Hard West

Hard West is a turn-based tactics title from 2015, and this particular configuration pairs the 12-core Intel Core i7-12700K with the integrated Intel Arc B390 graphics. The measured frame rates show a system that is heavily constrained by the graphics solution, with performance varying dramatically based on resolution and quality preset. The data indicates that this combo is positioned at the lower end of the tested spectrum, ranking 2614th out of 2949 combos, which places it in the bottom percentile for overall gaming capability in this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a 25 MB shared L3 cache. In the context of Hard West, a turn-based tactics game, the CPU's role is primarily to manage game logic, unit AI, and pathfinding calculations. The processor's strong single-thread performance, evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 1043 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1850.5, is more than sufficient for the genre's mechanics. However, the benchmark results across all resolutions show that the CPU is not the limiting factor; even at 1080p Low settings, the average FPS is 87, which is respectable but not exceptionally high, suggesting the processor is waiting on the GPU to render frames.

The processor's multithreaded capabilities are substantial, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 19784 and a Geekbench multicore score of 15790. This headroom means that in a game like Hard West, where turns and AI calculations can be parallelized, the i7-12700K will not bottleneck the experience. The data shows that the CPU's percentile ranking is 84th among all CPUs, indicating it is a high-performing part. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-13600T and the Intel Core i7-12700KF, have average benchmark scores that are nearly identical, with delta percentages of -0.1% and -0.2% respectively, confirming that the i7-12700K is performing at the expected level for its class. In this specific game, the CPU's workload is light enough that the performance ceiling is entirely dictated by the graphics solution, and the processor's high clock speeds ensure that it can feed frames to the GPU without introducing stutter or delays.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Critically, its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory for both storage and bandwidth, which is described as "System Dependent." This is a significant limitation for gaming, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth. The GPU's raw compute capabilities are modest, with an FP32 performance of 7.680 TFLOPS and a pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s. Its benchmark score in 3DMark Steel Nomad (DX12) is 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This low percentile is reflected in its nearest rivals, which include the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710, with delta percentages of 1.3% and 2.7%, respectively. This places the Arc B390 in the same performance tier as decade-old entry-level discrete graphics cards.

The impact of this GPU on Hard West is evident in the measured FPS data. At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS is 87, but this drops to 55 at 1440p and 29 at 4K with the same settings. The integrated nature of the GPU, with its shared memory and low power envelope of 80 W, means it is not designed for high-resolution gaming. The frame rates at 4K are particularly telling, with the Ultra preset yielding an average of just 14 FPS, which is unplayable. The GPU's performance is the primary bottleneck in this configuration, and the data shows that it struggles to maintain smooth frame rates even at lower resolutions when settings are increased. The lack of dedicated VRAM and reliance on system memory for bandwidth is a clear handicap in a game that, while not graphically intensive by modern standards, still requires a certain level of fill rate and memory throughput to render scenes smoothly.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-12700K and Intel Arc B390 ranks 2614th out of 2949 tested combos in Hard West. This places the pairing in the bottom 11% of all configurations, which is a direct reflection of the GPU's limitations. The CPU is a high-end part, ranking in the 84th percentile, but the GPU's 9th percentile ranking drags the entire system down. This disparity is a classic example of a bottleneck, where a powerful processor is paired with a weak graphics solution, resulting in overall performance that is far below what either component is individually capable of. The data suggests that this combo is not suitable for a smooth gaming experience in Hard West at higher settings, as the average FPS at 1080p Ultra is just 41, and at 4K Ultra it falls to 14.

The rank is a composite measure that accounts for all tested settings and resolutions. The fact that the combo ranks so low indicates that even at 1080p Low, where the FPS is highest at 87, the performance is still not competitive with other systems in the database. This is a hardware configuration that appears to be designed for general productivity or light workloads, not for gaming. The measured FPS data confirms this, as the system only achieves playable frame rates (above 60 FPS) at the lowest settings and resolution. For any user expecting to play Hard West with this combo, the benchmark results indicate that they will need to significantly lower both resolution and quality settings to achieve a stable frame rate.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Hard West with this CPU/GPU combo?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the most viable resolution. At Low settings, the average FPS is 87, and at Medium settings, it is 71. At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to 55 on Low and 45 on Medium, which is less smooth. At 3840x2160, the average FPS falls below 30 even on Low, making it unplayable.

