Hard West

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

The Intel Core i5-14400F is a 10-core, 16-thread processor from the Raptor Lake Refresh generation, built on Intel's 10 nm process node. It operates with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU features a three-tier cache hierarchy: 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration is notable for a mid-range desktop part, offering a strong mix of high-frequency P-cores and efficient E-cores that can handle both lightly-threaded and heavily-threaded workloads.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-14400F demonstrates solid multi-threaded capability. It scores 21,645 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3,055 points in single-core, alongside a Geekbench multi-core score of 11,268 and single-core score of 2,058. Its PassMark multithread score of 25,470 and single-thread score of 3,701 further confirm balanced performance. The processor sits at the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32,279. Its nearest rivals are tightly clustered: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U scores 32,233 (0.1% higher), the Intel Core i9-11900 scores 32,226 (0.2% higher), the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS scores 32,354 (0.2% lower), and the Intel Core i7-12800H scores 32,121 (0.5% higher). These deltas are negligible, meaning the i5-14400F sits squarely in a competitive performance band.

For Hard West, a turn-based tactics game from 2015, the CPU's role is primarily about maintaining consistent frame pacing during AI turns and map transitions rather than pushing extreme frame rates. The game's turn-based nature means that most of the rendering load falls on the GPU, but the CPU must still manage game logic, pathfinding, and unit actions efficiently. With 16 threads available, the i5-14400F has ample headroom to handle these tasks without becoming a bottleneck, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is less stressed. The high boost clock of 4.70 GHz also ensures snappy single-threaded performance for game engine updates, which is critical for turn-based titles that often rely on single-core responsiveness for UI and input handling.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture using TSMC's 5 nm process node, with a die size of 263 mm² and 31,100 million transistors. It features 6,144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units, alongside 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores. The GPU's base clock is 2,325 MHz with a boost clock of 2,512 MHz, and memory runs at 1,750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). It comes equipped with 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is substantial for a modern GPU, providing ample capacity for high-resolution textures and complex shader workloads.

The RTX 5070's compute capabilities are impressive: it delivers 30.87 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and the same for FP16 (1:1 ratio), with a pixel rate of 201.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 482.3 GTexel/s. In benchmark tests, it scores 50,777 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, 172,660 in Geekbench OpenCL, and 178,923 in Geekbench Vulkan. Its PassMark G3D score of 29,137 and compute score of 15,787 round out its profile. The GPU sits at the 82nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 40,377. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (40,318, 0.1% higher), AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (40,063, 0.8% higher), AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (40,870, 1.2% lower), and NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile (39,568, 2% higher). These are all professional or mobile parts, indicating the RTX 5070's performance class is well above typical consumer mid-range offerings.

For Hard West, the GPU's role is dominant. The game's visual style — featuring detailed character sprites, atmospheric lighting, and varied terrain — benefits from the RTX 5070's high shading throughput and large memory bandwidth. At 1080p and 1440p, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor for frame rates, as evidenced by the measured FPS scaling across settings. The 12 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for a game of this era, even at 4K with Ultra settings, so memory capacity is not a constraint in any measured scenario.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, the Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 achieves a combo rank of 698 out of 3,722 tested combinations for Hard West. This places the combo in the top 18.8% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing for a mid-range CPU paired with a high-end GPU. The rank reflects the GPU's substantial contribution to overall gaming performance, as Hard West is a GPU-bound title at most settings.

The combo's rank is noteworthy because the CPU itself sits at the 83rd percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU sits at the 82nd percentile among all GPUs. When combined, the system performs better than the individual percentiles might suggest, indicating that the i5-14400F does not meaningfully hold back the RTX 5070 in this specific game. The data shows that the combo outperforms a significant majority of alternatives, including many systems with more expensive CPUs or older flagship GPUs.

Given that the measured FPS at 1080p Low reaches 263 FPS and at 4K Ultra drops to 43 FPS, the combo demonstrates a wide performance envelope. The rank of 698 suggests that roughly 3,000 other tested combinations produce lower average performance in Hard West, which is expected given the game's age and the RTX 5070's modern architecture. The combo's position is primarily driven by the GPU's raw rendering power, with the CPU providing sufficient support to avoid crippling bottlenecks.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160) and four settings levels (Low, Medium, High, Ultra), providing a comprehensive view of the combo's performance.

At 1920x1080, the i5-14400F and RTX 5070 deliver exceptional frame rates across all settings. Low settings average 263 FPS, Medium averages 224 FPS with minimum and maximum values of 191 and 258 FPS respectively, High averages 172 FPS, and Ultra averages 129 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 134 FPS, indicating that the GPU has substantial headroom at this resolution. Even at Ultra settings, the average of 129 FPS is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay on high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, performance remains strong but shows the expected scaling. Low settings average 173 FPS, Medium averages 142 FPS with a range of 121 to 163 FPS, High averages 109 FPS, and Ultra averages 82 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p ranges from 34% at Low (263 to 173 FPS) to 36% at Ultra (129 to 82 FPS), showing a consistent resolution penalty across settings. The Ultra average of 82 FPS is still playable, while High at 109 FPS offers a comfortable margin for competitive or fast-paced play.

