Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D paired with the Intel Arc B370 delivers playable frame rates in Hard West only at 1080p and 1440p with lower settings, while 4K performance falls below acceptable thresholds. The measured data shows this combination ranks 2721 out of 2949 tested combos for this game, placing it in the bottom 8% of systems. The bottleneck analysis is clear: the GPU, which sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU's strong multi-threaded performance is largely irrelevant for this turn-based tactics title.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D provides 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. This processor features a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a hallmark of the X3D series. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22366 and a single-core score of 3157, indicating robust computational capacity for a desktop processor released in 2024.

However, the benchmark data for Hard West reveals that this CPU power does not translate into high frame rates. At 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 79 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra, it drops to 37 FPS. The scaling pattern from Low to Ultra at the same resolution shows a performance reduction of approximately 53%, which is far more than what a CPU-limited scenario would typically exhibit. In a CPU-bound situation, changing graphics settings would have minimal impact on FPS, but here the settings have a dramatic effect, indicating the GPU is the constraining component.

The CPU's nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D, which scores 24728 (0.1% faster), and the Intel Core i5-11600, which scores 24563 (0.6% slower). This tight grouping around 24500-24800 points means the 5700X3D's performance is essentially average for its class. For a turn-based tactics game like Hard West, which does not demand high thread counts or extreme single-thread performance, the CPU's capabilities are more than sufficient. The game's logic, AI pathfinding, and turn calculations are likely handled efficiently by any modern 8-core processor, and the 5700X3D's 16 threads provide ample headroom for background tasks.

The benchmark scores show that the CPU maintains strong scaling from 2 threads (1575 in 3DMark) to 16 threads (6764), indicating good multi-threading efficiency. In Hard West, where the action is turn-based and not real-time, the CPU load is typically bursty rather than sustained, meaning the 5700X3D's 105W TDP and 7nm process node are more than adequate for maintaining consistent frame pacing. The data suggests that the CPU is never the limiting factor in this configuration; it provides a stable foundation, but the GPU is what ultimately determines playability.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, fabricated on a 3nm process. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, with 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs. The GPU has no dedicated VRAM; instead, it uses system shared memory, which means its bandwidth is system dependent. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is a modest 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, 0.2% faster) and the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, 1.4% slower).

The measured FPS data in Hard West directly reflects this GPU's limited capabilities. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 79 FPS, which is the highest recorded performance. However, at 1080p Ultra, the frame rate plummets to 37 FPS, a 53% reduction. At 1440p, the range narrows: Low delivers 50 FPS, Medium 41 FPS, High 31 FPS, and Ultra drops to 23 FPS. At 4K, the GPU struggles severely, with Low settings producing only 26 FPS and Ultra delivering a mere 12 FPS.

The GPU's lack of dedicated VRAM is a critical factor. With system shared memory, the integrated GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which can cause stuttering and frame drops in demanding scenes. The measured minimum FPS at 1080p Medium is 55 FPS, and at 1440p Medium it is 35 FPS, showing that the GPU can maintain playable minimums at these settings but not at 4K. The 4K Medium row shows a minimum of 18 FPS, which is below the threshold for comfortable gameplay. The GPU's pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are insufficient for the pixel fill requirements of 4K resolution, which explains the dramatic FPS drop.

The data indicates that the Arc B370 is a low-power integrated solution, with a TDP of only 25W and no power connectors, designed for portable devices rather than desktop gaming. Its performance in Hard West is adequate for 1080p at lower settings, but it is fundamentally unsuited for high-resolution or high-detail gaming. The GPU's nearest rivals are all older discrete cards from the early 2010s, confirming that its performance level is comparable to a mid-range GPU from over a decade ago.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly demonstrates that the GPU is the primary limiting component. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 49 at 1080p to 31 at 1440p (a 37% reduction) and then to 16 at 4K (a 67% reduction from 1440p). At Low settings, the drop is from 79 FPS at 1080p to 50 FPS at 1440p (37% reduction) and then to 26 FPS at 4K (48% reduction). This scaling pattern is characteristic of a GPU-bound system, where increasing pixel count directly impacts the fill rate and shading workload.

The rate of FPS decline accelerates at higher resolutions. Between 1080p and 1440p, the average FPS reduction across all settings is approximately 38%, which aligns with the 78% increase in pixel count (from 2.07 million to 3.68 million pixels). However, between 1440p and 4K, the FPS reduction is approximately 50% on average, while the pixel count increases by 125% (from 3.68 million to 8.29 million pixels). This disproportionate drop indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth and pixel fill rate are severely strained at 4K, causing the performance to degrade faster than the pixel count increase would suggest.

At 1080p, the system can achieve 79 FPS at Low, which is smooth for most players. The Medium preset at 1080p delivers 64 FPS, which is also acceptable. However, at 1440p, only the Low preset (50 FPS) reaches a consistently playable level, while Medium (41 FPS) and High (31 FPS) are borderline. At 4K, all presets fail to reach 30 FPS, with the highest being 26 FPS at Low and the lowest being 12 FPS at Ultra. The data shows that the system is only viable for 1080p gaming, and even then, the user must choose between high detail or high frame rates, as the Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 37 FPS.

