Hard West

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a distinctive profile in Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015. The measured data shows a configuration where the GPU is the clear performance ceiling, especially at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s substantial core and thread resources remain largely underutilized. This analysis examines the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, the respective roles of the processor and graphics card, and how this specific combination ranks against the broader database of tested setups.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance cliff as resolution increases, a pattern that clearly identifies the Intel Arc B390 as the limiting component. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 87 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 55 FPS, a reduction of 32 FPS or approximately 37%. At 4K Low, the average falls further to 29 FPS, which is less than a third of the 1080p Low figure. This dramatic scaling is characteristic of a GPU that is saturated by the pixel count, with the integrated graphics architecture of the Arc B390 struggling to maintain throughput as the render target expands.

The scaling pattern is consistent across all settings, not just Low. For High settings, the averages are 55 FPS at 1080p, 35 FPS at 1440p, and 18 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K on High is 37 FPS, a 67% decline. Similarly, Ultra settings produce 41 FPS at 1080p, 26 FPS at 1440p, and only 14 FPS at 4K. The proportional losses are severe at every quality level, indicating that the GPU’s fill rate and shading capacity are exhausted well before the CPU becomes a factor. This is a classic GPU-bound scenario; the Intel Core i5-14600K, with its high boost clock and 24 MB of L3 cache, is not the bottleneck at any resolution tested.

The data suggests that the game’s engine, while not new, still demands significant GPU resources at higher resolutions. The difference between 1080p and 1440p is substantial, and the jump to 4K is punishing. For a user targeting 4K, the average FPS figures of 14 to 29 across settings are below playable thresholds for most. The resolution scaling analysis points squarely at the GPU: reducing resolution has a massive, immediate impact on frame rate, while raising it cripples performance. This confirms that the Arc B390 is the primary constraint, and the CPU’s role is secondary in this specific configuration.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. In the context of Hard West, a turn-based tactics game, the CPU’s role is to manage game logic, AI pathfinding, and unit actions. The measured FPS data indicates that the CPU is more than adequate for this task, as the frame rates are consistently limited by the GPU. The processor’s benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24491 and a single-core score of 2064, placing it in the 90th percentile versus all CPUs.

However, these raw compute capabilities are not the primary driver of the FPS results in this game. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the GPU load is lowest, the average FPS is 87. This is not a CPU-limited frame rate; it is a reflection of the GPU’s maximum output. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau where FPS stops increasing as resolution decreases. That is not the case here; FPS continues to rise from 4K to 1080p, confirming the GPU is the constraint. The CPU’s high single-thread performance, evidenced by its passmark single-thread score of 4270, ensures that turn-based logic and frame pacing are handled without introducing stutter or delays that would show up in the average FPS data.

The processor’s 20 threads are likely underutilized in Hard West, as the game’s turn-based nature does not typically scale across many cores. The data does not show a scenario where the CPU’s 14 cores are beneficial. Instead, the boost clock of 5.30 GHz is likely the more relevant factor, ensuring that any single-threaded game logic executes quickly. The nearestRivals data for the CPU shows a delta of only -0.2% to 0.7% against comparable processors, meaning the i5-14600K is firmly in the mid-range of desktop performance. For this game, the CPU is a non-factor in the measured results; it provides a stable platform, but the FPS numbers are dictated entirely by the GPU’s capabilities. The lack of any min FPS data for most settings further suggests a consistent frame delivery, with no CPU-induced hitches.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and the user’s preference for smoothness versus visual fidelity. At 1080p, the Medium preset delivers an average of 71 FPS, with a minimum of 61 and maximum of 82. This is the best balance, as it provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold and shows a significant improvement over High (55 FPS) while only sacrificing a modest amount of visual quality. The Low preset at 1080p reaches 87 FPS, but the visual downgrade is unnecessary given that Medium already clears 60 FPS comfortably.

At 1440p, the situation becomes more constrained. The Medium preset yields an average of 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 and maximum of 52. This is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action, though Hard West is turn-based, so the lower frame rate is less problematic. The High preset at 1440p drops to 35 FPS, and Low is at 55 FPS. For a turn-based game, the Medium preset at 1440p offers the best compromise between visual detail and frame rate stability, as the minimum of 38 FPS is still acceptable for the genre. However, users prioritizing smoothness might choose Low at 55 FPS.

At 4K, no setting is truly playable. The highest average is 29 FPS on Low, and Medium drops to 24 FPS. The Ultra preset is the worst at 14 FPS. The data suggests that 4K is not a viable target for this configuration, and users should either reduce the resolution to 1440p or accept the low frame rates. The recommendation is to use Medium settings at 1080p for the best experience, as it is the only resolution/setting combination that consistently exceeds 60 FPS with a reasonable visual quality. At 1440p, Medium is the recommended preset, sacrificing some frame rate for clarity, but the 1080p Medium setting is the clear performance sweet spot in the measured data.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the average FPS exceeds 60 on any preset. At 1440p, the highest average is 55 FPS on Low, and at 4K, the highest is 29 FPS on Low. Therefore, 1080p is the recommended resolution for a playable experience.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the limiting factor. The FPS scales dramatically with resolution and settings, dropping from 87 FPS at 1080p Low to 29 FPS at 4K Low. The CPU, with a high boost clock and strong single-thread scores, does not appear to limit frame rates, as the FPS continues to rise when the GPU load is reduced.

