Hard West

# Hard West with Intel Core i5-12400 + AMD Radeon RX 9060

The Intel Core i5-12400 pairs with the AMD Radeon RX 9060 to deliver a playable but not overwhelming experience in Hard West, a 2015 turn-based tactics title. The combo ranks 1706th out of 2949 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the database. The processor, with 6 cores and 12 threads running at a 2.50 GHz base clock and 4.40 GHz boost, sits at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU, with its 1792 shading units and 8 GB GDDR6 memory, lands at the 59th percentile among all GPUs. This pairing produces frame rates that range from 172 FPS at 1080p Low to just 27 FPS at 4K Ultra, indicating a system that can handle the game comfortably at lower resolutions but struggles at the highest settings and resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture using a 10 nm process node. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz provide the computational foundation for Hard West's turn-based logic, AI pathfinding, and game-state calculations. In the 3DMark suite, this CPU scores 910 in single-thread, 1692 in 2-thread, 3012 in 4-thread, 4745 in 8-thread, and 5890 in max-thread tests. The single-thread score is particularly relevant for turn-based tactics, where many operations occur sequentially rather than in parallel.

Cinebench results reinforce this picture: the R23 multicore score of 15989 and single-core score of 2257 show a processor that is far stronger in multi-threaded workloads, but the single-core performance remains adequate for the genre. PassMark data further illustrates the CPU's capabilities, with a single-thread score of 3456, multithread score of 18747, and physics score of 1105. The 18 MB shared L3 cache provides ample room for game data, while the 1.25 MB per-core L2 cache helps with frequently accessed instructions.

In the context of Hard West, the CPU's role is less about raw frame generation and more about maintaining consistent turn-based logic processing. The game's 2015 release date means it was designed for older hardware, so the i5-12400's modern architecture is more than sufficient for the computational demands. The processor's 72nd percentile ranking among all CPUs indicates it outperforms the majority of installed processors, and its nearest rivals in average benchmark score — the AMD EPYC 7643 at 18697 (-0.1% delta), Intel Core i7-1355U at 18730 (-0.3%), and AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 at 18811 (-0.7%) — are all within a narrow performance band, suggesting the i5-12400 is a solid mid-range choice.

The 3DMark 16-thread score of 5873 and max-thread score of 5890 are nearly identical, indicating that the 12 threads are efficiently utilized after the 8-thread mark of 4745. For a turn-based tactics game, this thread scaling means the CPU can handle background tasks without impacting the main game loop.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Hard West at 1080p with high settings?

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 109 FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

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

A: Based on the data, 2560x1440 with Medium settings provides a strong balance, averaging 89 FPS with a minimum of 76 FPS and maximum of 103 FPS. This offers higher detail than 1080p while maintaining fluid performance.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683. Its closest competitor, the AMD EPYC 7643, scores 18697, which is only 0.1% higher. The Intel Core i7-1355U is 0.3% faster at 18730, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 leads the group at 18811, 0.7% ahead.

Q: Is the GPU capable of 4K gaming in this title?

A: Barely. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS is 57, but High settings drop this to 36 FPS and Ultra falls to 27 FPS. The GPU can handle 4K only at the lowest settings.

Q: What settings provide the most consistent frame pacing?

A: The Medium preset at any resolution includes measured minimum and maximum values. At 1080p Medium, the range is 120-162 FPS; at 1440p Medium, it's 76-103 FPS; and at 4K Medium, it's 40-54 FPS. These ranges indicate stable performance without extreme dips.

Q: How does the GPU's benchmark performance compare to its rivals?

A: The RX 9060 has an average benchmark score of 16014. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti scores 16129, which is 0.7% higher. The AMD Radeon R9 370X (15862) and AMD Radeon RX 7700 (15852) are both 1% lower, while the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 trails at 15679, 2.1% behind.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data reveals a clear hierarchy across settings presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 172 FPS average, Medium provides 141 FPS (with a range of 120-162), High achieves 109 FPS, and Ultra drops to 81 FPS. All four presets at 1080p exceed 60 FPS, making this resolution the most flexible for the combo.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance curve steepens. Low settings maintain 109 FPS, Medium averages 89 FPS with a 76-103 range, High falls to 69 FPS, and Ultra drops to 51 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p represents the sweet spot for visual quality versus performance, as it stays above 60 FPS average while offering more detail than Low.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to struggle. Low settings produce 57 FPS, Medium averages 47 FPS (40-54 range), High drops to 36 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 27 FPS. None of these presets achieve a consistent 60 FPS, and only Low approaches playable territory.

For the best experience, the 1080p Medium preset offers the most headroom with its 141 FPS average and tight 120-162 FPS range, ensuring no noticeable stutter. Players prioritizing visual fidelity over raw speed should consider 1440p Medium, which maintains an 89 FPS average. The data suggests avoiding Ultra settings at any resolution, as the performance cost is substantial — from 1080p Medium to 1080p Ultra, the average drops by 60 FPS (141 to 81).