The limiting component is unambiguously the GPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain similar across resolutions, as the CPU's workload is independent of resolution. Instead, the FPS drops by over 50% from 1080p to 4K at every settings level, confirming that the Arc B370's integrated graphics cannot handle the pixel throughput required at higher resolutions. The CPU's 3DMark 16-thread score of 6764 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 22366 are strong, but they are irrelevant when the GPU is overwhelmed.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Hard West with this hardware?*

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system achieves consistently playable frame rates. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 79 FPS, Medium delivers 64 FPS, and High delivers 49 FPS. At 1440p, only the Low preset reaches 50 FPS, which is marginally playable, while at 4K, even Low settings only produce 26 FPS.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D has an average benchmark score of 24709. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D, scores 24728, which is only 0.1% higher. The Intel Core i5-11600 scores 24563, which is 0.6% lower. These differences are negligible, indicating the 5700X3D performs on par with its direct competitors.

Q: Is the GPU the main bottleneck in this configuration?

A: Yes. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are all from the early 2010s. The FPS data shows that performance drops dramatically with resolution, which is a clear sign of GPU limitation. The CPU is not the issue, as it performs well above average in multi-threaded tests.

Q: What settings should I use for a stable 60 FPS experience?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset is the only one that exceeds 60 FPS, with an average of 79 FPS. The Medium preset achieves 64 FPS, which is also above 60 FPS. The High preset drops to 49 FPS, so it is not suitable for a 60 FPS target. At 1440p, no preset reaches 60 FPS, with the highest being Low at 50 FPS.

Q: How does the system perform at 4K resolution?

A: The system is not suitable for 4K gaming in Hard West. The highest 4K result is 26 FPS at Low settings, followed by 21 FPS at Medium, 16 FPS at High, and 12 FPS at Ultra. All of these are below the 30 FPS threshold for acceptable playability, making 4K effectively unplayable with this hardware.

Q: What is the frame rate range at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the measured average FPS is 41, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 47 FPS. This shows that while the average is playable, the minimum can dip below 40 FPS, which may cause noticeable stuttering in busy scenes.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this hardware is achieved at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset. This setting delivers an average of 64 FPS with a minimum of 55 FPS and a maximum of 74 FPS, providing a smooth and stable experience for a turn-based tactics game. The Medium preset offers a good balance between visual quality and performance, as it retains some graphical detail while maintaining frame rates well above 60 FPS.

For players who prioritize frame rate over visuals, the Low preset at 1080p is the best choice, delivering 79 FPS with no recorded minimums below 55 FPS. This is the only setting that guarantees a consistent 60+ FPS experience. However, the visual downgrade may not be necessary, as the Medium preset is only 15 FPS slower on average and offers significantly better visual fidelity.

At 1440p, the Low preset (50 FPS average) is the only viable option for a reasonably smooth experience. The Medium preset at 1440p has an average of 41 FPS, which is playable but may feel less responsive, especially during turn transitions. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p, with averages of 31 FPS and 23 FPS respectively, are not recommended for any serious gameplay.

The Ultra preset is the worst choice at any resolution. At 1080p, it delivers 37 FPS, which is a 42% reduction from Medium, and at 4K, it drops to 12 FPS. The visual improvements from High to Ultra do not justify the substantial performance cost. The High preset at 1080p (49 FPS) is a compromise for those who want better visuals than Medium but cannot tolerate the performance hit of Ultra.

For the best experience per the measured data, the recommendation is clear: use 1080p with Medium settings. This configuration provides the highest frame rate that still offers meaningful visual detail, with a minimum FPS of 55 ensuring no major stutters. If the player prefers higher resolution, 1440p with Low settings is the fallback, but they will sacrifice visual quality for a playable frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Hard West with the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D and Intel Arc B370 is as follows:

1920x1080:

• Low: 79 FPS average
• Medium: 64 FPS average, 55 FPS minimum, 74 FPS maximum
• High: 49 FPS average
• Ultra: 37 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 50 FPS average
• Medium: 41 FPS average, 35 FPS minimum, 47 FPS maximum
• High: 31 FPS average
• Ultra: 23 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 26 FPS average
• Medium: 21 FPS average, 18 FPS minimum, 25 FPS maximum
• High: 16 FPS average
• Ultra: 12 FPS average

At 1080p, the performance scales predictably with settings. The jump from Low to Medium reduces FPS by 19%, from Medium to High by 23%, and from High to Ultra by 24%. This linear degradation is typical for a GPU-bound scenario, where each visual quality tier adds a similar amount of shading and pixel work. The minimum FPS at 1080p Medium is 55, which is 86% of the average, indicating relatively consistent frame pacing.

At 1440p, the scaling is more pronounced. The Low preset at 50 FPS is the only one that approaches playability, while Medium drops to 41 FPS, a 18% reduction. The High preset at 31 FPS is a 24% drop from Medium, and Ultra at 23 FPS is a 26% drop from High. The minimum FPS at 1440p Medium is 35, which is 85% of the average, showing that the GPU is working harder to maintain frame rates at this resolution.

At 4K, the performance collapses. The Low preset at 26 FPS is barely above the slideshow threshold, and each settings increase causes a dramatic drop: Medium at 21 FPS (19% drop), High at 16 FPS (24% drop), and Ultra at 12 FPS (25% drop). The 4K Medium minimum of 18 FPS is particularly problematic, as it indicates significant frame dips that would be highly noticeable during gameplay. The data shows that the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth are completely overwhelmed at this resolution, making any preset choice futile for a playable experience.