Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER delivers a remarkably smooth experience in Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015. The benchmark data shows this combination is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet still capable of pushing past 100 FPS at 1440p, making it an excellent match for this genre where frame pacing matters more than raw twitch response.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern across the three tested resolutions. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 168 FPS average. Stepping up to 1440p High drops that to 114 FPS, a 32% reduction, while 4K High brings it down to 60 FPS, another 47% drop from 1440p. This steep decline from 1440p to 4K indicates the RTX 4070 SUPER is the primary limiting factor at the highest resolution, with its 12 GB GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth being taxed by the pixel throughput demands of 3840x2160.

At Low settings, the scaling story shifts. The 1080p Low result of 199 FPS falls to 170 FPS at 1440p (a 15% drop) and then to 95 FPS at 4K (a 44% drop). The relatively modest decline from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings suggests the CPU is starting to play a larger role at lower graphical loads, but the sharp 4K penalty confirms the GPU still dominates overall. The Ryzen 5 5600F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads boosting to 4.00 GHz, appears sufficient to feed the RTX 4070 SUPER at 1080p and 1440p Low, as the FPS only decreases by 29 frames between those two points.

Medium settings show the most balanced scaling. The 1080p Medium average of 185 FPS drops to 148 FPS at 1440p (20% reduction) and then to 78 FPS at 4K (47% reduction). The min FPS data at Medium settings further illustrates this: 157 FPS at 1080p, 126 FPS at 1440p, and 66 FPS at 4K. These min FPS values are notably close to the averages, particularly at 4K where the 66 min FPS versus 78 average suggests consistent frame delivery rather than sporadic dips. This consistency is crucial for a turn-based tactics game where sudden frame hitches can disrupt camera transitions and unit animations.

Ultra settings present the most demanding scenario, with 135 FPS at 1080p, 85 FPS at 1440p, and 45 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result falls below the 60 FPS threshold commonly considered the minimum for smooth gameplay, indicating that this preset is only viable at 1080p or 1440p for this particular combo. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p Ultra shows a 37% reduction, while 1440p to 4K shows a 47% reduction, reinforcing that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are the bottlenecks at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 5 5600F is a Zen 3 Vermeer chip built on TSMC's 7 nm process, featuring 6 cores and 12 threads with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz. Its 32 MB shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth provide adequate data throughput for Hard West's turn-based mechanics, which are not typically known for extreme CPU demands compared to real-time strategy titles.

The CPU's benchmark scores offer context for its gaming performance. The PassMark single-thread score of 2872 and multithread score of 19236 place it in the 85th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 36945. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 at 36938 (0% delta), the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D at 37018 (-0.2% delta), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 at 37093 (-0.4% delta). These nearly identical scores indicate the 5600F performs on par with modern mid-range processors, ensuring it won't hold back the RTX 4070 SUPER in most gaming scenarios.

In the measured FPS data, the CPU's influence is most apparent at 1080p Low settings, where the 199 FPS average approaches the upper limits of what this processor can feed. The fact that 1080p High (168 FPS) and 1080p Medium (185 FPS) both exceed the 1440p Low result of 170 FPS suggests the CPU maintains its advantage at lower resolutions but cannot compensate for the GPU's workload increase at higher pixel counts. For a game like Hard West, where AI calculations and pathfinding occur during turn processing, the 5600F's 12 threads and Zen 3 architecture provide ample headroom, as evidenced by the consistent min FPS values at Medium settings across all resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination ranks 580th out of 2949 tested combos for Hard West, placing it in the top 20% of all configurations in the database. This percentile position aligns with the GPU's 83rd percentile ranking among all GPUs and the CPU's 85th percentile, suggesting the combo performs slightly below what the individual component percentiles might predict. The discrepancy likely stems from the game's age and its relative insensitivity to high-end hardware, where mid-range components can achieve similar frame rates.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB with an average score of 43262 (-0.1% delta), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile at 43268 (-0.1% delta), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile at 43667 (-1% delta). The RTX 4070 SUPER's average benchmark score of 43223 places it just below these competitors, yet in Hard West specifically, the 4K High result of 60 FPS and 1440p High result of 114 FPS demonstrate that this GPU has ample headroom for the game's modest graphical requirements.

