Hard West

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combo ranks 427th out of 1699 tested combinations for Hard West, placing it in the top 25% of all systems tested for this turn-based tactics title. This is a strong position, indicating the pairing delivers a smooth experience across most settings, though the data reveals that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at the most demanding configurations. The combo's percentile ranking reflects a balanced platform where the 6-core processor provides ample headroom for the game's logic, while the RTX 4070's capabilities are the deciding factor for visual fidelity and frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

With a combo rank of 427 out of 1699, this system sits comfortably in the upper quartile of the benchmark database for Hard West. The data shows that this pairing outperforms the vast majority of tested configurations, which is expected given the hardware's specifications. However, the ranking is not near the top, and the measured FPS numbers explain why: the RTX 4070, while a capable card, is not an absolute powerhouse at 4K resolution. The benchmark results indicate that the combo's position is earned primarily through excellent performance at 1440p and 1080p, rather than dominating at 4K. The CPU's percentile of 77 against all processors suggests it is not the limiting factor, and its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-9700 and Core i5-11600K, have nearly identical average benchmark scores, with deltaPct values of 0.1 and 0.4 respectively. This means the i5-12400 is a solid, mid-range performer that holds its own, allowing the GPU to do the heavy lifting in this game.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the star of this show, and its specifications directly explain the measured frame rates. The card features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. This is ample for Hard West's textures and assets, even at 4K. The GPU's boost clock of 2475 MHz and its 5888 shading units allow it to push significant pixel rates, which is why the game runs so fluidly at lower resolutions. The RTX 4070's 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores are present, though Hard West, a turn-based tactics game from 2015, does not leverage ray tracing or DLSS in the measured data. The GPU's performance is best contextualized by its rivals: it is marginally slower than an AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (deltaPct of -0.6) and an NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A (deltaPct of -1.9) in average benchmark scores, but it is 2.5% faster than an AMD Radeon RX 5300M. In practice, this means the 4070 is a consistent performer, but not a class leader, which aligns with its 81st percentile ranking among all GPUs. The card's 200 W TDP and 550 W suggested PSU are reasonable for a dual-slot design, making it a practical choice for a mid-tower build.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Hard West at 4K smoothly?

A: Yes, but with caveats. The data shows an average of 52.1 FPS at 3840x2160 on High settings, which is playable. However, dropping to Medium yields 71.1 FPS, while Ultra drops to 38.6 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for most players.

Q: What is the best resolution for this setup?

A: At 2560x1440, the combo delivers excellent results. High settings average 104.1 FPS, and even Ultra maintains a respectable 74.3 FPS. This is the sweet spot for balancing visual quality and frame rate.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its direct competitors?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 19850, which is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-9700's 19831 (0.1% faster) and the Intel Core i7-8700's 19894 (0.2% slower). It is also 0.4% faster than the Core i5-11600K.

Q: Is the RTX 4070's 12 GB of VRAM sufficient for this game?

A: Yes, the 12 GB of GDDR6X memory is more than enough for Hard West. The game's textures and draw distances are not overly demanding, and the measured FPS does not indicate any memory-related stutters or limitations.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and High settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings produce an average of 243.8 FPS, while High settings produce 162.9 FPS. This is a difference of roughly 80 FPS, showing that the GPU has significant headroom even on High.

Q: Does the GPU's performance scale well with resolution?

A: The data shows it scales predictably. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 162.9 at 1080p to 104.1 at 1440p, and then to 52.1 at 4K. This linear scaling indicates the card is not bottlenecked by the CPU at any of these resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the combo's capabilities across three resolutions and four preset levels. At 1920x1080, the system is overwhelmingly powerful. The Low preset yields an average of 243.8 FPS, which is exceptionally high. Medium settings still deliver 209.9 FPS, and High is no slouch at 162.9 FPS. Even the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, maintains 122.7 FPS. These numbers suggest that at 1080p, the RTX 4070 is never stressed, and the i5-12400's single-thread performance (a 3DMark single-thread score of 910) is sufficient to keep the game running at very high frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains impressive but shows more differentiation between presets. Low settings average 164.7 FPS, which is still incredibly smooth. Medium drops to 135.2 FPS, and High averages 104.1 FPS, which is ideal for a 1440p monitor with a 100 Hz refresh rate. The Ultra preset, however, sees a significant drop to 74.3 FPS. This is still playable, but the gap between High and Ultra is notable, suggesting that the Ultra preset's additional effects are taxing the GPU more heavily.

At 3840x2160, the combo's limits become apparent. Low settings average 85.4 FPS, which is playable and smooth. Medium settings average 71.1 FPS, which is also acceptable. High settings drop to 52.1 FPS, which is on the edge of what many would consider smooth, but it is still a playable experience for a turn-based game where twitch reactions are not required. The Ultra preset, at 38.6 FPS, is not recommended for 4K, as the frame rate dips below 40 FPS, which can feel sluggish even in a tactical game.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data strongly suggests prioritizing the High preset at 1440p. It delivers an average of 104.1 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS standard, and it provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium settings. The performance difference between High and Ultra at 1440p is 29.8 FPS, and the visual gains are typically marginal in a game with this art style. At 1080p, the High preset is the best choice as well, offering 162.9 FPS, which far exceeds the refresh rate of most monitors. There is little reason to drop below High settings at either 1080p or 1440p, as the combo has plenty of headroom.

At 4K, the recommendation is more nuanced. If you own a 4K display, the Medium preset, at 71.1 FPS, is the sweet spot for a smooth experience. The High preset at 52.1 FPS is still playable, but the drop to Medium is a safer bet for maintaining consistent frame times. The Low preset at 85.4 FPS is the best for pure performance, but the visual compromise is noticeable. For most users, the 1440p High setting is the definitive recommendation, as it offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, making the Ultra preset at 4K an unnecessary compromise given the 38.6 FPS result.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400 plays a supporting but essential role in this combo. With 6 cores and 12 threads, it has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. This is more than enough to handle the turn-based logic and AI calculations in Hard West, which are not particularly demanding. The CPU's benchmark scores reflect its mid-range positioning. Its multi-core performance in Cinebench R23 is 15935, while its single-core score is 2249. The PassMark multi-thread score of 18747 and single-thread score of 3456 further confirm its balanced nature. The CPU's nearest rivals, the Core i7-9700 and Core i7-8700, have nearly identical average scores, meaning the i5-12400 is not a bottleneck in this game.

The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution. At 1080p with Low settings, the FPS of 243.8 is high enough that even if the CPU were slightly slower, it would not affect the outcome. The GPU, however, shows a clear performance drop as resolution increases, which is typical. The i5-12400's 12 threads ensure that background tasks do not interfere with the game, and its 18 MB of shared L3 cache is sufficient for the game's data. The CPU's 77th percentile ranking among all processors, combined with its low TDP of 65 W, makes it a sensible pairing with the RTX 4070, as it provides enough processing power without creating a thermal or power bottleneck in a standard build.