Hard West

Hard West is a turn-based tactics title from 2015, and the benchmark data for this combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 reveals a configuration that is heavily constrained by the graphics processor at higher settings. The measured frame rates show a clear hierarchy where the CPU provides ample headroom for the GPU, particularly at lower resolutions, while the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck as resolution and graphical fidelity increase. The data indicates that this pairing is capable of delivering smooth gameplay across most settings, though the most demanding presets at 4K will challenge the RTX 3070.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this setup to maintain a high average frame rate?

A: At 1920x1080, the configuration delivers an average of 211 FPS on Low settings and 133 FPS on High settings. At 2560x1440, the average frame rate on High settings is 84 FPS, which still provides a smooth experience. The most demanding 4K resolution with Ultra settings yields only 33 FPS on average.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to High in terms of performance?

A: The data shows a significant performance cost for the Ultra preset. At 1920x1080, the average frame rate drops from 133 FPS on High to 99 FPS on Ultra. At 2560x1440, the drop is from 84 FPS on High to 63 FPS on Ultra. At 4K, the High preset averages 44 FPS, while Ultra drops to 33 FPS.

Q: Is the GeForce RTX 3070 a limiting factor in this game?

A: Yes, the data strongly suggests the GPU is the primary limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions and settings. For instance, at 4K, the average frame rate on Low is 70 FPS, which drops to 44 FPS on High and 33 FPS on Ultra. This scaling indicates the GPU's processing capacity is the bottleneck.

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

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields an average of 133 FPS. Moving to the Medium preset reduces the average frame rate to 109 FPS. This represents a clear step down in performance for an increase in visual quality.

Q: How does this combination rank among all other tested combos for this game?

A: The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 ranks 1225 out of 2949 tested combos for Hard West. This places it in the upper half of all tested configurations.

Q: Does the game support modern graphics APIs like Vulkan?

A: The GPU specification lists support for DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. This indicates the hardware is capable of using modern APIs, though the game's specific API usage is not detailed in the data.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, based on the Ampere architecture with the GA104 chip, is the clear performance driver in this configuration for Hard West. The GPU is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its clock speeds are listed with a base of 1500 MHz and a boost of 1725 MHz, with memory running at 14 Gbps effective. The data shows that these specifications are sufficient to handle the game's demands at lower settings and resolutions, but they become strained at the highest presets.

The measured frame rates demonstrate the GPU's influence. At 1920x1080, the transition from Low to Ultra settings sees the average frame rate fall from 211 FPS to 99 FPS. This substantial drop of over 50% is a direct consequence of the increased rendering load on the GPU. At 4K, the impact is even more pronounced, with the Ultra preset achieving only 33 FPS average, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The RTX 3070's 8 GB of VRAM is not explicitly tested here, but the performance degradation at higher resolutions and settings suggests that memory capacity and bandwidth are likely contributing factors to the GPU bottleneck.

The GPU's compute capabilities, including 5888 shading units and 184 tensor cores, are more than adequate for a 2015 title like Hard West. However, the game's engine and visual effects still scale with GPU load, and the benchmark data confirms that the RTX 3070 is the component that dictates the upper limits of performance. The GPU's percentile ranking of 61 among all GPUs and its average benchmark score of 17208 further contextualize its position as a mid-to-high-range performer, which aligns with the measured results in this game.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal balance between visual fidelity and performance for this setup is the High preset. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers an average of 133 FPS, which is well above the threshold for a smooth experience. At 2560x1440, the High preset achieves an average of 84 FPS, which remains highly playable. Even at 4K, the High preset manages an average of 44 FPS, which, while not ideal for fast-paced action, is acceptable for a turn-based tactics game where frame timing is less critical.

The Ultra preset offers no advantage that justifies its performance cost. At 1080p, it delivers 99 FPS, which is a 26% reduction from High. At 1440p, the drop is more severe, falling to 63 FPS, a 25% decrease. At 4K, the Ultra preset's 33 FPS average makes it the least desirable option, as it approaches the lower bounds of playability. The data suggests that the visual improvements from Ultra are not worth the significant frame rate penalties.

