Hard West

The Intel Core i5-14600K pairs with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER to deliver a highly capable experience in Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015. Analyzed across three resolutions and four quality presets, the data reveals a system that is firmly CPU-unbound at lower settings and progressively GPU-limited as resolution and detail increase. The measured frame rates show that this combination is more than sufficient for smooth gameplay, with the primary challenge being matching the preset to the display's resolution to avoid unnecessary performance headroom or sub-60 FPS dips.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, operating on a 10 nm process with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Its substantial L3 cache of 24 MB (shared) and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory make it a robust foundation for any gaming workload. In the context of Hard West, a turn-based tactical game from 2015, the CPU’s role is largely about maintaining a high minimum frame rate and ensuring that game logic, AI pathfinding, and unit actions are processed without stutter. The benchmark data shows that at 1080p, the CPU has ample headroom: the Low preset achieves 173.4 FPS and Medium reaches 139.7 FPS, indicating that the processor is not the bottleneck at these settings. Even at High settings (106.6 FPS), the i5-14600K is delivering far more than the 60 FPS threshold, confirming that its single-thread performance is more than adequate for this older title.

The processor’s multi-core capabilities are also relevant. With 20 threads, the i5-14600K can handle background tasks and any multi-threaded game logic without contention. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32881 and Geekbench multi-core score of 15846 place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, underscoring its strength. Compared to its nearest rivals, the data shows a near-tie: the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is only 0.2% slower, while the Intel Core i5-14600KF is 0.4% faster, and the AMD EPYC 4345P is 0.9% faster. These deltas are negligible for gaming, meaning the i5-14600K’s performance profile is essentially at parity with the best consumer and workstation chips of its era, making it an excellent match for a game like Hard West where frame rates are rarely CPU-bound. The Passmark single-thread score of 4270 further confirms that this CPU excels at the kind of rapid, sequential calculations that turn-based games rely on for unit turns and reaction sequences.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1605 MHz, boosting to 1770 MHz, and it features 2560 shading units. The GPU’s role in Hard West becomes increasingly dominant as resolution rises. At 4K, the data shows a clear scaling pattern: Low settings produce 58.6 FPS, Medium 49 FPS, High 37.3 FPS, and Ultra drops to 24.5 FPS. This indicates that the RTX 2070 SUPER’s 8 GB VRAM and raw compute power are the limiting factors at this resolution, particularly at High and Ultra presets where the frame rates fall below the generally accepted 60 FPS standard.

At 1440p, the GPU is much more comfortable. The Low preset delivers 107 FPS, Medium 89.5 FPS, and High 71.6 FPS, all of which are excellent for a tactical game. Ultra settings at 1440p produce 49.9 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. At 1080p, the RTX 2070 SUPER shows its strength, with High settings hitting 106.6 FPS and Low reaching 173.4 FPS. The GPU’s Passmark G3D score of 18169 and its 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs place it as a solid mid-to-high-range performer. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX A400 (0.5% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z (0.9% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile (2.3% faster), and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 (2.5% slower). These figures show that the RTX 2070 SUPER is competitive with newer mobile parts and older high-end desktop cards, but its 8 GB VRAM and 12 nm process node limit its ability to handle 4K Ultra settings in modern titles, as evidenced by the measured 24.5 FPS at that configuration. For Hard West, the GPU is the primary constraint at 4K, while at 1080p and 1440p, it provides ample frame rates for a smooth turn-based experience.

FAQ

*Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this combo in Hard West?*

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 173.4 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low preset. This is followed by 139.7 FPS at 1080p Medium and 107 FPS at 1440p Low.

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

A: At 4K, the system can run the game at Low settings with an average of 58.6 FPS, which is near the 60 FPS target. However, at High and Ultra settings, the average frame rates drop to 37.3 FPS and 24.5 FPS respectively, indicating that 4K is only viable with reduced graphical fidelity.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X?

A: The Intel Core i5-14600K is effectively tied with the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, with a delta of only 0.2% in favor of the Intel part. This means the two processors offer nearly identical average benchmark scores (49166 vs 49062).

Q: What is the performance difference between the RTX 2070 SUPER and the AMD Radeon RX 5700?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER is 2.5% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 5700 in average benchmark scores, with scores of 22206 and 21670 respectively. This margin is small, suggesting comparable performance in most gaming scenarios.

*Q: What is the best resolution to play Hard West at for a 60 FPS experience across all presets?*

A: At 1920x1080, all four presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) achieve average frame rates above 60 FPS, with the lowest being 81.3 FPS at Ultra. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset drops to 49.9 FPS, so 1080p is the only resolution where every preset exceeds 60 FPS.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: This combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER ranks 1063 out of 1699 tested combos in Hard West, placing it in the upper-middle tier of all systems.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear guide for optimizing the experience in Hard West. For users with a 1920x1080 display, the Ultra preset is fully viable, delivering an average of 81.3 FPS. This is the recommended choice for maximum visual fidelity without sacrificing playability, as the frame rate remains well above the 60 FPS threshold. However, if a higher refresh rate monitor is in use, the High preset at 106.6 FPS offers a smoother experience with minimal visual compromise, while the Medium preset at 139.7 FPS is ideal for competitive play or for users who prefer maximum responsiveness.

For 2560x1440 displays, the High preset is the optimal balance, providing 71.6 FPS average. This offers a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining smooth gameplay. The Medium preset at 89.5 FPS is also excellent, and it may be preferable for users who prioritize frame rate stability over minor graphical details. The Ultra preset at 1440p, with an average of 49.9 FPS, is playable but not ideal for fast-paced encounters; it is recommended only for users who prioritize image quality over frame rate consistency. The Low preset at 1440p (107 FPS) is unnecessary for this game, as the Medium and High presets already provide ample performance.

At 3840x2160, the data suggests that this combo is not suited for high-detail 4K gaming. The Low preset, at 58.6 FPS, is the only configuration that approaches the 60 FPS target, making it the only recommended option for 4K displays. The Medium preset (49 FPS) is playable but noticeable compromises are made, while High (37.3 FPS) and Ultra (24.5 FPS) are too slow for comfortable play. For the best overall experience, the 1080p Ultra or 1440p High presets are the clear winners, offering a combination of high visual quality and smooth frame rates that align with the GPU's capabilities.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combination ranks 1063 out of 1699 tested combos in Hard West. This places the system in the 37th percentile of all configurations, which may seem low given the processor's high CPU percentile (93rd) and the GPU's respectable 65th percentile. However, this ranking is influenced by the fact that Hard West is a 2015 turn-based game with modest hardware requirements, meaning that many modern high-end systems with newer GPUs will achieve higher frame rates, particularly at 4K resolutions. The combo’s rank reflects its position relative to all tested systems, including those with flagship GPUs that are far more powerful than the RTX 2070 SUPER.

The data shows that this system is capable of delivering excellent performance at 1080p and 1440p, which are the resolutions where it is most likely to be used. The CPU’s near-parity with the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X and its 0.4% deficit against the i5-14600KF ensure that there is no processor bottleneck, while the GPU’s performance is closely matched with the RTX 4060 Mobile, which is only 2.3% faster. In practical terms, this rank means the combo is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it is not optimized for 4K Ultra settings. The benchmark results indicate that for a tactical title like Hard West, the system provides a smooth and responsive experience at mainstream resolutions, with the primary limitation being the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM and older architecture when pushed to 4K. The rank is a useful reference point, but the measured frame rates at lower resolutions demonstrate that this is a capable pairing for the game's intended use case.