Hard West

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the Intel Arc B390 produces a narrow performance envelope in Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015. The combo ranks 2614th out of 2949 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 11% of all configurations. This rank is not a reflection of a single weak component; rather, it signals a systemic limitation where the GPU, which sits at the 9th percentile among all tested graphics cards, heavily constrains the overall experience. The data suggests that while the CPU is a mid-range performer relative to its peers, the graphics solution becomes the decisive factor in nearly every measurable scenario.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's global rank of 2614 out of 2949 tested configurations places it firmly in the lower quartile of performance. This ranking is primarily driven by the graphics card's standing: the Intel Arc B390 sits at the 9th percentile among all tested GPUs, a position that positions it as a low-end solution. In contrast, the Intel Core i3-12100F holds a 68th percentile ranking among all CPUs, which is a respectable mid-pack performance level. The disconnect between CPU and GPU percentiles explains the overall ranking; the system is effectively bottlenecked by its graphics component before the processor can demonstrate its full potential.

Benchmark results show the i3-12100F achieving an average benchmark score of 13494, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core 3 N355's 13492, a difference of 0%. It also sits close to the Intel Core i5-9500, which scores 13452, making the i3-12100F 0.3% faster. This indicates that the CPU's processing capability is not the primary constraint; it is a solid performer for this game's logical and AI-driven workloads. The GPU, however, only manages a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, a figure that places it just 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 1.5% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce 800M. These are legacy, low-power parts, and the Arc B390's performance aligns with that tier, confirming why the overall combo rank is so low.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its clock speeds are modest, with a base frequency of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. The memory configuration is entirely system-shared, meaning the GPU uses the same pool of RAM as the CPU, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This is a critical detail for Hard West, as the game's rendering demands are likely to be sensitive to memory bandwidth and latency, both of which are unpredictable with shared memory setups.

The GPU has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output pipelines, along with 12 ray tracing cores. Its peak pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s. Floating-point performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. Despite these specifications, the benchmark data shows that the Arc B390 is a weak performer relative to the rest of the market. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile, and its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and GT 625 OEM, which are ancient parts. In practice, this means the GPU is the limiting factor in Hard West; even at 1080p, it struggles to maintain high frame rates, and the situation degrades rapidly as resolution increases.

The GPU's shared memory architecture and low overall score suggest that it is not designed for demanding 3D workloads. In Hard West, which is a turn-based tactics game with static or semi-static camera angles, the GPU still must render the scene geometry and effects, and this is where the Arc B390 falls short. The data shows that the GPU's performance is so low that it undermines the otherwise capable CPU, creating a situation where the overall system performance is dictated by the graphics component.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which is the expected behavior for a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 87 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the average drops to 55 FPS, a 37% reduction. At 4K Low, the average falls to 29 FPS, a 47% reduction from the 1440p figure and a 67% reduction from 1080p. This steep scaling curve indicates that the GPU's rendering throughput is the bottleneck; the CPU is not able to compensate for the increased pixel count.

The trend is consistent across all settings. At Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 71 at 1080p to 45 at 1440p (a 37% drop) and then to 24 at 4K (a 47% drop from 1440p). At High settings, the figures are 55 FPS at 1080p, 35 at 1440p, and 18 at 4K, with similar percentage drops. The Ultra preset shows the same pattern: 41 FPS at 1080p, 26 at 1440p, and 14 at 4K. The consistent percentage drops across all settings suggest that the scaling is primarily driven by resolution, not by the complexity of the scene or the settings themselves. This is a classic sign of a GPU that is running out of fill rate or memory bandwidth.

The frame time data for Medium settings shows that the gap between average and maximum FPS is relatively tight; at 1080p, the average is 71 FPS with a max of 82 FPS, while at 1440p, the average is 45 FPS with a max of 52 FPS. At 4K, the average is 24 FPS with a max of 27 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is not experiencing severe frame-time spikes, but rather is consistently operating at its performance ceiling. The data strongly suggests that the limiting component is the GPU, as the CPU's performance would scale much better across resolutions if it were the bottleneck.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i3-12100F strong enough for Hard West?

A: The CPU is a capable performer, holding a 68th percentile ranking among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 13494. This places it 0.3% ahead of the Intel Core i5-9500 in synthetic tests, indicating that its processing power is not a primary constraint in this game.

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

A: The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710. These are very low-end parts, confirming the GPU's weak standing.

Q: What is the best resolution to play at for a smooth experience?

