Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X paired with the Intel Arc B390 in Hard West presents a striking study in component imbalance. The data shows a CPU that is a top-tier performer in synthetic benchmarks, paired with a GPU whose benchmark percentile is remarkably low. This combination results in gameplay that is heavily constrained by the graphics solution, making the CPU's substantial capabilities largely theoretical in this context.

The Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. Its synthetic benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 29300 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2617. This places it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, making it a formidable processor for any task. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7313P, which it edges out by 0.2%, and the Intel Xeon Phi 7290, which is 0.3% ahead. This is a CPU designed for high-performance computing, with a 64 MB shared L3 cache and support for DDR5 memory on the AMD Socket AM5 platform.

The Intel Arc B390, however, is an entirely different story. This integrated GPU, based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its only available benchmark, a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, yields a score of 1482, which places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its performance is close to that of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, which is 1.3% slower, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, which is 2.7% slower. This is a GPU that is not designed for demanding 3D workloads, and its performance in Hard West reflects that fundamental limitation.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Ryzen 9 7900X's role in this configuration is to provide an overabundance of processing power that the Intel Arc B390 cannot utilize. With 12 cores and 24 threads, the CPU is capable of handling any modern game's logic, AI, and simulation threads with ease. The high boost clock of 5.60 GHz ensures that even single-threaded tasks are processed swiftly, which is important for the turn-based decision-making in Hard West. The benchmark data supports this; the CPU's 3DMark scores scale well from 1093 in single-thread to 12536 in max-thread tests, indicating strong multi-threading potential.

However, in the measured FPS data for Hard West, this CPU power is not the bottleneck. For instance, at 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 87. While this is the highest frame rate in the measured data, it is not a reflection of CPU limits. The fact that dropping from High to Low settings at 1080p increases the average FPS from 55 to 87 suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor, as lowering graphical fidelity directly impacts performance. A CPU-bound scenario would show less variation in FPS across different graphics settings.

The CPU's role is therefore to ensure that the game never stutters due to processor limitations. Data from the Cinebench R15 multicore test (4820.5) and Passmark multithread test (51406) indicate a processor that can handle complex calculations without breaking a sweat. The game's turn-based nature, with its focus on discrete actions and AI pathfinding, is unlikely to challenge this CPU. The benchmark results imply that the Ryzen 9 7900X is not the component holding back performance; rather, it is waiting for the GPU to catch up, but the GPU never will. The 87 FPS at 1080p Low is likely near the maximum this system can achieve, and it confirms the CPU's efficiency that it can feed the GPU enough data to reach that point.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best performance this combo can achieve in Hard West?

A: The highest average FPS recorded in the data is 87, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B390's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX's score of 1463, and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710's score of 1443.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations in this game?

A: The combo ranks 2614 out of 2949 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 11.4% of all tested systems.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 7900X a high-performing processor?

A: Yes, its average benchmark score of 53288 places it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, and it outperforms the AMD EPYC 7313P by 0.2% in average score.

Q: What is the memory configuration of the graphics card?

A: The Intel Arc B390 uses System Shared memory, with a system-dependent bandwidth and a bus width of System Shared.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the system achieve its lowest average FPS?

A: The lowest average FPS is 14, which is recorded at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS data across resolutions reveals a clear and precipitous decline as resolution increases, which is classic behavior for a GPU-bound system. At 1080p with High settings, the system averages 55 FPS. Moving to 1440p at High settings, the average FPS drops to 35, a 36% decrease. At 4K with High settings, the average FPS plummets to 18, a further 49% decrease from 1440p. This scaling pattern is a strong indicator that the Intel Arc B390 is the primary bottleneck.

The GPU's rendering workload scales with the number of pixels. At 1080p (1920x1080), the GPU has to fill roughly 2 million pixels per frame. At 4K (3840x2160), that number jumps to over 8 million pixels, a four-fold increase. The data shows that the FPS does not drop by a factor of four, but the trend is clear. The GPU's limited processing power, as evidenced by its 3DMark score of 1482 and its 9th percentile ranking, is simply overwhelmed by the increased resolution demands.

