Barony

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile ranks in the 1023rd position out of 3717 tested combinations for Barony. This places the combo in the upper third of all tested configurations, indicating a system that is well above the median performer for this roguelike title. The percentile data for the individual components supports this: the CPU sits at the 83rd percentile against all processors, while the GPU ranks at the 81st percentile against all graphics cards. Benchmark results show the combination delivers high frame rates across all tested settings, with even the most demanding configuration producing playable results.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame of 1023 out of 3717 combos means this system outperforms roughly 72% of all tested hardware pairings in Barony. This is a strong position, though not a top-tier one, suggesting the hardware is well-balanced for this game rather than being an outlier in either direction. The CPU's percentileVsAllCpus of 83 and the GPU's percentileVsAllGpus of 81 are nearly identical, which explains why the combo does not suffer from a obvious bottleneck. When a CPU and GPU have similar relative standing, the frame rates tend to scale predictably with settings changes, and that is exactly what the measured data shows.

The nearest rivals for the CPU provide context for its placement. The Intel Core i5-14600T has an average score of 32707, which is essentially identical to the Core Ultra 7 155H's 32697, a delta of 0%. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 trails by a mere 0.1%, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is 0.2% ahead. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H leads by 0.4%. These are all marginal differences, meaning the processor sits in a very tight cluster of comparable mobile and desktop chips. For Barony, which is not known for being heavily threaded, this cluster position means the CPU is never the limiting factor at any resolution tested.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are more telling. The NVIDIA GeForce MX570 has an average score of 38299, just 0.1% behind the RTX 5080 Mobile's 38349. The RTX 4080 Mobile is 0.6% behind, while the MX570 A and AMD Radeon Pro 580X are 0.9% ahead. This grouping is unusual because the RTX 5080 Mobile is a much newer and larger chip on paper, yet the average benchmark scores place it alongside much older or lower-tier parts. In Barony specifically, however, the measured FPS results are high across the board, so the GPU's modest average benchmark standing does not translate to poor in-game performance.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on Intel's 7 nm process. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz, with a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. The cache hierarchy includes 112 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a mobile-focused chip with a 28 W TDP, designed for laptops rather than desktop systems, and it uses the Intel BGA 2049 socket.

In Barony, the CPU's role is secondary to the GPU, but the core count and clocks still matter. The game's genre is roguelike, which typically involves procedural generation, entity updates, and physics calculations that can scale with core count. The 16 cores and 22 threads provide ample headroom for these tasks, and the 4.80 GHz boost clock ensures strong single-thread performance for the game's main logic thread. Benchmarks show the CPU achieving a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15028 and a single-core score of 1743, which are solid numbers for a mobile processor.

The Passmark multithread score of 24873 and single-thread score of 3468 further illustrate the CPU's capabilities. For a game like Barony, which is not a AAA title with massive open worlds, these scores are more than sufficient. The data indicates that at 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches 462 FPS, which is well beyond any display's refresh rate. At this point, the CPU is handling game logic and draw calls without breaking a sweat. The 83rd percentile standing among all CPUs confirms that this processor is in the top tier for general compute, even if it is not the absolute fastest.

The memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s over a dual-channel DDR5 bus is adequate for feeding the CPU's cores. Barony is unlikely to stress memory bandwidth heavily, so this is not a concern in the measured results. The CPU's integrated Arc Xe-LPG 128EU graphics are irrelevant here since the dedicated RTX 5080 Mobile handles all rendering, but they do indicate the processor is part of a modern platform with current-generation features.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture using TSMC's 5 nm process, with a chip size of 378 mm² and 45,600 million transistors. It has 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 896.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The base clock is 975 MHz, boosting to 1500 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). The GPU has 7680 shading units, 240 TMUs, and 96 ROPs, along with 60 RT cores and 240 tensor cores.

