Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination delivers a robust experience in Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015. The data shows a pairing where the CPU provides ample processing headroom, allowing the GPU to become the primary scaling factor as resolution and settings increase. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, contextualizes it against other tested configurations, and provides actionable settings guidance based strictly on the benchmark results.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, running on the AMD Socket AM4 platform. It operates with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, featuring a 32 MB shared L3 cache. With a 65W TDP and support for DDR4 memory, this CPU is positioned as a capable desktop part. Its PassMark single-thread score of 2872 and multithread score of 19236 indicate strong per-core performance, which is relevant for a game like Hard West that relies on discrete simulation steps and unit actions.

In the context of this game's results, the CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient to handle the turn-based logic and AI calculations. The benchmark data indicates that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 186 FPS, which is the highest average recorded across all tested configurations. This high frame rate at a low resolution strongly suggests that the CPU is not a limiting factor; if it were, the FPS would plateau regardless of GPU load. The processor's 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs further reinforces its capability to feed the GPU adequately in this title.

The architecture's efficiency is also notable. The 7 nm process node and 4,150 million transistors on a 74 mm² die contribute to its performance per watt. The data shows that the CPU's performance rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, with a deltaPct of 0 and -0.2 respectively, indicating a near-identical average benchmark score around 36945. This places the 5600F in a competitive tier where its processing power is unlikely to bottleneck the RTX 4060, even when the GPU is pushed to its limits at higher settings.

The PassMark physics score of 1043 and integer math score of 59339 are consistent with a processor designed for smooth gameplay in simulation-heavy genres. For Hard West, where the game state updates in turns rather than continuous frames, the CPU's ability to quickly process pathfinding and combat calculations is paramount. The measured FPS data shows that even at 4K Ultra, where the GPU is heavily stressed with a 29 FPS average, the CPU still manages to keep the game running without stutter, as indicated by the consistent, albeit low, frame delivery.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, utilizing the AD107 chip on a 5 nm process. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz, with a pixel rate of 118.1 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 236.2 GTexel/s. Its FP32 performance is rated at 15.11 TFLOPS. These specifications, while modest by modern standards, are capable of handling Hard West's stylized visuals.

The GPU's role in this game becomes increasingly significant as resolution and settings rise. The benchmark data shows a clear correlation: at 1080p Low, the combo hits 186 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 29 FPS. This 157 FPS swing is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's rendering workload. The RTX 4060 has 3072 shading units and 48 ROPs, which determine its fill rate. At 4K, the 8 GB VRAM is likely sufficient for this 2015 title, but the sheer pixel count overwhelms the GPU's compute capabilities, leading to the observed performance drop.

The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 19545 places it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7790 and AMD Radeon 780M, with a deltaPct of -0.2 and 0.3, respectively. This indicates that the RTX 4060's raw rasterization performance is comparable to those parts, but its modern architecture and driver support provide additional features. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2302 further quantifies its DirectX 12 performance, which is relevant for a game that can utilize modern APIs.

The RTX 4060's 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores are not directly tested by Hard West's benchmark results, as the game likely does not use ray tracing or DLSS given its release date. However, the GPU's baseline performance in the measured FPS is what matters. The data shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher settings, as reducing the resolution from 4K to 1080p at Ultra settings yields a 3x increase in frame rate from 29 FPS to 88 FPS. This confirms that the CPU can support higher FPS, but the GPU cannot render the frames fast enough at higher pixel densities.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the system scales across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 186. Moving to 1440p Low, it drops to 118 FPS, a 36.6% decrease. At 4K Low, the average is 62 FPS, a 47.5% decrease from 1440p and a 66.7% decrease from 1080p. This trend is consistent across all settings, indicating that the GPU is the limiting component as resolution increases.

At High settings, the scaling is similar: 117 FPS at 1080p, 74 FPS at 1440p, and 39 FPS at 4K. The 1080p to 4K drop is 78 FPS, or 66.7%. Medium settings show 152 FPS at 1080p, 96 FPS at 1440p, and 51 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K is 101 FPS, or 66.4%. Ultra settings show the most dramatic impact: 88 FPS at 1080p, 55 FPS at 1440p, and 29 FPS at 4K. The drop is 59 FPS, or 67.0%.

The consistent ~66% drop from 1080p to 4K across all settings is a strong indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU's performance, with its high single-thread score of 2872, could theoretically support much higher frame rates, as evidenced by the 186 FPS at 1080p Low. However, as the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K, the GPU's fill rate and shading units become saturated. The RTX 4060's memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s is also a factor, as higher resolutions require more data to be fetched and processed.

