Hard West

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 5000 series, built on the Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Vermeer) using TSMC's 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, drawing a 65 W TDP. The CPU carries 32 MB of shared L3 cache, plus 512 KB L2 and 64 KB L1 per core, and supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. Its PCIe Gen 4 interface provides 20 lanes from the CPU.

Benchmark data positions this processor at the 79th percentile among all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 21,765 places it within a tight competitive cluster. The nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon D-1746TER (21,635, 0.6% slower), the AMD EPYC 9554P (21,899, 0.6% faster), the AMD EPYC 9534 (21,900, 0.6% faster), and the Intel Core i7-11700F (21,957, 0.9% faster). The differences are marginal — under a single percentage point in every case — which indicates this CPU sits in a performance tier where small architectural advantages decide placement.

In single-threaded workloads, the Ryzen 5 5600 scores 882 in 3dmark_single_thread and 2,584 in Cinebench R23 single-core. Multi-threaded results are substantially stronger: 5,659 in 3dmark_max_threads and 18,309 in Cinebench R23 multicore. The scaling from 2 threads (1,737) to 4 threads (3,313) to 8 threads (4,798) shows consistent gains, suggesting the scheduler efficiently distributes work across the six physical cores.

For Hard West, a turn-based tactics title, the CPU's role is primarily about maintaining frame pacing during unit turns, AI calculations, and scene transitions. The single-thread performance matters for the game's logic thread, while the 12 threads handle background tasks and any parallel processing the engine employs. Given the measured FPS data — where even at 1080p Low the system reaches 141.1 FPS — the CPU delivers sufficient headroom. The data shows the processor is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions; rather, the GPU becomes the bottleneck as settings increase.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 uses the TU106 chip on a 12 nm TSMC process, with 10,800 million transistors on a 445 mm² die. It operates with a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1680 MHz, while memory runs at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). The card features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its compute resources include 1,920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, 48 ROPs, 30 RT cores, and 240 tensor cores, delivering 6.451 TFLOPS of FP32 performance.

The GPU sits at the 58th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 16,074. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (15,996, 0.5% slower), the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (16,351, 1.7% faster), the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (16,351, 1.7% faster), and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15,786, 1.8% slower). These narrow deltaPct values — all within 2% — indicate the RTX 2060 performs in a well-populated mid-range segment.

For Hard West, the GPU handles the game's isometric visuals, lighting effects, and particle systems during combat sequences. The 6 GB VRAM is a notable consideration: at 4K Ultra settings, the frame rate drops to 24.8 FPS, and at 4K High it reaches only 31.2 FPS. The card's 48 ROPs and 201.6 GTexel/s texture rate are sufficient for lower resolutions, but the data indicates the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become strained when pixel count increases dramatically. The 336.0 GB/s bandwidth is adequate for 1080p and 1440p, where the measured results are much healthier.

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

Examining the measured FPS across resolutions reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p High settings, the system achieves 93 FPS. Moving to 1440p High drops the frame rate to 59.4 FPS — a reduction of 33.6 FPS, or roughly 36%. At 4K High, the frame rate falls to 31.2 FPS, which is a further drop of 28.2 FPS from 1440p, representing another 47% decline. This progressive degradation with each resolution step indicates the GPU is the primary constraint once pixel counts rise.

The Low settings tell a similar story but with higher absolute numbers. At 1080p Low, the system hits 141.1 FPS. At 1440p Low, it falls to 88.7 FPS (a 52.4 FPS drop, or 37%), and at 4K Low it reaches 47.1 FPS (a 41.6 FPS drop from 1440p, or 47%). The proportional decreases are nearly identical to High settings, confirming that the limiting component is consistent regardless of quality preset.

The Medium settings follow the same trajectory: 118.8 FPS at 1080p, 75.1 FPS at 1440p (a 36.8% drop), and 40.8 FPS at 4K (a 45.7% drop from 1440p). Ultra settings show the steepest absolute decline: 64.9 FPS at 1080p, 44.1 FPS at 1440p (a 32% drop), and 24.8 FPS at 4K (a 43.8% drop from 1440p).

