Hard West

The Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 580 pairing delivers a playable but constrained experience in Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015. The benchmark data places this combination at rank 1567 out of 1699 tested configurations, indicating that while the hardware is functional, it sits in the lower percentile for this specific game. The measured frames per second (FPS) reveal a system where the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions and settings, while the CPU provides sufficient headroom for the game's logical and AI computations.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its 18 MB of shared L3 cache and support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory position it as a solid mid-range desktop part. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15935 and a single-core score of 2249, with a PassMark single-thread score of 3456. These numbers place the i5-12400 at the 77th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19850.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the i5-12400 is essentially tied with the Intel Core i7-9700 (avgScore 19831, deltaPct 0.1) and the Intel Core i7-8700 (avgScore 19894, deltaPct -0.2). It is also within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i5-11600K (avgScore 19771). For a turn-based tactics game like Hard West, which relies heavily on single-threaded performance for AI pathfinding and turn resolution, the i5-12400's strong single-core results (Cinebench R20 single-core score of 944) are more than adequate. The game is not demanding on thread counts, and the 6-core/12-thread configuration ensures that background processes do not interfere with gameplay.

The data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 84.3 FPS, which suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU well above playable thresholds. Even at 4K Ultra, where the average FPS drops to 10.4, the CPU is unlikely to be the limiting factor; the load is overwhelmingly on the graphics card. The processor's 65W TDP and active production status indicate it is a modern, efficient choice, and its benchmark percentile (77th) confirms it is not a weak link in this pairing. The i5-12400's performance in 3DMark tests, such as 5873 in the 16-thread test and 910 in single-thread, further corroborates that the CPU has ample compute headroom for Hard West's mechanics.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is a Polaris 20 chip built on a 14nm process, featuring 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. It comes with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 1257 MHz with a boost clock of 1340 MHz, and memory runs at 2000 MHz (8 Gbps effective). In terms of compute, it offers 6.175 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and a pixel rate of 42.88 GPixel/s. The GPU's PassMark G3D score is 8813, placing it at the 53rd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13559.

Compared to its nearest rivals, the RX 580 is statistically tied with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 (avgScore 13564, deltaPct 0) and the GTX 950 (avgScore 13549, deltaPct 0.1). It is 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro 455 (avgScore 13416) and 1.1% behind the NVIDIA P106-090 (avgScore 13716). This places the RX 580 in a performance class that is clearly dated for modern titles but still capable for older games like Hard West. The 8 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for a 2015 release, and the memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s ensures that texture streaming at 1080p and 1440p is not a bottleneck.

The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the dominant constraint at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the RX 580 manages only 10.4 FPS, which is unplayable, while at 4K Low it reaches 29.8 FPS. The transition from 1440p to 4K reveals a steep performance cliff, confirming that the GPU's fill rate and shader throughput are insufficient for 4K workloads in this game. The GPU's DirectX 12 score in PassMark is 43, which is notably lower than its DirectX 11 score of 60, suggesting that Hard West—likely running on an older API—may actually be better optimized for the RX 580's architecture than modern DX12 titles.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At 1080p Medium, the system achieves 69.3 FPS, and at 1080p High it reaches 55.4 FPS, both of which are well within playable ranges.

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

A: No. At 3840x2160, even with Low settings, the average FPS is only 29.8, and at Ultra it drops to 10.4 FPS. The GPU is not powerful enough for a smooth 4K experience in this title.

Q: How does the CPU compare to similar processors?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 19850, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-9700 (19831) and 0.2% lower than the Intel Core i7-8700 (19894). It is effectively in the same performance tier as these older i7 parts.

*Q: Is the RX 580's 8 GB VRAM sufficient for Hard West?*

A: Yes, the 8 GB of GDDR5 memory is more than adequate for a 2015 title. The game's texture requirements are low, and the memory bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s is not a limiting factor at 1080p or 1440p.

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

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings yield 55.6 FPS, while Ultra settings drop to 28 FPS. This represents a 49.6% reduction in average FPS, showing that Ultra presets significantly tax the GPU.

