Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and Intel Arc B570 combination delivers a performance profile in Hard West that is firmly mid-pack, with the data showing a clear progression of frame rates that scale predictably with resolution and settings. The pairing demonstrates that this turn-based tactics title is not overly demanding, yet the measured results still reveal distinct bottlenecks and optimal configuration points.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G is a 6-core, 12-thread processor built on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Renoir. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, which are the figures that dictate its handling of the game's logic and AI calculations. For a turn-based tactics game like Hard West, the CPU's role is less about raw frame throughput and more about maintaining consistent turn processing and unit pathfinding, tasks that benefit from the processor's multi-threading capabilities. The 4600G's 8 MB of shared L3 cache and 512 KB per-core L2 cache provide a reasonable buffer for game state data, though the data shows this CPU is not the primary performance limiter in this specific title.

In synthetic benchmarks, the 4600G scores 13593 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1919 in single-core, placing it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in aggregate benchmark score are the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE (0.1% higher) and the Intel Core 7 150U (0.6% higher), while the AMD Ryzen 3 8300GE is 0.6% lower and the Intel Core i3-14100T is 0.8% lower. These close margins indicate the 4600G sits at a performance plateau where small architectural differences do not translate into significant gameplay variance. Given that Hard West is a 2015 title, the CPU's 12 threads are more than sufficient to handle the game's turn-based logic, and the measured FPS data supports this — the frame rates scale more dramatically with GPU-bound settings and resolution changes than with CPU workload variations.

The processor's 3dmark scores further contextualize its capability: 726 in single-thread, 1430 in 2-threads, and 4889 in max-threads. These numbers suggest that even in lightly-threaded scenarios, the 4600G can feed the GPU adequately. In this pairing, the CPU's role is best described as a stable foundation that does not impede the Arc B570's output, as evidenced by the fact that even at 1080p Low, where CPU overhead is most pronounced, the combination still achieves 134 FPS average, a figure that indicates no severe CPU bottleneck in typical gameplay.

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

The Intel Arc B570 is the primary driver of visual performance in this configuration. It features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, delivering 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth, with base and boost clocks both set at 2500 MHz. This memory capacity and bandwidth are ample for Hard West's textures and effects, even at Ultra settings, though the GPU's raw compute throughput of 11.52 TFLOPS FP32 is what ultimately determines the frame rate ceilings observed in the measured data.

The Arc B570's 2304 shading units and 80 ROPs handle the game's 2D sprite-based rendering and lighting effects efficiently. Its 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2649 and Passmark G3D score of 14195 place it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rivals being the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (0.1% higher) and Intel Arc A750 (0.1% lower). These close scores suggest that the B570 performs at a level comparable to these established GPUs, and the measured FPS in Hard West confirms it can push high frame rates at mainstream resolutions.

The GPU's 10 GB VRAM is a critical asset; even at 4K Ultra, the game does not appear to be VRAM-limited, as the bottleneck shifts to the GPU's compute capabilities at that resolution. The B570's memory clock of 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective) provides sufficient bandwidth to feed the 144 TMUs, ensuring texture filtering does not become a limiting factor in a game with Hard West's visual fidelity. The data shows a clear GPU-bound progression: at 1080p, the GPU is the primary determinant of performance, with average FPS dropping from 134 at Low to 63 at Ultra, a 53% reduction that reflects the increasing pixel shading and fill-rate demands. This pattern reinforces the B570 as a capable mid-range GPU that excels at 1080p and 1440p but struggles to maintain playable rates at 4K Ultra, where its 200.0 GPixel/s pixel rate is insufficient for the 8.3 million pixels per frame.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Hard West with this combo for a smooth experience?*

A: The data indicates 1920x1080 is the most forgiving resolution, with average FPS ranging from 63 at Ultra to 134 at Low, all of which are playable. At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 40 at Ultra to 85 at Low, which is acceptable for a turn-based game, but 4K Ultra drops to 21 FPS, which is not recommended.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 1440p at Medium settings?

A: At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 110 at 1920x1080 to 69 at 2560x1440, a decrease of 41 FPS or roughly 37%. This indicates a significant GPU load increase, but the resulting 69 FPS average is still smooth for the genre.

*Q: Does the Arc B570's 10 GB VRAM cause any issues at 4K in Hard West?*

A: No, the data does not suggest VRAM is a limiting factor. At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 36 with a minimum of 31, and at 4K Low it is 44. The performance drop at 4K is more attributable to the GPU's compute and pixel throughput limits rather than memory capacity.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 4600G compare to its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE?

A: The two processors have nearly identical aggregate benchmark scores, with the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE being just 0.1% faster. In practice, this difference is negligible for Hard West, meaning either CPU would yield similar frame rates in this configuration.

