Hard West

Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015, presents a unique challenge for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and Intel Arc B390 combination. The measured frame rates across all resolutions and settings presets indicate that this pairing is severely constrained, primarily by the graphics subsystem. The data shows a system that is capable of running the game, but the experience is defined by consistently low frame rates that fall well below the thresholds for smooth, modern gameplay.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. This is a modern, capable desktop CPU with a 65 W TDP, and its benchmark scores reflect a solid mid-range standing. For instance, its Cinebench R23 multicore score is 16429, and its single-core score is 2319. In the broader context, it sits at the 73rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19593. Its nearest rivals in performance include the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 (with a delta of -0.1%) and the Intel Core i5-12500 (with a delta of -0.4%).

Given the nature of Hard West as a turn-based tactics game, the CPU's role is typically to manage game logic, pathfinding, and AI decisions, which are often more dependent on single-thread performance than multi-thread performance. The Ryzen 5 5500's single-thread performance, as indicated by benchmarks like the 3dmark_single_thread score of 836 and the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2319, suggests it should be more than adequate for this title. The game is from 2015, and the CPU is from 2022, so it is highly unlikely that the processor is the primary bottleneck at any resolution.

The benchmark results support this hypothesis. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see frame rates that are consistently low across all resolutions, as the CPU's workload remains relatively constant regardless of resolution. However, the measured FPS shows a clear and dramatic drop as resolution increases. At 1080p with High settings, the average frame rate is 55 FPS. At 1440p, it drops to 35 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to 18 FPS. This steep decline indicates that the graphics card is struggling to keep up with the increasing pixel count, while the CPU is likely still waiting for the GPU to finish its work. The processor's ample thread count and high clock speeds are not being fully utilized, as the workload is shifted to the GPU. The data strongly indicates that the CPU is not the performance bottleneck in this configuration.

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

The Intel Arc B390 is the clear performance limiter in this pairing. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's main memory for both the CPU and GPU, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a fundamental disadvantage for gaming performance, as dedicated memory on a discrete GPU is significantly faster.

The Arc B390's specifications are modest for a gaming-focused part. It has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 render output units. Its boost clock is 2500 MHz, and it supports modern APIs including DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), Vulkan 1.4, and OpenGL 4.6. However, its raw compute power is low, with an FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS. This is reflected in its benchmark scores. In the 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 test, it scores 1482, placing it at the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

This low percentile is critical. The Arc B390's nearest rivals are not modern gaming cards but much older, low-end parts like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (with a delta of 1.3%) and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (with a delta of 1.5%). This comparison highlights that the Arc B390's performance is comparable to GPUs from over a decade ago. Consequently, the frame rates in Hard West are held back significantly. The GPU's inability to handle the rendering workload is the primary reason for the low FPS figures, regardless of the CPU's readiness. The system-shared memory architecture further compounds this issue, as the GPU must contend with the CPU for memory bandwidth, potentially leading to further performance degradation in demanding scenarios.

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

The resolution scaling data provides a clear picture of the performance bottleneck. Moving from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 at High settings, the average frame rate drops from 55 FPS to 18 FPS. This is a reduction of approximately 67%. Similarly, at Low settings, the frame rate falls from 87 FPS at 1080p to 29 FPS at 4K, a decline of about 67%. At Medium settings, the drop is from 71 FPS to 24 FPS, and at Ultra, from 41 FPS to 14 FPS.

This consistent, significant drop across all settings as resolution increases is a textbook sign of a GPU-bound system. The CPU's workload in a turn-based game like Hard West does not scale with resolution; the GPU's does. As the resolution increases, the GPU must render more pixels, which takes more time, thus lowering the frame rate. The fact that the percentage drop is similar across all settings presets suggests that the GPU's rendering limits are being hit at every quality level, and lowering the settings only serves to reduce the absolute time per frame, not the scaling trend. The 1440p results also fit this pattern, with the High preset dropping to 35 FPS. This analysis confirms that the Intel Arc B390 is the component preventing this system from achieving playable frame rates at higher resolutions. The CPU is not the limiting factor; the GPU simply cannot produce frames fast enough.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with High settings?

