Barony

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination delivers a high-performance experience in Barony, a roguelike title from 2015. The benchmark data shows a system capable of very high frame rates, though the performance scaling pattern reveals a distinct shift in bottleneck behavior across different resolutions and settings. This analysis breaks down the CPU and GPU contributions, contextualizes the combo's overall ranking, and provides specific recommendations based on the measured FPS data.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is a 20-core, 20-thread mobile processor based on the Arrow Lake-HX architecture. It operates with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, with a TDP of 55 W. The processor includes a 30 MB shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR5 memory. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 40642 and a single-core score of 5737, placing it in the 93rd percentile among all tested CPUs.

In the context of Barony, the CPU's single-threaded performance is the primary factor driving high frame rates at lower resolutions. The game, being a roguelike, does not typically stress massive multi-threaded workloads; instead, its performance is heavily dependent on the speed of one or a few cores. The 265HX’s strong single-core result is evidenced by its Cinebench R15 single-core score of 578 and its PassMark single-thread score of 4500. This strength is crucial for maintaining high FPS when the GPU is not the limiting factor.

The data indicates that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 430 FPS. At this point, the CPU is likely the primary bottleneck, pushing the game's simulation and draw calls as fast as possible. The 20 cores and 20 threads provide ample headroom for background tasks and game logic, but the single-core boost clock of 5.30 GHz is what allows the system to reach such extreme frame rates. The processor's multi-core capabilities, shown by its Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 17069, ensure that even if the game spawns numerous entities or complex procedural calculations, the system won't experience a significant performance dip.

Comparatively, the 265HX sits within a tight performance envelope relative to its nearest rivals. It is a mere 0.1% faster than the Intel Core i7-13790F and 0.7% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX, while being 0.2% slower than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G. This suggests that for the CPU-bound scenarios in Barony at lower resolutions, the 265HX is not uniquely exceptional but is part of a cluster of high-performing processors. The benchmark results indicate that the CPU's architecture and clock speeds are more than sufficient to feed the RTX 4080 at lower settings, but the scaling pattern shows that the GPU becomes the limiting factor as resolution and graphical load increase.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a high-end mobile GPU based on the Ada Lovelace architecture. It features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. The GPU's core clocks are set at 2205 MHz base and 2505 MHz boost, and it delivers a FP32 performance of 48.74 TFLOPS. The RTX 4080 holds an 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 54247, placing it in the same performance tier as the RTX 4080 SUPER (0.1% faster) and ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X by 1.1%.

In Barony, the GPU's role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution and settings are raised. The 16 GB VRAM capacity is more than sufficient for this title, preventing any memory-related stutters or texture pop-in. The high memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s ensures that texture streaming is efficient, allowing for smooth gameplay even in complex scenes.

The shift in bottleneck behavior is clearly visible in the measured FPS data. At 1080p Low, the system averages 430 FPS, a scenario where the CPU is the limiting factor. However, when the resolution is increased to 4K (3840x2160) with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 65. This significant reduction indicates that the GPU is now the primary constraint, as the pixel fill rate and shading requirements overwhelm the CPU's ability to feed frames. The RTX 4080's 112 ROPs and 280.6 GPixel/s pixel rate are being fully utilized at this resolution, but the workload is simply too high for the game's graphical fidelity.

The GPU's performance in synthetic tests, such as a PassMark G3D score of 34457, confirms its high-end positioning. When compared to its nearest rivals, the RTX 4080 is functionally equivalent to the RTX 4080 SUPER, but it outperforms the Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB by 2.6%. This level of performance allows the system to maintain playable frame rates at 4K with High settings, where it achieves an average of 91 FPS. The data shows that the RTX 4080 is a capable 4K gaming solution for Barony, but it is not invincible, and the Ultra preset at this resolution requires a compromise on frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is ranked 926th out of 2935 tested hardware combinations for Barony. This places the combo in the top 31.6% of all systems tested, indicating that it is a strong performer, but not the absolute pinnacle of hardware in this specific game. This ranking is a composite score that considers the performance across all tested resolutions and settings.

This rank is interesting when considering the individual components' percentiles. The CPU is in the 93rd percentile, and the GPU is in the 86th percentile, yet their combined performance in Barony is not as high as those individual scores might suggest. This implies that the game is not fully utilizing the potential of both components simultaneously. In most scenarios, one component is waiting on the other, preventing the system from achieving a higher combined rank.

The 926th rank out of 2935 combos suggests that many other systems, perhaps with more balanced or more powerful components, achieve better overall performance in Barony. For example, while the 265HX is a top-tier mobile CPU, its performance is only marginally better than the Intel Core i7-13790F (0.1% faster), meaning the choice of CPU has a minimal impact on the final ranking. The GPU, while excellent, is also closely matched by the RTX 4080 SUPER. The data implies that the bottleneck shift between CPU and GPU prevents this specific combo from being a top-100 performer, as no single resolution or setting is optimized for both components to work at peak efficiency simultaneously.

