Hard West

# Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Hard West with the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo delivers 302 FPS average. Moving to 1440p drops that to 215 FPS, and at 4K it falls further to 113 FPS. This represents a 62.6% reduction from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, indicating that the GPU becomes progressively more loaded as pixel count rises.

The scaling behavior changes notably when examining higher settings presets. At Ultra settings, the 1080p result is 160 FPS, 1440p yields 101 FPS, and 4K drops to 53 FPS. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra is 66.9%, which is steeper than the Low preset's drop. This suggests that the additional graphical effects in the Ultra preset compound with the resolution increase, placing greater demands on the GPU's shading units and memory bandwidth.

Medium settings show an interesting intermediate pattern. At 1080p, the average is 278 FPS with a minimum of 237 FPS and maximum of 320 FPS. At 1440p, the average falls to 176 FPS with a 150-203 FPS range. At 4K, the average is 92 FPS with a 79-106 FPS range. The frame time consistency, as indicated by the min-max spread, tightens proportionally as resolution increases, which is typical behavior for a GPU-bound scenario.

The data indicates that at 1080p, even the most demanding Ultra preset produces frame rates well above 144 Hz, meaning the CPU and memory subsystem are capable of feeding the GPU sufficiently. The RTX 5080's 16 GB of GDDR7 memory and 960.0 GB/s bandwidth appear adequate for this game's demands at all tested resolutions, as the frame rate scaling follows an expected curve without anomalous drops that would suggest VRAM capacity limitations.

At 4K Ultra, the 53 FPS average indicates the GPU is the primary limiting component. The RTX 5080's 56.28 TFLOPS FP32 compute and 293.1 GPixel/s pixel rate are being fully utilized at this extreme setting. The scaling from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra shows a 66.9% performance reduction, which is consistent with a game that scales primarily with pixel throughput rather than geometry or compute complexity.

The resolution scaling analysis suggests that Hard West is a moderately demanding title for modern hardware. The 302 FPS at 1080p Low demonstrates that the combo has substantial headroom for high-refresh-rate displays when settings are reduced, while 4K Ultra at 53 FPS represents the worst-case scenario for this particular pairing.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate achievable with this combo?

A: The highest measured average is 302 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This represents the ceiling for this configuration across all tested resolution and settings combinations.

Q: How does the 4K Ultra performance compare to 1080p Ultra?

A: At 4K Ultra, the average is 53 FPS, while 1080p Ultra delivers 160 FPS. The 4K result is 66.9% lower, showing a substantial performance penalty at the highest resolution and settings combination.

Q: Are there any resolution and settings combinations that fall below 60 FPS average?

A: Yes, only one measured configuration falls below 60 FPS: 3840x2160 at Ultra settings produces a 53 FPS average. All other tested combinations exceed 71 FPS average.

Q: What frame rate range can be expected at Medium settings?

A: At Medium settings, the averages range from 92 FPS at 4K, 176 FPS at 1440p, and 278 FPS at 1080p. The minimum and maximum values recorded are 79-106 FPS at 4K, 150-203 FPS at 1440p, and 237-320 FPS at 1080p.

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

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combination ranks 151st out of 3722 tested combos for Hard West, placing it in the top 4% of all configurations.

Q: Is the RTX 5080's memory configuration sufficient for this game?

A: The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus with 960.0 GB/s bandwidth. The benchmark results show no anomalous frame rate collapses at higher resolutions that would indicate memory capacity issues.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 serves as the primary rendering engine for this combo, and its specifications directly influence the measured results. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2295 MHz and boosts to 2617 MHz, with memory running at 1875 MHz (30 Gbps effective). These clock speeds, combined with 10752 shading units, 336 TMUs, and 112 ROPs, determine the raw rasterization throughput available to Hard West.

The RTX 5080's memory subsystem is particularly relevant for this game. The 16 GB GDDR7 capacity on a 256-bit bus provides 960.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This is ample for a turn-based tactics title from 2015, and the measured frame rates confirm that memory bandwidth is not a bottleneck at any tested resolution. The 4K Ultra result of 53 FPS average indicates the GPU's compute resources, rather than memory bandwidth, are the limiting factor.

The GPU's architectural features include 84 RT cores and 336 tensor cores, though Hard West is not a ray-traced title, so these units likely contribute minimally to the measured performance. The 56.28 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 293.1 GPixel/s pixel rate are the specifications most relevant to this game's rendering workload. The texture rate of 879.3 GTexel/s ensures that texture-heavy scenes at 4K resolution can be processed without texture sampling bottlenecks.

