Hard West

Hard West is a turn-based tactics title from 2015, and the benchmark data for the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 with the Intel Arc B370 reveals a system that is overwhelmingly constrained by its graphics processor. The measured frame rates across all resolutions and settings are low, with the combination ranking 2721 out of 2949 tested combos in this game. The data indicates that while the CPU is a high-performing modern part, the integrated GPU solution on the Arc B370 is not capable of delivering a smooth experience in this title, regardless of the settings or resolution chosen.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. This is a modern desktop CPU with a 65 W TDP, and its benchmark scores place it in the 78th percentile of all CPUs. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12735 and single-core score of 1852 indicate strong processing power. In the context of Hard West, a turn-based tactics game, the CPU is responsible for game logic, pathfinding, and AI calculations, which are typically not as demanding as the continuous physics and simulation loads found in real-time strategy or action games.

The CPU’s performance relative to its nearest rivals is exceptionally tight. Its average benchmark score of 26324 is virtually identical to that of the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX, which scores 26274, a delta of only 0.2%. Similarly, it is 0.3% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS (26402) and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i9-11900KF (26212). This indicates that in synthetic multi-threaded workloads, the Ryzen 5 7600 performs on par with these other high-end mobile and desktop chips. For a game like Hard West, this level of CPU performance is more than sufficient; the bottleneck is clearly not the processor.

The benchmark results for this specific game combo show that even at the lowest settings and resolution, the frame rate is limited by other factors. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 79 FPS, which is the highest recorded in the dataset. While this is a playable number, it is not a signal of CPU power, as turn-based games often have less stringent frame time requirements. The CPU’s strong single-thread performance, evidenced by its 3DMark single-thread score of 999 and Geekbench single-core score of 2521, would ensure that AI turns and unit commands are processed without latency. However, the data does not show any scenario where CPU performance is the limiting factor, as frame rates drop precipitously with any increase in graphical load, pointing directly at the GPU as the primary constraint.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and built on a 3 nm process. Its specifications are modest: 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs. The GPU has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Critically, it has no dedicated VRAM; its memory size, type, and bus width are all listed as "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system’s DDR5 memory for graphics data, with bandwidth being "System Dependent." The GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

The GPU’s performance is more comparable to legacy discrete cards than any modern solution. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, delta -0.2%), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190, delta -0.5%), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (score 1192, delta -0.7%). This places the Arc B370 in a performance class that is roughly equivalent to graphics hardware from over a decade ago. In Hard West, this translates to a severe bottleneck. The GPU’s pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and its texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, but these figures are insufficient for rendering the game at modern resolutions with high detail settings.

The data confirms this limitation. At 1080p Ultra, the system only manages 37 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it drops to a slideshow-like 12 FPS. The lack of dedicated VRAM and reliance on system memory likely contributes to the severe performance degradation at higher resolutions, as the memory bandwidth becomes a critical constraint. The GPU is simply not designed for the rasterization demands of a game like Hard West, even one that is over a decade old. Its 25 W TDP and IGP form factor suggest it is intended for basic productivity and light media tasks, not gaming. The benchmark results are clear: the Arc B370 is the decisive limiting factor in this configuration.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which strongly indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 79 FPS at 1920x1080 to 50 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 26 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 67% drop in performance from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is slightly less severe at High settings, where the frame rate falls from 49 FPS at 1080p to 31 FPS at 1440p, and then to 16 FPS at 4K, a 67% reduction overall.

The pattern at Medium settings is more telling due to the presence of min and max FPS data. At 1080p Medium, the average is 64 FPS with a range of 55 to 74 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 41 FPS with a range of 35 to 47 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average is 21 FPS with a range of 18 to 25 FPS. The frame time consistency also degrades, with the delta between min and max FPS remaining relatively proportional to the average. This scaling is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario: as the number of pixels increases, the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth are saturated, leading to a nearly linear drop in performance.

If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, as the CPU workload (game logic, AI) does not scale with pixel count. Instead, the data shows a consistent and significant decline in FPS as resolution increases, which is the hallmark of a GPU-limited system. The fact that even at 1080p Low the system only achieves 79 FPS, which is not exceptionally high, further supports the notion that the GPU is underpowered for this task. The CPU, with its high benchmark scores, is not being fully utilized; it is waiting on the GPU to finish rendering each frame. This resolution scaling analysis confirms that the Intel Arc B370 is the bottleneck, and no amount of CPU headroom can compensate for its lack of raw graphics horsepower.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + Intel Arc B370 combo capable of running Hard West at a playable frame rate?

