Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination delivers a robust experience in Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015. The data shows this pairing ranks in the top quarter of all tested configurations, with performance scaling predictably across resolutions. At 1080p, the combo exceeds 120 FPS even at Ultra settings, while 4K remains playable at High settings, indicating a well-balanced system for this genre.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 7000 series, built on the Raphael codename using a 5 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, backed by a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This cache configuration is significant for gaming workloads, as it reduces memory latency and improves data access patterns, which is particularly beneficial in turn-based tactics where AI decision-making and pathfinding calculations can strain the CPU.

In synthetic benchmarks, the processor scores 3494 in Passmark single-thread tests and 25047 in Passmark multithread tests. These scores place it in the 89th percentile among all CPUs, indicating strong performance relative to the broader market. The single-thread score is more relevant for Hard West, as turn-based tactics typically rely heavily on single-core performance for game logic and unit actions. The multithread score, while lower proportionally, still shows capability for background tasks and complex AI computations.

Looking at the nearest rivals, the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D posts an average benchmark score of 44573. This is a mere 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, which scores 44466, and 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core i9-13950HX at 44342. Conversely, it trails the Intel Core i5-14600, which scores 44889, by 0.7%. These narrow deltas indicate that the 7500X3D sits in a highly competitive performance band, where differences of less than 1% are negligible in real-world gaming. The data shows that for Hard West, the CPU's strong single-thread performance ensures that it is not a bottleneck, even at lower resolutions where frame rates are highest.

The processor's 65 W TDP and support for DDR5 memory with dual-channel bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s further support its role. While memory bandwidth is not a primary concern for this genre, the fast cache and modern architecture contribute to consistent frame pacing. The integrated Radeon Graphics, though present, is irrelevant here since the system uses a discrete GPU. Overall, the CPU's benchmarks and architecture align with the measured FPS results, demonstrating that it provides sufficient headroom for the GPU to operate effectively.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD104 chip, manufactured on a 5 nm process. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1920 MHz and boosts to 2475 MHz, with memory clocks at 1313 MHz (21 Gbps effective). These specifications are more than adequate for Hard West, a game released in 2015 that does not demand modern high-end hardware.

In GPU benchmarks, the RTX 4070 achieves a Passmark G3D score of 26927 and a Passmark GPU compute score of 14720. It ranks in the 81st percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 37648. The nearest rivals show tight competition: the NVIDIA Tesla P4 scores 37628 (0.1% behind), the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 scores 37507 (0.4% behind), and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 scores 37157 (1.3% behind). The RTX 4080 Mobile scores 38135, placing it 1.3% ahead. These deltas suggest that the RTX 4070 is a mid-to-high-tier performer, well-suited for 1440p gaming and capable at 4K in less demanding titles.

For Hard West, the 12 GB VRAM is more than sufficient, as the game's textures and effects are modest by modern standards. The high boost clock of 2475 MHz ensures that the GPU can push high frame rates, particularly at 1080p where the measured FPS reaches 248 on Low settings. The GPU's pixel rate of 158.4 GPixel/s and texture rate of 455.4 GTexel/s further indicate its capacity to handle the game's 2D sprite-based visuals with ease. The RTX 4070's role in this combo is to provide the graphical horsepower, and the data shows it does so without being a limiting factor until 4K Ultra settings.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling across resolutions, with the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck as resolution increases. At 1080p High settings, the combo averages 161 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the average drops to 102 FPS, a decrease of 36.6%. At 4K High, the average falls to 54 FPS, representing a 47.1% drop from 1440p. This trend is consistent with GPU-bound scaling, where pixel count directly impacts performance.

The data for Low settings shows even more dramatic scaling. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 248 FPS. At 1440p Low, this drops to 162 FPS (a 34.7% decrease), and at 4K Low, it falls to 85 FPS (a 47.5% decrease from 1440p). The high frame rates at 1080p Low suggest that the CPU can deliver very high framerates when the GPU is not stressed, but the rapid drop at higher resolutions indicates the GPU's limits are being reached.

