Hard West

# Hard West with Intel Core Ultra 7 155H + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 delivers a playable but uneven experience in Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015. The data shows a clear pattern: at 1080p the combination is capable of high frame rates, but 4K Ultra settings drop to just 25 FPS average. The measured results place this combo at rank 1950 out of 2949 tested combinations, which is below the median but not at the bottom. The RTX 5060’s 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus become the primary limiting factors at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s 16 cores and 22 threads are more than sufficient for this genre.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 101 at 1920x1080 to 64 at 2560x1440, a 37% reduction, and then further to 34 at 3840x2160, a 47% reduction from 1440p. This steep decline in performance as resolution increases indicates that the RTX 5060 is the limiting component, not the CPU.

The pattern holds across all settings presets. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 161 at 1080p to 102 at 1440p (37% drop) and then to 53 at 4K (48% drop from 1440p). At Medium settings, the figures are 132, 83, and 44 FPS respectively, with the 4K result representing a 47% decline from 1440p. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling: 76 FPS at 1080p, 48 FPS at 1440p (37% drop), and just 25 FPS at 4K (48% drop).

The consistency of these percentage drops across all settings confirms that resolution scaling is uniform, regardless of graphical complexity. This is characteristic of a GPU bottleneck. The RTX 5060, with its 128-bit memory bus and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, simply cannot sustain the pixel throughput required at 4K. The fact that even Low settings at 4K only achieve 53 FPS average, while the same settings at 1080p produce 161 FPS, underscores that the memory bandwidth and fill rate limitations are the primary constraints.

Interestingly, the scaling from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings (161 to 102 FPS) shows a slightly larger relative drop than from 1440p to 4K (102 to 53 FPS), suggesting that the GPU’s compute resources are also being taxed, not just memory bandwidth. For a turn-based tactics game like Hard West, these frame rates are generally acceptable, but the data clearly indicates that 4K gaming with this combo requires significant settings compromises.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process node and features 3840 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. Its base clock of 2280 MHz and boost clock of 2497 MHz are relatively high, but the GPU’s performance in Hard West is more strongly influenced by its memory subsystem. The 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is modest for a modern GPU and proves inadequate for 4K gaming in this title.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 26331. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon 860M (avgScore 26401, deltaPct -0.3), the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 (avgScore 26421, deltaPct -0.3), and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT (avgScore 26011, deltaPct 1.2). The RX 6750 XT is 1.2% ahead, while the 860M and MX550 are essentially tied. This places the RTX 5060 in a competitive mid-range position, but the 8 GB VRAM capacity is a notable concern for modern titles.

In Hard West specifically, the memory capacity appears sufficient at 1080p and 1440p, where the game is not particularly demanding. However, at 4K, the combination of 8 GB VRAM and limited bandwidth results in the frame rates dropping to 25-53 FPS depending on settings. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 20891 and DirectX 12 score of 77 provide additional context for its overall capabilities, but the measured FPS data is the most relevant indicator for this game.

The RTX 5060’s 19.18 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 119.9 GPixel/s pixel rate are respectable figures, but they do not translate into playable 4K performance in Hard West at high presets. The 30 RT cores and 120 tensor cores are present, though Hard West is a turn-based tactics game that does not appear to utilize ray tracing or DLSS features in this dataset.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 1950 out of 2949 tested combinations in Hard West. This places it in the 66th percentile of all combos, meaning roughly two-thirds of tested systems perform better in this game. The ranking reflects the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions, as the CPU is more than capable of handling the game’s demands.

The CPU itself ranks in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 32697. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600T (avgScore 32707, deltaPct 0), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 (avgScore 32662, deltaPct 0.1), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H (avgScore 32812, deltaPct -0.4). The Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H is 0.4% ahead, while the Core i5-14600T is essentially identical in performance. This indicates the CPU is a strong performer, but it cannot compensate for the GPU’s shortcomings at 4K.

The combo rank of 1950 out of 2949 suggests that while the individual components are solid, their pairing is not optimized for Hard West’s specific demands. The GPU’s 72nd percentile ranking combined with the CPU’s 83rd percentile ranking would suggest a higher overall position, but the game’s resolution scaling characteristics penalize the GPU more heavily than the CPU benefits. The data implies that systems with stronger GPUs and weaker CPUs would likely rank higher in this game, as the CPU is rarely the bottleneck.