Q: Is the Ultra preset worth using at 1440p with this hardware?

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 40 FPS. While this is technically playable for a turn-based tactics title, the Medium preset at 69 FPS provides a substantially smoother experience with what is likely a smaller visual difference, making Medium the more balanced choice.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded across all tested settings?

A: The lowest average FPS is 21, recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings. This is the only tested configuration that falls below the 30 FPS threshold, making it unsuitable for comfortable play.

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

The measured FPS data for this combination covers three resolutions and four quality presets, providing a complete picture of performance scaling. At 1920x1080, the results are consistently high. The Low preset achieves an average of 134 FPS, Medium drops to 110 FPS (with a minimum of 93 and maximum of 126), High delivers 84 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 63 FPS. This represents a 53% reduction from Low to Ultra, but even the lowest figure is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay in a turn-based title.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates decrease predictably. Low settings yield an average of 85 FPS, Medium produces 69 FPS (minimum 59, maximum 80), High reaches 53 FPS, and Ultra falls to 40 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 45 FPS, a 53% drop that mirrors the 1080p scaling. The minimum FPS at Medium (59) remains above 60, indicating a stable experience, though the Ultra preset's 40 FPS average may feel less fluid during camera pans.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become apparent. Low settings average 44 FPS, Medium drops to 36 FPS (with a minimum of 31 and maximum of 42), High falls to 28 FPS, and Ultra plummets to 21 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra here is 23 FPS, a 52% reduction, but the absolute values are notably lower. The Medium preset at 4K is the only one that maintains a minimum above 30 FPS (31), making it the sole 4K option that avoids sub-30 dips. The data shows a consistent pattern: each resolution step from 1080p to 1440p to 2160p reduces average FPS by roughly 35-40% at the same settings, which aligns with the increasing pixel count demands on the GPU.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the broader context of all tested hardware combinations for Hard West, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2360 out of 2949 total combos. This places it in the lower third of all configurations, which is a notable finding given the individual components' mid-range benchmark positions. The CPU ranks in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, and the GPU ranks in the 65th percentile, yet the combined rank suggests that Hard West's performance is more sensitive to other factors, such as memory configuration or driver overhead, than to raw component strength.

The rank of 2360 out of 2949 means that roughly 20% of tested combos perform worse, while 80% perform better. This is a surprising result for a game that runs well at 1080p in this configuration, but it likely reflects that many higher-end combos achieve significantly higher frame rates at 4K Ultra, dragging their overall scores up. The data for this specific combination shows it is playable at all resolutions except 4K Ultra, yet its rank indicates that the Arc B570's performance at high resolutions is below par compared to other GPUs in its price-adjusted bracket. The nearest GPU rival, the Intel Arc A750, is only 0.1% faster in aggregate benchmarks, suggesting that combos featuring that GPU would rank similarly, but the overall 2360 position underscores that this is not a top-tier gaming setup for demanding titles, even if it suffices for Hard West's specific requirements.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combination depend heavily on the user's target resolution and preference for smoothness over visual fidelity. For 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the clear sweet spot. It delivers an average of 110 FPS with a minimum of 93 FPS, ensuring no perceptible stutter, while the jump from Medium to High costs 26 FPS (down to 84) for what is likely a marginal visual improvement in a game with Hard West's stylized graphics. The Ultra preset at 1080p (63 FPS) is playable but sacrifices nearly half the performance of Medium for diminishing returns, making it less advisable.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset again emerges as the best choice. It averages 69 FPS with a minimum of 59, which is just shy of a locked 60 but perfectly acceptable for turn-based gameplay. The High preset at 53 FPS is still playable, but the 16 FPS drop from Medium makes the latter more attractive. The Ultra preset at 40 FPS is borderline; it is playable but may feel less responsive during animated sequences. For users prioritizing visual quality over frame rate, High at 1440p is a viable alternative, but Medium offers the best balance of smoothness and detail.

For 3840x2160, the options are limited. The Low preset at 44 FPS is the only configuration that provides a consistently playable experience, though the Medium preset at 36 FPS (minimum 31) is also acceptable. The High preset at 28 FPS and Ultra at 21 FPS fall below the 30 FPS threshold and should be avoided. Given that Hard West is a turn-based game where frame rate spikes are less critical, the Medium preset at 4K provides a more visually satisfying experience without dropping below 30 FPS, making it the recommended choice for 4K users. Across all resolutions, the data consistently points to Medium as the best overall preset for this hardware, offering the highest average FPS without sacrificing the minimum frame rate stability that prevents hitches.