Hard West

Hard West is a turn-based tactics title from 2015, and the benchmark data for the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D paired with the Intel Arc B370 paints a very specific picture of what this combo can and cannot do. The measured results show a system that is fundamentally constrained by its graphics solution, especially as resolution increases, and the numbers make it clear that this is not a combination built for high-refresh or high-fidelity gaming at modern standards. The data indicates a playable experience only under the most modest settings, and even then, only at 1080p.

Resolution Scaling

The most striking aspect of the measured data is how severely average frame rates collapse as resolution climbs from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo averages 79 FPS. Step up to 1440p at the same Low preset, and the average drops to 50 FPS, a 36.7% reduction. Moving to 4K at Low yields just 26 FPS, which is a 67.1% drop from the 1080p figure. This steep decline is a classic symptom of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering workload at higher pixel counts overwhelms the graphics processor. The CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is not the limiting factor here; the Intel Arc B370’s modest compute capabilities are.

The pattern holds across all settings. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 49 FPS at 1080p to 31 FPS at 1440p (a 36.7% drop) and then to 16 FPS at 4K (a 67.3% drop from 1080p). The consistency of these percentage drops across different presets strongly suggests that the scaling is purely a function of pixel throughput, not of any particular in-game effect. The Arc B370, with its 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs, simply does not have the raw fill rate or shader processing power to maintain playable frame rates at higher resolutions, regardless of the visual complexity.

What is particularly telling is the gap between Low and Ultra at each resolution. At 1080p, Ultra averages 37 FPS, which is less than half of the Low setting’s 79 FPS. At 1440p, Ultra falls to 23 FPS, and at 4K, it bottoms out at 12 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is not only resolution-limited but also heavily impacted by the increased shader and texture work that higher presets demand. The 4K Ultra result of 12 FPS is effectively a slideshow, confirming that this combination should never be pointed at 4K gaming, especially with quality settings raised. The data shows that the limiting component is unambiguously the graphics card; the CPU’s performance headroom is irrelevant when the GPU cannot keep up with the pixel pipeline.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves in Hard West?

A: The highest measured average is 79 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset. This is the only configuration in the measured data that exceeds the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Can this system run Hard West at 4K?

A: Technically yes, but the results are not playable. At 4K with Low settings, the average is 26 FPS. With Medium settings, it drops to 21 FPS, and at High it is 16 FPS. The Ultra preset yields a 12 FPS average, which is far below any reasonable playability standard.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to Medium at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 41 FPS with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 47 FPS. The Ultra preset at the same resolution averages only 23 FPS, which is a 43.9% reduction in average frame rate compared to Medium.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B370 in this game?

A: The benchmark data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. The frame rates decline almost linearly with increasing resolution, which is the signature of a GPU limitation. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D, with its 6 cores and 12 threads and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, provides ample processing power for a turn-based tactics game; the Arc B370’s performance ceiling is reached first.

Q: What is the frame time consistency like at 1080p Medium?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 64, with a minimum of 55 FPS and a maximum of 74 FPS. The spread between minimum and maximum is 19 FPS, indicating some variance but a generally stable experience in the measured data.

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

A: The combo ranks 2721 out of 2949 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 7.7% of all configurations, indicating that it is a low-performing pairing relative to the broader database of test results.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 Raphael architecture, built on a 5 nm process. Its base clock is 4.00 GHz, and it boosts up to 4.50 GHz. It carries a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a notable feature for gaming workloads. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 3494 in Passmark single-thread tests and 25047 in Passmark multithread tests. Its overall average benchmark score is 44573, which places it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. This is a strong processor, and its nearest rivals in benchmark scores include the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H (0.2% higher), the Intel Core i9-13950HX (0.5% higher), and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 (0.6% higher), while it edges out the Intel Core i5-14600 by 0.7%.

In the context of Hard West, a turn-based tactics game, the CPU’s role is less demanding than in real-time strategy or action titles. The game’s logic, unit AI, and pathfinding are not likely to stress a modern 6-core processor. The measured FPS data supports this assertion: if the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, as the CPU workload would remain constant while the GPU workload changed. Instead, we see a dramatic drop in FPS from 1080p to 4K, which indicates that the CPU is waiting on the GPU for most frames. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D’s high single-thread score and large L3 cache are beneficial for maintaining consistent frame pacing, but they cannot compensate for the Arc B370’s lack of graphics throughput.