For context, the combo rank means that 999 tested combinations perform worse than this pairing, while 1950 perform better. This is a below-median result for a mid-range mobile CPU and desktop-class GPU combination. The turn-based nature of Hard West makes these frame rates more tolerable than in fast-paced genres, but the ranking still reflects the GPU’s inability to maintain high FPS at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers strong performance across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 161 FPS, Medium achieves 132 FPS with a range of 112-151 FPS, High reaches 101 FPS, and Ultra drops to 76 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1080p gaming is smooth even at the highest preset, with no settings compromise necessary for a playable experience.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain respectable but begin to show the GPU’s limitations. Low settings average 102 FPS, Medium averages 83 FPS with a range of 71-96 FPS, High averages 64 FPS, and Ultra drops to 48 FPS. The 1440p results are playable across all presets, though Ultra settings may feel less fluid for users accustomed to higher refresh rates.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes marginal. Low settings average 53 FPS, Medium averages 44 FPS with a range of 37-50 FPS, High averages 34 FPS, and Ultra drops to just 25 FPS. The 4K results show that only Low settings approach acceptable frame rates, and even then, the 53 FPS average is not ideal for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset at 25 FPS is essentially unplayable for most users, even in a turn-based game.

The Medium preset at each resolution provides the most balanced data, with min and max FPS recorded. At 1080p, the range is 112-151 FPS; at 1440p, it is 71-96 FPS; and at 4K, it is 37-50 FPS. These ranges show consistent performance without major frame time spikes, which is positive for a turn-based tactics game where steady frame delivery matters more than peak FPS.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo capable of playing Hard West at 4K?

A: The data shows that at 4K, only Low settings achieve an average of 53 FPS. Medium averages 44 FPS, High averages 34 FPS, and Ultra averages 25 FPS. For smooth gameplay, users should stick to 1080p or 1440p, or accept significant settings reductions at 4K.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 compare to its nearest rivals in overall GPU benchmarks?

A: The RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26331. The AMD Radeon 860M scores 26401 (0.3% lower), the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 scores 26421 (0.3% lower), and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT scores 26011 (1.2% higher). These are very close results, indicating similar overall performance.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: At 1440p, High settings average 64 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings average 83 FPS with a range of 71-96 FPS, offering a better balance. Ultra drops to 48 FPS, which may be acceptable for turn-based gameplay but is less fluid.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The resolution scaling data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor. Frame rates drop by roughly 37-48% when moving from 1440p to 4K across all settings, which is characteristic of a GPU bottleneck. The CPU’s 83rd percentile ranking and strong benchmark scores support this conclusion.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations in Hard West?

A: This combo ranks 1950 out of 2949 tested combinations. This places it in the 66th percentile, meaning about two-thirds of tested systems perform better. The ranking reflects the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions.

Q: What are the CPU’s key specifications and benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H has 16 cores and 22 threads with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 4.80 GHz. It scores 15028 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 1743 in single-core, and 24873 in PassMark multithread. Its average benchmark score is 32697, ranking in the 83rd percentile.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a 16-core, 22-thread mobile processor from the Core Ultra Series 1, built on the Meteor Lake architecture using a 7 nm process. Its base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 4.80 GHz are strong for a mobile chip, and the 24 MB of shared L3 cache provides ample capacity for game data. The CPU’s PassMark multithread score of 24873 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15028 indicate robust multi-threaded performance.

In Hard West, a turn-based tactics game, the CPU is rarely the bottleneck. The game’s computational demands are modest compared to modern AAA titles, and the 155H’s 83rd percentile ranking among all CPUs means it outpaces the vast majority of processors in general benchmarks. The CPU’s nearest rivals—the Intel Core i5-14600T, AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H—all score within 0.4% of the 155H, confirming its competitive position.

The resolution scaling data provides indirect evidence of the CPU’s sufficiency. If the CPU were the limiting factor, frame rates would scale more linearly with resolution changes, or would show a plateau at lower resolutions. Instead, the consistent 37-48% drops from 1440p to 4K across all settings presets point to the GPU as the constraint. The CPU’s 22 threads and high boost clock ensure that even at 1080p Low settings, where the GPU produces 161 FPS, the processor can feed frames without becoming a bottleneck.

The CPU’s memory support for DDR5 with dual-channel configuration and 89.6 GB/s bandwidth is adequate for this game’s requirements. The integrated Arc Xe-LPG 128EU graphics are present but irrelevant to the measured results, as the discrete RTX 5060 handles rendering. The CPU’s PCIe Gen 5 support with 8 lanes provides sufficient bandwidth for the GPU, though the RTX 5060’s PCIe 5.0 x8 interface is more than enough for this title.

In summary, the data shows that the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a capable processor for Hard West, but its performance is overshadowed by the RTX 5060’s limitations at higher resolutions. The combo’s 1950th place ranking out of 2949 systems is driven primarily by the GPU, and users seeking better 4K performance would need a more powerful graphics card rather than a faster CPU. At 1080p and 1440p, however, this pairing delivers solid frame rates across all settings, making it a viable option for turn-based tactics enthusiasts who prioritize resolution over absolute performance.