Medium settings provide a middle ground. At 1080p Medium, the average is 210 FPS, with a minimum of 178 FPS and maximum of 241 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average is 133 FPS (minimum 113, maximum 153), and at 4K Medium, it is 70 FPS (minimum 59, maximum 80). The consistent ~37% drop from 1080p to 1440p and ~47% drop from 1440p to 4K across settings demonstrates that the RTX 4070 is the limiting component at higher resolutions, while the CPU has ample headroom.

Ultra settings show the most significant impact. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 121 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 76 FPS (a 37.2% decrease), and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 40 FPS (a 47.4% decrease from 1440p). The 4K Ultra result of 40 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider playable, indicating that this setting is too demanding for the RTX 4070. The scaling pattern across all settings points to the GPU as the performance limiter at 4K, while the CPU maintains sufficient performance even at the lowest settings.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination ranks 673rd out of 2949 tested combos in Hard West. This places it in the top 22.8% of all configurations, which is a strong result given the game's age and the high-end nature of many competing setups. The rank indicates that this combo outperforms the majority of systems, though it is not among the absolute top-tier configurations.

The rank of 673 suggests that while the RTX 4070 is a capable GPU, it is outclassed by higher-tier cards such as the RTX 4080 and above in this game. Similarly, the Ryzen 5 7500X3D, despite its strong benchmark scores, is not the fastest CPU available. However, the combination is well-matched, as neither component significantly bottlenecks the other in Hard West. The percentile rankings (89th for CPU, 81st for GPU) corroborate this, showing that both components are above average but not elite.

In practical terms, a rank of 673 out of 2949 means the combo delivers a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p across all settings, which is the sweet spot for this game. At 4K, it remains playable at High settings (54 FPS) but struggles at Ultra (40 FPS). This ranking reflects a balanced system that prioritizes high frame rates at mainstream resolutions, making it a solid choice for turn-based tactics where visual fidelity is secondary to strategic gameplay.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers exceptional performance. Low settings average 248 FPS, with no minimum or maximum recorded. Medium settings average 210 FPS, with a minimum of 178 FPS and maximum of 241 FPS. High settings average 161 FPS, and Ultra settings average 121 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the system is CPU-limited at Low settings, as the GPU can push beyond 240 FPS, but the CPU's single-thread performance caps the maximum.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows the GPU's influence. Low settings average 162 FPS, a significant drop from 1080p but still very high. Medium settings average 133 FPS, with a minimum of 113 FPS and maximum of 153 FPS. High settings average 102 FPS, and Ultra settings average 76 FPS. The 1440p results show a balanced workload, with the GPU becoming more prominent in determining frame rates, but the CPU still providing sufficient headroom.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. Low settings average 85 FPS, which is playable but a substantial drop from 1440p. Medium settings average 70 FPS, with a minimum of 59 FPS and maximum of 80 FPS. High settings average 54 FPS, and Ultra settings average 40 FPS. The 4K results demonstrate that while the RTX 4070 can handle the game at 4K, it cannot maintain high frame rates at the highest quality presets. The minimum FPS of 59 at Medium settings indicates that even at 4K, the system can maintain near-60 FPS in the worst-case scenarios, but Ultra settings drop below this threshold.

The data also shows diminishing returns when moving from Low to Ultra at each resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 127 FPS (248 vs 121). At 1440p, it is 86 FPS (162 vs 76). At 4K, it is 45 FPS (85 vs 40). This pattern confirms that the GPU's performance scales predictably with resolution and settings, making it easy for users to tune the game to their preferred frame rate target.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p High settings?

A: The combo averages 161 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings, providing a very smooth experience.

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

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 40, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. High settings at 4K average 54 FPS, which is more playable.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 compare to its nearest rival in benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37648, which is 0.1% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla P4 (37628) and 0.4% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (37507). It trails the RTX 4080 Mobile (38135) by 1.3%.

Q: What is the CPU's single-thread performance score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D scores 3494 in Passmark single-thread tests, which is a strong result for gaming workloads.

Q: What is the minimum FPS at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 113, with an average of 133 FPS and a maximum of 153 FPS.

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

A: The combo ranks 673rd out of 2949 tested combos in Hard West, placing it in the top quarter of all systems tested.