Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 delivers a measured performance profile in Hard West that places the combination 781st out of 1,699 tested combos. The data, captured across three resolutions and four quality presets, shows a system that is comfortably capable of high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K requires careful settings selection. This turn-based tactics title from 2015 is not particularly demanding, but the measured results reveal how the CPU and GPU scale across the full range of quality options.

FAQ

Q: What is the combo's rank in Hard West?

A: The combo ranks 781st out of 1,699 tested combinations, placing it in the upper half of the database.

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

A: The Ryzen 5 5600X trails the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT and Intel Core i7-10700 by 0.3%, the Intel Core i5-12490F by 0.5%, and leads the Intel Xeon 6325P by 0.7% in average benchmark score.

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

A: The RTX 3070 is 0.9% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT and 1% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti, while sitting 0.6% behind the AMD FirePro S7150 and 1.1% behind the AMD Radeon R9 M295X.

Q: What are the launch MSRPs?

A: The CPU has a launch MSRP of $299, and the GPU has a launch MSRP of 499 USD.

Q: What is the highest measured average FPS?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 209.5 FPS.

Q: What is the lowest measured average FPS?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 35.3.

How This Combo Ranks

The 781st rank out of 1,699 combos means the system outperforms more than half of the tested configurations. The CPU itself sits in the 78th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. This suggests a well-balanced pairing, with the CPU slightly stronger relative to its peers than the GPU. In a turn-based tactics game like Hard West, where frame rates are less critical than in fast-paced shooters, this rank indicates more than sufficient performance for smooth gameplay at most settings.

The CPU's nearest rivals reinforce its position. The Ryzen 5 5600X is within 0.5% of the Intel Core i5-12490F and within 0.3% of the Ryzen 5 5600GT and Core i7-10700, while leading the Xeon 6325P by 0.7%. These margins are small, meaning the 5600X is effectively at parity with its closest competitors in synthetic benchmarks. The GPU's nearest rivals show a similar pattern: the RTX 3070 is 0.9% ahead of the RX 6600 XT and 1% ahead of the GTX 980 Ti, but 0.6% behind the FirePro S7150 and 1.1% behind the R9 M295X. Again, the differences are minor, and the measured game performance is what ultimately matters.

Given that the game is turn-based, the absolute frame rate is less critical than consistency. The measured data shows no frame-time spikes or minimum FPS values, but the average FPS across all settings and resolutions is high enough to avoid perceptible stutter. The combo's rank in the upper half of the database reflects a system that can handle Hard West without compromise at 1080p and 1440p, and with settings adjustments at 4K.

GPU Role

The RTX 3070 brings 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1500 MHz and boost clock 1725 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). For Hard West, a 2015 turn-based tactics game, these specifications are more than adequate. The 8 GB VRAM is unlikely to be a bottleneck at any of the tested settings, as the game's textures and geometry are modest by modern standards. The high memory bandwidth and boost clock help maintain consistent frame rates even at 4K, though the data shows that Ultra settings at 4K still drop to 35.3 FPS, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor at that extreme.

The GPU's compute performance, as measured by Passmark G3D at 22,214, places it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. This is consistent with its role in Hard West: the game does not stress the GPU's ray tracing or tensor cores, but the raw rasterization throughput is sufficient to push high frame rates at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the GPU is rarely the bottleneck, as evidenced by the 209.5 FPS at Low settings. At 4K, however, the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth become more significant, and the average FPS drops to 35.3 at Ultra. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is ample for the game's data, but the sheer number of pixels at 3840x2160 overwhelms the GPU when all quality options are maxed.

The GPU's 8 GB VRAM is also worth noting. Hard West's textures are not large, and the measured results show no indication of VRAM pressure at any resolution. Even at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is limited by compute and bandwidth, not memory capacity. This means the RTX 3070 can handle the game's maximum settings at 1080p and 1440p without any memory-related stutter, and at 4K the only compromise is the quality preset.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal preset depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 100.5 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold, so Ultra is recommended without hesitation. The High preset at 135.7 FPS and Medium at 172 FPS are also excellent, but Ultra offers the best visual quality while still maintaining triple-digit frame rates.

At 2560x1440, Ultra yields 60.6 FPS, just above 60, while High gives 87 FPS and Medium 110.1 FPS. For a smoother experience, High or Medium are viable, but Ultra is playable and provides the highest visual fidelity. The data suggests that 1440p Ultra is the sweet spot for this combo, as it balances image quality with a frame rate that is still above 60.

At 3840x2160, only Low (69.3 FPS) and Medium (58 FPS) approach 60 FPS; High (42 FPS) and Ultra (35.3 FPS) fall short. Therefore, Medium is the highest preset that maintains near-60 FPS at 4K. Low is also an option if a higher frame rate is preferred, but the visual compromise is significant. For a turn-based game, 35.3 FPS at 4K Ultra might be acceptable to some, but the measured data indicates that Medium provides a better balance of performance and quality.

In summary, the recommended settings are: 1080p Ultra, 1440p Ultra, and 4K Medium. These choices ensure that the combo stays above 60 FPS in the first two cases and close to 60 FPS at 4K, while delivering the best visual experience the hardware can manage.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four quality presets, providing a complete picture of the combo's performance in Hard West.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|

| 1920x1080 | Low | 209.5 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 172.0 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 135.7 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 100.5 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 132.8 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 110.1 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 87.0 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 60.6 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 69.3 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 58.0 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 42.0 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 35.3 |

At 1080p, the scaling from Low to Ultra is substantial: 209.5 FPS drops to 100.5 FPS, a reduction of more than half. Even at Ultra, the frame rate remains above 100, indicating that the CPU and GPU are both capable of handling the game's demands at this resolution. The gap between Low and Ultra is 109 FPS, but the absolute numbers are so high that the difference is unlikely to be perceptible in a turn-based game.

At 1440p, the range narrows: Low yields 132.8 FPS, while Ultra drops to 60.6 FPS. The scaling is more pronounced here, with Ultra being exactly at the 60 FPS mark. This suggests that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as resolution increases, but the combo still manages to keep Ultra playable. Medium at 110.1 FPS and High at 87 FPS offer comfortable headroom.

At 4K, the impact of resolution is clear. Low produces 69.3 FPS, which is above 60, but Medium drops to 58 FPS, High to 42 FPS, and Ultra to 35.3 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra is a 34 FPS difference, but the relative drop is steep. The data indicates that the RTX 3070 is the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the CPU's performance is unlikely to change with resolution. The 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient, but the raw pixel throughput limits the frame rate.

Overall, the measured FPS breakdown shows a system that excels at 1080p and 1440p, with the ability to handle 4K at medium settings. The turn-based nature of Hard West means that even the lowest measured 35.3 FPS is playable, but the data provides clear guidance for users who prioritize frame rate or visual quality.