Hard West

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

The Intel Core i5-13400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its 20 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support for DDR4 and DDR5 position it as a capable mid-range desktop part. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU achieves a 3DMark max-threads score of 7307, a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 22604, and a single-core score of 3191. These figures place it at the 77th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25292.

Hard West is a turn-based tactics game that relies on CPU performance for game logic, pathfinding, and AI decision-making, but its demands are modest compared to modern real-time strategy titles. The 13400F's strong single-thread performance — evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 960 and a PassMark single-thread score of 3634 — ensures that the game's turn-based computations are handled with minimal bottlenecking. The boost clock of 4.60 GHz on a single core is particularly relevant here, as turn-based games often serialize many calculations.

The CPU's 10 cores and 16 threads matter less for Hard West than for heavily threaded workloads, but they still provide headroom for background tasks and any engine-level multithreading. The data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 258 FPS, which suggests the CPU is not a limiting factor even at lower GPU loads. In fact, the jump from 1080p Low (258 FPS) to 1080p Ultra (155 FPS) indicates that the GPU becomes the primary constraint as settings increase. The 13400F's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS (deltaPct 0), the Intel Core 5 120 (deltaPct -0.3), and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (deltaPct -0.3), all of which have nearly identical average scores — confirming that this CPU sits in a tightly contested performance band.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a high-end Ada Lovelace GPU with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 2205 MHz with a boost clock of 2505 MHz, and it packs 9728 shading units, 304 TMUs, and 112 ROPs. The GPU's 45,900 million transistors on a 5 nm TSMC process enable substantial compute throughput — 48.74 TFLOPS FP32 and a pixel rate of 280.6 GPixel/s. In benchmarks, it scores 34457 in PassMark G3D and 6567 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it at the 86th percentile among all GPUs with an average score of 54247.

For Hard West, the RTX 4080's raw performance is far beyond what the game requires, but the data reveals interesting scaling behavior. At 4K Ultra, the combo drops to 51 FPS, while at 4K High it reaches 69 FPS — indicating that the game's Ultra preset imposes significant GPU load. The 16 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for a 2015 turn-based title, even at 4K resolutions, so memory capacity is not a limiting factor. The memory clock of 1400 MHz (22.4 Gbps effective) provides ample bandwidth for the game's textures and geometry.

The GPU's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER (deltaPct 0.1), the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (deltaPct -1.1), and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (deltaPct -2.6). These deltas are minimal, meaning the RTX 4080 performs essentially on par with the 4080 SUPER and slightly ahead of the other two in aggregate benchmarks. In Hard West specifically, the GPU's dominance means that at 1080p, frame rates are often GPU-bound only at higher settings; at Low settings, the 258 FPS result suggests the CPU or engine limits the frame rate, not the GPU. The RTX 4080's end-of-life production status and 320 W TDP indicate it remains a potent choice, but its strengths are best showcased at 4K where it still delivers playable frame rates across all settings except Ultra.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. At High settings, the combo delivers 206 FPS at 1080p, 131 FPS at 1440p, and 69 FPS at 4K — a drop of 36.4% from 1080p to 1440p, and another 47.3% from 1440p to 4K. This steep decline indicates that the RTX 4080 becomes increasingly stressed at higher pixel counts, but even at 4K High, the 69 FPS result remains smooth for a turn-based game.

At Low settings, the scaling is even more dramatic: 258 FPS at 1080p, 207 FPS at 1440p, and 109 FPS at 4K. The 1080p Low result is suspiciously close to the 1080p High result (206 FPS), suggesting that at 1080p Low, the CPU or game engine is the limiting factor — the GPU has spare capacity but cannot push beyond roughly 258 FPS. This is further supported by the 4K Low figure of 109 FPS, which is still high but represents a 57.8% drop from 1080p Low, indicating that at 4K, the GPU is now the bottleneck even at Low settings.

Medium settings show a similar trend: 240 FPS at 1080p, 170 FPS at 1440p, and 89 FPS at 4K. The 1080p Medium result (240 FPS) is only slightly below the Low result, reinforcing that the CPU caps frame rates around the 240-260 FPS range at 1080p. At Ultra settings, the frame rates are 155 FPS at 1080p, 98 FPS at 1440p, and 51 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest in the dataset, showing that the Ultra preset's increased shading and effects load pushes the RTX 4080 to its limits at 3840x2160.

The overall pattern indicates a classic dual-bottleneck scenario: at 1080p, the CPU limits performance regardless of settings (with Ultra being the exception, where GPU load rises), while at 4K, the GPU is the clear constraint. The 1440p results sit in a balanced zone where both components contribute, but the GPU's growing load is evident in the consistent 35-40% FPS drops from 1080p to 1440p across all settings.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This particular combination of the Intel Core i5-13400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 290th out of 3722 tested combos in Hard West, placing it in the top 7.8% of all configurations. This ranking is notable because the CPU is a mid-range part while the GPU is high-end, and the data shows that the combo still achieves excellent frame rates across all resolutions and settings.