The combo rank of 580 out of 2949 reflects that many other pairings achieve similar or better performance, but this position is still respectable given the RTX 4070 SUPER's end-of-life production status and the 5600F's recent 2025 release. The measured FPS data shows this combo can max out 1080p displays at Ultra settings (135 FPS) and comfortably handle 1440p at High (114 FPS), which likely places it above a significant portion of the 2949 tested combinations that may use older or lower-tier components.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. Low settings produce 199 FPS average, Medium settings yield 185 FPS with a min of 157 FPS and max of 213 FPS, High settings achieve 168 FPS, and Ultra settings reach 135 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 64 FPS, representing a 32% performance drop from the lowest to highest preset. This suggests the RTX 4070 SUPER has substantial headroom at 1080p, and the CPU is likely the limiting factor at Low settings where the 199 FPS ceiling appears to be near the 5600F's practical frame generation limit.

Moving to 2560x1440, the results remain impressive. Low settings produce 170 FPS, Medium settings average 148 FPS with min 126 FPS and max 170 FPS, High settings reach 114 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 85 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result of 85 FPS is still well above the 60 FPS threshold, making this resolution viable for all presets. The Medium settings min FPS of 126 is particularly noteworthy, as it indicates the combo maintains smooth frame delivery even during graphically intense scenes, which is crucial for a turn-based tactics game where the player may rapidly pan across the map.

At 3840x2160, the GPU begins to show its limits. Low settings produce 95 FPS, Medium settings average 78 FPS with min 66 FPS and max 89 FPS, High settings achieve exactly 60 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 45 FPS. The 4K Medium result of 78 FPS with a 66 min FPS is the most balanced option at this resolution, offering a playable experience without the steep performance cost of Ultra. The 4K High result of 60 FPS is borderline, while 4K Ultra at 45 FPS dips below the smoothness threshold for many users, making it less recommended for this resolution.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1440p High settings at 114 FPS average provides an excellent balance, while 1080p Ultra at 135 FPS is optimal for maximum visual fidelity without sacrificing frame rate.

*Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Hard West?*

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K Medium, the combo achieves 78 FPS average with a 66 FPS minimum, which is playable. 4K High produces exactly 60 FPS, while 4K Ultra drops to 45 FPS, which may feel less smooth.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5600F compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The 5600F scores 36945 on average benchmarks, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 at 36938 (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D at 37018 (-0.2% delta), indicating performance parity.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 SUPER a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: No, the data suggests the CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p Low (199 FPS), but at higher settings like Ultra (135 FPS), the GPU workload increases sufficiently to balance the system.

Q: What are the minimum FPS values at Medium settings?

A: The measured minimum FPS at Medium settings are 157 FPS at 1080p, 126 FPS at 1440p, and 66 FPS at 4K, showing consistent frame delivery across all resolutions.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: It ranks 580th out of 2949 total combos, placing it in the top 20% of all tested pairings for Hard West.

Settings Recommendations

For 1080p displays, Ultra settings at 135 FPS average is the clear recommendation, as it delivers the highest visual quality while maintaining a frame rate far above the 60 FPS threshold. The 64 FPS difference between Ultra and Low at this resolution is a reasonable trade-off for the graphical improvements, and the 135 FPS average ensures smooth gameplay even during camera movements and turn transitions.

For 1440p, High settings at 114 FPS represents the best experience per the measured rows. Ultra at 85 FPS is also viable, but the 29 FPS gain from choosing High over Ultra is substantial, and the visual difference between these presets is likely minimal in a turn-based tactics game. Medium at 148 FPS is overkill for this genre, where the extra frames provide no competitive advantage.

For 4K, Medium settings at 78 FPS average with a 66 FPS minimum is the recommended choice. This preset maintains playable frame rates while offering better visual quality than Low (95 FPS). High at 60 FPS is borderline acceptable but risks dipping below 60 during intense scenes, and Ultra at 45 FPS is too demanding for smooth gameplay. The Medium settings' min FPS of 66 provides a safety margin that ensures consistent performance, which is more valuable in a tactics game than marginal visual improvements.

Overall, the data suggests that this combo is best utilized at 1440p High or 1080p Ultra, where it delivers frame rates that exceed the requirements of Hard West's turn-based gameplay while providing ample visual fidelity. The 4K Medium option serves as a fallback for users with 4K displays who prioritize smoothness over maximum detail.