For users who prioritize maximum performance, the Low preset is the clear choice. It achieves 211 FPS at 1080p and 133 FPS at 1440p, providing a highly responsive experience. However, the Medium preset, which averages 173 FPS at 1080p and 109 FPS at 1440p, offers a better balance of visual quality and speed. The Medium preset is the recommended choice for competitive or high-refresh-rate displays, as it maintains very high frame rates while improving visuals over Low.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rate data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the performance is consistently high. The Low preset achieves an average of 211 FPS. The Medium preset delivers an average of 173 FPS, with a minimum of 147 FPS and a maximum of 198 FPS. The High preset averages 133 FPS, while the Ultra preset drops to an average of 99 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong but show a clear decline from 1080p. The Low preset averages 133 FPS. The Medium preset delivers an average of 109 FPS, with a minimum of 93 FPS and a maximum of 126 FPS. The High preset averages 84 FPS, and the Ultra preset sees a significant reduction to an average of 63 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The Low preset averages 70 FPS. The Medium preset averages 57 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 66 FPS. The High preset averages 44 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to an average of 33 FPS. This data illustrates a consistent scaling pattern, where each step up in resolution or settings results in a proportional decrease in average frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 combination is ranked 1225 out of 2949 tested combos for Hard West. This places the configuration in the 58th percentile of all tested systems. The rank reflects a strong pairing that is capable of running the game smoothly at most settings, though it is not among the top-tier configurations.

The GPU's nearest rivals provide context for its performance level. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT has an average benchmark score of 17083, which is 0.7% lower than the RTX 3070's score of 17208. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 scores 17037, a 1% difference. These close scores suggest that the RTX 3070 is positioned similarly to these GPUs in overall capability. The CPU also has close rivals; the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G has an average score of 49196, which is 0.4% higher than the Core Ultra 5 245's score of 48995. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 scores 49228, a 0.5% difference.

The combination's rank of 1225 indicates that it outperforms a majority of other tested configurations. Given the game's release date, many older or lower-end systems will struggle to match these frame rates. The data shows that this pairing is well-suited for Hard West, offering a solid experience across the board.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245, part of the Core Ultra Series 2 with the Arrow Lake architecture, provides substantial processing power for this game. It features 14 cores and 14 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The CPU has 24 MB of shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. Its benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 32924 and a single-core score of 4648.

In the context of Hard West, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average frame rate of 211 FPS is likely near the upper limit of what the game engine can produce, suggesting that the CPU is not a bottleneck at this level. The CPU's single-thread performance, which is crucial for game logic and AI, is more than sufficient for a turn-based tactics title. The high frame rates at 1080p, even on High settings with 133 FPS, indicate that the CPU can feed the GPU without issue.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 90 among all CPUs and its average benchmark score of 48995 place it in the top tier of processors. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and Intel Core i5-14600K, have similar average scores, confirming its high-end status. For Hard West, this means the CPU will not be a limiting factor, allowing the GPU to be the primary determinant of performance. The data supports this conclusion, as frame rates scale predictably with resolution and settings, which are GPU-centric workloads.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 clearly demonstrates where the bottleneck lies in this system. At the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 133 FPS at 1080p to 84 FPS at 1440p, a 37% reduction. Moving to 4K, the average drops further to 44 FPS, a 67% reduction from 1080p. This pattern of significant frame rate loss with increasing resolution is a classic indicator of a GPU-limited scenario.

The Low preset shows a similar trend. At 1080p, the average is 211 FPS. At 1440p, it drops to 133 FPS, a 37% reduction. At 4K, the average is 70 FPS, a 67% reduction from the 1080p figure. The consistency of these percentage drops across different settings presets reinforces the conclusion that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would not scale so predictably with resolution, as the CPU workload remains relatively constant regardless of pixel count.

The scaling also highlights the RTX 3070's capacity. The fact that the frame rate at 4K on Low settings (70 FPS) is higher than at 1080p on Ultra (99 FPS) shows that the game's settings have a more profound impact on the GPU than resolution alone. This suggests that for users aiming for 4K, reducing settings is a more effective way to improve performance than trying to optimize the CPU. The data indicates that the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 provides a stable foundation, but the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is the component that users must manage to achieve their desired frame rate targets.