Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Intel Arc B370 combination delivers a narrowly defined performance envelope in Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015. The measured data places this pairing at rank 2721 out of 2949 tested combos, placing it in the lower percentile of systems. The results show a clear pattern: the CPU is a high-end component with substantial headroom, while the GPU is the limiting factor that dictates playable settings and resolutions. This analysis walks through the specific numbers to show where the bottleneck lies and what users can expect from this configuration.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X is a desktop processor built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge, using a 4 nm process from TSMC. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. The processor has a 65 W TDP and supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU also integrates Radeon Graphics, though the discrete GPU handles rendering in this configuration.

In Hard West, a turn-based tactics game, the CPU's role is primarily managing game logic, AI decisions, and unit actions. The data from the measured FPS rows shows that even at 1080p Low settings, where the GPU load is minimal, the average FPS reaches 79. The single-threaded performance of this CPU is strong, as indicated by benchmark scores like 1280 in 3dmark single-thread and 4654 in PassMark single-thread tests. The multi-threaded capabilities are also substantial, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20485 and a Geekbench multicore score of 17906.

The CPU's percentile rank against all CPUs is 86, and its average benchmark score is 37943. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14901E, scores 37911 with a deltaPct of 0.1, meaning the Ryzen 7 9700X is essentially tied with it in synthetic benchmarks. Similarly, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 scores 37904 with a 0.1 deltaPct. These rivals represent the performance tier the CPU occupies, and the data shows that the Ryzen 7 9700X is not the bottleneck in this gaming setup. Even at 1080p Ultra, where FPS drops to 37, the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU, as the FPS differences between settings are consistent with GPU load variations rather than CPU limitations.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated GPU based on the Panther Lake chip, using the Xe3-LPG architecture and a 3 nm process from Intel. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The memory is system-shared, meaning it uses the main system RAM, and its bandwidth is system-dependent. The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units. It also includes 10 ray tracing cores. The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 12.29 TFLOPS. The TDP is 25 W, and it is classified as an IGP (integrated graphics processor).

The GPU's benchmark results are minimal, with only one recorded score: 1184 in 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12. This places the GPU in the 5th percentile against all GPUs, indicating very low performance relative to dedicated graphics cards. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which scores 1186 with a deltaPct of -0.2, and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which scores 1190 with a deltaPct of -0.5. These are legacy components, which underscores that the Arc B370 is not designed for high-end gaming. In Hard West, the GPU is the clear limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 79, but this drops to 49 at High and 37 at Ultra. The scaling across settings shows that the GPU struggles with increased rendering loads, particularly at higher resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a steep decline as resolution increases, which is indicative of a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 79. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 50, a decrease of 29 FPS or roughly 37%. At 4K Low, the average plummets to 26, which is 53 FPS lower than 1080p Low, representing a 67% reduction. This pattern persists across all settings.

For Medium settings, 1080p yields 64 FPS, 1440p yields 41 FPS, and 4K yields 21 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 23 FPS (36%), and from 1080p to 4K is 43 FPS (67%). At High settings, the numbers are 49 FPS at 1080p, 31 FPS at 1440p, and 16 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 37% and 67% respectively. Ultra settings show the most severe impact: 37 FPS at 1080p, 23 FPS at 1440p, and 12 FPS at 4K.

The consistency of these percentage drops—around 36-37% from 1080p to 1440p and 67-68% from 1080p to 4K—strongly suggests that the GPU is the limiting component. A CPU bottleneck would typically show less dramatic scaling with resolution, as the CPU load is more consistent regardless of pixel count. The data indicates that the Arc B370 simply cannot maintain playable frame rates at higher resolutions, and users are restricted to 1080p for any reasonable experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2721 out of 2949 tested combos in Hard West. This places it in the 92nd percentile of performance, meaning it outperforms only about 8% of tested systems. The rank reflects the overall FPS performance, and given the GPU's low benchmark percentile (5th), the ranking is expected. The CPU's high percentile (86th) does not compensate for the GPU's limitations in gaming scenarios.