This scaling behavior means that 1080p and 1440p are the sweet spots for this combo, where the GPU can maintain high frame rates. At 4K, the system is clearly GPU-limited, and the frame rates drop to levels that are playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. For a turn-based tactics game like Hard West, where reaction time is less critical, the 4K performance might still be acceptable, but the data suggests that 1440p offers a better balance of visual fidelity and frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 1574 out of 2949 tested combinations in Hard West. This places it in the 53rd percentile of all combos, meaning it outperforms slightly more than half of the tested configurations. This ranking is a holistic measure that accounts for performance across all resolutions and settings.

Given the CPU's 85th percentile ranking and the GPU's 61st percentile ranking, one might expect a higher combo rank. However, the comboRankInGame is specific to this game's performance, not general benchmark scores. The rank of 1574 suggests that while the CPU is strong, the GPU's relative weakness at higher resolutions drags the overall combo ranking down. Many other combos likely feature more powerful GPUs that can sustain higher frame rates at 4K, which is a significant factor in the overall ranking.

The nearest rivals for the CPU, such as the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 and AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D, have similar average benchmark scores. If paired with a stronger GPU, these combos would likely rank higher. Conversely, the GPU's nearest rivals, like the AMD Radeon HD 7790, are much older and less capable, indicating that the RTX 4060 is a solid mid-range choice.

The data suggests that this combo is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it is not a top-tier performer for 4K. Users seeking higher 4K frame rates would need to consider a more powerful GPU. The rank of 1574 out of 2949 is respectable, placing this combo in the upper half of all tested systems, but it is not exceptional for high-end 4K play.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive overview of the combo's performance. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings yield an average of 186 FPS. Medium settings produce an average of 152 FPS, with a minimum of 129 FPS and a maximum of 175 FPS. High settings drop to an average of 117 FPS. Ultra settings bring the average down to 88 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down accordingly. Low settings average 118 FPS. Medium settings average 96 FPS, with a minimum of 82 FPS and a maximum of 111 FPS. High settings average 74 FPS. Ultra settings average 55 FPS. The minimum and maximum data for Medium settings at this resolution show a variance of 29 FPS, indicating some frame pacing variability.

At 3840x2160, the performance is significantly lower. Low settings average 62 FPS. Medium settings average 51 FPS, with a minimum of 43 FPS and a maximum of 58 FPS. High settings average 39 FPS. Ultra settings average 29 FPS. The 4K Medium settings show a minimum of 43 FPS, which is still playable for a turn-based game, but the 29 FPS average at Ultra is noticeably less smooth.

The data reveals that the step from Medium to High settings at each resolution incurs a substantial penalty. At 1080p, the drop is 35 FPS (152 to 117). At 1440p, it is 22 FPS (96 to 74). At 4K, it is 12 FPS (51 to 39). The step from High to Ultra is also significant: 29 FPS at 1080p, 19 FPS at 1440p, and 10 FPS at 4K. This indicates that the High preset offers a better balance of quality and performance, as the Ultra preset provides diminishing returns for the FPS cost.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo can achieve in Hard West?*

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 186 at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

*Q: Is this system capable of 4K gaming in Hard West?*

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 4K High settings, the average FPS is 39, and at 4K Ultra, it drops to 29. Low and Medium settings at 4K yield 62 and 51 FPS respectively, which are playable for a turn-based title.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F has an average benchmark score of 36945, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (36938) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37018), with a deltaPct of 0 and -0.2 respectively.

Q: At which setting does the frame rate drop the most from 1080p to 4K?

A: The drop is consistent across settings, around 66-67%. For example, at Low settings, FPS drops from 186 to 62, and at Ultra, it drops from 88 to 29.

Q: What is the combo's ranking among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 1574 out of 2949 tested combinations, placing it in the upper half of all tested systems.

Q: Does the GPU's memory size limit performance in this game?

A: The GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. Given the game's 2015 release and the measured performance, the memory size is not a reported bottleneck; the GPU's compute performance is the limiting factor at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's resolution and performance priorities. For 1920x1080, the High preset is recommended, as it delivers an average of 117 FPS, which is well above playable thresholds for a turn-based game. The Ultra preset at 88 FPS is also acceptable, but the 29 FPS drop from High is a significant cost for marginal visual gains.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is again the best choice, offering 74 FPS. This is a comfortable frame rate for the genre. The Medium preset at 96 FPS provides extra headroom for those who prefer a higher frame rate, but the visual fidelity is lower. Ultra at 55 FPS is playable but may feel less responsive.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset is recommended, with an average of 51 FPS and a minimum of 43 FPS. This ensures the game remains playable without significant stutter. Low settings at 62 FPS provide a smoother experience but with reduced visual quality. High and Ultra settings at 39 and 29 FPS respectively are best avoided, as the frame rates dip into ranges that could detract from the experience, even for a tactical title.

The data shows that the High preset at 1080p and 1440p offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. At 4K, Medium is the sweet spot, providing a playable frame rate without compromising too much on graphical fidelity. This guidance is based solely on the measured average and minimum FPS values, ensuring a consistent experience as indicated by the benchmark results.