given the RTX 5050's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus.

Q: What is the difference in performance between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: The measured data shows an average of 158 FPS on Low and 72 FPS on Ultra at 2560x1440. This represents a 54% decrease in average FPS when moving from the lowest to the highest quality preset, highlighting the significant cost of the Ultra settings.

Q: Does the CPU's multi-core performance support this game's demands?

A: The CPU has a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15028 and a Passmark multithread score of 24873, which are strong results. Given that the FPS drops so sharply with resolution, the CPU appears capable of feeding the GPU at lower resolutions, but its high core count (16 cores, 22 threads) is likely more than sufficient for a roguelike's typical physics and AI loads.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset across all resolutions?

A: The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 52 FPS at 3840x2160 on Medium. At 2560x1440 Medium, the minimum is 100 FPS, and at 1920x1080 Medium, it is 158 FPS.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the primary driver of the graphical output, and its specifications directly explain the performance envelope observed in the data. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. For a game like Barony, which often involves complex lighting, particle effects, and large procedurally generated maps, the capacity to quickly stream texture data is crucial. The 8 GB capacity is adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the demand for VRAM can become a limiting factor, potentially leading to texture thrashing or stutters if the memory is exceeded.

The GPU's clock speeds are set at a base of 2317 MHz and a boost of 2572 MHz. The measured FPS data shows a clear progression: at 1080p High, the combo achieves 160 FPS, which suggests the GPU has ample headroom. However, the 4K Ultra result of 38 FPS is a stark contrast. This indicates that the RTX 5050's raw compute power, rated at 13.17 TFLOPS, is not sufficient to handle the shader and pixel workload at 4K with all settings maxed. The GPU's 32 ROPs and 80 TMUs are also relevant; the 32 ROPs, in particular, can bottleneck pixel fill rate at high resolutions. The benchmark results show the GPU sits in the 66th percentile of all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 21035 is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL, which is only 0.6% slower. This suggests that while the RTX 5050 is a competent mid-range part, it is not a high-end performer, and its capabilities are best utilized at 1080p and 1440p.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H provides the processing backbone for this system, and its specifications suggest it is well-suited for the CPU-side demands of Barony. With 16 cores (likely a mix of Performance and Efficient cores) and 22 threads, it offers substantial multi-threading capacity. The base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 4.80 GHz ensure strong single-threaded performance, which is often critical for game logic and frame pacing. The CPU's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1743 and multi-core score of 15028 are solid figures that place it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600T and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, with a negligible performance delta of 0% and 0.1%, respectively.

In the context of Barony, a game that generates complex dungeons and tracks numerous entities, the CPU's role is to manage the simulation and physics. The data shows that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. For instance, the FPS drop from 1080p High (160 FPS) to 4K High (53 FPS) is a 67% reduction, which is far more significant than any CPU limitation would typically cause. At 1080p Low, the system hits 250 FPS, which is a high ceiling that indicates the CPU can push frames rapidly when the GPU is less burdened. The L3 cache of 24 MB shared also helps with keeping frequently accessed game data close to the cores. The 28W TDP is a mobile-class power envelope, which can limit sustained performance in a thin chassis, but the raw benchmark scores show it is a capable processor for this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank for this specific pairing in Barony is 2332 out of 2935 tested combos. This is a ranking in the bottom 20% of all systems, which is a surprising result given the individual component scores. The CPU is in the 83rd percentile, and the GPU is in the 66th percentile, but their combined performance in this game places them lower than expected. This suggests that the pairing may be imbalanced for this particular workload, or that other systems with slightly lower-end parts are better optimized for Barony's specific rendering path.

