Hard West

Hard West is a turn-based tactics title from 2015 that, on paper, should not be demanding by modern standards. However, the benchmark data for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X paired with the Intel Arc B370 tells a different story, revealing a combination that struggles significantly at higher resolutions and settings. The Intel Arc B370, despite its modern architecture, operates with system-shared memory and a 25 W TDP, placing it in a performance class that is far below what this game needs for a smooth experience at 4K or even 1440p with high detail. The data shows that this is a pairing that can manage 1080p gaming at lower presets, but it is thoroughly outclassed by other tested configurations, ranking in the bottom 8% of all combos tested for this game.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this CPU and GPU in Hard West?

A: Based on the measured FPS, the best experience is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which produces an average of 79 FPS. This is the only resolution and settings combination in the data that surpasses the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. Medium settings at this resolution are also playable, with an average of 64 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 1440p gaming in Hard West?

A: It can, but with significant compromises. At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields an average of 50 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. The Medium preset drops to 41 FPS, and High settings fall to 31 FPS. Ultra settings at this resolution are not a viable option, averaging only 23 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rival, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, scores 1186, which is -0.2% different. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, a -0.7% difference. This places the Arc B370 in a similar performance tier to these older, much less capable graphics solutions, explaining its difficulty with Hard West.

Q: What is the CPU's benchmark percentile, and what does that mean for its performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. This indicates that it is a strong processor relative to the wider market, and its performance is not the primary bottleneck in this pairing. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, has a nearly identical average score, with a delta of only 0.1%.

Q: Is the 4K performance usable for Hard West?

A: No. The data shows that at 3840x2160, even the Low preset only averages 26 FPS. Medium settings average 21 FPS, High settings average 16 FPS, and Ultra settings average just 12 FPS. These frame rates are far below what is required for a comfortable gaming experience.

Q: What is the role of the GPU's memory in these results?

A: The Intel Arc B370 uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM of its own. Its memory type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent". This architecture is a significant factor in its poor performance, as it must contend with the system's main memory, which is a severe disadvantage for a game like Hard West.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive factor in this combo's performance in Hard West. This GPU, built on Intel's 3 nm process, is architecturally modern but is fundamentally limited by its design. The benchmark data for this game shows a clear pattern of struggle that can be directly attributed to the GPU's specifications. Its base clock is 300 MHz, and it boosts to 2400 MHz, which sounds capable, but the raw throughput is limited by its other specifications.

The most critical detail is that the memory configuration is entirely "System Shared." This means the graphics card has no dedicated VRAM; it relies on borrowing from the system's main memory. The memory type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent," which is a massive bottleneck in a gaming scenario. This architecture forces the GPU to compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth, severely hampering its ability to feed its 1280 shading units and 40 texture mapping units. The GPU's pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and its texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, but these theoretical numbers are clearly not achievable in practice for this game, as the measured FPS demonstrates.

The GPU's overall performance percentile is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 1184 places it in the company of much older, low-end mobile parts. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, both of which are ancient by comparison. This context is crucial. The Arc B370 is not a gaming GPU in the traditional sense; it is a low-power, integrated-class solution. Its 25 W TDP and "IGP" slot width reinforce this, indicating it is designed for efficiency, not performance. The data shows that this GPU simply does not have the raw power to handle the rendering load of Hard West at higher resolutions. Even at 1080p, it can only achieve a smooth 60+ FPS on the Low preset, which suggests that the game is pushing the GPU to its absolute limits in any other configuration.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured frame rates, the settings recommendations for this combo are straightforward and heavily dictated by the GPU's limitations. The only configuration that provides a consistently smooth experience is 1920x1080 with the Low preset, which averages 79 FPS. This should be the default choice for any player using this hardware. The Low preset is the only one that clears the 60 FPS bar, offering a playable and responsive experience.

If a player can tolerate slightly lower frame rates, the Medium preset at 1080p is a viable alternative, averaging 64 FPS. This represents the highest quality setting that still maintains a playable frame rate. The High preset at 1080p drops to 49 FPS, which is a noticeable step down in smoothness and is not recommended for a game that requires strategic thinking without performance hiccups. Ultra settings at 1080p are not advisable, with an average of 37 FPS.

