Hard West

Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015, presents an interesting case study when paired with the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER. The measured data reveals a configuration that is heavily influenced by graphics settings and resolution, with the CPU appearing to have ample headroom. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across all tested configurations, exploring what the numbers indicate about the limiting components and overall performance.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is pronounced, clearly indicating that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER becomes the primary bottleneck as pixel count increases. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 109.2 FPS, which is a strong result. Moving to 1440p at the same High preset, the average drops to 69.2 FPS, a reduction of 36.6%. The most severe scaling occurs when jumping to 4K, where the average FPS falls to 38.3, which is a 64.9% decrease from the 1080p figure.

This pattern is consistent across all settings presets. With Low settings, the system goes from 173.6 FPS at 1080p to 111 FPS at 1440p, and then down to 57.7 FPS at 4K. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep, suggesting that the GPU is running out of pixel throughput and memory bandwidth at the higher resolution. The data implies that for a smooth experience at 4K, significant compromises in graphical fidelity are necessary, as even Medium settings only yield a 44.3 FPS average.

The 4K Ultra preset is the most demanding scenario, producing an average of just 26.5 FPS. This suggests that the RTX 2070 SUPER is not suited for maximum quality at this resolution in Hard West. The scaling behavior points to a system where the CPU is rarely the limiting factor, as the FPS is heavily dependent on the resolution-driven workload on the GPU.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a high-end processor with 16 cores and 24 threads, and its benchmark results place it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39000 and single-core score of 5505 indicate substantial processing power. However, in the context of Hard West, the data suggests that this CPU is not being fully utilized. The FPS differences between resolutions are vast, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck.

At 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS reaches 173.6. While this is a high frame rate, it is not exceptionally high for a CPU with a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The game, being a turn-based tactics title from 2015, likely does not have threading requirements that stress a 24-thread processor. The CPU’s 30 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache are more than sufficient for this game's logic.

The data indicates that the i7-13700K provides a solid foundation, ensuring that frame rates are not held back by the processor. The measured performance is more dependent on the GPU and the chosen settings. The CPU's 125W TDP and unlocked multiplier are features that speak to its desktop performance class, but in this specific game, its role is to stay out of the way and let the GPU do the work.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For a smooth 60 FPS experience at 1080p, the High preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 109.2 FPS. This provides a significant margin above the 60 FPS threshold. Pushing to Ultra at 1080p still yields a very playable 81.7 FPS average, making it a viable option for those who prioritize visual fidelity.

At 1440p, the Medium preset offers an average of 88.5 FPS, which is an excellent balance for a high-refresh-rate monitor. The High preset also remains playable at 69.2 FPS, but users seeking to maximize fluidity should consider Medium. The Low preset at 1440p provides 111 FPS, showing that the GPU can handle high frame rates when settings are reduced.

The 4K resolution presents a challenge. The High preset yields only 38.3 FPS, which is not ideal for most players. The Medium preset at 44.3 FPS is likely the best compromise for a playable 4K experience, although it falls short of the 60 FPS target. For those who can tolerate lower frame rates, the Low preset at 57.7 FPS is the only way to approach a smooth experience at 4K. The Ultra preset at 26.5 FPS is not recommended for general play.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER ranks 1053 out of 1699 tested combos for Hard West. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the ranking table. This rank is likely influenced by the GPU, which performs below the average of its nearest rivals.

The data shows that the CPU is a top-tier performer, but the GPU is a mid-range part. The RTX 2070 SUPER’s average benchmark score is 22206, and its performance is within a few percentage points of rivals like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z and AMD Radeon RX 5700. The combination's rank suggests that while the CPU is not a hindrance, the GPU's capabilities limit the overall system's performance in this game relative to other pairings.

This ranking is a useful indicator that users with this CPU should consider pairing it with a more powerful GPU to achieve higher frame rates in Hard West, as the current GPU appears to be the primary constraint.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is built on the Turing architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its benchmark scores place it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. In Hard West, the GPU's role is critical, as the FPS drops dramatically with increasing resolution and settings, confirming it as the primary bottleneck.

At 1080p, the GPU is capable of high frame rates. The difference between Low (173.6 FPS) and Ultra (81.7 FPS) settings shows that the GPU's compute units and memory bandwidth are heavily taxed by the higher-detail presets. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is not shown to be a limiting factor at 1080p, as even the High preset uses more than enough memory.

However, at 4K, the GPU struggles. The jump from 1440p to 4K causes a significant drop in all settings, indicating that the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth are insufficient for the increased workload. The 4K Ultra result of 26.5 FPS is particularly poor, highlighting the GPU's limitations at this resolution. The RTX 2070 SUPER's 9.062 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is simply not enough to handle the demands of 4K gaming in this title at high settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the configuration shows its strength. With Low settings, the average FPS is 173.6. Medium settings produce an average of 141.5 FPS. The High preset delivers 109.2 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 81.7 FPS. These numbers demonstrate a wide performance range, with the GPU having enough headroom to handle high-refresh-rate gaming at the lower presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. Low settings average 111 FPS, which is still very smooth. Medium settings provide 88.5 FPS. The High preset drops to 69.2 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 52.2 FPS. This resolution is a good middle ground, offering a balance between visual quality and frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor. Low settings average 57.7 FPS, which is close to playable. Medium settings yield 44.3 FPS. The High preset produces 38.3 FPS, and Ultra settings plummet to 26.5 FPS. The data shows that 4K gaming is only feasible with significant sacrifices to graphical quality.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for a consistent 60 FPS experience?

A: At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers an average of 109.2 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the best option, averaging 88.5 FPS.

Q: Can this setup handle 4K gaming?

A: It can, but with limitations. The Low preset at 3840x2160 averages 57.7 FPS, which is the only 4K setting that comes close to a smooth experience. Higher presets at 4K result in sub-45 FPS averages.

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

A: The Intel Core i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 47282. It is 0.1% behind the Intel Core i7-13700KF and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Core i9-12900F.

Q: Is the GPU a bottleneck in this game?

A: Yes. The data shows a significant FPS drop from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is the primary limiting component.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 111 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 52.2 FPS, a difference of 58.8 FPS.

Q: How does this GPU compare to its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 5700?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 22206, which is 2.5% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 5700's average score of 21670.