Hard West

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and Intel Arc B370 combination produces a highly constrained experience in Hard West, with the data showing a consistent pattern of GPU-limited performance across all tested resolutions. The measured frame rates indicate that while the 12-core processor provides ample headroom, the integrated-class graphics solution is the decisive factor in determining playability. This analysis walks through the resolution scaling, component roles, ranking position, and specific frame rate data to provide a complete picture of this pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate progression from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 79 FPS, which drops to 50 FPS at 2560x1440 and further to 26 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 67% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K, a steep decline that points squarely at the graphics processor as the limiting component. The pattern is consistent across all settings presets, though the absolute drops vary.

Looking at the High preset, the scaling is even more pronounced: 49 FPS at 1080p, 31 FPS at 1440p, and 16 FPS at 4K. That is a 67% loss from 1080p to 4K, mirroring the Low preset's percentage drop. The Medium preset shows 64 FPS at 1080p, 41 FPS at 1440p, and 21 FPS at 4K—again a 67% reduction from the lowest to highest resolution. The consistency of this percentage across presets strongly suggests that the rendering workload scales with pixel count in a predictable manner, and the GPU is unable to compensate at higher resolutions.

The Ultra preset tells the same story with slightly different numbers: 37 FPS at 1080p, 23 FPS at 1440p, and 12 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K is 68%, nearly identical to the other presets. This uniformity indicates that resolution scaling is independent of the quality settings—the GPU's throughput limits the frame rate regardless of how many effects are enabled.

What this means for the limiting component is clear. The CPU, with its 12 cores and 24 threads, is not the bottleneck here. If the processor were the constraint, we would expect to see frame rates that remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU workload would stay similar while the GPU workload increases. Instead, the data shows a steep, linear decline with pixel count, which is the signature of a graphics-bound system. The Intel Arc B370, with its system-shared memory and integrated design, simply cannot feed enough frames at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X is a high-end desktop processor from the 9000 series, built on the Zen 5 architecture with a Granite Ridge codename. It features 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 4.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz. The processor's cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 64 MB of L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 32,172 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,253 in single-core, with a Geekbench multi-core score of 22,174 and single-core score of 3,010.

These numbers place the CPU in the 92nd percentile among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 57,498. Its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9015 (delta of -0.1%), AMD EPYC 7313 (delta of 0.2%), Intel Core i9-14900 (delta of -1.1%), and Intel Xeon Platinum 8260M (delta of -1.4%). This is a processor that sits at the top of the desktop stack, with performance that rivals server-class parts.

In the context of Hard West, a turn-based tactics game from 2015, the CPU's role is largely about maintaining a stable frame rate floor rather than pushing high peaks. The game's genre does not demand the same level of per-frame physics or AI calculations as a real-time strategy title, so the 9900X's 12 cores are more than sufficient. The data supports this: at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 79 FPS, which is a solid result that suggests the CPU is not holding back the GPU at lower resolutions. However, as resolution increases, the frame rate drops, indicating that the CPU's headroom is never fully utilized because the GPU becomes the constraint first.

The single-thread performance of the 9900X, evidenced by its 2,253 Cinebench R23 single-core score and 1,286 3DMark single-thread score, is particularly relevant for a game like Hard West that may rely on a primary game thread. The boost clock of 5.60 GHz provides ample speed for such workloads. Yet, the measured FPS at 4K Ultra (12 FPS) and 4K High (16 FPS) show that even with excellent CPU performance, the system cannot overcome the GPU's limitations.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is a stark contrast to the CPU. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture with a Panther Lake chip. Its base clock is 300 MHz with a boost clock of 2400 MHz, and it features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units. The GPU has 10 ray tracing cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Its memory is system shared, meaning the bandwidth is system dependent rather than dedicated.

In the single benchmark recorded for this GPU—3DMark Steel Nomad DX12—it scores 1,184, placing it in the 5th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (delta of -0.2%), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (delta of -0.5%), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (delta of -0.7%), and AMD FirePro M2000 (delta of 1.4%). This is an entry-level graphics solution by any measure, with performance that sits near the bottom of the database.

The GPU's 25 W TDP and IGP slot width indicate it is not designed for demanding gaming workloads. Its FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS, and its texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, with a pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s. These specifications are modest, and the measured FPS in Hard West reflects that. At 1080p Low, the GPU manages 79 FPS, which is playable, but this drops to 37 FPS at Ultra settings. At 1440p, the range is 50 FPS (Low) to 23 FPS (Ultra), and at 4K, it falls to 26 FPS (Low) and 12 FPS (Ultra).

The system-shared memory is a notable factor. Since the GPU relies on the same DDR5 memory as the CPU, the bandwidth is shared between them. This can cause contention in scenarios where both components are heavily loaded, though in Hard West the CPU is likely underutilized, freeing up memory bandwidth for the GPU. Nonetheless, the low shading unit count and modest clock speeds cap the GPU's ability to handle higher resolutions, as the data shows.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2,721 out of 2,949 tested combos in Hard West. This places it in the bottom 8% of all configurations, which is consistent with the GPU's low percentile ranking. The GPU's 5th percentile position among all GPUs heavily influences this result, as the CPU's 92nd percentile standing cannot compensate for the graphics bottleneck.

