Hard West

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the Intel Arc B570 is a mid-to-upper-tier combination in the database, ranking 2360 out of 2949 tested combos for Hard West. This places it in the 80th percentile of all tested configurations, which is respectable for a turn-based tactics title that does not demand extreme hardware. The data shows a system that can handle 1080p and 1440p gaming comfortably, but 4K Ultra is beyond its reach.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a TDP of 125 W. The chip supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory through a dual-channel memory bus, and it connects via PCIe Gen 4 with 20 CPU lanes. The processor is unlocked, allowing for overclocking, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700.

In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates strong multi-threaded performance. It scores 28838 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 12111 in Cinebench R20 multicore, while single-thread scores reach 4071 and 1709 in those respective tests. The Geekbench multicore score is 14367, with a single-core score of 2255. In 3DMark, the processor scores 9983 at max threads, 9282 at 16 threads, 7211 at 8 threads, 4011 at 4 threads, and 2065 at 2 threads. The single-thread 3DMark score is 1043. Passmark results include a multithread score of 34092 and a single-thread score of 3984.

For Hard West, a turn-based tactics game from 2015, the CPU's role is less demanding than in real-time strategy or action titles. The game's logic and AI calculations run on the CPU, but the workload is not heavily threaded. The i7-12700KF's strong single-thread performance — evidenced by its 4071 Cinebench R23 single-core score — ensures that game logic and unit turn calculations execute without bottlenecking the GPU. The 12 cores and 20 threads are more than sufficient for this game, and the data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in any of the measured FPS results. The processor's 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs further confirms that it sits well above the median for processing power.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-12700KF and Intel Arc B570 achieves a rank of 2360 out of 2949 tested combos for Hard West. This places the system in the 80th percentile of all configurations tested for this game. While not a top-tier ranking, it indicates that this combo outperforms roughly 80% of tested systems in this specific title. The ranking reflects the balanced nature of the pairing — the CPU is clearly high-end, while the GPU is more mid-range in its performance class.

The Intel Arc B570 itself ranks at the 65th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20556. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (scoring 20534, a delta of 0.1% faster), the Intel Arc A750 (scoring 20582, a delta of -0.1% slower), the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M (scoring 20480, a delta of 0.4% faster), and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X (scoring 20662, a delta of -0.5% slower). This places the B570 in a tight performance band where the differences between rivals are minimal, all within a 1% margin.

The combo's 80th percentile ranking shows that the i7-12700KF's strong CPU performance compensates for the GPU's mid-range standing. In a game like Hard West, where frame rates are not heavily CPU-dependent, the GPU becomes the primary driver of FPS. The measured results confirm this — the system delivers playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles at 4K with higher settings.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700KF sufficient for Hard West?

A: Yes. The CPU's single-thread performance, evidenced by its 4071 Cinebench R23 single-core score, is more than adequate for this turn-based tactics game. The 12 cores and 20 threads provide ample headroom for game logic and background tasks.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The B570's average benchmark score of 20556 is within 0.5% of its nearest rivals. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile scores 20534 (0.1% slower), the Intel Arc A750 scores 20582 (0.1% faster), the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M scores 20480 (0.4% slower), and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X scores 20662 (0.5% faster). Performance differences are negligible.

Q: Can this combo run Hard West at 4K?

A: At 4K, the system achieves 28 FPS on High settings and 21 FPS on Ultra. These are below the 30 FPS threshold generally considered playable. Low settings at 4K reach 44 FPS, making it playable but with significant visual compromises.

Q: What resolution and settings deliver the best experience?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo achieves 84 FPS on High, 110 FPS on Medium, and 134 FPS on Low. At 2560x1440, it reaches 53 FPS on High, 69 FPS on Medium, and 85 FPS on Low. The 1440p Medium setting offers a good balance of visual quality and smooth gameplay.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: No. The measured FPS numbers show that the GPU is the limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions. The CPU's strong single-thread scores and high percentile ranking (85th) indicate it keeps up with the GPU's output.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems for Hard West?

