Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 combination delivers a wide spread of performance in Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015, with results that shift from silky-smooth at 1080p to borderline playable at 4K. The measured frame rates reveal a system that is clearly capable of handling this older title with ease at mainstream resolutions, but the dramatic drop at 4K Ultra points directly to the GPU as the primary constraint. This analysis breaks down the measured data to show exactly where this combo excels, where it struggles, and what the numbers imply about the underlying hardware.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a classic resolution scaling curve, but with a steeper drop than one might expect for a game of Hard West's vintage. At 1080p with High settings, the combo produces 125 FPS, which is already a strong result. Moving to 1440p High drops the average to 79 FPS, a reduction of 46 FPS, or roughly 37% fewer frames. The jump to 4K High yields just 41 FPS, which is a further 38 FPS drop from the 1440p result. This pattern—where each resolution step costs a substantial chunk of performance—indicates that the GPU is the limiting component, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed frames at lower resolutions.

Looking at the Low preset tells a similar story. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 198 FPS, which is an excellent score for a turn-based game. At 1440p Low, it drops to 125 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 66 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is a 132 FPS drop, or about 67% of the 1080p performance. This is a significant reduction, but the absolute numbers remain playable, suggesting that even at 4K, the game is not entirely out of reach if settings are lowered. The data implies that the RTX 5060's 8 GB of GDDR7 memory and 128-bit bus are being pushed hard at 4K, but the architecture still manages to deliver acceptable frame rates on lower presets.

The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling issue. At 1080p Ultra, the combo produces 93 FPS, which is solid. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 59 FPS, a 34 FPS loss. At 4K Ultra, the average collapses to 31 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay in a game that benefits from responsive camera panning. This 62 FPS difference between 1080p and 4K Ultra is the largest absolute drop in the data set, and it underscores that the Ultra preset at 4K is simply too demanding for this GPU. The scaling pattern strongly suggests that the RTX 5060, while capable at lower resolutions, runs out of pixel throughput and memory bandwidth at 4K with high visual fidelity.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a chip designated GB206, and it operates with a base clock of 2280 MHz and a boost clock of 2497 MHz. The memory subsystem consists of 8 GB of GDDR7 on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. These specifications are central to understanding the measured FPS results in Hard West. The 8 GB capacity is sufficient for this 2015 title, which does not require the massive frame buffers of modern AAA releases, but the 128-bit bus width is a limiting factor at 4K, where the data shows a sharp performance cliff.

The GPU's raw compute capabilities include 3840 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 raster operation units, with a pixel rate of 119.9 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 299.6 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 19.18 TFLOPS, which is a healthy figure for a mid-range card. In Hard West, these resources translate to strong performance at 1080p and 1440p, where the game's geometry and texture loads are well within the card's capabilities. The measured 198 FPS at 1080p Low and 162 FPS at 1080p Medium indicate that the GPU is not struggling with the game's core rendering tasks at these settings.

However, the 4K results reveal the GPU's limitations. The drop from 66 FPS at 4K Low to 54 FPS at 4K Medium, and then to 41 FPS at 4K High, shows a clear relationship between increased shader complexity and frame rate loss. The Ultra preset at 4K, which likely enables additional post-processing and shadow effects, pushes the GPU to its limit, resulting in 31 FPS. This pattern is consistent with a card that has solid raw throughput but is constrained by its memory bandwidth and ROP count at higher resolutions. The data suggests that the RTX 5060 is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Hard West, with 4K requiring significant setting compromises.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks at 1668 out of 3722 tested combos in Hard West, placing it in the 55th percentile of all possible configurations. This is a middling rank for a system with a modern CPU and a current-generation GPU, but it reflects the fact that Hard West is an older title that does not heavily utilize the multi-threaded capabilities of the 9700F or the advanced features of the RTX 5060. The rank suggests that many older or higher-end GPU combos can achieve similar or better frame rates in this game, as it is not particularly demanding on modern hardware.

Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals provides context for this rank. The Ryzen 7 9700F has an average benchmark score of 69996, which is within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (69875) and 0.2% below the Intel Core i7-14700KF (70163). It is also 0.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (69515) and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700K (69355). These tiny deltas indicate that the CPU is not a differentiator in Hard West, as any of these processors would likely produce similar frame rates given the same GPU. The combo rank is therefore more heavily influenced by the GPU's performance profile.