Q: Can this combo handle the Ultra preset in Hard West?

A: No, the Ultra preset is not recommended. At 1920x1080, the average FPS is 41, which is below the typical 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to 26, and at 3840x2160, it is just 14 FPS. These results indicate that the GPU is not powerful enough for the Ultra preset at any resolution.

Q: How does the CPU performance compare to its direct rivals?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700K has an average benchmark score of 35287, which is nearly identical to its nearest rivals. The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305 (a delta of -0.1%), the Intel Core i7-12700KF scores 35365 (-0.2%), and the Intel Core i7-13700T scores 35403 (-0.3%). This indicates that the CPU is performing exactly as expected for its tier.

Q: Is the GPU the main bottleneck in this system?

A: Yes, the benchmark data strongly suggests this. The GPU ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU ranks in the 84th percentile. The frame rates drop dramatically as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU has ample headroom, as evidenced by its high multi-threaded scores, but it is waiting on the GPU to render each frame.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Medium settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields an average of 87 FPS, while the Medium preset yields an average of 71 FPS. This is a difference of 16 FPS. The Medium preset also has a measured minimum FPS of 61 and a maximum of 82, indicating a stable frame time.

Q: What type of memory does the Intel Arc B390 use?

A: The Intel Arc B390 uses "System Shared" memory, meaning it does not have dedicated VRAM. Its memory type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as "System Shared" or "System Dependent," indicating that it relies on the system's main RAM for all graphics memory operations.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a steep decline in performance as resolution increases, which is a clear indicator of the GPU's limitations. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 87 at 1920x1080 to 55 at 2560x1440, a 37% reduction, and then to 29 at 3840x2160, a further 47% reduction from 1440p. This scaling pattern is consistent with a GPU that is severely bandwidth-limited, as the "System Shared" memory configuration cannot provide the necessary throughput for higher pixel counts. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is significant, but the drop from 1440p to 4K is even more pronounced, showing that the GPU is struggling to fill the additional pixels.

At Medium settings, the trend continues. The average FPS is 71 at 1080p, 45 at 1440p, and 24 at 4K. The minimum FPS values at Medium settings also show strain: 61 at 1080p, 38 at 1440p, and 20 at 4K. This data suggests that the limiting component is almost exclusively the GPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see less of a performance drop when increasing resolution, as the CPU's workload would remain relatively constant. Instead, the frame rates plummet as the resolution increases, which is a textbook sign of a GPU struggling to render geometry and textures at higher resolutions. The data indicates that the i7-12700K is more than capable of handling the game's logic at any resolution, but the Arc B390's integrated architecture and shared memory are unable to keep up with the demands of rendering at 1440p or 4K.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings for this configuration are at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This is the only combination that consistently achieves an average FPS above 60, with a measured average of 87 FPS. This provides a smooth and responsive experience, which is important for a tactics game where precise cursor movement and camera control are required. The Medium preset at 1080p is also playable, with an average of 71 FPS and a minimum of 61 FPS, but the Low preset offers a more comfortable margin of error and a higher peak frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields an average of 55 FPS, which is borderline playable but may feel less fluid. The Medium preset at this resolution drops to 45 FPS, which is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience. The High and Ultra presets at any resolution above 1080p are not viable, as they all fall below 40 FPS on average. The data clearly shows that the best experience is achieved by prioritizing resolution over visual fidelity. For users who want a more detailed image, the Medium preset at 1080p is a reasonable compromise, as it maintains an average FPS above the 60 FPS threshold. However, for the most stable performance, the Low preset at 1080p is the recommended configuration. The High preset at 1080p, which averages 55 FPS, is also an option, but it does not offer a significant visual improvement over Medium to justify the lower frame rate.