Moving up to 2560x1440, the options become more limited. The Low preset here averages 50 FPS, which is borderline playable. The Medium preset at 1440p averages 41 FPS, and High settings drop to 31 FPS. These are all below the ideal range for a smooth experience. The data suggests that for 1440p, the Low preset is the only reasonable option, and even then, players should expect a less fluid experience than at 1080p. At 4K, all settings are effectively unplayable, with the highest average being 26 FPS on Low. The conclusion is clear: to get the best experience with this hardware, a player must prioritize resolution and settings to maintain a playable frame rate. The optimal path is 1080p with Low or Medium settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2721 out of 2949 tested combos for Hard West. This places it in the bottom 8% of all configurations, which is a very poor showing. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's limitations, as the CPU is a comparatively strong performer. The data indicates that this is not a balanced pairing for this game; the GPU is a severe bottleneck that prevents the system from achieving performance levels that the CPU is capable of supporting.

This low ranking is consistent with the GPU's own percentile ranking of 5th versus all other GPUs. The combo's performance is dragged down by the Arc B370's inability to deliver adequate frame rates. For context, the CPU alone is in the 75th percentile, but the system's overall gaming performance is in the bottom tier. This stark contrast highlights how the GPU dictates the gaming experience in this title. The score of 2721 out of 2949 suggests that almost any other tested GPU pairing would likely provide a better experience. The data does not include specifics on what combos are above it, but the implication is that even with a weaker CPU, a more capable GPU would have resulted in a higher rank. This pairing is a clear example of a system where the graphics card is the primary limiting factor, and the ranking reflects the poor gaming performance that results.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X plays a supporting, but competent, role in this pairing. The CPU is based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, and features 6 cores and 12 threads. It has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. These specifications are robust for a desktop processor, and its benchmark scores confirm its capability. It achieves a strong 11838 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 1541 in single-core, placing it in the 75th percentile of all CPUs. This performance is not the reason for the poor in-game results.

In Hard West, a turn-based tactics game, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, AI, and other simulation tasks, which are not typically as demanding as in fast-paced action games. The 6 cores and 12 threads are more than sufficient for this task. The data shows that the CPU is not a bottleneck; its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, has a nearly identical average score, with a delta of just 0.1%. The CPU's performance is effectively a non-factor in the low frame rates.

The issue is that the CPU's capabilities are wasted because the GPU cannot keep up. The CPU can easily feed the GPU with data, but the Arc B370 is unable to process it fast enough to produce high frame rates. The CPU's high single-thread performance, as evidenced by a 917 score in 3dmark_single_thread and 3364 in Passmark single-thread, is irrelevant when the GPU is the limiting factor. Therefore, while the Ryzen 5 5600X is a strong processor, its role in this combo is to highlight the GPU's deficiency. The data suggests that a much weaker CPU could be paired with this GPU with little to no change in the game's performance, as the system's frame rate is entirely dictated by the graphics card.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system's performance across different resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the system shows its best results. The Low preset delivers an average of 79 FPS, making it the only truly smooth configuration. The Medium preset achieves an average of 64 FPS, with a minimum of 55 and a maximum of 74 FPS, indicating a playable experience. The High preset drops to an average of 49 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages just 37 FPS. These numbers show a steep decline in performance as the settings are increased, demonstrating the GPU's limited headroom.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. The Low preset averages 50 FPS, which is a substantial decrease from the 1080p result. The Medium preset averages 41 FPS, with a range of 35 to 47 FPS. The High preset averages 31 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 23 FPS. These results suggest that 1440p is only viable on the Low preset, and even then, the frame rate is not ideal for a consistently smooth experience. The gap between 1080p and 1440p performance highlights the GPU's lack of memory bandwidth and raw processing power to handle the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the system is overwhelmed. The Low preset averages 26 FPS, the Medium preset averages 21 FPS with a range of 18 to 25 FPS, and the High preset averages just 16 FPS. The Ultra preset is the worst, with an average of 12 FPS. These frame rates are far below playable levels, confirming that 4K gaming is out of the question for this hardware. The data shows a consistent pattern: the Intel Arc B370 is only capable of providing a smooth experience at the lowest settings and resolution. The performance degrades predictably with each step up in resolution or quality, making the 1080p Low preset the only practical choice.