Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 pairing delivers a distinctly different experience depending on resolution and settings in Hard West. This is a turn-based tactics game where frame rate consistency matters more than raw speed, but the data shows this combo can push very high refresh rates at 1080p while struggling to maintain smooth 4K gameplay. The following analysis breaks down how each component contributes to the measured results.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 is an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its 16 MB of L3 cache and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth are typical for a modern desktop chip. The processor sits in the 84th percentile of all CPUs, and its average benchmark score of 27220 puts it within 1.2% of rivals like the Intel Core i9-9900K, Intel Core i7-12700H, Intel Core i7-1370P, and AMD Ryzen AI 5 340. For Hard West, a turn-based tactics title, the CPU is rarely the primary bottleneck. The game's logic, AI pathfinding, and unit actions are not heavily threaded, meaning the single-thread performance is more relevant than the multi-core muscle. The Ryzen 7 5700 scores 2916 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 901 in 3DMark single-thread, which are strong numbers that ensure the game's simulation and UI remain responsive. Multi-threaded performance is ample too: the Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20655 and 3DMark 16-thread score of 6628 show there is headroom for background tasks or streaming. In practice, this CPU will not hold back the RTX 3070 in this game at any resolution. The measured frame rates at 1080p, especially the 212.1 FPS average on Low settings, indicate the CPU can feed the GPU well above typical monitor refresh rates. Even at 4K, where the GPU becomes the limiting factor, the CPU's job is done easily. The 8 cores are more than sufficient; a 6-core part would likely show identical results. The key takeaway is that the Ryzen 7 5700 provides a stable foundation, and its performance headroom means it won't be the source of any frame rate dips in 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 classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling as resolution increases. At 1080p High settings, the combo averages 132.4 FPS. Moving to 1440p High drops that to 82.8 FPS, a 37.5% reduction. At 4K High, the average falls to 43.5 FPS, which is a 67.1% drop from the 1080p figure. This steep decline indicates the RTX 3070 is the limiting component at higher resolutions. The GPU has to render four times the pixels at 4K compared to 1080p, and its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are taxed heavily. The pattern holds across all settings. At Low settings, 1080p yields 212.1 FPS, 1440p gives 136.2 FPS, and 4K drops to 69 FPS. The scaling is not perfectly linear due to memory bandwidth constraints, but the trend is unmistakable. At 1080p, the CPU still has some influence, as evidenced by the gap between Low and Ultra settings. At 4K, the GPU is so saturated that the CPU's role is minimal. The data suggests that for a 60 FPS target, this combo can hit it at 1440p on High settings (82.8 FPS) but falls short at 4K High (43.5 FPS) and only reaches 69 FPS at 4K Low. The frame rate drops are consistent with a mid-range GPU like the RTX 3070, which is positioned in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. For players with 1440p monitors, this is a sweet spot. For 4K, the player must accept lower settings or a frame rate below 60. The resolution scaling data clearly shows that the RTX 3070 is the bottleneck above 1080p, and the Ryzen 7 5700 has enough headroom to support higher-end GPUs should the user ever upgrade.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 uses the GA104 chip on the Ampere architecture, fabricated on an 8 nm process. It has 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 96 ROPs, with base and boost clocks of 1500 MHz and 1725 MHz respectively. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus provides 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a critical factor for Hard West's detailed environments and lighting at higher resolutions. The GPU's average benchmark score of 28238 places it in the 72nd percentile, and its nearest rivals include the AMD FirePro S7150, AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti, and AMD Radeon R9 M295X, with delta percentages ranging from -1.1% to 1%. The measured FPS data shows the RTX 3070's strengths and limitations. At 1080p, it easily handles Ultra settings at 102.5 FPS, proving it has plenty of compute power for this turn-based title. The 20.31 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is more than enough for Hard West's shaders and post-processing effects. However, the 8 GB VRAM becomes a concern at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 34.2. The game's high-resolution textures and effects likely exceed the VRAM capacity, causing the GPU to fall back to slower memory access patterns. The data shows a clear gap between 4K Medium (59 FPS) and 4K High (43.5 FPS), indicating that the jump from Medium to High settings introduces a significant memory bandwidth or capacity penalty. The RTX 3070's memory clock of 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective) is standard, but the 256-bit bus limits the total bandwidth compared to higher-end cards. For Hard West, the GPU is the decisive factor at 1440p and above. At 1080p, it is overkill, delivering 212.1 FPS on Low settings. The GPU's performance is consistent with its benchmark scores, and it does not exceed expectations in this game. It is a capable card for 1080p and 1440p, but 4K Ultra is beyond its comfort zone.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

