Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 paired with the Intel Arc B390 produces a distinct performance profile in Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015. The measured data reveals a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics processor, with the CPU’s eight-core architecture providing ample headroom across all tested configurations. The benchmark results show a clear hierarchy where resolution and preset selection dictate playability, moving from a fluid experience at 1080p to a slideshow at 4K Ultra.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, confirming that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary limiting component. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 87 FPS at 1920x1080 to 55 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 32 FPS, and then to 29 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 66.7% performance loss when moving from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is nearly linear with pixel count, which is a hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario; the rendering workload at 4K is roughly four times that of 1080p, and the observed frame rates reflect this arithmetic pressure.

The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory. The average FPS drops from 71 at 1080p to 45 at 1440p, then to 24 at 4K. The High preset follows the same pattern, with averages of 55, 35, and 18 FPS respectively. The Ultra preset is the most punishing, starting at 41 FPS at 1080p, falling to 26 FPS at 1440p, and collapsing to 14 FPS at 4K. The consistency of these drops across presets indicates that the GPU’s pixel throughput, rather than any specific setting, is the bottleneck.

The data suggests that the Arc B390 cannot maintain 60 FPS at any resolution above 1080p, regardless of quality settings. Even at 1440p Low, the average of 55 FPS falls short of that threshold. The frame rate scaling is not perfectly proportional—the 1080p to 1440p drop is less severe than the 1440p to 4K drop—which points to the GPU’s memory subsystem and shading units being overwhelmed as the resolution increases. For a turn-based tactics game, where input latency is less critical than in action titles, the 4K Low result of 29 FPS may be tolerable for some, but it is far from smooth. The resolution scaling analysis clearly identifies the GPU as the sole performance limiter, with the CPU showing no signs of constraining the system at any point.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor built on the Xe3-LPG architecture, and its specifications reveal why it struggles with Hard West at higher resolutions. The GPU operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, and it relies on system shared memory for its frame buffer. This means the GPU’s memory bandwidth is system dependent, which is a critical factor in a game that scales poorly with increased pixel counts.

In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390 scores 1482 points, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This low percentile is reflected in the measured FPS data. The GPU’s nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which scores 1463 points (1.3% lower), and the GeForce 800M at 1460 points (1.5% lower). The GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446 points (2.5% lower), and the GeForce GT 710 scores 1443 points (2.7% lower). These comparisons place the Arc B390 in the entry-level segment, which is consistent with its integrated nature.

The GPU’s 1536 shading units and 48 texture mapping units are insufficient for the demands of 4K rendering. The pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are fixed hardware limits that cannot be overcome by software. The FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS is modest, and the 12 ray tracing cores are irrelevant for a game like Hard West that does not use them. The 24 ROPs are particularly limiting at high resolutions, as they determine the rate at which pixels can be written to the frame buffer.

The measured FPS data shows that the GPU’s performance degrades significantly as the load increases. At 1080p Low, the 87 FPS average is respectable, but the 4K Ultra result of 14 FPS is nearly unplayable. The system shared memory architecture means that the GPU competes with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which can cause stutters in demanding scenes. However, the data shows that the average FPS at 1440p Medium is 45, with a minimum of 38 and maximum of 52, indicating that the GPU can maintain a playable frame rate at this resolution despite its limitations. The GPU’s role is clearly the dominant factor in determining performance, and its low percentile ranking relative to other GPUs is a strong predictor of the results seen in the measured data.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2614 out of 2949 tested combos for Hard West. This places the system in the bottom 11.4% of all combinations, which is a poor result driven entirely by the GPU’s low performance. The rank is not surprising given the GPU’s 9th percentile standing among all GPUs; the CPU, by contrast, is a strong performer.

The Ryzen 7 5700 scores 25517 on its average benchmark, placing it in the 78th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Xeon D-2752TER, which scores 25530 (0.1% higher), the AMD Ryzen 5 7640U at 25485 (0.1% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H at 25550 (0.1% higher). The Ryzen 7 5825U scores 25446, which is 0.3% lower. This indicates that the CPU is a mid-to-high range part that is not the bottleneck in this system.

The discrepancy between the CPU’s 78th percentile and the GPU’s 9th percentile explains the combo’s low rank. The system is severely imbalanced, with a capable processor paired with an underpowered graphics solution. In Hard West, the GPU cannot keep up with the CPU’s ability to feed it frames, resulting in the low overall ranking. The data suggests that swapping the Arc B390 for a more powerful GPU would dramatically improve the combo’s rank, as the CPU has significant headroom to support a faster graphics card.

The combo rank of 2614 out of 2949 is a clear indication that this system is not optimized for gaming performance in this title. For a turn-based tactics game, the low frame rates at higher resolutions make the system unsuitable for anything beyond 1080p. The rank also highlights that the CPU is not the limiting factor; the data shows that the CPU’s performance is far above the GPU’s, which is a common issue with integrated graphics configurations.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system’s performance across four resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system achieves its best results. The Low preset averages 87 FPS, the Medium preset averages 71 FPS with a minimum of 61 and maximum of 82, the High preset averages 55 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 41 FPS. These numbers show that 1080p is the only resolution where the system can approach or exceed 60 FPS on lower presets.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates drop substantially. The Low preset averages 55 FPS, the Medium preset averages 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 and maximum of 52, the High preset averages 35 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 26 FPS. None of these results reach the 60 FPS threshold, but the Low and Medium presets are playable for a turn-based game.

At 3840x2160, the system is severely limited. The Low preset averages 29 FPS, the Medium preset averages 24 FPS with a minimum of 20 and maximum of 27, the High preset averages 18 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 14 FPS. These results are all below 30 FPS, which is generally considered the minimum for playable performance. The 4K Ultra result of 14 FPS is particularly poor, making the game feel sluggish and unresponsive.

