Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a deeply unbalanced gaming experience in Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015. According to the measured data, this combination ranks 2721 out of 2949 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems. The benchmark results reveal a configuration where an exceptionally powerful processor is completely held back by an integrated-class graphics solution, resulting in frame rates that range from playable at lower settings to nearly slideshow-level at maximum quality.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2721 out of 2949 tested combinations is the single most telling statistic in this dataset. This places the system in the bottom percentile of all tested hardware pairings, a surprising result given the CPU involved. The ranking reflects the overall gaming performance across all tested titles, and in Hard West specifically, the data shows a system that struggles to maintain smooth frame rates even at moderate settings.

The CPU itself is a top-tier performer in synthetic benchmarks, with an average benchmark score of 39768 and a percentile rank of 87 against all CPUs. This puts the Ryzen 7 9800X3D in the upper echelon of processors, far ahead of the median. Its nearest rivals in the CPU benchmark charts include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840HS with an average score of 39603 (just 0.4% behind), the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 at 40048 (0.7% ahead), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 450 at 39485 (0.7% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at 40081 (0.8% ahead). These margins are minimal, showing that the 9800X3D sits comfortably in a cluster of high-performing chips.

However, the GPU tells an entirely different story. The Intel Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of just 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are all legacy or low-end parts: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186 (0.2% higher), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190 (0.5% higher), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192 (0.7% higher), and the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168 (1.4% lower). The Arc B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 positions it in territory occupied by graphics hardware from over a decade ago.

This massive disparity between CPU and GPU performance explains the poor combo ranking. The system is bottlenecked by the graphics solution in almost every scenario, and the processor's capabilities are largely irrelevant to the final frame rates achieved. In a turn-based tactics game like Hard West, which is not typically demanding on hardware, this combination still fails to deliver adequate performance at higher resolutions and settings.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the limiting factor in this configuration. It is built on Intel's Xe3-LPG architecture with a Panther Lake chip, manufactured on a 3 nm process. The GPU operates at a base clock of 300 MHz and can boost up to 2400 MHz, though these clock speeds are largely academic given the hardware's overall performance ceiling.

The memory situation is particularly noteworthy. The Arc B370 uses system shared memory, meaning it has no dedicated VRAM of its own. Memory size, type, and bus width are all listed as "System Shared," and bandwidth is "System Dependent." This architecture forces the GPU to compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth, which is a significant disadvantage in gaming workloads. The system's memory bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s, while respectable for a dual-channel DDR5 setup, is shared between the processor and graphics solution.

With 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster operation units, the Arc B370 has specifications that would suggest modest 1080p gaming capability. The GPU also includes 10 ray tracing cores, though these are unlikely to provide meaningful performance in a 2015 title that predates hardware ray tracing. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are low by modern standards, and the FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS puts it in the range of entry-level discrete GPUs from several generations ago.

The power envelope of 25 W TDP confirms this is an integrated graphics solution, not a discrete card. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, so it has modern API support, but this does not translate into competitive gaming performance. The 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184, which is the only GPU benchmark available, reinforces the conclusion that this is a very low-performing graphics solution.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a desktop processor from the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Granite Ridge codename. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.20 GHz. The processor has a 120 W TDP and uses the AMD Socket AM5 platform. The 4 nm process node from TSMC houses 8,315 million transistors on a 70.6 mm² die.

The cache hierarchy is one of the most significant features of this CPU. It includes 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and a substantial 96 MB of shared L3 cache. This large L3 cache is designed to improve gaming performance by reducing memory latency, and it typically provides a measurable benefit in CPU-bound scenarios. The processor supports DDR5 memory with a dual-channel bus and 89.6 GB/s of bandwidth, along with ECC memory support.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers exceptional results. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 23230 and single-core score of 2080 demonstrate strong performance across both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. Geekbench scores of 18696 multicore and 2964 single-core are similarly impressive. The PassMark multithread score of 40009 and single-thread score of 4430 further cement its position as a high-end processor.

However, in Hard West, the CPU's capabilities are largely irrelevant. The game is turn-based tactics, which typically does not require high frame rates or fast reaction times, but the measured data shows the GPU is the bottleneck at every resolution. The processor sits idle relative to its potential while the Arc B370 struggles to produce even modest frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for this combination in Hard West show a consistent pattern of underperformance across all resolutions and settings. At 1080p, the best result comes at Low settings with an average of 79 FPS, which is smooth and playable. Medium settings at 1080p drop to 64 FPS average, with minimum and maximum values of 55 FPS and 74 FPS respectively. High settings at 1080p average 49 FPS, while Ultra settings fall to 37 FPS average.