At 3840x2160, 4K resolution significantly stresses the GPU. Low settings average 91 FPS, Medium averages 74 FPS with a range of 63 to 86 FPS, High averages 57 FPS, and Ultra averages 43 FPS. The drop from 1440p to 4K is more pronounced: Low falls from 173 to 91 FPS (47% reduction), Medium from 142 to 74 FPS (48% reduction), High from 109 to 57 FPS (48% reduction), and Ultra from 82 to 43 FPS (48% reduction). This consistent ~48% reduction across settings indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K, as the resolution scaling is uniform regardless of graphical complexity.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 263 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The minimum average is 43 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 1440p with High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 109 FPS. This provides a smooth experience for most displays, with no minimum FPS data recorded for this configuration.

Q: What is the combo's rank in the database?

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 ranks 698 out of 3,722 tested combinations for Hard West, placing it in the top 18.8% of all tested systems.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The consistent ~48% FPS reduction from 1440p to 4K across all settings indicates that resolution scaling is uniform, which is characteristic of GPU-bound performance.

Q: What are the CPU's nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The i5-14400F's nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (0.1% higher score), Intel Core i9-11900 (0.2% higher), AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (0.2% lower), and Intel Core i7-12800H (0.5% higher). All deltas are within 0.5%, showing very similar performance.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration?

A: The RTX 5070 has 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 672.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This is adequate for Hard West at all tested resolutions and settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate.

For 1080p displays, all settings levels provide playable frame rates. Ultra at 129 FPS average is the best choice for maximum visual quality while still maintaining high refresh rates. If the display supports 240 Hz or higher, High at 172 FPS or Medium at 224 FPS offer increasingly higher headroom. Low at 263 FPS is only recommended for competitive play where maximum frame rate is prioritized over visuals.

For 1440p, High at 109 FPS is the recommended sweet spot, balancing visual fidelity with smooth performance. Ultra at 82 FPS is acceptable for slower-paced turn-based gameplay, but High provides a more comfortable margin for any fast camera movements or effects. Medium at 142 FPS offers high refresh rate capability, while Low at 173 FPS is unnecessary unless chasing extreme FPS.

For 4K, High at 57 FPS is borderline for smooth gameplay, making Medium at 74 FPS the recommended setting. Medium provides a balanced experience with a minimum FPS of 63, ensuring no major dips below 60 FPS. Ultra at 43 FPS is only suitable for players who prioritize visual quality over smoothness, while Low at 91 FPS offers the best performance but sacrifices significant visual detail.

Overall, the data suggests that Medium settings at 4K, High at 1440p, and Ultra at 1080p are the best presets for their respective resolutions, offering the optimal trade-off between visual quality and measured frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a clear pattern of resolution scaling that identifies the limiting component in this combo.

From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by approximately 34-36% across all settings. From 1440p to 4K, the drop is a consistent 47-48% across all settings. This uniformity in percentage reduction is a strong indicator of GPU-bound performance — if the CPU were the limiting factor, the percentage drops would be less pronounced at higher resolutions where the GPU is under more stress.

The absolute FPS values reinforce this conclusion. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 263 FPS, which is far beyond what a CPU-bound scenario would allow for a mid-range processor. At 4K Ultra, the 43 FPS average shows the GPU struggling with the pixel throughput required at this resolution and setting combination. The fact that performance scales almost linearly with pixel count (roughly 2.25x more pixels from 1080p to 1440p, and 2.25x more from 1440p to 4K) confirms that the GPU's fill rate and shading capacity are the primary constraints.

The CPU's role becomes more prominent at lower resolutions and settings, where frame rates exceed 200 FPS. At 1080p Low (263 FPS) and Medium (224 FPS), the i5-14400F must feed the GPU with enough draw calls and game state updates to maintain these high rates. The fact that it does so without dropping below 191 FPS even at Medium settings indicates that the CPU has sufficient headroom for this game's turn-based mechanics, which are less demanding than real-time strategy or first-person shooter titles.

In summary, the resolution scaling data shows a system that is firmly GPU-limited across all tested configurations. The i5-14400F provides a solid foundation that does not bottleneck the RTX 5070 in Hard West, allowing the GPU's performance to scale predictably with resolution and settings. This makes the combo a versatile choice for players who want to adjust between high frame rates at 1080p and visual quality at 4K.