The processor’s 12 threads are more than sufficient for this title. Turn-based games often rely on a few primary threads for game simulation, and the 7500X3D’s boost clock of 4.50 GHz ensures those threads run quickly. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is less stressed, the average frame rate is 79 FPS, which is likely still below what the CPU could deliver if paired with a faster GPU. In short, the CPU is a capable partner that is held back by the GPU in every measured configuration. The 89th percentile CPU ranking versus the GPU’s 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs tells the entire story: this is a pairing of a top-tier processor with a bottom-tier graphics solution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2721 out of 2949 tested combos for Hard West. This puts it in the bottom 7.7% of all configurations in the database. This is a poor ranking, but it is not surprising given the individual components’ standings. The CPU sits in the 89th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU sits in the 5th percentile among all GPUs. The overall combo rank is dragged down almost entirely by the graphics adapter.

To contextualize this, the GPU’s average benchmark score is 1184, and its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (0.2% higher score), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (0.5% higher), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (0.7% higher). The AMD FirePro M2000 is 1.4% lower. These are all legacy or low-end mobile parts from more than a decade ago. The Arc B370 is essentially competing with integrated graphics from 2010-2012 in terms of raw compute. When paired with a modern, high-end CPU, the result is a severely unbalanced system. The combo ranking reflects this: it is not a mid-pack or even a below-average result; it is near the very bottom of the pile.

The data shows that this specific pairing is not one that any builder would choose for gaming. The CPU’s performance is wasted in this configuration because the GPU cannot translate that processing power into higher frame rates. The ranking of 2721 out of 2949 is a clear indicator that for Hard West, and likely for most other graphically intensive games, this combo will struggle. The only positive takeaway is that the CPU provides a solid foundation for a future GPU upgrade; swapping the Arc B370 for a more capable graphics card would dramatically improve the ranking.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only viable settings for a reasonably smooth experience are at 1920x1080 with Low or Medium presets. The Low preset averages 79 FPS, which is excellent for a game of this genre. The Medium preset averages 64 FPS, with a minimum of 55 FPS, which is still playable and offers better visual quality. The High preset at 1080p drops to 49 FPS, which is borderline but might be acceptable for a turn-based game where twitch reflexes are not required. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 37 FPS, which is likely too choppy for comfortable play.

For 2560x1440, the choices are more limited. Low averages 50 FPS, which is playable. Medium averages 41 FPS, which is on the edge of acceptable for a slow-paced game. High drops to 31 FPS, and Ultra falls to 23 FPS, both of which are undesirable. At 3840x2160, no settings are recommended. Even Low averages only 26 FPS, and the rest are below 21 FPS. The 4K resolution should be avoided entirely with this combo.

The best experience per the measured rows is unequivocally at 1080p with the Low preset, offering the highest average frame rate of 79 FPS. However, for a better balance of visual fidelity and performance, the Medium preset at 1080p is the sweet spot. It provides a 64 FPS average with a minimum of 55 FPS, ensuring that the frame rate rarely dips below 55 FPS, which is a comfortable threshold for a turn-based tactical game. If a user prioritizes visual quality over frame rate smoothness, the High preset at 1080p is the highest setting that maintains an average above 45 FPS. Moving beyond that to Ultra, or attempting higher resolutions, will result in a subpar experience. The data is clear: this is a 1080p, low-to-medium settings machine for Hard West.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the full range of presets was measured. The Low setting delivered an average of 79 FPS. The Medium setting averaged 64 FPS, with a minimum of 55 FPS and a maximum of 74 FPS. The High setting averaged 49 FPS. The Ultra setting averaged 37 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline, with Ultra delivering 53.2% fewer frames per second than Low.

At 2560x1440, the Low setting averaged 50 FPS. The Medium setting averaged 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 47 FPS. The High setting averaged 31 FPS. The Ultra setting averaged 23 FPS. Compared to 1080p, the Low setting lost 36.7% of its average frame rate, while the Ultra setting lost 37.8%, showing a consistent resolution penalty across presets.

At 3840x2160, the Low setting averaged 26 FPS. The Medium setting averaged 21 FPS, with a minimum of 18 FPS and a maximum of 25 FPS. The High setting averaged 16 FPS. The Ultra setting averaged 12 FPS. The 4K results are uniformly poor, with no preset achieving an average above 26 FPS. The Medium preset’s minimum of 18 FPS indicates that even the average is not representative of the worst-case experience; the frame rate can drop to unplayable levels.

The data across all resolutions and settings shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the only resolution where the combo achieves playable frame rates on any preset above Low. The Medium preset at 1080p is the most balanced option, providing a 64 FPS average with a minimum that stays above 55 FPS. For users who demand the highest frame rate, the Low preset at 1080p is the best choice. All other configurations, particularly anything at 4K, should be avoided based on the measured performance.