Hard West

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the Intel Arc B570 in Hard West presents a compelling case study in turn-based tactics performance scaling. The measured data reveals a system that is capable of high refresh rates at mainstream resolutions but struggles to maintain playable frames at the demanding 4K Ultra preset. The 80th-percentile ranking of this combo (2360 out of 2949 tested) suggests a balanced pairing, but the resolution scaling tells a story of a GPU that hits its limits when pixel count and settings are pushed simultaneously. This analysis examines the measured frames to understand the balance between the six-core CPU and the 10 GB graphics card.

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

The measured FPS data for this combo reveals a steep and consistent performance decline as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound workload at higher pixel counts. Moving from 1080p to 1440p at High settings, the average frame rate drops from 84 FPS to 53 FPS, a reduction of 31 FPS. This is a significant 37% loss in performance, indicating that the Arc B570 is already doing heavy lifting at 1440p. The trend accelerates further when moving from 1440p to 4K, where the High preset average falls to just 28 FPS, a 25 FPS drop from the already low 53 FPS. This second transition represents a 47% reduction, showing that 4K resolution is a substantial burden for this GPU.

The scaling from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution reinforces this GPU-centric bottleneck. At 1080p, the difference between Low (134 FPS) and Ultra (63 FPS) is a massive 71 FPS, which proves the settings are directly taxing the graphics processor. This gap widens proportionally at 1440p, with an 85 FPS Low versus 40 FPS Ultra, and at 4K, the range is from 44 FPS on Low down to 21 FPS on Ultra. In every case, the frame rate is cut roughly in half when moving from the lowest to the highest quality preset, which strongly suggests that the CPU is not the primary constraint at any resolution tested. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see the Low preset frame rates plateau across different resolutions.

Instead, the data shows that the CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads boosting up to 4.40 GHz, is capable of feeding the GPU enough frames at 1080p Low to hit 134 FPS. The fact that 4K Low (44 FPS) is still significantly higher than 4K High (28 FPS) and 4K Ultra (21 FPS) demonstrates that the GPU's processing units and memory bandwidth are the limiting resources. The game at 4K is simply asking the Arc B570 to render more pixels, and the performance cost is directly proportional to that workload. This behavior is typical for a game like Hard West, which is a turn-based tactics title that may not have complex physics or AI that would stress the CPU, but does have a high resolution render target that taxes the GPU's fill rate and memory subsystem.

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

The Intel Arc B570's specifications directly explain its performance profile in Hard West. With 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, the GPU has a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is likely sufficient for the textures and scene complexity of a 2015 turn-based tactics game, even at 4K resolution. The fact that the GPU is not running out of memory (as evidenced by the playable, albeit low, frame rates at 4K Low) suggests that the 10 GB buffer is adequate for this title's requirements.

The GPU's clock speeds are fixed at a base and boost of 2500 MHz, which is a relatively high operating frequency. This high clock rate contributes to the card's compute capabilities, including an FP32 throughput of 11.52 TFLOPS. However, the measured results show that this raw compute power is not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra. The 21 FPS average at 4K Ultra indicates that the shader units and ROPs (80 in total) are overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and maximum visual effects. The transition from Medium to High at 4K (from 36 FPS to 28 FPS) shows a clear cost for the increased graphical fidelity.

The GPU's performance relative to its peers is also noteworthy. Its average benchmark score of 20556 places it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the Intel Arc A750, which scores 20582, a difference of only -0.1%. This indicates that the B570 is nearly identical in raw compute to its predecessor in the Arc lineup. In Hard West, this means the B570 is performing exactly as expected for its class of hardware. The GPU is neither a standout nor a laggard; it is delivering frame rates that are commensurate with its position in the market, showing that it is a solid mid-range option that can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming with ease but falls short of a smooth 4K experience on higher presets.

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

The Intel Core i5-11400F's role in this pairing is to provide a stable foundation without becoming a bottleneck. With 6 cores and 12 threads, the CPU has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. The benchmark results show that this processor is more than capable of handling the game's logic and AI, as the frame rates at 1080p Low (134 FPS) are high enough to suggest that the CPU is not the limiting factor at that resolution. The single-threaded performance, as measured by a Cinebench R23 score of 2024, is adequate for a game from 2015, which likely does not require massive multi-threaded scaling.

The CPU's position relative to its rivals further solidifies its adequacy. Its average benchmark score is 17177, which is within 0.6% of its nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G and the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U. This suggests that the i5-11400F's processing power is on par with these other options, meaning that any one of them would likely produce similar frame rates in Hard West if paired with the same GPU. The fact that the CPU scores are so tightly clustered indicates that the CPU is not a differentiator in this specific game context.

The data implies that the CPU's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support are sufficient for the game's needs. The memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s is not a constraint here, as the game's data sets are likely small enough to be cached. The CPU is effectively a silent partner in this benchmark; it does its job without introducing frame drops or stutters. The limiting factor is unequivocally the GPU, as evidenced by the fact that even at 4K Low (44 FPS), the frame rate is still well above the 4K Ultra (21 FPS), which shows the CPU is not holding the system back from processing the lower quality render.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the grand scheme of all tested hardware combinations in Hard West, this pairing of the Intel Core i5-11400F and Intel Arc B570 ranks at 2360 out of 2949 combinations. This places it in the 80th percentile, which is a solid, above-average position. This ranking suggests that while the combo is not at the bleeding edge of performance, it is firmly in the upper echelon of systems that can run the game reasonably well. The rank is a holistic measure, taking into account all resolutions and settings, and the result indicates that the combo is more capable than 80% of the other tested systems.