The rank of 290 out of 3722 combos suggests that many other configurations — likely those pairing top-tier CPUs like the Core i9 or Ryzen 9 with the RTX 4080 or better GPUs — outperform this combo. However, the margin is likely small in Hard West given the game's modest CPU demands. The CPU's 77th percentile ranking and the GPU's 86th percentile ranking combine to produce a system that is well above average but not at the absolute top. The data shows that the combo's 4K Ultra result of 51 FPS, while the lowest in its dataset, is still playable, and its 1080p Low result of 258 FPS approaches the practical ceiling for many displays.

The nearest rival CPUs (Ryzen 9 6900HS, Core 5 120, Ryzen 5 5600X3D) all have nearly identical average scores, so swapping the 13400F for any of these would likely produce similar results in Hard West. Similarly, the GPU's nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, is within 0.1% in average score, meaning the combo's ranking would be essentially unchanged with that GPU. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, with a deltaPct of -2.6, is slightly behind the RTX 4080 in aggregate benchmarks, but its impact on Hard West's frame rates would depend on the game's specific GPU workload — which appears to be moderate given the high FPS at 1080p.

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

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 258 FPS average
• Medium: 240 FPS average, 204 FPS minimum, 276 FPS maximum
• High: 206 FPS average
• Ultra: 155 FPS average

At 1080p, the combo delivers exceptionally high frame rates across all settings. The spread from Low to Ultra is 103 FPS (258 to 155), indicating that the Ultra preset imposes a significant GPU load increase, but even at Ultra, the 155 FPS result is smooth. The Medium settings show a tighter range (204-276 FPS), with the average at 240 FPS.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 207 FPS average
• Medium: 170 FPS average, 144 FPS minimum, 195 FPS maximum
• High: 131 FPS average
• Ultra: 98 FPS average

At 1440p, the frame rates remain high but show a wider gap between settings. The drop from Low to Ultra is 109 FPS (207 to 98), reflecting the GPU's increased workload at this resolution. The Medium settings maintain a playable range of 144-195 FPS, with an average of 170 FPS. The Ultra result of 98 FPS is still above 60, keeping the experience smooth.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 109 FPS average
• Medium: 89 FPS average, 76 FPS minimum, 103 FPS maximum
• High: 69 FPS average
• Ultra: 51 FPS average

At 4K, the combo's performance drops significantly, especially at higher settings. The Low preset delivers 109 FPS, which is excellent for 4K, but Ultra falls to 51 FPS — below the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider minimum for smooth gameplay. The Medium settings show a range of 76-103 FPS, with an average of 89 FPS. The High preset at 69 FPS is playable but approaches the lower bound of comfort.

The data shows that for 4K gaming, players should stick to High settings or lower to maintain frame rates above 60 FPS, while at 1080p and 1440p, even Ultra settings are viable.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Hard West at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 4K High, the combo achieves 69 FPS average, and at 4K Medium it reaches 89 FPS. However, at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 51 FPS, which may feel sluggish for some players. The Low preset delivers 109 FPS at 4K, so lower settings provide a comfortable margin.

Q: What is the best settings preset at 1440p for this combo?

A: The data shows that at 1440p Ultra, the combo achieves 98 FPS average, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. If aiming for higher refresh rates, the Medium preset delivers 170 FPS average with a minimum of 144 FPS, making it suitable for 144Hz displays.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-13400F a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 in this game?

A: At 1080p Low and Medium, the CPU appears to limit frame rates, as the results (258 and 240 FPS) are close despite different GPU loads. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting component, with frame rates dropping to 51-109 FPS. The CPU's single-thread performance is sufficient for Hard West's turn-based logic.

Q: How does this combo compare to the RTX 4080 SUPER pairing?

A: The RTX 4080's average benchmark score is 54247, while the RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54209, a deltaPct of 0.1% in favor of the RTX 4080. This means the two GPUs perform nearly identically, and the combo's ranking would be essentially unchanged with the SUPER variant.

Q: What is the highest FPS this combo can achieve in Hard West?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 258 at 1080p Low settings. At 1080p Medium, the maximum FPS recorded is 276, with an average of 240. These results indicate that the combo can push well beyond 240 FPS at lower settings.

Q: Does the combo's 16 GB VRAM matter for Hard West?

A: Hard West is a 2015 turn-based tactics game with modest texture requirements, so the 16 GB GDDR6X VRAM is far more than needed. The GPU's memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s ensures no memory-related bottlenecks, even at 4K Ultra where the frame rate drops to 51 FPS due to compute load rather than VRAM capacity.