In Barony, the GPU is the dominant factor in frame rates, as expected for a 3D-rendered game. The 16 GB of VRAM is far more than needed for this title, even at 4K Ultra settings, which means memory capacity is never a constraint. The 896.0 GB/s bandwidth is also excessive for the game's texture and geometry loads, but it ensures that any sudden asset streaming does not cause hitches. The measured FPS at 1080p Low is 462, which is exceptionally high and indicates the GPU is not fully utilized at that setting; the frame rate is likely limited by the CPU or the game engine's render thread.

The GPU's average benchmark score of 38349 places it at the 81st percentile, which is strong but not elite. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 4952 and Geekbench Vulkan score of 169754 show modern API support, while the Passmark G3D score of 27711 is a more general measure. For Barony, the GPU's raw compute (23.04 TFLOPS FP32) is far beyond what the game requires, so the measured FPS are primarily a function of how well the engine can feed the GPU with draw calls. The 4K Ultra result of 70 FPS is the only sub-100 FPS result, and it still exceeds common 60 Hz displays.

The nearest GPU rivals, such as the RTX 4080 Mobile with a delta of 0.6% behind, suggest that in synthetic tests the 5080 Mobile is not dramatically faster than its predecessor. However, in Barony, the newer architecture's features, such as improved ray tracing and tensor cores, likely contribute to the high frame rates observed. The game does not use ray tracing, so those cores are idle, but the large shader count ensures pixel fill rates (144.0 GPixel/s) and texture rates (360.0 GTexel/s) are more than sufficient for the game's stylized graphics.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS the combo achieves in Barony, and at what settings?

A: The highest average FPS is 462, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the maximum measured value across all resolutions and settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 70 at Ultra settings to 152 at Low settings. The High preset yields 97 FPS, and Medium yields 113 FPS with a minimum of 96 and maximum of 130.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck in Barony?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary limiter at higher resolutions. From 1080p to 4K, the average FPS at High settings drops from 295 to 97, a 67% reduction, which is typical of GPU-bound scaling. The CPU's 83rd percentile and GPU's 81st percentile are close, but the resolution scaling indicates the GPU is the limiting component at 4K.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for the CPU, and how does it compare to its closest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H has an average benchmark score of 32697. Its closest rival, the Intel Core i5-14600T, has a score of 32707, which is a 0% delta. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 is 0.1% behind at 32662.

Q: Does the combo ever drop below 60 FPS in the measured tests?

A: No. The lowest average FPS recorded is 70 at 4K Ultra settings. The minimum FPS recorded for any sequence is 96 at 4K Medium settings, so the combo never falls below 60 FPS in any measured scenario.

Q: How does the GPU's memory bandwidth compare to its closest rival?

A: The RTX 5080 Mobile has 896.0 GB/s of bandwidth, but the FACT PACK does not provide memory bandwidth for its nearest rivals. The closest rival by average score, the NVIDIA GeForce MX570, is 0.1% behind in score, but no VRAM specs are given for comparison.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS across resolutions shows a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 295 at 1920x1080 to 186 at 2560x1440, and then to 97 at 3840x2160. This represents a 37% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 48% drop from 1440p to 4K. The overall reduction from 1080p to 4K is 67%, which is a typical scaling curve for a GPU-heavy workload. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions, but that is not the case here.

At Low settings, the scaling is even steeper. The average FPS is 462 at 1080p, 291 at 1440p, and 152 at 4K. The 1080p to 4K drop is 67%, matching the High preset's scaling. However, the absolute values are much higher, indicating that the GPU has significant headroom at lower settings. The 1080p Low result of 462 FPS is likely approaching the CPU's limit for draw call processing, as the GPU is capable of even higher frame rates in synthetic tests. The 4K Low result of 152 FPS is still very high, showing that the GPU can handle 4K comfortably when pixel shading is reduced.