The data suggests that the CPU is severely underutilized in this pairing. In synthetic benchmarks, the Ryzen 7 9700X scores 37943 on average, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i9-14901E and 0.3% higher than the Intel Core 5 211E. These CPU scores are irrelevant to the gaming performance here, as the measured FPS are entirely GPU-bound. The combo rank of 2721 is nearly identical to what one would expect from the GPU alone, confirming that the CPU choice has minimal impact on the final results. For users considering this combo, the data shows that the GPU is the primary determinant of playability, and the CPU is a premium component that offers no benefit in this specific game due to the GPU constraint.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 79 at Low to 37 at Ultra. The Medium setting averages 64 FPS with a minimum of 55 and a maximum of 74. High averages 49 FPS. Low is the only setting that offers a truly smooth experience, while Medium is acceptable, and High/Ultra become increasingly choppy.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. Low averages 50 FPS, Medium averages 41 FPS with a range of 35 to 47, High averages 31 FPS, and Ultra averages 23 FPS. None of these settings provide consistently high frame rates, but Low and Medium are playable for a turn-based game where frame consistency is less critical than in action genres.

At 3840x2160, the results are largely unplayable. Low averages 26 FPS, Medium averages 21 FPS with a range of 18 to 25, High averages 16 FPS, and Ultra averages 12 FPS. Even the lowest settings do not reach 30 FPS, which is typically considered the minimum for acceptable gameplay. The data shows that 4K is not a viable option for this combo, and even 1440p requires compromises on settings.

The pattern across all resolutions is clear: Low settings provide the best FPS, followed by Medium, High, and Ultra in descending order. The FPS deltas between settings are consistent, with Low typically offering 50-60% more FPS than Ultra at the same resolution.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all settings produce an average FPS above 37. At 1440p, the best average is 50 FPS on Low, and at 4K, the best is 26 FPS on Low. Therefore, 1080p is the recommended resolution for playable performance.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B370 scores 1184 in 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186, which is a deltaPct of -0.2, meaning it is essentially equivalent. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190 with a deltaPct of -0.5, also nearly identical. These rivals are all legacy parts, confirming the GPU's low performance tier.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low averages 79 FPS, while Ultra averages 37 FPS. This represents a 42 FPS difference, meaning Low provides roughly 113% more FPS than Ultra. The gap narrows at higher resolutions, but Low always maintains a significant advantage.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU has a 86th percentile rank with an average benchmark score of 37943, while the GPU is in the 5th percentile with a score of 1184. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K is consistent with GPU-bound behavior, and the CPU's performance in synthetic tests is far above what is needed for this game.

Q: What settings are recommended for 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 50 FPS, and Medium averages 41 FPS. For a turn-based tactics game, Medium at 41 FPS is acceptable. High averages 31 FPS, which may be borderline, and Ultra at 23 FPS is not recommended. The Medium preset at 1440p provides a reasonable balance, though it is lower than the 1080p experience.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2721 out of 2949 tested combos in Hard West. This places it in the lower 8% of performance. The ranking is primarily driven by the GPU's low capability, as the CPU's high performance does not translate to gaming gains when paired with such a weak GPU.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with the Low preset, which averages 79 FPS. This provides a smooth frame rate that is well above the threshold for playability in a turn-based game. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 64 FPS, which is also acceptable and offers improved visual quality over Low. For users who prioritize visuals over frame rate, the High preset at 1080p averages 49 FPS, which is still playable, but the Ultra preset at 37 FPS shows noticeable slowdowns and is not recommended.

At 2560x1440, the data suggests using the Low preset for 50 FPS or the Medium preset for 41 FPS. The High preset at 31 FPS is marginal, and Ultra at 23 FPS is too low for consistent gameplay. At 3840x2160, no settings are recommended, as even the Low preset averages only 26 FPS, which is below the generally accepted minimum for playable performance.

The best overall experience per the measured rows is the 1080p Medium preset. It offers 64 FPS, which is smooth, and provides a better visual experience than Low without the significant FPS drop seen at High and Ultra. The 1080p Low preset is the safest choice for maximum frame rate, but Medium balances visual quality and performance. For users with a preference for higher resolutions, 1440p Low is the only viable option, while 4K should be avoided entirely with this hardware configuration.