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400 and AMD Radeon RX 9060 ranks 1706th out of 2949 tested combinations in Hard West, placing it in the 58th percentile of all systems — slightly below the midpoint of the database. This ranking reflects the GPU's middling position (59th percentile among all GPUs) combined with the CPU's stronger standing (72nd percentile), suggesting the graphics card is the limiting factor in this pairing.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 18683 places it within 0.7% of its nearest rivals, all of which cluster tightly around the 18500-18800 range. The GPU's average score of 16014 similarly sits close to its competitors, with the RTX 3060 Ti just 0.7% ahead. This tight clustering indicates that the combo's rank is not due to any single weak component but rather the balanced, mid-tier nature of both parts.

Within the context of Hard West specifically, the 1706th rank out of 2949 means roughly 58% of tested systems outperform this combo. Given that Hard West is a turn-based tactics game with modest hardware requirements, this rank is entirely serviceable. The game's genre does not demand the high frame rates required by fast-paced shooters or racing titles, so the measured performance is adequate for the intended experience.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals important information about which component limits performance. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 109 at 1080p to 69 at 1440p to 36 at 4K. This represents a 37% decrease from 1080p to 1440p and a 67% decrease from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is roughly proportional to the pixel count increase, which indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions.

At Low settings, the scaling is steeper: 172 FPS at 1080p drops to 109 FPS at 1440p (a 37% decrease) and then to 57 FPS at 4K (a 67% decrease from 1080p). The fact that Low settings show the same percentage drops as High settings suggests that even at minimal graphical load, the GPU cannot keep up with the resolution demands at 4K.

The Medium preset provides the most complete picture with its min/max values. At 1080p, the range is 120-162 FPS with a 141 average. At 1440p, the range narrows to 76-103 FPS with an 89 average. At 4K, the range compresses to 40-54 FPS with a 47 average. The narrowing range at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is being pushed closer to its limits, reducing the variance between best and worst-case scenarios.

The CPU's role in this scaling is minimal. With its strong single-thread performance (3456 PassMark single-thread score) and adequate multi-thread capabilities (18747 PassMark multithread), the i5-12400 can feed frames faster than the RX 9060 can render them at higher resolutions. The fact that even Low settings at 4K only achieve 57 FPS, despite the reduced graphical load, confirms that the GPU's 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 128-bit bus are the limiting factors.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its strongest performance across all settings. The Low preset achieves 172 FPS average, representing the absolute ceiling of this combo. Medium settings produce 141 FPS with a measured range of 120-162 FPS, showing consistent frame delivery. High settings reach 109 FPS, while Ultra settings still manage 81 FPS. All 1080p configurations exceed the 60 FPS threshold, making this resolution fully playable at any preset.

At 2560x1440, performance remains solid but begins to show strain at higher presets. Low settings hold at 109 FPS — identical to 1080p High, which is an interesting data point. Medium averages 89 FPS with a 76-103 range, providing smooth gameplay. High settings drop to 69 FPS, still above 60 FPS but with less headroom. Ultra falls to 51 FPS, dipping below the ideal threshold for fluid motion.

At 3840x2160, the system's limitations become apparent. Low settings average 57 FPS, just under 60. Medium produces 47 FPS with a 40-54 range, indicating noticeable dips during intense scenes. High settings drop to 36 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 27 FPS. None of the 4K presets provide a consistently smooth experience, with even the lowest settings struggling to maintain playable frame rates.

The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: the gap between Low and Ultra grows as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 91 FPS (172 vs 81). At 1440p, the gap narrows to 58 FPS (109 vs 51). At 4K, the gap shrinks to 30 FPS (57 vs 27). This compression indicates that the GPU becomes the dominant constraint at higher resolutions, regardless of the settings preset chosen.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 9060, built on the RDNA 4.0 architecture with the Navi 44 chip, is the primary determinant of Hard West's performance at higher resolutions. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which proves insufficient for 4K gaming in this title. The GPU's base clock of 1700 MHz, game clock of 2400 MHz, and boost clock of 2990 MHz demonstrate a wide operating range, but the 132 W TDP and dual-slot design suggest a mid-range thermal envelope.

The GPU's benchmark results show a mixed profile. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3322 and PassMark G3D score of 17631 place it at the 59th percentile among all GPUs. The compute performance is stronger, with a PassMark GPU Compute score of 9919 and Geekbench OpenCL score of 88183, but the DirectX-specific tests reveal weaknesses: PassMark DirectX 9 scores 280, DirectX 10 scores 104, DirectX 11 scores 182, and DirectX 12 scores just 44. These figures suggest the GPU is better optimized for compute workloads than for legacy graphics APIs, which is relevant given Hard West's 2015 release and likely use of older DirectX rendering paths.

The GPU's nearest rivals in average benchmark score are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (16129, 0.7% higher), AMD Radeon R9 370X (15862, 1% lower), AMD Radeon RX 7700 (15852, 1% lower), and AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15679, 2.1% lower). The RX 9060's position in this group — slightly below the RTX 3060 Ti but above the AMD alternatives — correlates with its measured performance in Hard West, where it delivers playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p but fails to maintain 60 FPS at 4K.

The GPU's 1792 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, combined with its 21.43 TFLOPS FP32 performance, provide adequate raw power for turn-based tactics. The 28 ray tracing cores are largely irrelevant for this title, but the 12 Ultimate (12_2) DirectX support ensures compatibility with modern drivers. The 4 nm process node from TSMC and 29,700 million transistors on a 199 mm² die result in a transistor density of 149.2M per mm², indicating a dense, efficient design that contributes to the GPU's 59th percentile ranking despite its mid-range positioning.