Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and Intel Arc B370 pairing in Hard West produces performance that is heavily constrained by the graphics side of the equation. The data shows a turn-based tactics title where the CPU’s substantial multi-threading headroom is largely irrelevant, as frame rates are dictated by the Arc B370’s limits. This analysis breaks down the measured results, contextualizes the hardware’s role, and offers practical settings guidance based solely on the provided benchmark data.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Matisse. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, built on a 7 nm process from TSMC. This CPU carries 32 MB of L3 cache and 512 KB of L2 cache per core, with a 65 W TDP. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 2092 in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 204 in single-core, while Geekbench results show 8899 multi-core and 1593 single-core. Its Passmark multi-thread score is 22458, with a single-thread score of 2656.

Despite these robust numbers, the benchmark results in Hard West indicate that the CPU is not the limiting factor. The game is turn-based, meaning it does not demand sustained high-frequency single-thread performance for physics or AI in the same way a real-time strategy or first-person shooter would. The Ryzen 7 3700X’s 16 threads are more than sufficient for the game’s logic. Evidence for this lies in the resolution scaling: when moving from 1080p to 4K, the frame rate drops dramatically, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would remain relatively flat across resolutions.

The CPU’s percentile ranking against all CPUs is 84, indicating it is a capable processor. Its nearest rivals in synthetic average score include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, which has an average score of 34222 (0.1% delta), and the Intel Core i5-13450HX at 34333 (-0.2% delta). The Ryzen 7 3700X’s average benchmark score is 34260, placing it in a tight competitive cluster. In the context of Hard West, these CPU differences are immaterial, as the measured FPS is never high enough to suggest CPU saturation. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 79 FPS average, which is the ceiling for this pairing; that ceiling is set by the GPU, not the CPU.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

*Q: What is the best average frame rate achieved by this combo in Hard West?*

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 79 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The next best is 64 FPS at 1080p Medium, followed by 50 FPS at 2560x1440 Low.

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

A: The Ryzen 7 3700X has an average benchmark score of 34260. The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 scores 34222 (0.1% delta), the AMD EPYC 4244P scores 34220 (0.1% delta), and the Intel Core i5-13450HX scores 34333 (-0.2% delta). The differences are within one percent, placing them in the same performance tier.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B370 a discrete graphics card?

A: No. The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a slot width of "IGP" and a bus interface of "IGP". It uses system shared memory and has a TDP of 25 W, with no power connectors.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Ultra settings at 1080p and 4K?

A: At 1920x1080 Ultra, the average FPS is 37. At 3840x2160 Ultra, the average FPS drops to 12. This represents a 25 FPS loss when moving to 4K.

Q: Does the GPU have enough VRAM for this game?

A: The GPU uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM. The memory bandwidth is "System Dependent". The data does not provide a specific VRAM capacity, so the impact on Hard West cannot be quantified, but the low FPS numbers suggest memory bandwidth limitations are a factor.

Q: What is the combo’s ranking among all tested combinations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 2721 out of 2949 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested combos, indicating below-average performance for Hard West.

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 consistent pattern: performance degrades significantly as resolution increases. At High settings, the average frame rate moves from 49 FPS at 1920x1080, to 31 FPS at 2560x1440, and down to 16 FPS at 3840x2160. This is a drop of 33 FPS, or approximately 67%, from 1080p to 4K. At Low settings, the same trend appears: 79 FPS at 1080p, 50 FPS at 1440p, and 26 FPS at 4K. The scaling is not linear; the transition from 1440p to 4K incurs a larger penalty than from 1080p to 1440p.

This pattern is a textbook indicator of a GPU-bound scenario. The Intel Arc B370 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, which places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2% delta) and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, -0.7% delta). These are low-end parts from previous generations, confirming the Arc B370’s limited graphics throughput. As resolution increases, the number of pixels the GPU must fill rises exponentially, and the Arc B370 simply cannot keep up. The CPU, on the other hand, has plenty of headroom; its performance does not change with resolution, so the FPS drop is solely attributable to the GPU.

The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the difference between Low (79 FPS) and Ultra (37 FPS) is 42 FPS. At 4K, the difference between Low (26 FPS) and Ultra (12 FPS) is only 14 FPS. This suggests that at 4K, the GPU is so overwhelmed by pixel count that reducing settings has diminishing returns; even at Low settings, the GPU cannot render enough frames to approach playable levels.