The GPU's nearest rivals show a different picture. The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26331, which is 0.3% lower than the AMD Radeon 860M (26401) and 0.3% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 (26421). It is 0.8% below the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary (26553) and 1.2% above the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT (26011). These comparisons are interesting because they show the RTX 5060 sitting in a tight cluster of GPUs with similar benchmark scores, yet the measured FPS in Hard West for this combo is respectable. The rank of 1668 out of 3722 indicates that while this combo is not at the top, it is comfortably in the upper half of all tested systems, and the data suggests it will handle most games at 1080p without issue.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 in Hard West spans three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a complete picture of performance. At 1920x1080, the results are consistently high. The Low preset achieves an average of 198 FPS, which is the highest score in the entire data set. The Medium preset averages 162 FPS, with a minimum of 138 FPS and a maximum of 187 FPS, indicating smooth frame pacing. The High preset drops to 125 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 93 FPS. These numbers show that at 1080p, the combo has ample headroom, and even the most demanding Ultra preset stays well above 60 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. The Low preset averages 125 FPS, which is still excellent for a turn-based game. The Medium preset averages 103 FPS, with a minimum of 87 FPS and a maximum of 118 FPS. The High preset drops to 79 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 59 FPS. The 59 FPS at 1440p Ultra is notable because it is just below the 60 FPS threshold, suggesting that players seeking a perfect 60 FPS experience may need to tweak a few settings. The data shows a consistent pattern where each preset level costs roughly 15-25 FPS at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more variable. The Low preset averages 66 FPS, which is playable but not as smooth as lower resolutions. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS, showing some frame drops that could be noticeable in fast camera pans. The High preset averages 41 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 31 FPS. The 4K results highlight the GPU's limitations, as the difference between Low and Ultra is 35 FPS, and the Ultra preset is below 30 FPS, which is generally considered the minimum for a playable experience. The data makes it clear that 4K is only viable with Low or Medium settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset is the clear choice, as the 93 FPS average is well above the 60 FPS target and provides the best visual fidelity. Players who prefer maximum smoothness could also select the High preset at 125 FPS, but the Ultra preset's extra visual effects are worth the 32 FPS trade-off given the high baseline. The Medium preset at 162 FPS is unnecessary for a turn-based game, as the frame rate exceeds what is needed for responsive gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the High preset at 79 FPS is the recommended choice, as it offers a good balance between visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset at 59 FPS is borderline, and while it may be acceptable for a slower-paced game, the 20 FPS drop from High to Ultra is significant. The Medium preset at 103 FPS is also a viable option, but it sacrifices visual quality for a frame rate that is not required in this genre. For players who prioritize smoothness, the Medium preset provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset at 54 FPS is the best option, as it is the highest preset that maintains an average above 50 FPS. The Low preset at 66 FPS is smoother but noticeably less detailed, and the High preset at 41 FPS is too low for a consistent experience. The Ultra preset at 31 FPS is not recommended, as it drops below 30 FPS, which is the threshold for playability in most games. The data suggests that 4K gaming on this combo requires accepting Medium settings as the ceiling, with the understanding that the 46 FPS minimum could cause occasional stutter.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is a Zen 5 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, running at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. It has a 65 W TDP and supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus, providing 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The CPU's benchmark scores are strong, with a Passmark single-thread score of 4691 and a multithread score of 36470, placing it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. In Hard West, which is a turn-based tactics game that likely relies on a few threads for game logic and AI, the single-thread performance is more relevant than the multithread capabilities.

The CPU's nearest rivals show that it is a top-tier performer. It is within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-14700KF, and it is 0.7% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and 0.9% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700K. These deltas are negligible, meaning that the 9700F is not holding back the RTX 5060 in this game. The measured FPS data supports this, as the frame rates at 1080p are high enough that the GPU is clearly the bottleneck, not the CPU.

The CPU's 8 MB of L2 cache (1 MB per core) and 32 MB of shared L3 cache are ample for a game like Hard West, which does not have massive data sets. The 4 nm process node and TSMC foundry produce a power-efficient chip, with a TDP of 65 W, but this has no direct impact on the game's frame rates. The data indicates that the Ryzen 7 9700F is more than sufficient for Hard West, and any performance limitations in the measured results are attributable to the GPU, particularly at 4K resolutions where the CPU's high single-thread score cannot compensate for the GPU's pixel throughput constraints.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this combo in Hard West?*

A: The highest average FPS is 198, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F a bottleneck for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 in this game?

A: No, the data indicates the CPU is not a bottleneck. The CPU's benchmark scores are within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and Intel Core i7-14700KF, and the frame rates at 1080p are high enough to show the GPU is the limiting factor.

*Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations in Hard West?*

A: The combo ranks 1668 out of 3722 tested combos, placing it in the upper half of all configurations.

*Q: Can this combo run Hard West at 4K with playable frame rates?*

A: Yes, but only with lower settings. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS with a minimum of 46 FPS, while the High preset drops to 41 FPS and Ultra to 31 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 5060's benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 5060 scores 26331, which is 0.3% lower than the AMD Radeon 860M (26401) and NVIDIA GeForce MX550 (26421), and 0.8% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary (26553). It is 1.2% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT (26011).

*Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo in Hard West?*

A: The minimum FPS recorded is 46, which occurs at 3840x2160 resolution with Medium settings.