A: The combo ranks 2360 out of 2949 tested combinations, placing it in the 80th percentile. This means it outperforms about 80% of all tested systems for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this combo performs across three resolutions and four settings presets.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system delivers 28 FPS on High, 36 FPS on Medium, 44 FPS on Low, and 21 FPS on Ultra. The Medium setting shows a minimum of 31 FPS and a maximum of 42 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K is only playable at Low settings, where 44 FPS is achieved, but the visual quality drop is substantial.

At 2560x1440, the results improve significantly. High settings yield 53 FPS, Medium produces 69 FPS, Low reaches 85 FPS, and Ultra drops to 40 FPS. The Medium setting has a minimum of 59 FPS and a maximum of 80 FPS. This resolution offers a much better experience, with High and Medium both providing smooth frame rates above 50 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the combo performs well across all settings. High delivers 84 FPS, Medium reaches 110 FPS, Low hits 134 FPS, and Ultra achieves 63 FPS. The Medium setting shows a minimum of 93 FPS and a maximum of 126 FPS. Even Ultra, which is the most demanding preset, maintains a playable 63 FPS at 1080p.

The pattern across resolutions is consistent: the GPU is the primary determinant of frame rate, and the CPU does not introduce any noticeable bottleneck. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p to 4K follows the expected performance curve, with roughly a 20-30% drop in FPS at each higher resolution step.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is a mid-range GPU based on the Xe2-HPG architecture, built on TSMC's 5 nm process. It features 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output units, along with 18 ray tracing cores. The GPU has a base and boost clock of 2500 MHz, and its memory runs at 2375 MHz with a 19 Gbps effective speed. The card comes with 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s.

The GPU's compute capabilities include 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 23.04 TFLOPS of FP16 performance. Its pixel rate is 200.0 GPixel/s, and its texture rate is 360.0 GTexel/s. The card has a TDP of 150 W, requires a single 8-pin power connector, and has a suggested PSU of 450 W. It connects via PCIe 4.0 x8 and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

In benchmark tests, the B570 scores 14195 in Passmark G3D, 83514 in Geekbench OpenCL, and 96844 in Geekbench Vulkan. Its DirectX scores in Passmark are 164 for DX9, 118 for DX11, 72 for DX12, and 65 for DX10. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2649.

For Hard West, the GPU's 10 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for the game's textures and geometry. The game is not VRAM-intensive, so the 160-bit bus and 380.0 GB/s bandwidth are not limiting factors. The measured FPS numbers show that the GPU's raw compute power is the main constraint at higher resolutions and settings. At 4K Ultra, the card's 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is insufficient to maintain playable frame rates, resulting in 21 FPS. The GPU's 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs places it in the mid-range tier, and the measured results in Hard West align with that positioning.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's target resolution and tolerance for frame rate variation.

For 1920x1080, the High preset at 84 FPS provides a smooth and visually pleasing experience. The Ultra preset at 63 FPS is also playable and offers the best visual quality, but the drop from High to Ultra is notable. The Medium preset at 110 FPS is the best choice for users who prefer higher frame rates, but the visual difference between Medium and High is minimal in a turn-based game. The Low preset at 134 FPS is excessive for this genre, as the game's mechanics do not require high refresh rates.

For 2560x1440, the High preset at 53 FPS is the recommended starting point. It provides a good balance of visual fidelity and smoothness. The Medium preset at 69 FPS offers a smoother experience with a minor visual compromise. The Ultra preset at 40 FPS is borderline playable but may feel less fluid. The Low preset at 85 FPS is the best option for users who prioritize frame rate above all else.

For 3840x2160, the Low preset at 44 FPS is the only playable option. The Medium preset at 36 FPS and High preset at 28 FPS are below the 30 FPS minimum for playable frame rates. The Ultra preset at 21 FPS is not recommended. Users with 4K displays should either lower the resolution to 1440p or accept the visual compromises of Low settings.

The data indicates that the Medium preset at 2560x1440 offers the best overall experience for this combo. It delivers 69 FPS with a minimum of 59 FPS, ensuring consistent performance without significant frame drops. The 1440p Medium setting provides a good balance of resolution and visual quality, making it the ideal choice for users with 1440p monitors. For 1080p users, the High preset at 84 FPS is the best recommendation, as it offers strong visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. The Ultra preset is only recommended for users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate consistency, as the 63 FPS at 1080p is still acceptable for turn-based gameplay.