The consistent ~36-37% drop from 1080p to 1440p and ~44-47% drop from 1440p to 4K across all settings points to a resolution-bound scenario. The CPU's strong single-thread performance — evidenced by its 882 3dmark_single_thread score and 2,584 Cinebench R23 single-core result — means it can feed frames faster than the GPU can render them at higher resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p, the system's frame rates exceed 60 FPS even at Ultra, suggesting the CPU has ample headroom. As resolution increases, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become the limiting factors.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four quality settings.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings produce 141.1 FPS, Medium settings reach 118.8 FPS, High settings achieve 93 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 64.9 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 76.2 FPS, showing that quality presets have a substantial impact at this resolution. Every preset except Ultra exceeds 90 FPS, and even Ultra stays above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, performance remains playable but with clear reductions. Low settings yield 88.7 FPS, Medium settings provide 75.1 FPS, High settings hit 59.4 FPS, and Ultra falls to 44.1 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 44.6 FPS. High and Ultra presets fall below the 60 FPS threshold, while Low and Medium remain above it.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is heavily taxed. Low settings produce 47.1 FPS, Medium settings reach 40.8 FPS, High settings achieve 31.2 FPS, and Ultra drops to 24.8 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 22.3 FPS. No preset reaches 60 FPS at this resolution, and even Low settings fall short of the 60 FPS target by 12.9 FPS.

The data shows that the RTX 2060 handles 1080p comfortably across all settings, manages 1440p at Low and Medium presets, and struggles at 4K regardless of settings. The minimum FPS values are not provided in the data, so the analysis relies solely on average FPS figures.

# FAQ

Q: Can the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 run Hard West at 1080p Ultra?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 Ultra is 64.9 FPS, which exceeds the standard 60 FPS target.

Q: What is the best resolution for this system in Hard West?

A: The data shows 2560x1440 at High settings delivers 59.4 FPS, which is very close to 60 FPS. For a more comfortable margin, 2560x1440 at Medium settings produces 75.1 FPS.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware?

A: No preset at 3840x2160 reaches 60 FPS. The highest average FPS at 4K is 47.1 FPS on Low settings, while Ultra drops to 24.8 FPS.

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

A: The Ryzen 5 5600 has an average benchmark score of 21,765. It is 0.6% slower than the AMD EPYC 9554P (21,899) and 0.6% faster than the Intel Xeon D-1746TER (21,635), placing it in a tightly competitive group.

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

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 16,074. It is 1.7% slower than the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (16,351) and 1.8% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15,786).

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1440p High settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 High is 59.4 FPS, which is marginally below the 60 FPS threshold but still playable.

# Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience depends on the target resolution and acceptable frame rates.

For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the best choice. At 64.9 FPS, it exceeds the 60 FPS threshold while providing the highest visual quality. The gap between High (93 FPS) and Ultra (64.9 FPS) is 28.1 FPS, but the visual fidelity gains justify the reduction for users with 60 Hz displays. Those with 144 Hz monitors may prefer High settings (93 FPS) to take advantage of higher refresh rates.

For 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers the best balance. At 75.1 FPS, it stays comfortably above 60 FPS while offering better quality than Low (88.7 FPS). High settings at 59.4 FPS fall just short of the 60 FPS target, making Medium the recommended preset for smooth gameplay. Users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate could choose High settings, accepting the slight dip below 60 FPS.

For 3840x2160, no setting achieves 60 FPS. The Low preset at 47.1 FPS is the most playable option, but even this falls short of the standard target. Medium (40.8 FPS) and High (31.2 FPS) offer diminishing returns as frame rates drop further. Given the data, 4K gaming with this hardware is not recommended for this title unless the user accepts sub-50 FPS performance. The system's 6 GB VRAM and 192-bit memory bus are insufficient for the pixel throughput required at 4K, as evidenced by the 24.8 FPS result at Ultra settings.

The overall recommendation is to run Hard West at 2560x1440 with Medium settings (75.1 FPS) for the best combination of visual quality and smoothness, or at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings (64.9 FPS) for maximum visual fidelity while maintaining 60 FPS.