Hard West

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 paired with the Intel Arc B570 ranks 2,360 out of 2,949 tested combos in Hard West. This places the configuration in the lower tier of tested systems, at roughly the 80th percentile from the bottom. The ranking reflects a combination that handles this turn-based tactics title adequately at lower resolutions, but the data shows clear limitations at higher settings and resolutions.

Benchmark results indicate this combo sits near the lower-middle of the field, with the CPU and GPU both contributing to the overall standing. The Ryzen 7 5700's average benchmark score of 25,517 places it in the 78th percentile among all CPUs, while the Arc B570's average score of 20,556 puts it in the 65th percentile among all GPUs. Neither component is a top-tier performer, and the measured frame rates in Hard West align with this mid-range positioning.

The combo's rank suggests that while it can deliver playable frame rates in many scenarios, it will not excel in demanding situations. The turn-based nature of Hard West means the gameplay does not require extreme frame rates, but the data still shows the system's boundaries. For a game released in 2015, the hardware is more than capable at 1080p, but the 4K Ultra result of 21 FPS demonstrates the ceiling of this pairing.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 brings 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2500 MHz and boosts to the same 2500 MHz, with memory running at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). These specifications position the card as a mid-range solution, and the benchmark scores confirm this: the Arc B570 achieves a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2,649 and a PassMark G3D score of 14,195.

In Hard West, the GPU's role becomes increasingly dominant as resolution and settings rise. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 134 FPS, suggesting the CPU can feed the GPU adequately. However, at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 21 FPS, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor at that extreme. The Arc B570's nearest rival, the Intel Arc A750, posts an average score of 20,582 with a deltaPct of -0.1, meaning the B570 is essentially tied with its predecessor-generation sibling. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20,534 with a deltaPct of 0.1, again showing near-identical performance.

The GPU's memory configuration is notable for a card in this class. The 10 GB VRAM is generous for a 2025 release, and the 380.0 GB/s bandwidth provides ample throughput for a game like Hard West, which is not texture-heavy by modern standards. The pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 360.0 GTexel/s are sufficient for the game's 2D sprite-based environments and turn-based combat scenes.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling from 1080p to 4K. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 134 FPS at 1920x1080 to 85 FPS at 2560x1440, a decrease of 37%, and then to 44 FPS at 3840x2160, a further drop of 48% from 1440p. This scaling indicates that the GPU becomes progressively more stressed as pixel count increases.

At High settings, the same pattern holds: 84 FPS at 1080p, 53 FPS at 1440p, and 28 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are roughly consistent across settings, suggesting the limiting component remains the same throughout. The data shows that the Arc B570 cannot maintain playable frame rates at 4K on any setting above Low, where it manages 44 FPS. At Medium settings, 4K produces 36 FPS, which is borderline playable for a turn-based game, but High and Ultra fall to 28 FPS and 21 FPS respectively.

The scaling behavior indicates a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. The CPU's role diminishes as resolution increases, which is typical for most games. The Ryzen 7 5700's 8 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient for Hard West's turn-based logic, and the frame rate drops align with the GPU's pixel throughput capabilities. The 1440p results show the sweet spot for this combo: High settings produce 53 FPS, and even Ultra manages 40 FPS, both of which are playable for this genre.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. Low settings produce 134 FPS average, Medium hits 110 FPS with a minimum of 93 FPS and a maximum of 126 FPS, High achieves 84 FPS, and Ultra drops to 63 FPS. All of these are well above playable thresholds, with even the Ultra preset maintaining a 63 FPS average. The minimum FPS recorded at Medium (93 FPS) indicates consistent frame pacing at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the numbers scale down predictably. Low settings produce 85 FPS, Medium averages 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS, High delivers 53 FPS, and Ultra falls to 40 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 59 FPS is notable because it remains above the 60 FPS target, but barely. High and Ultra settings dip below that threshold, though for a turn-based strategy game, 53 FPS and 40 FPS are still smooth experiences.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles. Low settings produce 44 FPS, Medium averages 36 FPS with a minimum of 31 FPS and a maximum of 42 FPS, High drops to 28 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 21 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 31 FPS shows that even the most demanding moments at 4K can cause significant frame drops. None of the 4K results reach the 60 FPS threshold, and only Low and Medium approach playable levels for a game that does not require fast reflexes.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal experience balances visual quality with consistent frame rates. At 1920x1080, Ultra settings deliver 63 FPS average, which is smooth and visually rich. This is the recommended preset for 1080p users, as the frame rate remains above 60 FPS while providing the best visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the High preset at 53 FPS is the best compromise. It offers a substantial visual upgrade over Medium (69 FPS) while maintaining a playable frame rate. The Ultra preset at 40 FPS is acceptable for turn-based play, but the 13 FPS drop from High to Ultra may not justify the visual gains. For players prioritizing smoothness, Medium at 69 FPS is the safer choice, but High provides better image quality without significant stutter.