The Medium settings row provides the only min and max FPS data. At 1080p Medium, the average is 343 FPS with a minimum of 292 and maximum of 395. At 1440p Medium, the average is 217 with a minimum of 184 and maximum of 249. At 4K Medium, the average is 113 with a minimum of 96 and maximum of 130. The spread between min and max is roughly 30% at each resolution, which is normal for a game with variable scene complexity. The minimum FPS at 4K Medium is 96, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

The resolution scaling indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at 4K, as frame rates drop proportionally with pixel count. At 1080p, the CPU becomes more significant, as evidenced by the 462 FPS Low result, which is likely constrained by the CPU's single-thread performance rather than the GPU. For a game like Barony, where the action is fast-paced but the graphics are not photorealistic, the sweet spot is likely 1440p, where the combo delivers between 133 and 291 FPS depending on settings, all well above refresh rate limits for most displays.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS rows show that the combo can handle Ultra settings at all resolutions, but the experience varies. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 211, which is excellent and leaves headroom for demanding scenes. At 1440p Ultra, the average is 133, which is still very smooth and suitable for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 4K Ultra, the average drops to 70, which is playable but may feel less fluid on 120 Hz or 144 Hz panels. For the best balance of visual quality and frame rate, 1440p Ultra is the recommended choice, as it provides over 130 FPS while showcasing the game's highest settings.

For users targeting 4K, the High preset is the best option. The 97 FPS average is smoother than the 70 FPS Ultra result, and the visual difference between High and Ultra is often minimal in roguelike titles. The 4K Medium preset yields 113 FPS, which is also a strong option, but High is likely to provide better image quality for a modest performance cost. The 4K Low preset at 152 FPS is overkill for most displays, as it sacrifices visual fidelity for frame rates that exceed even the fastest gaming monitors.

At 1080p, the Medium preset offers 343 FPS, which is beyond the refresh rate of any mainstream display. The High preset at 295 FPS is similarly excessive. For 1080p users, the Ultra preset at 211 FPS is the most sensible choice, as it provides the best visuals while still maintaining frame rates that are multiples of 60 Hz. The 1080p Low preset at 462 FPS is only useful for competitive play on extremely high-refresh-rate esports monitors, which are rare.

The data shows that the combo is overkill for Barony at 1080p, as even Ultra settings produce frame rates that are far above typical display capabilities. The 1440p resolution is where the hardware is best utilized, with the High preset at 186 FPS and Ultra at 133 FPS both offering excellent experiences. At 4K, the High preset is the recommended compromise, as it keeps the average FPS above 90 while maintaining high visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 4K is also viable, particularly for users who prioritize smoothness over detail.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 462 FPS, which is the fastest result in the entire dataset. The Medium preset averages 343 FPS, with a minimum of 292 and maximum of 395. The High preset averages 295 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 211 FPS. All four settings produce frame rates that are well above 200 FPS, meaning any 1080p display will be fully saturated. The gap between Low and Ultra is 251 FPS, which shows that the GPU has significant performance headroom even at the highest settings.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show more variation. The Low preset averages 291 FPS, which is still above most monitor refresh rates. The Medium preset averages 217 FPS, with a minimum of 184 and maximum of 249. The High preset averages 186 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 133 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across settings, with the Low preset losing 171 FPS and the Ultra preset losing 78 FPS. The 1440p results indicate that the GPU is still the primary driver, as the frame rates scale with pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates are lower but still playable. The Low preset averages 152 FPS, which is suitable for high-refresh-rate 4K displays. The Medium preset averages 113 FPS, with a minimum of 96 and maximum of 130. The High preset averages 97 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 70 FPS. The 4K results show a clear hierarchy, with Low being nearly twice as fast as Ultra. The minimum FPS of 96 at 4K Medium is the only recorded minimum that is above 60, but it is still a strong result. The 4K Ultra average of 70 FPS is the lowest in the dataset, but it remains above the 60 FPS threshold for console-like smoothness.

The measured FPS breakdown reveals that the combo performs best at 1080p and 1440p, where even Ultra settings produce frame rates that are multiples of 60 Hz. At 4K, the High preset is the most balanced, offering 97 FPS average, while the Ultra preset is the only one that dips below 100 FPS. The data also shows that the Medium preset consistently provides a 15-20% boost over High across all resolutions, while Low provides a further 25-30% boost over Medium. This scaling is consistent, indicating that the game's settings have a predictable impact on performance.