Comparing the RTX 5080 to its nearest rivals in the benchmark database, it scores 0.6% higher than the AMD Radeon 8060S, 0.7% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, and 2.3% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE scores 2.2% higher. These close margins indicate that the RTX 5080 sits in a competitive performance tier, though these scores represent synthetic benchmarks rather than game-specific results.

The GPU's 360 W TDP and suggested 750 W PSU rating indicate substantial power requirements, but these do not directly appear in the frame rate measurements. The dual-slot cooler and 304 mm length are physical characteristics that affect installation rather than performance. The PCIe 5.0 x16 interface ensures sufficient bandwidth for data transfer, though Hard West's modest asset sizes would not stress even older bus standards.

In the context of Hard West specifically, the GPU's performance across resolutions shows a typical load curve. The 1080p results ranging from 160 to 302 FPS demonstrate that the GPU is not fully saturated at this resolution, leaving headroom for the CPU to influence results. At 4K, the 53-113 FPS range indicates the GPU becomes the dominant factor, with the Ultra preset pushing the RTX 5080 to its limits.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce 302 FPS average, Medium yields 278 FPS with a range of 237-320 FPS, High achieves 214 FPS, and Ultra drops to 160 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra represents a 47.0% reduction in average frame rate, demonstrating the significant impact of graphical settings at this resolution.

The 2560x1440 results show a clear step down from 1080p. Low settings average 215 FPS, Medium produces 176 FPS with a 150-203 FPS range, High achieves 135 FPS, and Ultra delivers 101 FPS. The reduction from 1080p to 1440p at each settings level is approximately 28-37%, which is consistent with the increased pixel count demanding more GPU resources.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops further. Low settings yield 113 FPS average, Medium produces 92 FPS with a 79-106 FPS range, High achieves 71 FPS, and Ultra drops to 53 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is the only measured configuration below 60 FPS, making it marginal for smooth gameplay on standard 60 Hz displays. The 4K Low result of 113 FPS shows that even at this high resolution, the combo can deliver high refresh rates when settings are reduced.

Comparing settings across resolutions, the relative performance gap between Low and Ultra narrows as resolution increases. At 1080p, Ultra is 47.0% slower than Low. At 1440p, the gap is 53.0%. At 4K, the gap is 53.1%. This trend indicates that at higher resolutions, the fixed cost of resolution itself consumes a larger share of GPU resources, leaving less headroom for settings-based performance differences.

The Medium settings preset provides the only configuration with complete min-max frame rate data. At 1080p, the 237-320 FPS range shows a 83 FPS spread. At 1440p, the 150-203 FPS range shows a 53 FPS spread. At 4K, the 79-106 FPS range shows a 27 FPS spread. This narrowing of frame time variance at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU becomes more consistently loaded as pixel count increases, reducing the impact of scene complexity fluctuations.

The High settings preset shows a more uniform scaling pattern. The 214 FPS at 1080p, 135 FPS at 1440p, and 71 FPS at 4K represent a consistent halving of performance for each resolution step. This linear scaling indicates that High settings impose predictable demands on the GPU, without the variable effects that Ultra settings might introduce.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 combination ranks 151st out of 3722 tested combos for Hard West. This places the configuration in the 96th percentile, meaning it outperforms approximately 96% of all tested combinations. The rank position reflects the combined capabilities of both components working together in this specific game.

The CPU component contributes to this strong ranking through its substantial compute capabilities. The i7-14700F scores 35122 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4958 in single-core, placing it in the 91st percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals in the benchmark database include the Intel Xeon 6505P with a 0.2% lower average score, the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 with a 0.3% higher score, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X with a 0.6% higher score, and the AMD EPYC 7313P with a 0.8% higher score. These close margins indicate the i7-14700F sits in a competitive performance tier.

The GPU also ranks strongly with an 87th percentile position among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 56083 places it near the AMD Radeon 8060S (0.6% higher), AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (0.7% higher), and AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (2.3% higher). The AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE outperforms it by 2.2%. These synthetic benchmark scores suggest the RTX 5080 is a high-performing GPU, though game-specific results can vary.