The GPU's nearest rivals in raw benchmark scores include the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL (1% faster) and the AMD Radeon HD 8970M (1% faster), which are older or integrated parts. This indicates that the RTX 5050's average score is not exceptional, and its performance in Barony might be further hindered by driver overhead or specific game engine quirks. The fact that the RTX 5050 is only 1.6% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, a previous-generation desktop card, contextualizes its performance tier. The data implies that while the combo can play the game, it does not deliver a top-tier experience relative to other systems, and users should temper expectations regarding maximum settings and high resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo is very strong: Low averages 250 FPS, Medium averages 186 FPS with a minimum of 158 FPS, High averages 160 FPS, and Ultra averages 114 FPS. These numbers indicate a fully playable and smooth experience at all settings, with even the most demanding preset staying well above 60 FPS. The 1080p Medium data shows a narrow 56 FPS range between the 158 FPS minimum and 214 FPS maximum, suggesting relatively stable frame times.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains solid but starts to show the GPU's limits. Low averages 158 FPS, which is a 37% drop from 1080p Low. Medium averages 117 FPS with a minimum of 100 FPS, and High averages 101 FPS. Ultra at 1440p drops to 72 FPS, which is still playable but marks a significant step down from the 1080p result. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p on the Ultra preset is a 37% reduction in average FPS (from 114 to 72), indicating the GPU is starting to feel the pressure of increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. Low averages 82 FPS, which is playable, but Medium averages 61 FPS with a minimum of 52 FPS, and High drops to 53 FPS. Ultra at 4K averages a mere 38 FPS, which is below the threshold for a smooth experience in a fast-paced roguelike. The 4K Medium result shows a minimum of 52 FPS, which could lead to noticeable stutters in busy scenes. The data clearly shows that this combo is not suited for 4K gaming at high or ultra settings, and even the Low preset at 4K is only just above the 60 FPS target.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo depends on the user's resolution and refresh rate priorities. For 1080p users with a 144Hz monitor, the High preset (160 FPS) is the best choice, as it offers a strong visual upgrade over Medium (186 FPS) while still exceeding the refresh rate. The Ultra preset at 1080p (114 FPS) is also viable for those with a 120Hz display, but the drop from High to Ultra is 46 FPS, which may not justify the visual gains.

For 1440p users, the Medium preset (117 FPS) provides the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, especially for 120Hz panels. The High preset (101 FPS) is also a strong option for 100Hz displays. The Ultra preset at 1440p (72 FPS) is playable but may feel less smooth, and the Low preset (158 FPS) is ideal for competitive play or high-refresh-rate 165Hz monitors, though it sacrifices visual quality.

At 4K, the data strongly suggests avoiding the Ultra and High presets, as they produce 38 FPS and 53 FPS, respectively. The Medium preset (61 FPS) is the most viable option for 4K, but its 52 FPS minimum is a concern for consistency. The Low preset (82 FPS) is the only 4K option that offers a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for any 4K gaming on this system. For the best overall experience, 1440p Medium or 1080p High offer the most compelling combination of smoothness and visual detail.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling data reveals significant insights into system bottlenecks. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS on the High preset drops from 160 to 101, a 37% decrease. From 1440p to 4K, it drops from 101 to 53, a 48% decrease. This accelerating rate of decline indicates that the GPU is becoming increasingly saturated as the pixel count grows. The 4K resolution has 2.25 times the pixels of 1440p, and the 53 FPS result at 4K High is less than half of the 1080p High score, highlighting the GPU's limited fill rate and bandwidth.

The scaling on the Low preset is less severe but still pronounced: 250 FPS at 1080p drops to 158 FPS at 1440p (a 37% drop) and then to 82 FPS at 4K (a 48% drop from 1440p). This pattern suggests that even with reduced graphical load, the GPU cannot maintain performance at 4K. The CPU's role in this scaling is minimal, as the massive FPS drops correlate directly with resolution increases, a classic sign of a GPU-bound workload. The data implies that the RTX 5050's 128-bit memory bus and 8 GB VRAM are the primary constraints at higher resolutions. The 320.0 GB/s bandwidth, while sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, is likely a limiting factor for the high-resolution texture demands of Barony at 4K. The system is clearly optimized for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K being a secondary consideration that requires significant settings compromises.