Hard West

The Intel Core i7-14700F paired with the Intel Arc B390 presents a stark study in component imbalance for Hard West. The data shows a CPU with flagship-tier processing power operating alongside a GPU whose benchmark standing places it in the entry-level segment, resulting in a combination that is overwhelmingly constrained by its graphics solution in nearly all measurable scenarios.

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

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor built on the Raptor Lake architecture. Its configuration includes a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz, supported by a 33 MB shared L3 cache. This is a high-end desktop part, evidenced by its 91st percentile ranking against all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 53620. In synthetic tests, the processor achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 35122 and a single-core score of 4958, demonstrating both immense parallel throughput and strong single-threaded performance. The Geekbench scores of 19620 multicore and 2429 single-core corroborate this positioning.

For a turn-based tactics title like Hard West, which generally relies on single-threaded performance for game logic, AI pathfinding, and UI responsiveness, the i7-14700F is drastically over-provisioned. The data indicates that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration. The measured FPS deltas across different settings at a given resolution are not driven by CPU capability; rather, they are a function of the GPU's workload. The processor's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X with an average score of 53288 (a 0.6% delta) and the Intel Xeon 6505P with 53701 (a -0.2% delta), are all in the same performance tier, reinforcing that the i7-14700F has ample headroom for this game. The 28 threads and high boost clock ensure that frame pacing is never affected by CPU processing limits, even in the most complex tactical scenarios. The processor’s 65 W TDP and 10 nm process node are characteristics that do not directly influence the game's output here, as the limiting factor lies elsewhere in the system.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B390 is a fundamentally different component. It is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture and Panther Lake chip, built on a 3 nm process. Its memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the host system's RAM for both capacity and bandwidth, with bandwidth listed as "System Dependent." The GPU operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz, containing 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. Its raw compute is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS for FP32 operations.

The performance data for the Arc B390 is stark. It holds a 9th percentile ranking against all GPUs and an average benchmark score of 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. Its nearest rivals are all legacy or entry-level NVIDIA parts: the GeForce GT 520MX (score 1463, deltaPct 1.3), the GeForce 800M (score 1460, deltaPct 1.5), and the GeForce GT 710 (score 1443, deltaPct 2.7). This positions the Arc B390 in a performance class that is fundamentally mismatched with the i7-14700F. In Hard West, the GPU is the primary constraint. The measured FPS figures confirm this, as the combination's performance scales directly with GPU load. The system-shared memory architecture is a critical factor; unlike a discrete GPU with dedicated VRAM, the Arc B390 must contend for memory bandwidth with the CPU, which can exacerbate performance drops at higher resolutions where memory pressure increases.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and the user's tolerance for frame rate fluctuations. The data provides a clear hierarchy for each resolution.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields an average of 87 FPS, which is the highest measured for this combination and provides a fluid experience for the tactical genre. The Medium preset is also viable, with an average of 71 FPS and a minimum of 61 FPS, indicating stable performance. The High preset drops to an average of 55 FPS, which is still playable but represents a significant 16 FPS (approximately 23%) decrease from Medium. The Ultra preset falls to 41 FPS, which is noticeably less smooth. For a game where mouse responsiveness and smooth camera panning are important, the Medium preset at 1080p appears to offer the best balance, with a minimum FPS above 60.

At 2560x1440, the performance envelope shrinks considerably. The Low preset averages 55 FPS, which is borderline. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 FPS, indicating that frame pacing may suffer during intense scenes. The High preset averages 35 FPS, and Ultra averages 26 FPS. None of these 1440p settings achieve a consistent 60 FPS, so users prioritizing smoothness should stick to 1080p. If 1440p is mandatory, the Low preset is the only setting that approaches playability.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the combination is not viable for a smooth experience. The Low preset manages an average of 29 FPS, Medium averages 24 FPS, High averages 18 FPS, and Ultra averages 14 FPS. The data suggests that 4K gaming is not recommended with this hardware, as even the lowest settings fail to provide a playable frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The overall standing of this Intel Core i7-14700F and Intel Arc B390 combination within the database for Hard West is exceptionally low. The data shows it ranks 2614 out of 2949 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 11% of all configurations. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance ceiling, as the CPU is among the fastest in the database.