A: At 1080p with Low settings, the system averages 87 FPS, which is the only configuration that approaches a high-refresh-rate experience. At 1440p Low, the average drops to 55 FPS, which is still playable, but 4K Low only yields 29 FPS, indicating that 4K is not viable.

Q: Does the Ultra preset provide a good experience?

A: No, the Ultra preset is too demanding. At 1080p, it averages 41 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold, and at 1440p, it drops to 26 FPS. At 4K, it averages just 14 FPS, making it unplayable.

Q: Is the system more CPU-limited or GPU-limited?

A: The data indicates a GPU limitation. The CPU scores in the 68th percentile, while the GPU sits in the 9th percentile. The FPS drops consistently by roughly 37% when moving from 1080p to 1440p and by another 47% to 4K, which is a characteristic of a GPU-bound system.

Q: What is the frame time consistency like at Medium settings?

A: The Medium preset shows tight frame times. At 1080p, the average is 71 FPS with a maximum of 82 FPS, and at 1440p, the average is 45 FPS with a maximum of 52 FPS. At 4K, the average is 24 FPS with a maximum of 27 FPS, indicating stable but low performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers the highest average at 87 FPS. The Medium preset averages 71 FPS, with a minimum of 61 FPS and a maximum of 82 FPS, showing a narrow band of performance. The High preset averages 55 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 41 FPS. These figures show a clear linear progression, with each step up in settings costing roughly 15-16 FPS on average.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. The Low preset averages 55 FPS, which is exactly the same as the 1080p High preset, indicating a one-to-one trade-off in this configuration. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. The High preset averages 35 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 26 FPS. The delta between 1080p and 1440p is consistently around 20 FPS for each settings level, reinforcing the GPU-bound nature of the system.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes marginal. The Low preset averages 29 FPS, which is still below the 30 FPS threshold for playability. The Medium preset averages 24 FPS, with a minimum of 20 FPS and a maximum of 27 FPS. The High preset averages 18 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 14 FPS. None of the 4K configurations provide a smooth experience; even the lowest settings fail to reach 30 FPS. The data shows that the system is only capable of delivering acceptable frame rates at 1080p and, to a lesser extent, 1440p with lower settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. It has a 12 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 11860 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1674 in single-core, which are solid mid-range results. Its Passmark multithread score is 14015, and its single-thread score is 3444, further confirming its balanced performance.

In Hard West, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, AI pathfinding, and turn-based calculations, which are typically not as demanding as first-person shooter workloads. The benchmark results indicate that the i3-12100F is more than capable of handling these tasks. Its 68th percentile ranking compared to all CPUs, and its proximity to the Intel Core i5-9500 (0.3% faster), suggests that it is not the bottleneck in this system. The FPS scaling across resolutions is consistent with a GPU limitation, not a CPU one. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see similar FPS across different resolutions, but the data shows a steep decline as resolution increases, which is a hallmark of graphics-bound performance.

The CPU's 4 cores and 8 threads are sufficient for this game's genre, and its high boost clock of 4.30 GHz ensures responsive single-thread performance, which is often more important in turn-based tactics than raw multi-core throughput. The data shows that the i3-12100F is effectively "waiting" for the GPU in most scenarios, meaning that a more powerful graphics card would likely result in a significant FPS improvement without changing the CPU.

Settings Recommendations

Given the measured data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution. For the best overall experience, the 1080p Low preset is the only configuration that provides a high frame rate, averaging 87 FPS. This is the recommended setting for players who prioritize smoothness and responsiveness. The 1080p Medium preset, which averages 71 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS, is also a strong choice, offering a balance between visual quality and performance, and it is likely the best compromise for most users.

For players using a 1440p display, the Low preset is the only viable option, averaging 55 FPS. This is just above the 50 FPS threshold and is playable, though not ideal. The 1440p Medium preset, averaging 45 FPS, is playable but may feel less fluid, and the minimum of 38 FPS suggests occasional dips. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p are not recommended, as they drop below 35 FPS, which is too low for comfortable play.

At 4K, the data shows that no settings preset is viable. The Low preset averages 29 FPS, which is below the 30 FPS minimum for playability, and the Medium preset averages 24 FPS. The High and Ultra presets are even worse, with averages of 18 FPS and 14 FPS, respectively. Therefore, 4K is not a recommended resolution for this combo. The best experience is clearly at 1080p, where the Medium preset provides a good balance of visual fidelity and frame rate, while the Low preset offers the highest performance ceiling.