Hard West

Hard West is a 2015 turn-based tactics title, and the benchmark data for the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 shows a configuration that scales predictably with resolution and settings. The measured frame rates reveal a system that is heavily GPU-limited at higher resolutions, while the CPU provides a solid foundation that prevents bottlenecks at lower settings. This analysis breaks down the performance characteristics across the measured rows, focusing on where the system excels and where its limits lie.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K demonstrates a classic shift in performance bottlenecks. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system delivers an average of 160.5 FPS, which is an exceptional frame rate for a turn-based strategy game. Moving to 2560x1440 at the same High preset, the average drops to 107.7 FPS, a reduction of roughly 33%. This is a significant decline, but the frame rate remains highly playable. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average falls further to 61 FPS. This represents a 62% drop from the 1080p result, indicating that the GPU is being pushed much harder as pixel count increases.

The scaling pattern across all settings is consistent. At Low settings, the system goes from 187.7 FPS at 1080p to 160.5 FPS at 1440p and finally to 92.3 FPS at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is smaller than the gap between 1440p and 4K, which suggests that the CPU can keep up with the lower resolution requests, but the GPU's rendering workload at 4K becomes the dominant factor. At Ultra settings, the trend is even more pronounced: 130.3 FPS at 1080p, 81.1 FPS at 1440p, and a demanding 42.3 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the only measured frame rate that dips below the 60 FPS threshold, highlighting that the highest fidelity settings are reserved for lower resolutions.

The data indicates that the RTX 5070 has ample headroom at 1080p, where even the Ultra preset stays well above 120 FPS. At 1440p, the GPU is more engaged, and the scaling from High to Ultra shows a 25% performance cost. The 4K results show that the GPU is the primary limiting component, as the frame rate drops are substantial across every settings tier. For users targeting 4K, the data suggests that High settings are the practical ceiling, while 1440p and 1080p offer far more flexibility with the higher presets.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, running on the AM4 socket. Its base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz are relevant for a game like Hard West, which does not typically stress many cores simultaneously. The benchmark results for this CPU are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19087 and a single-core score of 2694. These numbers indicate a processor that sits in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, meaning it outperforms the majority of desktop processors in general computing tasks.

In the context of the measured game data, the CPU appears to be a non-issue at most settings. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 187.7 FPS, which suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU well beyond what is necessary for a smooth experience. Even at 1080p Ultra, the 130.3 FPS result shows that the CPU is not creating a bottleneck, as the GPU is still handling the increased visual load. The nearest rivals to this CPU, such as the Intel Core i5-12600 with a deltaPct of -0.1%, show that the 3700X is competitively positioned against newer mid-range parts.

The processor's 32 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support provide sufficient bandwidth for this title. The passmark multi-thread score of 22458 and single-thread score of 2656 further confirm that the CPU has balanced capabilities for both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads. For a turn-based game that relies on discrete AI calculations and unit pathfinding, the 3700X's 8 cores and 16 threads ensure that game logic is processed without affecting the frame rate, as evidenced by the high averages even at 1440p and 4K with lower presets. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration; the GPU's rendering performance is the determining variable.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is the dominant component in this pairing. It features 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. Its boost clock of 2512 MHz and 6144 shading units give it substantial raw compute power, reflected in a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 5077. The GPU's Passmark G3D score of 29137 and its 83rd percentile ranking among all GPUs indicate that it is a high-performance part, though its nearest rivals include older professional cards like the Tesla M40 and Radeon Pro 5300, which are not gaming-focused.

The GPU's role in Hard West is clearly defined by the resolution scaling. At 1080p, the RTX 5070 is not fully utilized, as the frame rates are high but the delta between Low and Ultra (187.7 vs 130.3 FPS) shows there is still some headroom. At 1440p, the GPU begins to show its strength, with the High preset delivering 107.7 FPS and the Medium preset at 144.9 FPS. The 4K results are where the GPU's capabilities are most evident. The jump from 42.3 FPS at Ultra to 61 FPS at High shows that reducing settings can yield a significant performance gain, but the card is unable to maintain high frame rates at the maximum preset.

The 12 GB VRAM buffer is sufficient for this game, as Hard West is not a texture-heavy title, and the memory bandwidth is more than adequate for the 192-bit bus. The GPU's compute performance, measured at 15787 in Passmark GPU Compute, ensures that any particle effects or lighting calculations are handled efficiently. The data suggests that the RTX 5070 is a capable 1440p performer and a solid 4K card for this genre, provided users are willing to adjust settings. The performance gap between High and Ultra at 4K (61 vs 42.3 FPS) represents a 31% difference, which is a clear indication that the Ultra preset is too demanding for smooth 4K play, while High offers a balanced experience.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the most balanced experience is found at the High preset. At 1920x1080, High delivers 160.5 FPS, which is smooth and leaves headroom for other processes. At 2560x1440, High produces 107.7 FPS, which is ideal for a high-refresh-rate monitor. At 3840x2160, High achieves 61 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS target for standard displays. The Medium preset is also a viable option, offering slightly higher frame rates at all resolutions (178.1 FPS at 1080p, 144.9 FPS at 1440p, and 77.3 FPS at 4K), but the visual quality difference is likely minimal for a game with this art style.

For users with a 1080p monitor, the Ultra preset is the best choice, as it provides a high of 130.3 FPS and ensures maximum visual fidelity. At 1440p, Ultra drops to 81.1 FPS, which is still playable, but High is recommended for a smoother experience. At 4K, Ultra is not recommended, as the 42.3 FPS average is below the standard for comfortable play. The Low preset is rarely necessary, as even at 4K it produces 92.3 FPS, but it does show that the system has significant headroom if needed. The data points to High as the sweet spot for this configuration, providing a consistent experience across all tested resolutions without sacrificing too much visual quality.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU combo in Hard West?

A: The 2560x1440 resolution offers the best balance, with 107.7 FPS on High settings. This provides high detail without the performance penalty seen at 4K, where the same preset yields 61 FPS.

Q: Can this system handle 4K at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only with the High preset, which produces an average of 61 FPS. The Medium preset reaches 77.3 FPS, while Ultra drops to 42.3 FPS, so Ultra is not viable for 60 FPS play.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the frame rates are high across all settings, indicating the GPU is not saturated. At 4K, the performance drops significantly, showing the GPU's rendering load is the primary constraint.

Q: How does this configuration compare to other GPU pairings?

A: The RTX 5070 sits in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs, with a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 5077. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, is 0.6% ahead in average benchmark scores, showing this card is competitive with previous high-end parts.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between High and Ultra at 1440p?

A: The High preset delivers 107.7 FPS, while Ultra delivers 81.1 FPS. This represents a 25% performance drop for the higher preset, making High the better choice for smoother gameplay.

Q: Does the CPU's core count matter for this turn-based game?

A: The Ryzen 7 3700X's 8 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19087 and 85th percentile ranking mean it can handle game logic without affecting frame rates, as seen in the 1080p results.