A: The data shows that the combo can achieve playable frame rates only at 1080p with Low or Medium settings, where it averages 79 FPS and 64 FPS respectively. At higher resolutions or settings, the average frame rate falls below 50 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it drops to 12 FPS, which is not playable.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rival GPUs in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B370’s 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. It is 0.2% behind the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186), 0.5% behind the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), and 0.7% behind the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192). This places it in a performance class with very old discrete GPUs.

Q: What is the best resolution to play Hard West with this hardware?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution that offers consistently playable average frame rates. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 37 on Ultra to 79 on Low. At 2560x1440, the average FPS ranges from 23 on Ultra to 50 on Low, and at 3840x2160, it ranges from 12 on Ultra to 26 on Low.

Q: Does the Ryzen 5 7600 CPU bottleneck the system in Hard West?

A: No. The CPU’s benchmark scores are very high, placing it in the 78th percentile of all CPUs, and its performance is on par with rivals like the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX and Intel Core i9-11900KF. The frame rate drops with increasing resolution and settings are indicative of a GPU bottleneck, not a CPU one.

Q: What are the FPS ranges for the Medium preset at different resolutions?

A: At 1920x1080, the Medium preset averages 64 FPS with a range of 55 to 74 FPS. At 2560x1440, it averages 41 FPS with a range of 35 to 47 FPS. At 3840x2160, it averages 21 FPS with a range of 18 to 25 FPS.

Q: Is the GPU's performance more similar to a modern card or a legacy card?

A: The GPU’s benchmark score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, ATI Radeon HD 5770, and AMD Radeon HD 7650M, indicating its performance is comparable to legacy graphics hardware rather than any modern GPU.

Settings Recommendations

Given the severe GPU bottleneck, the choice of settings is a trade-off between visual fidelity and playability. The data shows that the only way to achieve a smooth experience is to prioritize lower settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system averages 79 FPS, which is the highest frame rate in the entire dataset and should provide a responsive experience for turn-based gameplay. The Medium preset at 1080p also offers a solid experience with an average of 64 FPS, and the presence of min/max data (55-74 FPS) suggests acceptable frame pacing.

For users who prioritize visual quality over raw frame rate, the High preset at 1080p averages 49 FPS, which is borderline but potentially playable for a turn-based game where fast reaction times are not critical. The Ultra preset at 1080p averages 37 FPS, which is likely too stuttery for a comfortable experience. At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 50 FPS, which is playable, but the Medium preset at 41 FPS is the limit of what could be considered acceptable. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p, averaging 31 and 23 FPS respectively, are too low for a consistent experience.

The 3840x2160 resolution should be avoided entirely, as even the Low preset averages only 26 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to a virtually unplayable 12 FPS. The data strongly suggests that the best experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low or Medium preset. The Low preset provides the highest headroom, while the Medium preset offers a reasonable balance of visual improvements for a modest FPS cost (79 to 64 FPS). Users should avoid Ultra settings at any resolution, as the performance penalty is substantial and the visual benefit is not worth the frame rate loss.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table and analysis detail the exact measured average frame rates for the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + Intel Arc B370 combination in Hard West.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average FPS is 79. This is the best performance recorded for this combo, providing a smooth experience.
• Medium: Average FPS is 64, with a minimum of 55 and a maximum of 74. This represents a solid, playable frame rate with some variance.
• High: Average FPS is 49. This is a playable frame rate for a turn-based game, though it is noticeably lower than the Medium preset.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 37. This is a low frame rate that may result in a less responsive experience.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average FPS is 50. This is a playable frame rate, though it is a significant drop from the 1080p Low result.
• Medium: Average FPS is 41, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 47. This is on the edge of playability, with noticeable frame drops.
• High: Average FPS is 31. This is a low frame rate that may be challenging to play comfortably.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 23. This is a very low frame rate and is not recommended for gameplay.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average FPS is 26. This is a very low frame rate and is not suitable for a smooth gaming experience.
• Medium: Average FPS is 21, with a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 25. This is a slideshow-like experience, with severe frame pacing issues.
• High: Average FPS is 16. This is an unplayable frame rate.
• Ultra: Average FPS is 12. This is the worst performance recorded and is effectively a static image for gameplay purposes.

The data across all resolutions shows a consistent pattern: the GPU is the limiting factor. The frame rate scales directly with the number of pixels rendered and the quality of the settings, with no evidence of a CPU bottleneck. The only configuration that provides a consistently acceptable gaming experience is 1080p with Low or Medium settings.