Hard West

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates for Hard West across the three tested resolutions reveal a clear pattern of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p with Ultra settings, the combo produces 90.4 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings, the average drops to 55.6 FPS, a decrease of approximately 38%. At 4K Ultra, the average falls further to 26.4 FPS, which is roughly 71% below the 1080p result. This steep decline indicates that the graphics card is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions, particularly when the more demanding preset is engaged.

The scaling behavior shifts when settings are reduced. At Low settings, the 1080p result is 183.8 FPS, while 1440p yields 120 FPS, and 4K produces 64 FPS. The percentage drops between each step are substantial, but the absolute values remain playable even at 4K. This suggests that the RTX 4060's rendering load scales more predictably with resolution when the visual complexity is lowered. The data shows that the gap between 1080p and 1440p Low is roughly 35%, while the gap between 1440p and 4K Low is about 47%, indicating that the GPU still dominates the workload.

At Medium settings, the pattern holds: 153 FPS at 1080p, 94.2 FPS at 1440p, and 54.1 FPS at 4K. The High preset produces 114.7 FPS at 1080p, 74.5 FPS at 1440p, and 38.5 FPS at 4K. The consistent ordering across all settings — Low outperforming Medium, Medium outperforming High, and High outperforming Ultra — confirms that the game's graphical options directly translate to frame rate cost. The limiting component is unquestionably the GPU, as the CPU's 8-core, 16-thread configuration does not exhibit signs of bottlenecking even at the lowest settings where frame rates exceed 180 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this combo?

A: The highest recorded average is 183.8 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only measurement that exceeds 180 FPS in the entire dataset.

Q: Is 4K gaming viable with this hardware?

A: At 4K with Low settings, the combo achieves 64 FPS, which is playable. However, at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 26.4 FPS, making that preset impractical for smooth gameplay. Medium at 4K produces 54.1 FPS, which is a reasonable middle ground.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 23,181. It trails the AMD Radeon RX 6600M by 0.6% and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti by 0.7%, while leading the Intel Arc B580 by 0.7% and the AMD Radeon 760M by 0.8%. These differences are negligible.

Q: What is the CPU's percentile ranking among all processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT holds an 86th percentile ranking, with an average benchmark score of 29,774. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE, scores 29,740, a delta of 0.1%.

Q: Which resolution and setting combination offers the highest frame rate above 144 FPS?

A: Only the 1080p Low settings achieve a frame rate above 144 FPS, with 183.8 FPS. The next closest is 1080p Medium at 153 FPS, which also exceeds 144 FPS.

Q: Does the combo rank in the top half of tested configurations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 987 out of 1,699 tested combos for Hard West, placing it in the lower portion of the distribution, just below the median.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. Its 32 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support provide a robust foundation for gaming workloads. In benchmark tests, the CPU's multi-threaded scores include 3DMark 16-thread at 7,683 and Cinebench R23 multicore at 23,794, while single-thread performance reaches 959 in 3DMark single-thread and 3,359 in Cinebench R23 single-core.

In Hard West, a turn-based tactics title, the CPU's role is less demanding than in fast-paced action games. The measured frame rates show that even at 1080p Low, where the GPU is least stressed, the combo reaches 183.8 FPS without any indication of a CPU bottleneck. The processor's 8 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient for the game's logic, which typically relies on a few threads for AI and simulation. The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution or setting tested.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 86 places it well above the average processor, and its nearest rivals — the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE (0.1% ahead) and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 (0.3% ahead) — are all within a 0.3% margin of its average score. This indicates that the 5800XT delivers competitive single- and multi-threaded performance that easily keeps pace with a modern mid-range GPU like the RTX 4060. For a game like Hard West, the CPU's high boost clock and efficient architecture contribute to consistent frame pacing, though the GPU remains the dominant factor in determining overall FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 987 out of 1,699 tested combos for Hard West. This places the configuration in the bottom 42% of all tested systems, indicating that while it delivers playable frame rates at most settings, it does not stand out among the broader field of hardware combinations. The rank reflects the GPU's mid-tier positioning, as the RTX 4060's 66th percentile among all GPUs and the CPU's 86th percentile do not translate into a top-tier gaming result for this specific title.

The combo's rank suggests that Hard West is not particularly demanding, as many other configurations with lower-tier components may achieve similar or better performance. However, the measured FPS data shows that this combo is capable of exceeding 60 FPS at 1080p High (114.7 FPS) and 1440p Low (120 FPS), making it a functional choice for most gaming scenarios. The 4K Ultra result of 26.4 FPS is the weakest point, pulling the rank down compared to combos that can handle higher resolutions more gracefully.

When compared to the CPU's nearest rivals, the performance delta is minimal, reinforcing that the processor is not the source of the rank's mediocrity. Similarly, the GPU's close scores to its rivals (within 0.8%) suggest that swapping to a comparable graphics card would yield only marginal changes. The rank is therefore a function of the overall hardware tier rather than a specific bottleneck, with the GPU's 8 GB memory and 128-bit bus limiting its 4K potential.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. Low settings produce 183.8 FPS, Medium yields 153 FPS, High reaches 114.7 FPS, and Ultra drops to 90.4 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 93.4 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for higher visual fidelity. Notably, even Ultra at 1080p exceeds 90 FPS, which is smooth for a turn-based tactics game.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain playable but show a clear step down. Low settings achieve 120 FPS, Medium reaches 94.2 FPS, High produces 74.5 FPS, and Ultra falls to 55.6 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across settings, ranging from a 34.7% reduction at Low to a 38.5% reduction at Ultra. This resolution is the sweet spot for this combo, as it balances visual quality with frame rates above 60 FPS for most presets.

At 3840x2160, the GPU's limitations become apparent. Low settings yield 64 FPS, Medium produces 54.1 FPS, High drops to 38.5 FPS, and Ultra falls to 26.4 FPS. Only the Low preset maintains a playable average above 60 FPS. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is steeper, with reductions of 46.7% at Low, 42.6% at Medium, 48.3% at High, and 52.5% at Ultra. This confirms that 4K is only viable with reduced settings on this hardware.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo depends on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers 90.4 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides the best visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. For players who prioritize frame rate over fidelity, Medium at 153 FPS offers a substantial boost, but Ultra is recommended for the full visual experience.

At 2560x1440, the High preset achieves 74.5 FPS, which is the best balance between visual quality and performance. Medium at 94.2 FPS is also viable for those who prefer higher frame rates, while Ultra at 55.6 FPS falls just below 60 FPS and may introduce noticeable stutter in fast-paced scenes. The recommendation is to use High for a smooth and detailed experience.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only option that maintains an average above 60 FPS, producing 64 FPS. Medium at 54.1 FPS is borderline playable, but the visual improvement over Low may not justify the 15% frame rate drop. For 4K gaming, Low settings are the practical choice, though players who prioritize visuals over smoothness may opt for Medium. Ultra at 26.4 FPS is not recommended for any scenario, as the frame rate is too low for comfortable gameplay. The data consistently shows that the GPU is the limiting factor, and lowering settings is the most effective way to achieve playable frame rates at higher resolutions.