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

At 3840x2160 (4K), the combo produces the following average frame rates: Low delivers 26 FPS, Medium delivers 21 FPS (with a min of 18 and max of 25), High delivers 16 FPS, and Ultra delivers 12 FPS. None of these are playable for a smooth experience; they are all below 30 FPS. The Medium setting provides the only min/max data, showing a narrow band of 18 to 25 FPS, indicating consistent stutter.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), performance improves but remains modest. Low settings yield 50 FPS, which is playable. Medium delivers 41 FPS (min 35, max 47), High drops to 31 FPS, and Ultra falls to 23 FPS. This resolution offers a viable option only at Low or Medium settings, where the frame rate stays above 40 FPS. The min/max data for Medium shows a 12 FPS variance, suggesting some frame pacing inconsistencies.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the combo achieves its best results. Low settings produce 79 FPS average, which is the only score above 75 FPS in the entire dataset. Medium settings deliver 64 FPS (min 55, max 74), High settings reach 49 FPS, and Ultra settings top out at 37 FPS. This resolution is the only one where all settings are technically playable, though Ultra is borderline. The min/max for Medium shows a range from 55 to 74 FPS, a 19 FPS spread, indicating potential frame time spikes.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo ranks 2721 out of 2949 tested combinations in Hard West. This places it in the 92nd percentile of worst-performing combos, or conversely, in the bottom 8% of all tested systems. This ranking is a strong statement about the overall capability of this pairing for this specific game. The rank is not based on a single metric but on the aggregate of measured FPS across resolutions and settings.

Given that the CPU is a high-percentile part (84th percentile) and the GPU is a low-percentile part (5th percentile), the combo rank is dragged down entirely by the GPU. The Ryzen 7 3700X is not the issue; it is a solid mid-range processor from 2019. The Intel Arc B370, however, is an integrated GPU with performance comparable to decade-old discrete cards like the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190 score, -0.5% delta). The 2721 rank reflects the reality that this system is not designed for gaming at high settings or high resolutions. For a turn-based tactics game like Hard West, which is not graphically demanding by modern standards, this combo still struggles, indicating the GPU is a severe bottleneck.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured data, the best experience is achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields 79 FPS average. This is the only configuration that approaches high refresh rate territory. For players who prefer visual fidelity over raw frame rate, 1080p Medium at 64 FPS is a reasonable compromise, offering a 15 FPS drop for presumably better textures and effects. The min/max data for Medium (55 to 74 FPS) suggests it remains fluid most of the time.

At 2560x1440, the only playable option is Low settings at 50 FPS. Medium at 41 FPS is playable but may feel less smooth. Going to High at 31 FPS or Ultra at 23 FPS is not recommended, as these fall below the 30 FPS threshold for comfortable play. At 3840x2160, no settings are recommended, as even Low only reaches 26 FPS. The data indicates that the GPU is not capable of 4K gaming in this title.

The optimal configuration is 1080p Low, as it provides the highest frame rate and ensures the game runs without stutter. If the user values visual quality, 1080p Medium is the highest setting that maintains a consistent 60+ FPS average. The 4K and 1440p Ultra presets should be avoided entirely, as the measured frame rates are too low for a playable experience.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated GPU based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The GPU features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster operation units, with 10 ray tracing cores. Its pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, delivering 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. The TDP is 25 W.

Crucially, the GPU has no dedicated memory; it uses "System Shared" memory with a bus width of "System Shared" and bandwidth that is "System Dependent". This means the GPU relies on the CPU’s DDR4 memory, which has a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s for the Ryzen 7 3700X. This shared memory architecture is a major handicap for gaming, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth. The 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 places the GPU in the 5th percentile, with its nearest rivals being the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and ATI Radeon HD 5770, both released over a decade ago.

In Hard West, this GPU is the clear bottleneck. The frame rates at all resolutions and settings are low, and the resolution scaling shows a steep drop-off that is characteristic of a GPU with insufficient fill rate and memory bandwidth. The GPU’s low pixel rate (48 GPixel/s) is insufficient for 4K output, as evidenced by the 12-26 FPS range at that resolution. Even at 1080p, the GPU cannot maintain high frame rates at High or Ultra settings, suggesting that the shared memory bandwidth is throttling performance. The data shows that the Intel Arc B370 is not a gaming-focused part; it is an integrated solution meant for basic graphical tasks, and its performance in Hard West reflects that limitation.