Breaking down the components individually, the CPU ranks in the 71st percentile among all CPUs, which is a strong showing for a mid-range processor. The GPU, however, ranks in the 65th percentile among all GPUs. The fact that the combo's overall rank (80th percentile) is higher than the individual component percentiles suggests that the pairing is synergistic. The CPU's strength is likely helping to push the GPU to its limits, ensuring that the system is not leaving performance on the table. The combo is not being held back by a weak CPU, and the GPU is performing to its expected level.

This ranking implies that for a user with this specific combo, the experience in Hard West will be predictable and consistent. The system is not a top-tier performer, but it is far from a low-end one. The 80th percentile rank means that in a room of 100 similar systems, this one would be faster than 80 of them. This is a comfortable position for a 1080p and 1440p gaming setup, and it aligns with the measured FPS data that shows playable frame rates at those resolutions. The ranking serves as a useful context for setting expectations: this is a competent gamer's build, not a competitive esports or high-end enthusiast machine.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the 1080p Medium preset is the clear winner, averaging 110 FPS with a minimum of 93 FPS. This provides a significant performance headroom and ensures that the game will not dip below the 60 FPS threshold, even in demanding scenes. The 1080p High preset also achieves a playable 84 FPS average, but the Medium preset offers a better balance of visual quality and performance, as the jump to High costs 26 FPS for a marginal visual improvement in a turn-based game.

At 1440p, the Medium preset is the most sensible choice for a high-refresh-rate experience, with an average of 69 FPS and a minimum of 59 FPS. This is just at the edge of a 60 FPS lock, but the average is comfortably above it. The High preset at 1440p drops to 53 FPS, which is still playable but may feel less smooth during camera panning or unit animations. For users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, the 1440p High preset is a valid option, but the Medium preset provides a more consistent experience.

For 4K resolution, the data shows that no preset offers a truly smooth experience. The Low preset at 44 FPS is the only one that approaches playability, but it sacrifices significant visual quality. The Medium preset at 36 FPS is borderline, and the High (28 FPS) and Ultra (21 FPS) presets are not recommended for serious play due to the sub-30 FPS averages. The best recommendation for 4K is to either lower the resolution to 1440p and use the Medium preset, or accept the 4K Low preset for a playable, albeit visually compromised, experience. The data clearly shows that this GPU is not designed for 4K gaming with high settings in this title.

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

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average frame rates for each resolution and settings combination.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 134 FPS average.
• Medium: 110 FPS average, with a minimum of 93 and a maximum of 126 FPS.
• High: 84 FPS average.
• Ultra: 63 FPS average.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 85 FPS average.
• Medium: 69 FPS average, with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 80 FPS.
• High: 53 FPS average.
• Ultra: 40 FPS average.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 44 FPS average.
• Medium: 36 FPS average, with a minimum of 31 and a maximum of 42 FPS.
• High: 28 FPS average.
• Ultra: 21 FPS average.

These figures quantify the scaling behavior discussed earlier. The 1080p Low to Ultra spread of 71 FPS demonstrates the GPU's sensitivity to settings. The 1440p Medium data point is the only one with a minimum above 60 FPS, making it the most stable option for that resolution. The 4K results are consistently below 45 FPS, confirming that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at this resolution. The measured data provides a clear and unambiguous picture of this combo's capabilities across the three most common gaming resolutions.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution and settings to play Hard West with this combo for a 60 FPS experience?*

A: The 1080p Medium preset is the best choice, offering a 110 FPS average with a minimum of 93 FPS. At 1440p, the Medium preset is also viable, with a 69 FPS average and a minimum of 59 FPS, but 1080p gives more headroom.

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

A: Yes, but only with significant compromises. The 4K Low preset achieves a 44 FPS average, which is playable, while the 4K Ultra preset drops to just 21 FPS, which is not recommended for smooth gameplay.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The frame rate drops significantly with increased resolution and settings, while the CPU is able to provide high frame rates at 1080p Low (134 FPS), showing it is not a bottleneck.

*Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems in Hard West?*

A: This combo ranks 2360 out of 2949 tested combinations, placing it in the 80th percentile. This is an above-average ranking, indicating it performs better than 80% of other tested systems.

Q: How much of a performance drop is there between 1080p and 4K on the High preset?

A: The average frame rate drops from 84 FPS at 1080p High to 28 FPS at 4K High, a reduction of 56 FPS. This is a 67% decrease in performance, highlighting the heavy load 4K places on the GPU.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B570's performance in line with its benchmark scores?

A: Yes. The GPU's average benchmark score is 20556, placing it in the 65th percentile. Its nearest rival is the Intel Arc A750 with a delta of -0.1%. The in-game performance is consistent with this mid-range positioning.