Hard West

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination lands at rank 900 out of 2949 tested combos for Hard West. That places it in the 70th percentile of all systems tested, which is a strong showing for a game that is not particularly demanding by modern standards. The data suggests this combo sits in the upper-middle tier of performance, meaning it will handle the game comfortably at most settings, but it is not among the absolute top performers. The gap between this combo and the leaders is likely due to the mobile CPU’s power constraints rather than the GPU, which is a desktop-class part.

The combo’s rank is somewhat surprising given the RTX 4080’s raw power, but Hard West is a turn-based tactics title from 2015. The game’s engine is likely single-thread bound, and the Core Ultra 7 155H’s performance in single-core workloads is solid but not exceptional. Compared to its nearest CPU rivals, the Core Ultra 7 155H scores nearly identically to the Intel Core i5-14600T and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, with a delta of 0% and 0.1% respectively. It is only slightly behind the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H by 0.4%. This tells us the CPU is not a bottleneck in synthetic multi-core tests, but the game’s actual frame pacing may depend more on single-thread speed, where the 155H’s 4.80 GHz boost clock helps.

For the GPU, the RTX 4080 is in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, which is elite territory. Its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, is just 0.1% faster, meaning the gap between them is negligible. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 1.1% slower, and the RX 6750 GRE is 2.6% slower. This indicates the GPU is more than capable of pushing high frame rates in Hard West, and the limiting factor for the combo’s rank is likely the CPU’s ability to feed it in certain scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks

The rank of 900 out of 2949 combos places this system in the top 30% of all tested configurations. That is a solid position, but it raises a question: why is a combo with such a powerful GPU not higher? The answer lies in the CPU’s mobile nature. The Core Ultra 7 155H is a 28W TDP part designed for laptops, and while it has 16 cores and 22 threads, its sustained performance under load is limited by thermals and power delivery. In a game like Hard West, which is not heavily multithreaded, the CPU’s single-thread performance becomes crucial.

The data shows the CPU’s Cinebench R23 single-core score is 1743, which is decent but not class-leading. Its multi-core score of 15028 is more impressive, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. However, Hard West likely does not scale well beyond a few cores, so the multi-core advantage is less relevant. The combo’s rank is therefore a reflection of the CPU’s single-thread capabilities holding back the GPU’s potential in certain situations.

Compared to the nearest rival combos, the gap is minimal. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 32697 is nearly identical to the i5-14600T’s 32707, with a delta of 0%. This means that swapping the 155H for a desktop i5-14600T would yield almost no difference in overall CPU performance. The GPU’s average score of 54247 is also close to the RTX 4080 SUPER’s 54209, with a delta of 0.1%. This combo is essentially at parity with its closest competitors, which is a strong endorsement of its balance.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this combo handles different quality presets. At 1080p, the Ultra preset delivers 111 FPS on average, which is smooth and playable. The High preset jumps to 148 FPS, Medium reaches 193 FPS, and Low hits 235 FPS. For most players, the Ultra preset at 1080p is the best choice because it offers the highest visual quality while still maintaining a frame rate well above the 60 FPS threshold. The jump from High to Ultra costs 37 FPS, but the visual difference in a turn-based tactics game is often worth it.

At 1440p, the story is similar. Ultra runs at 70 FPS, High at 94 FPS, Medium at 122 FPS, and Low at 149 FPS. The Ultra preset here is still viable, but the margin for error is thinner. If you want to ensure a rock-solid 60+ FPS with headroom for dips, High is the safer bet, as it offers a 24 FPS advantage over Ultra. The Medium preset at 122 FPS is overkill for this genre, but it provides a smooth experience with minimal compromise.

At 4K, the picture changes. Ultra drops to 37 FPS, which is borderline unplayable for a game that requires strategic thinking and precise clicks. High manages 49 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. Medium hits 64 FPS, which is the sweet spot for 4K, offering a playable experience with decent visuals. Low runs at 78 FPS, which is smooth but sacrifices too much visual fidelity. For 4K, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it is the only preset that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS without looking drastically worse than High.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals important information about the system’s bottleneck. At Ultra settings, the average FPS drops from 111 at 1080p to 70 at 1440p, a 37% reduction, and then to 37 at 4K, a 47% reduction from 1440p. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. The RTX 4080 is powerful, but Hard West’s rendering engine is not well optimized for modern hardware, and the GPU’s raw fill rate is being taxed at 4K.

At Low settings, the scaling is different. The FPS goes from 235 at 1080p to 149 at 1440p, a 37% drop, and then to 78 at 4K, a 48% drop. The percentage drops are similar across presets, which suggests the GPU is consistently the bottleneck. However, the absolute numbers tell a more interesting story. At 1080p Low, the CPU is likely the limiting factor, as the GPU is capable of producing higher frame rates but is held back by the CPU’s single-thread performance. The fact that the 1080p Low score is 235 FPS, not 300+, indicates the CPU is capping the frame rate.

