Hard West

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Hard West with the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 shows a clear and consistent scaling pattern across the three tested resolutions. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo delivers 172 FPS, which drops to 109 FPS at 2560x1440 and further to 57 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 37% reduction moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a 48% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The scaling is remarkably linear, suggesting that the rendering workload increases proportionally with pixel count.

The Low settings preset tells a similar story with higher absolute numbers. At 1080p Low, the system produces 247 FPS, which falls to 173 FPS at 1440p and 91 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 30% and 47% respectively, slightly shallower than the High preset curve. This indicates that at lower quality settings, the frame rate is less sensitive to resolution changes because the per-pixel cost is reduced, making the GPU less of a bottleneck relative to other system components.

Medium settings provide the most complete data set, with min and max FPS recorded at all three resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the average is 224 FPS with a minimum of 191 and maximum of 258. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 142 FPS with a range of 121 to 163. At 4K Medium, the average is 74 FPS with a range of 63 to 86. The min-to-max spread narrows as resolution increases, going from 67 FPS at 1080p to 42 FPS at 1440p to 23 FPS at 4K, which suggests that higher resolutions produce more consistent frame pacing because the GPU is more uniformly loaded.

The Ultra preset shows the steepest resolution scaling. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 129 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 82 FPS, a 36% reduction. At 4K Ultra, the average falls to 43 FPS, a 48% reduction from 1440p. These percentages mirror the High preset closely, indicating that the scaling behavior is consistent regardless of quality tier. The 4K Ultra result of 43 FPS is the only measured configuration that falls below 60 FPS, making it the sole row where the combo cannot maintain a smooth 60 FPS target.

The data reveals that this system is GPU-limited at higher resolutions and settings. The fact that 1080p Low reaches 247 FPS while 1080p Ultra achieves only 129 FPS shows that quality settings have a massive impact on frame rate, even at the same pixel count. Conversely, the relatively modest FPS drops between 1440p and 4K compared to the larger drops between 1080p and 1440p suggest that the GPU begins to saturate as resolution climbs, with the RTX 5070's rendering throughput becoming the primary constraint.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with 18 MB of shared L3 cache. The processor has a 65 W TDP and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration. Its benchmark scores place it in the 73rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19039.

In the context of Hard West, a turn-based tactics game originally released in 2015, the CPU's role is primarily about maintaining consistent frame delivery rather than pushing extreme frame rates. The game's genre does not typically demand high thread counts or rapid single-thread responses, but the i5-12400F is more than adequate for this workload. Its single-thread performance is demonstrated by a 3DMark single-thread score of 909 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1680, which are strong numbers for a desktop processor in this class.

The processor's multithreaded capabilities are also well represented. The 3DMark max-threads score of 5912 and Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12380 show that the 6-core/12-thread configuration can handle parallel workloads effectively. However, for Hard West specifically, the CPU is unlikely to be the limiting factor at any resolution. The frame rates at 1080p Low reaching 247 FPS suggest that the CPU can feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic without becoming a bottleneck, even at high frame rates.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the i5-12400F sits within 0.3% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19047 average score) and the Intel Core i5-1335U (18982 average score), while being 0.1% behind the Intel Core 3 201E (19056). These deltas are negligible in real-world gaming scenarios, meaning the CPU's performance headroom is essentially identical to its closest competitors. The processor's 73rd percentile ranking indicates it outperforms the majority of all CPUs in the benchmark database, which is sufficient for a game like Hard West that does not stress modern processors heavily.

The CPU's memory support for both DDR4 and DDR5, combined with its dual-channel memory bus, means it can take advantage of either memory generation without a significant performance penalty in this title. The 18 MB L3 cache is ample for the game's data footprint, reducing the frequency of memory accesses that could otherwise cause frame hitches.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a GB205 chip, manufactured on TSMC's 5 nm process. It features 6144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units. The GPU operates with a base clock of 2325 MHz and a boost clock of 2512 MHz, with 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus providing 672.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The card has a 250 W TDP and supports PCIe 5.0 x16. Its benchmark scores place it in the 82nd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 40377.

For Hard West, the RTX 5070 is substantially overprovisioned. The game is a turn-based tactics title with modest graphical requirements, and the measured FPS data confirms that the GPU is rarely stressed to its limits. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 247 FPS, which is far beyond what most displays can show. Even at 4K Ultra, the card maintains 43 FPS, which is playable for a turn-based game where reaction time is not critical.

The GPU's 12 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for Hard West, as the game's textures and geometry are not demanding by modern standards. The 672.0 GB/s memory bandwidth ensures that texture streaming and buffer updates are never a bottleneck, even at 4K resolution. The card's pixel rate of 201.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 482.3 GTexel/s are both far above what this game requires, meaning the GPU is likely idling in many frames.

The RTX 5070's nearest rivals in the benchmark database are the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (40318 average score, 0.1% ahead), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (40063, 0.8% behind), the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (40870, 1.2% ahead), and the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile (39568, 2% behind). These deltas are small, indicating that the RTX 5070's raw compute performance is comparable to these professional-grade cards, though none of them are gaming-focused products.