Out of 1699 tested combos in Hard West, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ranks 763rd. That places it in the 45th percentile of all tested combinations, meaning roughly 45% of combos perform better. This is a middle-of-the-pack ranking, which is surprising given the individual component scores. The CPU is in the 84th percentile and the GPU in the 72nd percentile, so the combo does not achieve the same relative standing. The reason is likely the game's low engine demands; most modern CPUs and mid-range GPUs can run Hard West well, so the ranking is compressed. The difference between the 763rd and, say, the 500th combo may be just a few FPS at 4K. The ranking also reflects that this is a turn-based tactics game, not a AAA shooter, so the absolute frame rate ceiling is less important. The combo's rank is not a reflection of poor performance; it is a reflection of a game that does not stress high-end hardware. The measured FPS data confirms this: 132.4 FPS at 1080p High is excellent, and even 4K Low at 69 FPS is playable. The ranking would likely improve in a more demanding game. In the context of Hard West, this combo offers a solid experience, but it is not the top-tier setup that the component benchmarks suggest. The deltaPct values from the CPU's nearest rivals show only 0.7% to 1.2% differences, meaning the CPU choice has minimal impact on the ranking. The GPU's nearest rivals show similar small deltas, confirming that Hard West's performance is not highly sensitive to component selection within this performance tier. The combo rank of 763 out of 1699 is a fair representation of a balanced mid-range system that excels at 1080p and handles 1440p well.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture across three resolutions and four settings levels.

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers strong performance across the board. Low settings produce an average of 212.1 FPS, which is exceptionally high and indicates the GPU is not the bottleneck; the CPU's single-thread performance of 901 in 3DMark single-thread is sufficient to push this high. Medium settings drop to 175.2 FPS, still well above any high-refresh monitor's needs. High settings yield 132.4 FPS, which is excellent for a game like Hard West. Ultra settings bring the average down to 102.5 FPS, which is still very smooth and shows that the GPU can handle the game's maximum visual fidelity at 1080p without breaking a sweat.

At 2560x1440, the scaling becomes more apparent. Low settings average 136.2 FPS, which is still high but a 35.8% drop from 1080p Low. Medium settings average 111.8 FPS, High settings average 82.8 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 62.8 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 53.9%, indicating that the GPU's shading units and memory bandwidth are being taxed more heavily. The 62.8 FPS at Ultra is just above the 60 FPS target, making it a viable option for players who prioritize visuals over a high refresh rate. The 82.8 FPS at High settings is the sweet spot for 1440p, offering a good balance of quality and performance.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. Low settings average 69 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. Medium settings drop to 59 FPS, just below the 60 FPS target. High settings average 43.5 FPS, which will feel stuttery in a game that requires precise cursor movements. Ultra settings average 34.2 FPS, which is not recommended for a smooth experience. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is severe: High settings drop from 82.8 FPS to 43.5 FPS, a 47.5% reduction. This is consistent with the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth being overwhelmed by the 4K pixel count. The data clearly shows that 4K is only viable with Low settings, and even then, the 69 FPS average is not ideal for a 60 Hz monitor with headroom.

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

The measured data points to a clear recommendation for each resolution class. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset at 102.5 FPS is the best choice. The difference between High (132.4 FPS) and Ultra (102.5 FPS) is 29.9 FPS, but the visual improvement from Ultra settings in a turn-based game with detailed environments is worth the trade-off. The 102.5 FPS is still well above 60 FPS, so there is no reason to drop below Ultra for a smooth experience. If the player has a 144 Hz monitor, High settings at 132.4 FPS might be preferable, but Ultra remains the recommended preset for maximum fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the High preset at 82.8 FPS is the best balance. Ultra at 62.8 FPS is playable but leaves only 2.8 FPS of headroom above the 60 FPS target, which could result in dips during complex scenes. Medium at 111.8 FPS offers a large safety margin but sacrifices visual quality. High settings provide the best mix of performance and image quality, and the 82.8 FPS average is comfortable for a 60 Hz or even a 75 Hz monitor. For players with a 144 Hz 1440p monitor, Medium at 111.8 FPS is a reasonable choice, but High is the recommended default.

At 3840x2160, there is no ideal preset. Low settings at 69 FPS is the only option that maintains a playable frame rate above 60 FPS. Medium at 59 FPS is borderline, and High at 43.5 FPS is not recommended for a game that requires precise cursor control. Ultra at 34.2 FPS is effectively unplayable. For 4K, the recommendation is to use Low settings and accept the visual compromises, or to drop to 1440p and use High settings for a much better experience. The data shows that this combo is not suited for 4K gaming in Hard West, and the 8 GB VRAM is likely the culprit at higher settings. If a player insists on 4K, Low settings are the only viable option, but the 69 FPS average is still not ideal for a smooth experience. The best overall experience is at 1440p High settings, where the combo delivers 82.8 FPS with good visual quality, or at 1080p Ultra for maximum fidelity at 102.5 FPS.