Moving to 1440p, the frame rates drop significantly. Low settings average 50 FPS, which is still playable but demonstrates the GPU's limitations. Medium settings at 1440p average 41 FPS with a minimum of 35 FPS and maximum of 47 FPS. High settings drop to 31 FPS average, and Ultra settings fall to just 23 FPS average. These numbers show a system that struggles to maintain 60 FPS at 1440p even at the lowest settings.

At 4K, the results are largely unplayable. Low settings average just 26 FPS, Medium settings average 21 FPS with a minimum of 18 FPS and maximum of 25 FPS, High settings average 16 FPS, and Ultra settings average only 12 FPS. These frame rates would make the game feel sluggish and unresponsive, even for a turn-based title where frame rate is less critical than in action games.

The data shows that the Arc B370 can handle Hard West at 1080p Low and Medium settings with acceptable performance, but anything beyond that quickly becomes problematic. The gap between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution is substantial, with Ultra typically delivering less than half the frame rate of Low.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling behavior reveals a system that is almost entirely GPU-limited. From 1080p to 1440p at Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 79 FPS to 50 FPS, a decrease of approximately 37%. From 1440p to 4K at Low settings, the frame rate drops from 50 FPS to 26 FPS, a further decrease of 48%. The total drop from 1080p Low to 4K Low is from 79 FPS to 26 FPS, representing a 67% reduction.

At High settings, the scaling is similar. From 1080p High at 49 FPS to 1440p High at 31 FPS is a 37% drop, and from 1440p High to 4K High at 16 FPS is a 48% drop. The total reduction from 1080p High to 4K High is from 49 FPS to 16 FPS, a 67% decrease matching the Low settings pattern.

This consistent scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound system. When the resolution increases, the number of pixels the GPU must process grows quadratically, and the frame rate drops accordingly. The CPU's performance does not meaningfully change with resolution, so the fact that frame rates drop so steeply confirms that the Arc B370 is the limiting component.

In a CPU-bound scenario, frame rates would remain relatively stable across resolutions because the CPU's workload is largely independent of pixel count. The data clearly shows this is not the case here. The system is GPU-bound at every resolution and setting combination, meaning that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's considerable processing power is never fully utilized.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings for this combination depend on the target resolution and the user's tolerance for lower frame rates in a turn-based game. At 1080p, Low settings provide the best experience with 79 FPS average, which is smooth and responsive. Medium settings at 1080p with 64 FPS average are also very playable, and the minimum of 55 FPS ensures no significant stutters.

For users who prioritize visual quality, 1080p High at 49 FPS is acceptable for a turn-based tactics game, though the frame rate is noticeably lower. Ultra settings at 1080p with 37 FPS average are playable but may feel slightly sluggish. Given that Hard West is a turn-based game, the lower frame rates are less detrimental to gameplay than they would be in an action title.

At 1440p, Low settings with 50 FPS average are the only option that provides a consistently smooth experience. Medium settings at 41 FPS are borderline, and the minimum of 35 FPS may cause noticeable frame drops. High and Ultra settings at 1440p are not recommended, as they fall below 30 FPS.

At 4K, no settings combination provides adequate performance. Even Low settings at 26 FPS average will feel unresponsive, and Ultra at 12 FPS is effectively a slideshow. Users with a 4K display should consider lowering the resolution to 1440p or 1080p for a playable experience.

The data suggests that the best experience is achieved at 1080p with Low or Medium settings, where the game runs smoothly and the visual impact of lower settings is mitigated by the game's art style. The measured minimum frame rates at Medium settings (55 FPS at 1080p) indicate that this preset provides a stable experience without significant dips.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D + Intel Arc B370 combination good for playing Hard West?

A: No. The combination ranks 2721 out of 2949 tested combos, and the measured frame rates are only playable at 1080p Low or Medium settings. At higher resolutions or settings, frame rates drop below acceptable levels.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings for this system in Hard West?

A: The best experience is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which achieves an average of 79 FPS. Medium settings at 1080p also work well with 64 FPS average and a minimum of 55 FPS.

Q: Why does this system perform so poorly despite having a high-end CPU?

A: The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics solution with an average benchmark score of 1184, placing it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The GPU is the bottleneck in every scenario, and the CPU's performance cannot compensate for the graphics limitation.

Q: Can this system run Hard West at 4K?

A: No. The best 4K result is 26 FPS average at Low settings, which is not playable. Ultra settings at 4K average just 12 FPS.

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

A: The Intel Arc B370 scores 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 at 1186, the ATI Radeon HD 5770 at 1190, and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M at 1192. It is 1.4% faster than the AMD FirePro M2000 at 1168.

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

A: At 1080p, Low settings average 79 FPS while Ultra settings average 37 FPS. Ultra delivers less than half the frame rate of Low, demonstrating the GPU's limited performance headroom.