At 3840x2160, the options are limited. Low settings at 44 FPS is the only preset that approaches playable levels, and even then, the frame rate is below the 60 FPS target. Medium at 36 FPS is playable for a turn-based game, but the minimum of 31 FPS suggests occasional dips. High and Ultra are not recommended at this resolution, as 28 FPS and 21 FPS respectively fall below acceptable thresholds for even slow-paced gameplay. The data indicates that 4K play should be avoided unless the user accepts Low settings.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne. It operates at a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boosts to 4.60 GHz. The CPU has a 16 MB L3 cache, with 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core. It supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The processor's average benchmark score of 25,517 places it in the 78th percentile among all CPUs.

In Hard West, the CPU's role is secondary to the GPU at higher resolutions, but it provides the foundation for the game's turn-based logic and AI calculations. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20,655 and single-core score of 2,916 indicate strong multi-threaded performance and capable single-thread speed. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 6,628 and single-thread score of 901 suggest the CPU can handle the game's processing demands without becoming a bottleneck at 1080p.

The nearest rivals to the Ryzen 7 5700 include the Intel Xeon D-2752TER with an average score of 25,530 and a deltaPct of -0.1, meaning the Ryzen is effectively tied. The AMD Ryzen 5 7640U scores 25,485 with a deltaPct of 0.1, and the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H scores 25,550 with a deltaPct of -0.1. These close margins indicate that the 5700 is well-positioned among its peers, with no significant performance advantage or disadvantage.

The CPU's 7 nm process node and 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die contribute to its efficiency, with a TDP of 65 W. This low power draw means the CPU does not generate excessive heat, allowing sustained boost clocks during extended gaming sessions. The PassMark multi-thread score of 24,303 and single-thread score of 3,296 further confirm the CPU's balanced performance profile.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution, with all settings producing average FPS above 60. At 2560x1440, High settings deliver 53 FPS, which is playable, but 3840x2160 only reaches 44 FPS on Low settings.

Q: How does the Arc B570 compare to its nearest GPU rival?

A: The Arc B570's average benchmark score of 20,556 is nearly identical to the Intel Arc A750's 20,582, with a deltaPct of -0.1. It also matches the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which scores 20,534 with a deltaPct of 0.1.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 5700 a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The measured FPS at 1080p Low (134 FPS) and Ultra (63 FPS) suggests the CPU is not a limiting factor. The processor's 3DMark single-thread score of 901 and Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2,916 indicate sufficient performance for the game's logic.

Q: What FPS can I expect at 1440p Medium settings?

A: The measured average is 69 FPS, with a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold for the average, but the minimum shows occasional dips below it.

Q: Does the GPU memory size matter for Hard West?

A: The Arc B570 has 10 GB of GDDR6 memory with 380.0 GB/s bandwidth. For a 2015 turn-based tactical game, this is more than sufficient, and the data shows no memory-related performance issues at any resolution.

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

A: The combo ranks 2,360 out of 2,949 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle tier. This ranking reflects the mid-range nature of both the CPU and GPU, which produce playable but not exceptional frame rates in Hard West.