This ranking highlights a significant performance asymmetry. A combo featuring the i7-14700F is likely near the top of the CPU performance distribution, but the Arc B390 drags the entire system down to the bottom percentile. The benchmark results indicate that the combination's overall score is almost entirely dictated by the GPU. While the CPU's 91st percentile standing suggests superior processing ability, the GPU's 9th percentile standing effectively negates this advantage in gaming workloads. The rank of 2614 reflects a system that is severely bottlenecked, and the measured FPS data across all resolutions confirms that the graphics processor is the primary determinant of the final score.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS scaling across resolutions provides a textbook example of a GPU-limited configuration. At the High settings preset, the average frame rate drops from 55 FPS at 1920x1080 to 35 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 18 FPS at 3840x2160. This progression shows a reduction of 20 FPS (approximately 36%) when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and then a further reduction of 17 FPS (approximately 49%) when moving from 1440p to 4K.

This behavior is characteristic of a GPU that is saturated. As the resolution increases, the number of pixels to render grows exponentially, and the Arc B390's limited shading units, TMUs, and ROPs become the limiting factor. The CPU, with its massive headroom, is not the constraint; if it were, the FPS would remain relatively flat as resolution increased, since the CPU's workload (game logic, draw calls) remains similar. Instead, the FPS plummets, confirming that the graphics pipeline is the bottleneck. The drop from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution further supports this, as increasing graphical fidelity taxes the GPU more heavily, while leaving the CPU largely unaffected. The data suggests that the i7-14700F is waiting on the Arc B390 at every resolution tested.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The following is the complete measured FPS data for this combination, presented by resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080

• Low: average 87 FPS
• Medium: average 71 FPS, minimum 61 FPS, maximum 82 FPS
• High: average 55 FPS
• Ultra: average 41 FPS

2560x1440

• Low: average 55 FPS
• Medium: average 45 FPS, minimum 38 FPS, maximum 52 FPS
• High: average 35 FPS
• Ultra: average 26 FPS

3840x2160

• Low: average 29 FPS
• Medium: average 24 FPS, minimum 20 FPS, maximum 27 FPS
• High: average 18 FPS
• Ultra: average 14 FPS

These numbers paint a consistent picture. The FPS scales predictably with both resolution and settings. The delta between Low and Ultra at each resolution is significant: at 1080p, the difference is 46 FPS; at 1440p, it is 29 FPS; and at 4K, it is 15 FPS. This shrinking delta at higher resolutions is because the GPU is already so overwhelmed that the additional load from Ultra settings has a smaller absolute impact, though the relative percentage drop remains large. The minimum FPS data for the Medium preset shows that frame dips are a concern, particularly at 1440p where the minimum of 38 FPS is well below the average.

FAQ

Q: Is this combination suitable for playing Hard West at 1080p?

A: Yes, at 1080p the combination is playable. The data shows an average of 87 FPS on Low settings and 71 FPS on Medium settings, which is smooth for a turn-based tactics game. The High preset at 55 FPS is also acceptable, though not as fluid.

Q: Can this system handle 4K resolution in Hard West?

A: No. The measured data at 3840x2160 shows that even the Low preset only achieves an average of 29 FPS, with the Ultra preset dropping to 14 FPS. This is not a playable experience.

Q: Which component is the limiting factor for performance?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The Intel Arc B390 has a 9th percentile ranking and an average benchmark score of 1482, while the Intel Core i7-14700F has a 91st percentile ranking. The FPS drops significantly with increased resolution and settings, which is characteristic of a GPU that is saturated.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested combinations?

A: This combination ranks 2614 out of 2949 tested combos in the database for Hard West. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested systems, primarily due to the low performance of the graphics processor.

Q: What is the highest average FPS achievable with this hardware?

A: The highest average FPS measured is 87 FPS, which is achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Is the CPU's performance relevant to the gaming experience here?

A: The CPU's performance is not a limiting factor in this game. The i7-14700F's benchmark scores are very high, and the FPS data shows that the system is entirely constrained by the GPU, as performance changes are directly tied to graphics load rather than processor load.