The data indicates that this combo is near the bottom of the database for this game, with only 228 combos ranking lower. This is a significant underperformance relative to what the CPU alone would suggest, emphasizing that the GPU is the primary drag on the system. In practical terms, this means the combo is suitable only for low-resolution, low-settings gaming, and even then, the frame rates are modest.

The nearest GPU rivals—all of which are older or lower-end parts—underscore the Arc B370's position. The delta percentages are small, ranging from -0.7% to 1.4%, meaning the Arc B370 is essentially on par with these legacy parts. This is not a favorable comparison for a GPU released in 2026, and it explains why the combo ranks so low despite the powerful CPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a detailed picture of the combo's capabilities across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the best result is 79 FPS at Low settings. Medium settings yield 64 FPS, with a minimum of 55 FPS and maximum of 74 FPS. High settings produce 49 FPS, and Ultra drops to 37 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1080p is the only resolution where the combo approaches playable frame rates across all settings, though Ultra is borderline.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates decline significantly. Low settings achieve 50 FPS, Medium hits 41 FPS with a range of 35 to 47 FPS, High produces 31 FPS, and Ultra falls to 23 FPS. The 1440p results show that only Low and Medium settings are viable for a smooth experience, while High and Ultra are marginal at best.

At 3840x2160, the situation deteriorates further. Low settings yield 26 FPS, Medium averages 21 FPS with a minimum of 18 FPS and maximum of 25 FPS, High produces 16 FPS, and Ultra drops to 12 FPS. None of these results are playable for a game that requires responsive input, even for turn-based tactics where reaction time is less critical.

The Medium preset is the only one with min/max data recorded, and it shows a consistent pattern: at 1080p, the range is 55-74 FPS; at 1440p, it is 35-47 FPS; and at 4K, it is 18-25 FPS. This suggests that the frame pacing is relatively stable, with no major stutters, but the overall averages are too low at higher resolutions.

FAQ

*Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X or Intel Arc B370 the bottleneck in Hard West?*

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The frame rate drops by roughly 67% from 1080p to 4K across all settings, which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. The CPU's 92nd percentile ranking versus the GPU's 5th percentile ranking further supports this conclusion.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the combo achieves 79 FPS on Low and 49 FPS on High, making it the only resolution where playable frame rates are consistently possible. At 2560x1440, only Low (50 FPS) and Medium (41 FPS) are acceptable, while 3840x2160 is not viable for any settings.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B370's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,184 is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1,186, -0.2%), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1,190, -0.5%), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1,192, -0.7%). It is 1.4% faster than the AMD FirePro M2000 (1,168).

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking for this game?

A: The combo ranks 2,721 out of 2,949 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems. Only 228 combos perform worse in Hard West.

Q: Can the Ryzen 9 9900X handle the game's CPU demands?

A: Yes. The CPU's 12 cores and 24 threads, along with a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, provide far more than enough processing power for a 2015 turn-based tactics game. Its single-thread performance (2,253 in Cinebench R23) is more than adequate, but the GPU prevents the system from utilizing this headroom.

Q: Are there any settings where the combo exceeds 60 FPS?

A: Yes, only at 1920x1080 with Low settings, where it averages 79 FPS. At Medium settings on 1080p, it averages 64 FPS, which is also above 60 FPS. All other resolution and settings combinations fall below this threshold.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, where the system achieves 79 FPS. This provides the smoothest gameplay and ensures that the turn-based mechanics are responsive. If visual quality is a priority, Medium settings at 1080p are a viable alternative, yielding 64 FPS with a minimum of 55 FPS, which remains playable.

For users who prefer 2560x1440, Low settings at 50 FPS are the only option that stays comfortably above 30 FPS, though Medium at 41 FPS is also acceptable if consistency is not a primary concern. The High preset at 1440p (31 FPS) and Ultra (23 FPS) are below the threshold for smooth play, and the data suggests avoiding them.

At 3840x2160, no settings are recommended. Even Low settings only produce 26 FPS, and Medium drops to 21 FPS. The Ultra preset at 12 FPS is effectively unplayable. The resolution scaling data shows that the GPU cannot handle 4K workloads in this game, so users should stick to 1080p or, at most, 1440p with lower presets.

The Medium preset is worth noting for its frame time consistency. At 1440p, it has a narrow range of 35 to 47 FPS, and at 1080p, it ranges from 55 to 74 FPS. This suggests that Medium offers a balanced experience without severe frame drops, making it the best choice for users who want a mix of visual quality and performance at 1080p. For the highest visual fidelity, the Ultra preset at 1080p (37 FPS) is the only Ultra option that approaches playability, but the performance hit from High (49 FPS) is substantial, making Ultra a poor trade-off. The data-driven recommendation is to prioritize Low or Medium settings at 1080p for the best overall experience with this hardware combination.