A: The benchmark data shows an average frame rate of 55 FPS at 1920x1080 with the High settings preset.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has an average benchmark score of 19593. Its nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430, which scores 19617, a negligible difference of -0.1%. It is also closely matched with the Intel Core i5-12500, which scores 19668, a -0.4% delta.

Q: Which component is the performance bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The data clearly indicates that the Intel Arc B390 GPU is the limiting factor. This is evident from the sharp decline in frame rates as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU's performance relative to the game's requirements is more than sufficient.

Q: What is the best frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 87 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low settings preset.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B390 a high-performance graphics card?

A: No. The benchmark data shows it scores in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with its performance being comparable to very old, low-end parts like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, which has a score of 1443 and a delta of 2.7%.

Q: What is the frame rate at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with the Ultra settings preset, the average frame rate is 14 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and Intel Arc B390 combination across all tested configurations are as follows:

• 1920x1080 (1080p)
• Low: Average FPS of 87. This is the highest average frame rate recorded for this system.
• Medium: Average FPS of 71, with a minimum of 61 FPS and a maximum of 82 FPS.
• High: Average FPS of 55.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 41.

• 2560x1440 (1440p)
• Low: Average FPS of 55.
• Medium: Average FPS of 45, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS.
• High: Average FPS of 35.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 26.

• 3840x2160 (4K)
• Low: Average FPS of 29.
• Medium: Average FPS of 24, with a minimum of 20 FPS and a maximum of 27 FPS.
• High: Average FPS of 18.
• Ultra: Average FPS of 14. This is the lowest average frame rate recorded.

The data shows a consistent and expected pattern: performance degrades as both resolution and quality settings increase. The jump from 1080p to 1440p results in a significant performance hit, and moving to 4K makes the game nearly unplayable from a smoothness perspective. The only configuration that approaches a playable standard is at 1080p with Low settings, which achieves an average of 87 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this hardware combination is found at the 1920x1080 resolution. At this resolution, the Low preset yields an average of 87 FPS, which is the only preset across all resolutions that provides a consistently fluid frame rate. The Medium preset at 1080p also offers a playable experience, with an average of 71 FPS and a minimum of 61 FPS, which should be smooth enough for a turn-based game where twitch reactions are not critical. The High preset at 1080p, at 55 FPS, is also acceptable, but it represents a trade-off between visual quality and smoothness.

For higher resolutions, the data suggests that the experience will be compromised. At 1440p, the Low preset provides an average of 55 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 45 FPS, which may be acceptable for some players given the genre's slower pace. At 4K, all presets fail to provide a smooth experience, with average frame rates ranging from 14 FPS on Ultra to 29 FPS on Low. These are all well below the 30 FPS threshold that is often considered the minimum for playable, and the game is likely to feel laggy and unresponsive.

Therefore, the best experience per the measured rows is to play at 1080p with the Medium preset. This provides a good balance of visual fidelity and performance, with an average frame rate of 71 FPS and a minimum that stays above 60 FPS. The Low preset at 1080p is the safest choice for ensuring the highest frame rate, but the Medium preset offers a better visual experience while still maintaining smooth performance. Players who prioritize visual quality above all else could try the High preset at 1080p, but they should be prepared for a noticeable reduction in smoothness.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Hard West, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2614 out of 2949 total combos. This places it in the bottom 12% of all tested systems, which is a poor result. The ranking is a reflection of the GPU's severe performance limitations. While the CPU is a capable part, as indicated by its 73rd percentile ranking among all CPUs, the system's overall gaming performance is dragged down by the GPU's 9th percentile ranking.

The data shows a significant mismatch in this pairing. The processor is held back by the integrated graphics solution. The combo's low rank is almost entirely attributable to the Intel Arc B390's inability to deliver playable frame rates at higher resolutions, as evidenced by its benchmarks and the measured FPS in this game. The system's overall performance is so heavily constrained by the GPU that the CPU's strength becomes irrelevant in practice. For users looking to play Hard West, this combination would result in a subpar experience, requiring the lowest settings and resolution to achieve a reasonably smooth frame rate. The ranking indicates that nearly all other tested combinations would offer better performance in this title.