The rank reflects a system that is exceptionally fast at lower resolutions, where the CPU dominates, and still very capable at higher resolutions, where the GPU takes over. However, it does not reach the top tier because there is a gap in efficiency where the transition occurs. The data shows that this is a high-end enthusiast combo, but one that is not perfectly optimized for Barony's specific engine limits.

FAQ

*Q: What is the maximum average frame rate this combo can achieve in Barony?*

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 430, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this system maintain a 60 FPS experience at 4K resolution?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160 resolution, the system achieves an average of 65 FPS on Ultra settings, 91 FPS on High, and 106 FPS on Medium, all of which are above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU's performance compare to its direct competitors?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX is 0.1% faster than the Intel Core i7-13790F and 0.7% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX, but it is 0.2% slower than the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450G.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this hardware combination?

A: The lowest average FPS is 65, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Q: Is there a significant difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: Yes. At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 272 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 124 FPS, a difference of 148 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to the RTX 4080 SUPER in this context?

A: The benchmark data shows that the RTX 4080 is 0.1% slower than the RTX 4080 SUPER, making them essentially equivalent in performance for this game.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and expected pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the system averages 430 FPS. Moving to 1440p with the same Low settings, the average drops to 272 FPS, a decrease of 36.7%. Finally, at 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 142, which is a 67% reduction from the original 1080p figure. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary bottleneck as the pixel count increases.

This bottleneck shift is even more pronounced at higher settings. For the Ultra preset, the system averages 197 FPS at 1080p, 124 FPS at 1440p, and only 65 FPS at 4K. The performance drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra is 67%, which is similar to the percentage drop seen at Low settings. This consistency suggests that the GPU's workload is scaling linearly with resolution, regardless of the graphical preset, and that the RTX 4080 is the limiting factor at 4K in all cases.

The data also shows that the CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p. The fact that the system can achieve 430 FPS at Low settings suggests the CPU is hitting its maximum frame delivery rate. When the resolution is increased, the GPU has to work harder, and the FPS drops, confirming that the GPU is not the bottleneck at 1080p. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is also significant, but the system still maintains very high frame rates, indicating that the GPU is still capable of handling the load. The most critical insight is the 4K performance, where the GPU is clearly the limiting factor, as the FPS drops to levels that are still playable but far from the extreme numbers seen at lower resolutions.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this hardware combination depend on the user's target resolution and frame rate preference. For competitive play at 1080p, the Low preset is the best choice, as it delivers an average of 430 FPS, providing the lowest input latency and the highest frame rate possible. The Medium preset at 1080p is also an excellent option, offering a still-massive 320 FPS average while likely improving visual fidelity over Low.

At 1440p, the High preset is a strong recommendation, achieving an average of 173 FPS. This is well above the 144 Hz refresh rate of many monitors and offers a significant visual upgrade over Medium. The Ultra preset at 1440p, with an average of 124 FPS, is also viable for users with high-refresh-rate displays that support 120 Hz, but it represents a notable performance sacrifice for marginal visual gains.

For 4K gaming, the High preset is the best balance of visual quality and performance, with an average of 91 FPS. The Medium preset is also a good choice, providing an average of 106 FPS and ensuring a more comfortable margin above 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K averages 65 FPS, which is technically playable but may not be smooth enough for all users, especially in fast-paced scenarios. The data suggests that High settings at 4K are the "sweet spot" for this combo, offering a high-fidelity experience without compromising on frame rate stability.

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

1920x1080:

• Low: Average FPS of 430.
• Medium: Average FPS of 320, with a minimum of 272 and a maximum of 368.
• High: Average FPS of 275.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 197.

2560x1440:

• Low: Average FPS of 272.
• Medium: Average FPS of 202, with a minimum of 172 and a maximum of 232.
• High: Average FPS of 173.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 124.

3840x2160:

• Low: Average FPS of 142.
• Medium: Average FPS of 106, with a minimum of 90 and a maximum of 121.
• High: Average FPS of 91.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 65.

The data shows a consistent hierarchy across all resolutions, with Low performing best and Ultra performing worst. The gap between Medium and High is relatively small, while the jump from High to Ultra is more significant, indicating that the Ultra preset imposes a substantial additional load on the GPU. The minimum FPS values for the Medium preset show that even in demanding moments, the system maintains a high frame rate, ensuring a smooth experience. Overall, these numbers provide a comprehensive picture of the system's capabilities, allowing users to make informed decisions based on their specific hardware and preferences.