Q: What percentile does this GPU sit in relative to all GPUs?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 580 is at the 53rd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13559. This indicates it is a mid-range part that falls below the median in overall performance.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average FPS of 84.3, which is the highest score in the entire dataset. Medium settings drop to 69.3 FPS, High settings to 55.4 FPS, and Ultra settings to 41.8 FPS. This progression shows a linear decline of roughly 14-15 FPS per settings tier, indicating a balanced scaling where each preset adds a consistent load on the GPU.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops across all settings. Low settings yield 55.6 FPS, Medium 45.7 FPS, High 34.5 FPS, and Ultra 28 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 27.6 FPS, which is slightly narrower than the 42.5 FPS gap at 1080p, suggesting that the GPU is starting to hit its limits. At 3840x2160, the results become largely unplayable. Low settings achieve 29.8 FPS, Medium 24.3 FPS, High 16.6 FPS, and Ultra a mere 10.4 FPS. The drop from 1440p Ultra (28 FPS) to 4K Ultra (10.4 FPS) is a 62.9% reduction, highlighting the GPU's inability to handle 4K resolution.

Across all resolutions, the data shows a consistent pattern: Low settings offer roughly double the FPS of Ultra settings. For example, at 1080p, 84.3 FPS (Low) versus 41.8 FPS (Ultra) is a 2.02x difference. At 1440p, the ratio is 1.99x (55.6 vs 28), and at 4K it is 2.87x (29.8 vs 10.4). This indicates that the GPU's performance scaling under load is non-linear, with diminishing returns at higher resolutions where memory bandwidth and ROP throughput become more critical.

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

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is severe, and the data reveals exactly where the bottleneck lies. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 84.3 at 1080p to 55.6 at 1440p (a 34% reduction), and then to 29.8 at 4K (a further 46.4% reduction from 1440p). This pattern is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where the pixel count increases by 2.25x from 1080p to 1440p, and another 2.25x from 1440p to 4K. The FPS does not scale linearly with pixel count, which is expected, but the magnitude of the drop suggests that the RX 580's 32 ROPs and 256 GB/s memory bandwidth are insufficient for 4K.

At Ultra settings, the drop is even more pronounced. From 1080p (41.8 FPS) to 1440p (28 FPS) is a 33% reduction, but from 1440p to 4K (10.4 FPS) is a 62.9% reduction. This non-linear decline indicates that at 4K Ultra, the GPU is overwhelmed by the combination of high shader complexity and pixel fill rate demands. The 6.175 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is simply not enough to maintain playable framerates at this resolution.

The data strongly suggests that the limiting component at 1080p and 1440p is the GPU, not the CPU. The i5-12400's single-thread performance is robust, and turn-based games rarely tax the CPU heavily. However, at 1080p Low, the system reaches 84.3 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's frame-time latency limit for this game engine, but still far above the 60 FPS target. At 4K, the CPU is definitely not the issue; the GPU's 10.4 FPS at Ultra is a clear indication of a fill-rate bottleneck. Users seeking higher FPS at 4K would need a faster GPU, as no CPU upgrade would remedy this specific constraint.

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

For the Intel Core i5-12400 + AMD Radeon RX 580 combination, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the High preset (55.4 FPS) provides a good balance between visual quality and smoothness, but Medium (69.3 FPS) is the recommended choice for users who prioritize frame rate stability. Medium offers a 25% FPS improvement over High while still delivering acceptable visual fidelity for a turn-based game where fast reaction times are less critical. Low (84.3 FPS) is unnecessary unless the user has a high-refresh-rate monitor and wants to maximize smoothness, though the visual downgrade may be noticeable.

At 2560x1440, the situation is more constrained. Low (55.6 FPS) is the only preset that consistently stays above 50 FPS, making it the safest choice for a smooth experience. Medium (45.7 FPS) is borderline playable but may exhibit occasional stutter in heavy scenes. High (34.5 FPS) and Ultra (28 FPS) are below the 30 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for playable turn-based games, so they are not recommended. For 1440p users, the data indicates that Low is the best experience, as it provides a 19.9 FPS advantage over Medium while only sacrificing some shadows and post-processing effects.

At 3840x2160, no preset is truly playable. Low (29.8 FPS) is marginally above 30 FPS but will feel choppy, while Medium (24.3 FPS), High (16.6 FPS), and Ultra (10.4 FPS) are all unplayable. The recommendation for 4K is to avoid this resolution entirely or to rely on a lower internal resolution scaling if the game supports it. Overall, the best experience for this hardware is 1080p Medium or 1440p Low, both of which provide frame rates above 55 FPS and allow the turn-based gameplay to flow without performance-related interruptions. The data confirms that this pairing is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can handle even the High preset with comfortable margins.