Hard West

Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015, is not a demanding showcase for modern hardware, but the benchmark data for the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 combination still reveals a clear performance profile. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings show a component pairing that is capable of delivering high refresh rates at 1080p and smooth gameplay at 1440p, while 4K remains a challenge for the GPU. This analysis walks through the measured data to interpret what these numbers mean for the combo's standing, the role of each component, and the optimal settings for play.

How This Combo Ranks

The measured performance of this specific component pairing in Hard West places it at rank 1802 out of 2949 tested combos. This puts the combo in the 61st percentile of all tested configurations, indicating that while it is not a top-tier performer for this game, it sits comfortably above the median. The ranking suggests that many other combinations of CPUs and GPUs deliver higher frame rates, which is expected given the game's age and the relative positioning of the RTX 5050 in the broader GPU landscape.

The combo's average benchmark score across all tests is 58386 for the CPU and 21035 for the GPU. The CPU's percentile ranking of 92 places it in the top 8% of all processors, showcasing its exceptional strength. The GPU's percentile of 66 is lower, indicating that it is the component more likely to limit performance in this title. The rank of 1802 out of 2949 reflects the GPU's mid-tier standing more than the CPU's high-end capability. In practical terms, the data shows that this pairing is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming in Hard West, but the GPU prevents the combo from reaching the upper echelons of the performance charts.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the primary driver of frame rates in Hard West, and its specifications explain much of the measured performance. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 320.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is adequate for a game from 2015, but the 8 GB capacity and 128-bit bus are modest by modern standards, which can become a limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The GPU's core clocks are set at a base of 2317 MHz with a boost clock of 2572 MHz. These clocks, combined with 2560 shading units, deliver a peak FP32 performance of 13.17 TFLOPS. While this is a respectable figure, the RTX 5050's performance percentile of 66 against all GPUs confirms its mid-range positioning. Benchmark results show its Passmark G3D score is 17326, and in DirectX 12 tests it scores 66, which are modest numbers. For Hard West, these specifications translate to frame rates that are playable at 1080p and 1440p, but the GPU's compute power is insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K, as evidenced by the measured FPS data.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 104 FPS, and at 2560x1440 with High settings, it averages 66 FPS. Both are playable, but 1080p provides a higher frame rate for smoother gameplay.

Q: Can this setup handle 4K gaming in Hard West?

A: At 3840x2160, the highest average FPS recorded is 55 on Low settings. On High settings, the average drops to 34 FPS, and on Ultra, it falls to 26 FPS. This indicates that 4K is only viable on lower settings.

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

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D has an average benchmark score of 58386. Its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M, scores 58323, which is 0.1% slower. The Intel Core i9-14900 scores 58115, putting it 0.5% behind.

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

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035. The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL scores 21153, which is 0.6% faster. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT scores 20713, making it 1.6% slower than the RTX 5050.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS on Low settings is 104, while on Ultra settings, it drops to 49 FPS. This represents a significant 55 FPS difference, showing a heavy performance cost for the highest graphics preset.

Q: Does the combo's rank indicate it is a high-end performer?

A: No, the combo ranks 1802 out of 2949 tested combinations. While it is above the median, it is not in the top tier, suggesting that many other combinations deliver higher performance in this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the combo scales across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the combo delivers its best performance. On Low settings, the average FPS is 165, which is exceptionally high and indicates that the CPU and GPU are more than capable of handling the game's demands. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 135 FPS, with a minimum of 115 and a maximum of 155. High settings yield an average of 104 FPS, while Ultra settings bring the average down to 78 FPS. These numbers show that at 1080p, the combo can easily drive high refresh rate monitors, even on the most demanding preset.

At 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but begins to show the GPU's limitations. Low settings produce an average of 104 FPS, which is identical to the 1080p High result, indicating that the game is not heavily CPU-bound at this resolution. Medium settings average 86 FPS, with a range of 73 to 98 FPS. High settings average 66 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to an average of 49 FPS. The step from High to Ultra at 1440p represents a 17 FPS loss, which is a substantial cost for the visual upgrade.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. Low settings average 55 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. Medium settings average 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 52. High settings average 34 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to an average of 26 FPS. The data shows that 4K gaming is only marginally playable on Low settings, and the higher presets result in frame rates that are below the threshold for comfortable gameplay. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is steep, with the 4K High average being less than a third of the 1080p Low average.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo in Hard West depend on the user's resolution and performance priorities. For 1080p, the Ultra preset at an average of 78 FPS is a viable choice, as it provides a high frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 104 FPS is also excellent, and the difference between High and Ultra may not be visually significant enough to justify the 26 FPS loss for some users. The Low preset at 165 FPS is overkill for most displays, but it is there for those with very high refresh rate monitors.

At 1440p, the High preset at an average of 66 FPS offers a good balance between visual quality and performance, staying just above the 60 FPS mark. The Medium preset at 86 FPS is a safer choice for maintaining higher frame rates, especially if the game has moments of intense action. The Ultra preset at 49 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold and may result in noticeable stuttering, so it is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience. For users who prioritize frame rate over visuals, the Low preset at 104 FPS provides a very smooth experience.

At 4K, the data suggests that the Low preset at an average of 55 FPS is the only viable option for playable frame rates. The Medium preset at 45 FPS is borderline, and the High and Ultra presets at 34 and 26 FPS respectively are not recommended due to the risk of a poor experience. The measured data indicates that 4K gaming with this combo requires significant compromises in visual settings to achieve acceptable performance.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a high-end desktop processor, and its specifications show why it is not the limiting factor in this pairing. The CPU features 8 cores and 16 threads, based on the Zen 5 architecture and codenamed Granite Ridge. It has a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, which are high frequencies for a desktop chip. The 96 MB of shared L3 cache is a significant asset, particularly for gaming, as it can reduce memory latency and improve performance in cache-sensitive workloads.

The CPU's benchmark scores reflect its strength. In Cinebench R23, it scores 22807 in multicore and 2228 in singlecore tests. Its Passmark single-thread score is 4704, and its multithread score is 41318. These numbers place the CPU in the 92nd percentile of all CPUs, indicating that it is a top-tier performer. In the context of Hard West, a turn-based tactics game that is not heavily threaded, the CPU's single-core performance is more important than its multicore capabilities. The high boost clock and large cache ensure that the CPU can feed the GPU with data quickly, but the measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck at higher resolutions, as the CPU maintains high performance even at 1080p.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals where the bottleneck lies in this combo. At 1080p with High settings, the average FPS is 104. At 1440p with the same settings, the average drops to 66 FPS, a 36.5% decrease. At 4K, the average falls to 34 FPS, which is a 67.3% decrease from the 1080p result. This steep decline as resolution increases points directly to the GPU as the limiting component. The RTX 5050's 8 GB of memory and 128-bit bus are insufficient to maintain high throughput at 4K, and its compute power is not enough to handle the increased pixel count.

In contrast, the CPU's performance remains consistent across resolutions, as evidenced by the fact that the 1080p Low setting (165 FPS) and the 1440p Low setting (104 FPS) show a smaller relative drop compared to the High settings. The data shows a clear pattern: the GPU's workload scales with resolution, and the RTX 5050 reaches its limits at 4K. For a game like Hard West, which is not graphically intensive, the resolution scaling indicates that the combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where the GPU can provide high frame rates, while 4K gaming requires significant settings reductions to remain playable.