Q: Which settings preset provides the highest average FPS?

A: The Low preset provides the highest average FPS at every resolution. It achieves 87 FPS at 1080p, 55 FPS at 1440p, and 29 FPS at 4K. The Medium preset is the next fastest, with 71 FPS at 1080p.

*Q: Can this system run Hard West at 4K?*

A: The measured data shows that 4K performance is below 30 FPS on all settings. The best average is 29 FPS on Low, and the Ultra preset is at 14 FPS. While it may run, the frame rates are not ideal, and the game will likely feel sluggish.

Q: How does the Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1482. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, has a score of 1463, which is 1.3% lower. The other rivals, the GeForce 800M, GT 625 OEM, and GT 710, are 1.5%, 2.5%, and 2.7% lower respectively, indicating the Arc B390 is marginally faster than these older parts.

Q: Does the CPU have a significant impact on the FPS in this specific game?

A: No. The data shows that FPS is controlled by the GPU, as frame rates increase when resolution decreases. The CPU’s benchmark scores, such as its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24491, are high, but the game does not appear to be CPU-bound, given the consistent scaling of FPS with GPU load.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It has 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, with a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Its memory is system-shared, meaning its bandwidth is system-dependent. The GPU’s benchmark score is 1482 on 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 9th percentile versus all GPUs, which is very low. The nearestRivals data confirms this, as its closest competitors are older, low-end NVIDIA parts like the GT 710 and GT 520MX, with the Arc B390 only 1.3% to 2.7% faster than them.

In Hard West, the GPU’s role is paramount, and its limited capabilities are the primary reason for the low FPS at higher resolutions. The 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is insufficient to handle the pixel shading demands of 4K, and even 1440p proves challenging. The system-shared memory is a significant drawback, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for bandwidth, which likely contributes to the steep performance drop as resolution increases. The data shows that the GPU is the sole bottleneck; the FPS is directly proportional to the render resolution, with no sign of CPU limitation.

The GPU’s 9th percentile ranking underscores its position as a low-power integrated solution, not a discrete gaming card. The measured FPS in Hard West reflects this, with the card only achieving a comfortable frame rate at 1080p on Medium settings. The pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are modest figures that limit the card’s ability to fill the screen with detailed textures at high resolutions. For a game like Hard West, which is turn-based and less demanding on frame pacing, the GPU can provide a playable experience at 1080p, but its limitations are exposed at higher resolutions. The GPU is the definitive factor in all measured results, and its performance profile dictates that users must lower both resolution and settings to achieve playable frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across all resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. The Low preset averages 87 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. Medium averages 71 FPS, with a minimum of 61 and a maximum of 82, indicating a stable frame delivery. High averages 55 FPS, and Ultra averages 41 FPS. The progression is linear, with each step up in settings costing a significant number of frames.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops considerably. Low averages 55 FPS, which is on par with 1080p High. Medium averages 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 52. High averages 35 FPS, and Ultra averages 26 FPS. The minimum FPS data for Medium at 1440p shows that frame drops are more pronounced, though still within a playable range for a turn-based title. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is substantial, with the Low preset losing 32 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the performance is severely limited. Low averages 29 FPS, Medium averages 24 FPS (with a min of 20 and max of 27), High averages 18 FPS, and Ultra averages 14 FPS. None of these averages are close to a smooth 30 FPS, and the Ultra preset is virtually unplayable. The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the only viable resolution, with Medium being the best preset for a balance of quality and speed. The 4K results are a demonstration of the GPU’s limits, with the FPS halving from 1080p Low to 4K Low. The measured breakdown confirms that the Arc B390 is a 1080p-class GPU, and even then, only at lower-to-mid settings for a consistent experience.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2614 out of 2949 tested combos in Hard West. This places it in the bottom 12% of all configurations in the database, a low position that is primarily driven by the GPU’s weak performance. The CPU is a high-end part, ranking in the 90th percentile of all processors, but its strength is neutralized by the GPU’s 9th percentile ranking. This pairing creates an imbalanced system where the CPU’s potential is wasted, as the GPU cannot keep up with the processor’s ability to feed it frames.

The combo’s rank of 2614 is a direct consequence of the GPU’s low benchmark score of 1482, which is far below the average for discrete graphics cards. The data indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor, as its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H and AMD EPYC 4345P, have similar average benchmark scores with deltas of -0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. This means the CPU is competitive with other high-end processors, but the GPU drags the entire system down. In the context of Hard West, where the GPU is the bottleneck, the combo’s rank reflects the GPU’s inability to deliver playable frame rates at higher resolutions.

The ranking suggests that for users with this CPU, a more capable GPU would yield dramatically better results. However, within this specific configuration, the measured FPS is what it is. The combo outperforms only 335 other tested combinations, which are likely to feature even older or more integrated graphics solutions. The data shows that while the CPU is a top performer, the GPU’s limitations define the system’s overall capability in this game, resulting in a rank that is far below what the CPU alone would suggest. This is a clear case where the GPU is the deciding factor in the system’s benchmark position.