The data shows a clear pattern: each step down in resolution or settings yields a proportional improvement in frame rate. The gap between Low and Ultra is consistent across all resolutions, with Ultra being approximately half the frame rate of Low. The Medium preset, which has the most complete data with minimum and maximum values, shows that the frame rate variance is moderate, with a spread of about 7 FPS at 1080p, 14 FPS at 1440p, and 7 FPS at 4K. This variance indicates that the game’s scenes have varying complexity, but the GPU handles them without extreme stuttering.

The measured FPS breakdown confirms that the system is best suited for 1080p gaming. At this resolution, the Low preset provides a smooth 87 FPS, and the Medium preset at 71 FPS is also excellent. The High preset at 55 FPS is acceptable, but the Ultra preset drops to 41 FPS, which may be noticeable in a game that requires precise tactical decisions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience for this system is at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset. This configuration delivers an average of 71 FPS, with a minimum of 61 FPS and maximum of 82 FPS. The 61 FPS minimum ensures that the game never drops below the 60 FPS threshold, providing a consistently smooth experience. The Medium preset likely offers a good balance of visual quality and performance, as it sits between the Low preset’s 87 FPS and the High preset’s 55 FPS.

For players who prioritize frame rate above all else, the 1080p Low preset at 87 FPS is the best choice. This configuration provides the highest average frame rate in the entire dataset and ensures that the game runs at near-maximum refresh rates for most displays. However, the visual quality may be noticeably reduced compared to Medium.

The 1080p High preset at 55 FPS is a viable option for those who want better visuals without sacrificing too much performance. The 55 FPS average is just below the 60 FPS target, but the turn-based nature of Hard West means that this is likely acceptable. The Ultra preset at 41 FPS is not recommended, as the frame rate drops into a range where the game starts to feel less responsive.

At higher resolutions, the system’s limitations become apparent. The 1440p Medium preset at 45 FPS is the best option for 1440p, but the 38 FPS minimum may cause noticeable slowdowns in busy scenes. The 1440p Low preset at 55 FPS is also playable, but the visual quality is diminished. For 4K, the Low preset at 29 FPS is the only setting that approaches playability, but the low frame rate makes the game feel choppy. The data strongly recommends against using the Ultra preset at any resolution above 1080p, as the 14 FPS result at 4K is unacceptable.

The Medium preset at 1080p offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. The 71 FPS average with a 61 FPS minimum ensures that the game runs smoothly without any significant drops. This is the recommended configuration for most players using this system.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system play Hard West at 4K?*

A: Yes, but only at the Low preset, which averages 29 FPS. The Medium preset averages 24 FPS, the High preset averages 18 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 14 FPS. The 4K experience is playable but not smooth.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the best resolution, with the Low preset averaging 87 FPS and the Medium preset averaging 71 FPS. At 2560x1440, the best result is 55 FPS on Low, which is still below 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390 scores 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463), 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M (1460), 2.5% higher than the GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446), and 2.7% higher than the GeForce GT 710 (1443). It ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 a bottleneck in this system?

A: No. The CPU scores 25517 on its average benchmark, placing it in the 78th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7640U, scores 25485, which is 0.1% lower. The CPU has 8 cores and 16 threads, which is more than sufficient for Hard West.

Q: What is the frame rate variance at 1080p Medium?

A: The 1080p Medium preset has an average of 71 FPS, with a minimum of 61 FPS and a maximum of 82 FPS. This represents a variance of 21 FPS between the minimum and maximum.

Q: How does this system rank compared to other tested combos?

A: The combo ranks 2614 out of 2949 tested combos for Hard West, placing it in the bottom 11.4% of all combinations. This low rank is due to the GPU’s low performance relative to the CPU.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 is a desktop processor built on the Zen 3 architecture, using the Cezanne codename and manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The CPU’s cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and a 16 MB L3 cache. This configuration provides strong single-threaded and multi-threaded performance, as evidenced by its benchmark scores.

In the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, the Ryzen 7 5700 scores 20655, while the single-core score is 2916. The Geekbench multi-core score is 9959, and the single-core score is 1907. The PassMark multi-thread score is 24303, with a single-thread score of 3296. These scores place the CPU in the 78th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25517. The CPU’s nearest rivals in the benchmark database are all within 0.3% of its average score, indicating that it is a mid-range performer.

In Hard West, the CPU’s role is to handle game logic, AI, and scene setup, while the GPU renders the frames. The measured FPS data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution. At 1080p Low, the GPU delivers 87 FPS, which is likely near the game’s engine limit. The CPU’s 8 cores and 16 threads provide ample headroom for the game’s turn-based AI, which can be computationally intensive in complex scenarios.

The CPU’s memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s and support for DDR4 memory are adequate for the GPU’s system shared memory architecture. However, the CPU’s PCIe Gen 3 interface with 20 lanes is a potential limitation for a discrete GPU, but since the Arc B390 is an integrated IGP, this is not a concern. The CPU’s 65W TDP indicates efficient power consumption, and its unlocked multiplier allows for overclocking, though this would not improve GPU-bound performance.

The benchmark results indicate that the Ryzen 7 5700 is a well-balanced CPU that performs far above the level required for Hard West. The 3DMark scores show scalability from 1762 on 2 threads to 6617 on max threads, with the 8-thread score at 5585. This scalability suggests that the CPU can handle multi-threaded workloads efficiently. In a game like Hard West, where turn-based calculations can use multiple threads, the CPU’s performance is more than sufficient to keep up with the GPU’s output, ensuring that the system’s frame rate is entirely GPU-limited.