The combination ranking of 151st out of 3722 suggests that while both components are individually strong, their pairing is particularly effective for Hard West. The game's turn-based tactics genre typically does not demand extreme frame rates, but the high ranking indicates this combo handles the game's rendering requirements with substantial headroom.

The rank position also implies that there are 150 combinations that perform better in Hard West, likely featuring higher-tier GPUs or CPUs. However, the 3722 total combinations mean this configuration outperforms 3571 others, a significant achievement considering the breadth of hardware combinations tested.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium settings preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance across all resolutions. At 1080p, Medium delivers 278 FPS average with a 237-320 FPS range, providing frame rates far beyond what any display can show while maintaining smooth minimums. At 1440p, the 176 FPS average with a 150-203 FPS range keeps performance well above 144 Hz, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. Even at 4K, the 92 FPS average with a 79-106 FPS range stays comfortably above 60 FPS.

For players prioritizing maximum visual fidelity, the Ultra preset is viable at 1080p and 1440p. The 160 FPS at 1080p and 101 FPS at 1440p remain smooth, though the 4K Ultra result of 53 FPS average falls below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for acceptable gameplay. This makes 4K Ultra a marginal choice that may require accepting occasional frame rate dips.

The High settings preset provides a middle ground between Medium and Ultra. At 1080p, 214 FPS average offers excellent fluidity. At 1440p, 135 FPS remains above 120 Hz, suitable for high refresh displays. At 4K, 71 FPS average stays above 60 FPS, making this the highest settings preset that maintains playable performance at all tested resolutions.

The Low settings preset maximizes frame rates at every resolution, with 302 FPS at 1080p, 215 FPS at 1440p, and 113 FPS at 4K. This preset is recommended for competitive play or for users with very high refresh rate displays who prioritize frame rate over visual quality. The 113 FPS at 4K Low demonstrates that even at maximum resolution, the combo can achieve high frame rates when graphical effects are minimized.

For most users, Medium settings at 1440p or 4K represents the optimal choice. The 176 FPS at 1440p provides excellent responsiveness, while the 92 FPS at 4K offers a good balance of resolution and smoothness. The relatively narrow min-max range at Medium settings (150-203 FPS at 1440p, 79-106 FPS at 4K) indicates consistent frame pacing without significant stutters.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F provides the processing foundation for this combo, and its specifications influence the measured results primarily at lower resolutions. The CPU features 20 cores and 28 threads, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This high boost clock is particularly relevant for gaming, as most games including Hard West rely heavily on single-threaded performance.

The CPU's cache hierarchy includes 80 KB L1 per core, 2 MB L2 per core, and 33 MB shared L3 cache. This substantial cache allocation helps reduce memory latency for frequently accessed game data. The CPU supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory on a dual-channel bus, though the specific memory configuration used in testing is not specified in the data.

The i7-14700F's benchmark results show strong single-threaded performance with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4958 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2429. These scores indicate the CPU can handle the AI calculations and game logic that Hard West requires. The multi-core performance is also robust, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and Geekbench multi-core score of 19620.

In the context of Hard West's measured frame rates, the CPU's role becomes more apparent at 1080p where GPU load is lower. The 302 FPS at 1080p Low suggests the CPU can feed the GPU with enough draw calls to achieve very high frame rates. However, the game's turn-based nature means that even demanding scenes involve fewer simultaneous entities than real-time strategy or action games, reducing CPU pressure.

The CPU's 65 W TDP indicates efficient power consumption, and its Intel Socket 1700 compatibility makes it a drop-in upgrade for many existing systems. The processor's 91st percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53620, confirms its position as a high-performance desktop processor. The nearest rival comparisons show it is essentially tied with the Xeon 6505P, Xeon Phi 7290, Ryzen 9 7900X, and EPYC 7313P, with all deltas under 1%.

The CPU's PCIe Gen 5 support with 16 lanes provides ample bandwidth for the RTX 5080's PCIe 5.0 x16 interface. This ensures no data transfer bottlenecks between the processor and GPU. The lack of integrated graphics on the i7-14700F means all display output must come from the discrete GPU, which is standard for gaming configurations.

The measured frame rates at 1080p, where CPU influence is typically strongest, show significant differences between settings presets. The 302 FPS at Low versus 160 FPS at Ultra suggests that while the CPU can support high frame rates, the GPU's workload at higher settings becomes the limiting factor even at 1080p. This indicates a well-balanced pairing where neither component severely bottlenecks the other.