In practical terms for Hard West, the GPU's role is to ensure that frame rates remain high even at maximum quality settings. The data shows that the RTX 5070 achieves 129 FPS at 1080p Ultra, which is more than sufficient for smooth gameplay. The card's DirectX 12 Ultimate support and Vulkan 1.4 compatibility mean it can take advantage of modern rendering APIs if the game were updated, though Hard West's original 2015 release likely uses older graphics paths.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS achieved by this combo in Hard West?

A: The highest average FPS is 247, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: At 4K with High settings, the average FPS is 57, which falls just below 60. However, at 4K with Medium settings, the average rises to 74 FPS, and at Low settings it reaches 91 FPS. Only the 4K Ultra preset drops below 60 FPS, averaging 43.

Q: How does the RTX 5070 compare to its closest benchmark rivals?

A: The RTX 5070 has an average benchmark score of 40377. It is 0.1% behind the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (40318), 0.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (40063), 1.2% behind the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (40870), and 2% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile (39568).

Q: What is the FPS range at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 142, with a minimum of 121 and a maximum of 163.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 247 FPS, showing the CPU can feed frames well. As resolution increases to 4K, FPS drops significantly, indicating GPU-bound performance.

Q: Where does this combo rank among all tested combinations in Hard West?

A: This combo ranks 734th out of 3722 tested combinations, placing it in the top 20% of all systems tested for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured FPS across settings is as follows. Low settings produce an average of 247 FPS. Medium settings yield an average of 224 FPS, with a minimum of 191 and maximum of 258. High settings reduce the average to 172 FPS. Ultra settings bring the average down to 129 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra represents a 48% reduction in average FPS, moving from 247 to 129.

At 2560x1440, the FPS values are lower but still substantial. Low settings average 173 FPS. Medium settings average 142 FPS, with a range of 121 to 163. High settings average 109 FPS. Ultra settings average 82 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 91 FPS, or a 53% reduction from the Low preset.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to show its limits. Low settings average 91 FPS. Medium settings average 74 FPS, with a minimum of 63 and maximum of 86. High settings average 57 FPS. Ultra settings average 43 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra at 4K is 48 FPS, which is a 53% reduction, consistent with the 1440p scaling.

The Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data across all three resolutions. At 1080p, the spread between min and max is 67 FPS (191 to 258). At 1440p, the spread narrows to 42 FPS (121 to 163). At 4K, the spread is 23 FPS (63 to 86). This narrowing suggests that frame pacing becomes more consistent as resolution increases, because the GPU is more uniformly loaded and there is less idle time between frames.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and frame rate performance across all resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the system delivers 224 FPS average with a minimum of 191, which is far beyond any display's refresh rate and ensures no perceptible stutter. At 1440p Medium, the average of 142 FPS with a minimum of 121 provides a comfortable margin above 120 FPS, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. Even at 4K Medium, the average of 74 FPS with a minimum of 63 stays above the 60 FPS threshold, ensuring smooth gameplay.

For users prioritizing maximum visual fidelity, the High preset is a viable option at 1080p and 1440p. At 1080p High, the average of 172 FPS remains very high, while at 1440p High, the average of 109 FPS is still smooth. However, at 4K High, the average drops to 57 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS mark. Users with 4K displays who want High settings should be prepared for occasional frame drops below 60 FPS, though the turn-based nature of Hard West makes this less impactful than in fast-paced genres.

The Low preset is unnecessary for this hardware combination, as even the Medium preset provides frame rates far above playable thresholds. The Ultra preset, while offering the highest visual quality, brings 4K down to 43 FPS average, which is below the 60 FPS target. At 1080p and 1440p, the Ultra preset delivers 129 and 82 FPS respectively, which are acceptable but represent a significant performance cost compared to High settings.

The data suggests that for most users, Medium at 4K or High at 1440p is the sweet spot. The Medium preset's complete min/max data shows consistent frame delivery, with the minimum FPS at 4K (63) remaining above the 60 FPS threshold. This makes Medium the recommended preset for 4K displays, while High is recommended for 1440p and below.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 combination ranks 734th out of 3722 tested combos in Hard West, placing it in the top 19.7% of all systems tested. This ranking reflects the system's strong overall performance, though it is not at the very top of the leaderboard. The RTX 5070's 82nd percentile GPU ranking and the i5-12400F's 73rd percentile CPU ranking both contribute to this solid position.

The combo's ranking of 734 out of 3722 means that 2988 other combinations performed worse in this game, while 733 performed better. This places the system comfortably in the upper quintile, indicating that it delivers a high-quality experience for Hard West. The turn-based tactics genre does not require extreme frame rates, so even configurations ranked lower than this would likely provide a smooth experience, but this combo offers substantial headroom.

The GPU's performance is the primary driver of this ranking. The RTX 5070's average benchmark score of 40377 places it in the 82nd percentile among all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are all within 2% of its score. The CPU's contribution is secondary but still relevant, as the i5-12400F's scores are competitive with its nearest rivals, all within 0.3% of each other. Together, they form a balanced system that excels in this game.

The ranking of 734 out of 3722 also suggests that there are many higher-end combinations that perform better, likely featuring more powerful CPUs and GPUs. However, for a game like Hard West, the practical difference between this combo and those ranked higher is minimal, since the frame rates are already far above what is needed for smooth turn-based gameplay. The 4K Ultra result of 43 FPS is the only weak point, but this is an extreme configuration that most users would not choose for this title.