This is further confirmed by looking at the Low settings. At 1080p Low, the system hits 87 FPS. At 1440p Low, it drops to 55 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 29 FPS. Even with reduced graphical fidelity, the resolution scaling still causes significant performance loss. If the system were CPU-bound, we would expect the FPS to remain relatively stable across resolutions, as the CPU's workload would not change. The fact that FPS drops dramatically with resolution proves that the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU is capable of delivering higher frame rates, but the GPU cannot keep up with the rendering demands at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and the Intel Arc B390 ranks 2614 out of 2949 tested combos in Hard West. This places it in the bottom 11.4% of all systems tested, which is a surprisingly low position given the CPU's high performance. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's severe limitations. The CPU, which is in the 91st percentile, is paired with a GPU in the 9th percentile, creating a massive performance gap.

This ranking highlights that Hard West, despite being a turn-based tactics game, is still heavily dependent on GPU performance for its overall frame rate. The data suggests that a system with a more balanced GPU, even a mid-range one, would likely rank significantly higher. The combo's rank is not a reflection of the CPU's capability but rather the GPU's inability to render the game at playable frame rates. For context, the CPU alone outperforms its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 7313P, by 0.2% in average benchmark score, but this is irrelevant when the GPU is holding the system back. The ranking serves as a warning that a powerful CPU cannot compensate for a weak GPU in gaming scenarios.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B390's role is to be the primary bottleneck in this system. Its specifications are modest for a gaming GPU. It has 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its memory is "System Shared," meaning it uses a portion of the system's DDR5 RAM rather than having dedicated VRAM. This configuration is common for integrated graphics, but it is a significant disadvantage for gaming, as memory bandwidth is "System Dependent" and likely a fraction of what a dedicated GPU would offer.

The GPU's benchmark data is stark. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 is in the 9th percentile, and its nearest rivals are all older, low-end NVIDIA parts. This translates directly into the FPS numbers seen in Hard West. At 1080p Ultra, the system only manages 41 FPS, which is below the standard for smooth gameplay. At 4K Ultra, the system drops to 14 FPS, which is essentially unplayable. The GPU's low pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s is a limiting factor at higher resolutions.

The 12 RT cores are present but are unlikely to be used effectively in a game from 2015 like Hard West. The GPU's FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS is also low for modern standards. The data shows that the GPU is not capable of handling the game's graphical demands at higher resolutions or settings. It is designed for basic tasks, not for gaming at 4K. The boost clock of 2500 MHz does not offset the fundamental lack of processing power and memory bandwidth. The GPU is the clear reason why this combo ranks so poorly.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the system's performance across different configurations. At 1920x1080, the system performs best. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 87 FPS. Medium settings reduce this to an average of 71 FPS, with a minimum of 61 FPS and a maximum of 82 FPS. High settings bring the average down to 55 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, resulting in an average of 41 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. Low settings yield an average of 55 FPS, which is a 37% decrease from the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 45 FPS, with a min of 38 FPS and a max of 52 FPS. High settings average 35 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to an average of 26 FPS. The pattern of drops between settings is consistent with GPU-bound performance, where each increase in graphical fidelity costs a significant number of frames.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings average 29 FPS, which is a 47% decrease from the 1440p Low result. Medium settings average 24 FPS, with a minimum of 20 FPS and a maximum of 27 FPS. High settings drop to an average of 18 FPS, and Ultra settings are nearly unplayable at an average of 14 FPS. The data shows a clear trend: the system is only capable of delivering smooth performance at 1080p with lower settings. At higher resolutions, the frame rate drops below 30 FPS, making the game feel sluggish and unresponsive.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combination is at 1920x1080 with Medium settings. This configuration yields an average FPS of 71, with a minimum of 61 FPS and a maximum of 82 FPS. This provides a smooth and stable frame rate that is well above the threshold for playability. The minimum FPS of 61 indicates that the game will not stutter significantly during intense moments, which is crucial for a tactics game where precision is key.

While the Low setting at 1080p offers a higher average FPS of 87, the Medium setting provides a better balance between visual fidelity and performance. The jump from Low to Medium only costs 16 FPS on average, but the visual improvement is likely significant. The High setting at 1080p is also an option, with an average of 55 FPS, but the framerate is less stable and may dip lower during combat. Ultra settings at 1080p are not recommended, as the average FPS of 41 is below the desired 60 FPS target.

At 1440p, the data suggests that only Low settings provide a playable experience, with an average of 55 FPS. However, this is a marginal frame rate, and the visual quality will be low. At 4K, no settings provide a playable experience, with the highest average being 29 FPS at Low settings. Therefore, the recommendation is clear: for a playable and visually acceptable experience, users should stick to 1080p with Medium settings. This is the only configuration in the data that consistently delivers frame rates above 60 FPS while maintaining a reasonable level of graphical detail.