The 4K Low score of 78 FPS is notable because it shows the GPU can still deliver playable frame rates even at the highest resolution when the visual load is light. This suggests that for players who prioritize frame rate over visuals, the Low preset at 4K is a viable option. The scaling pattern also implies that the combo is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where the GPU and CPU work in harmony to deliver high frame rates without either component becoming a severe bottleneck.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Hard West?

A: The data shows that 1440p High is the sweet spot, delivering 94 FPS on average. This provides a high frame rate with good visual quality. 4K Medium is also viable at 64 FPS, but 1440p offers a more comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K Ultra settings?

A: No, the Ultra preset at 4K averages only 37 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most users. The High preset at 49 FPS is also borderline. For 4K, the Medium preset at 64 FPS is the recommended choice.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: The evidence points to the GPU being the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, as FPS drops significantly from 1440p to 4K. At 1080p Low, the CPU appears to be the limiting factor, as the GPU is capable of higher frame rates than the 235 FPS recorded.

Q: How does this combo compare to similar systems?

A: The CPU is nearly identical in performance to the Intel Core i5-14600T, with a delta of 0%. The GPU is 0.1% slower than the RTX 4080 SUPER. This combo is essentially at parity with its closest competitors.

Q: What is the highest FPS this combo can achieve?

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 235 at 1080p with Low settings. This is likely the ceiling for this system, as the CPU’s single-thread performance limits frame rates beyond this point.

Q: Is the Ultra preset ever worth using?

A: Yes, at 1080p and 1440p. At 1080p, Ultra runs at 111 FPS, and at 1440p, it runs at 70 FPS. Both are playable, and the visual improvements in a turn-based tactics game can be appreciated. At 4K, Ultra is not recommended due to the 37 FPS average.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the dominant component in this combo, and its specifications paint a picture of a high-end part that is overqualified for Hard West. The GPU has 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth. This is more than enough for a game from 2015, which likely uses only a fraction of that memory. The 9728 shading units and 112 ROPs ensure that the GPU can handle any resolution without breaking a sweat.

The GPU’s clocks are also noteworthy, with a base of 2205 MHz and a boost of 2505 MHz. These high clocks, combined with the Ada Lovelace architecture’s efficiency, allow the RTX 4080 to deliver exceptional frame rates. However, the measured FPS data shows that the GPU is not always utilized to its full potential. At 1080p Low, the 235 FPS average is likely CPU-limited, as the GPU could theoretically push higher numbers. This is a common scenario in older games that are not optimized for modern multi-core CPUs.

The GPU’s benchmark scores confirm its power. Its Passmark G3D score of 34457 puts it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 6567 is respectable. The GPU is also well ahead of its nearest rivals in synthetic tests, with the RTX 4080 SUPER being the only card that is statistically faster. In Hard West, the GPU’s role is to provide a smooth experience at high resolutions, and the data shows it succeeds admirably up to 1440p. At 4K, the GPU’s limits are exposed, but this is more a reflection of the game’s poor optimization than the GPU’s capability.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a 16-core, 22-thread mobile processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for gaming, but its 28W TDP is a constraint. The CPU’s base clock is 3.80 GHz, and it boosts to 4.80 GHz, which is competitive with desktop parts. However, sustained performance is limited by the laptop’s cooling solution, which can cause the CPU to throttle under heavy loads.

In Hard West, the CPU’s single-thread performance is crucial, as the game’s turn-based nature means most calculations are done on a single core. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1743 is decent, but it is not enough to push frame rates beyond 235 FPS at 1080p Low. The multi-core score of 15028 is more impressive, but the game does not utilize more than a few cores effectively. The CPU’s Passmark single-thread score of 3468 is also indicative of its capability, but it falls short of the highest-performing desktop CPUs.

The CPU’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600T and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, both of which have nearly identical average benchmark scores. This means that the 155H is well-matched with its peers, and swapping it for another CPU would yield little benefit in Hard West. The CPU’s role in this combo is to provide enough single-thread performance to keep the GPU fed at 1080p and 1440p, and it does so effectively. At 4K, the CPU is not the bottleneck, as the GPU is clearly the limiting factor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 235 FPS, which is the highest score recorded. The Medium preset averages 193 FPS, with a min of 164 and a max of 222. High averages 148 FPS, and Ultra averages 111 FPS. These numbers show a clear progression, with each step up in quality costing between 20% and 25% of the frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. Low averages 149 FPS, Medium averages 122 FPS with a min of 104 and max of 140, High averages 94 FPS, and Ultra averages 70 FPS. The 1440p results are all playable, even Ultra, which maintains a 70 FPS average. This resolution is the best balance of visual quality and performance for this combo.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates drop significantly. Low averages 78 FPS, Medium averages 64 FPS with a min of 54 and max of 74, High averages 49 FPS, and Ultra averages 37 FPS. The Medium preset is the only 4K option that consistently stays above 60 FPS, though its min of 54 FPS suggests occasional dips. High and Ultra are not recommended for 4K, as they fall below the playable threshold. The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K requiring compromises in visual quality.