Hard West

Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from late 2015, responds dramatically to the hardware combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090. The measured frame rates across three resolutions and four settings presets show a system that is overwhelmingly capable, often exceeding the refresh rates of typical displays. The data indicates that the primary bottleneck in this pairing shifts depending on the resolution, moving from the CPU at 1080p to the GPU at 4K, with the RTX 5090’s immense memory and bandwidth ensuring that even the most demanding configurations remain highly playable.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario at higher pixel counts. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 234 FPS at 1920x1080 to 148 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 78 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 37% decrease from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 47% decrease from 1440p to 4K. The scaling at Low settings is even more pronounced in absolute terms, with the 353 FPS at 1080p dropping to 235 FPS at 1440p and then to 123 FPS at 4K, showing that the GPU is doing progressively more work as the pixel count increases.

The pattern at Medium settings is similar, with averages of 304 FPS at 1080p, 192 FPS at 1440p, and 101 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows the most constrained scaling, starting at 175 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 111 FPS at 1440p, and settling at 58 FPS at 4K. The consistent proportional drops across all presets suggest that the RTX 5090 is the limiting factor once the resolution rises, as the CPU has ample headroom to feed the GPU frames at lower pixel counts. At 1080p, the high frame rates, particularly the 353 FPS at Low, suggest the CPU is the primary arbiter of performance, as the GPU is not being fully taxed. The data implies that for the best balance of visual fidelity and speed, users should look to the 1440p tier, where the system can still deliver well over 100 FPS on the highest settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the dominant component in this pairing, and its specifications align with the measured results. The GPU’s 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus provides a massive 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. This is crucial for Hard West, as even at 4K Ultra, the average frame rate of 58 FPS indicates the GPU is processing a significant amount of data without running into memory capacity limits. The architecture, Blackwell 2.0, with 21,760 shading units and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, delivers the raw compute power necessary to push the high pixel counts, with the FP32 throughput of 104.8 TFLOPS being a key metric for shader-heavy scenes.

The memory clocks of 1750 MHz, effective 28 Gbps, work in tandem with the 512-bit interface to prevent bandwidth from being a limiting factor. This is evident in the scaling from Medium to High at 4K, where the average FPS drops from 101 to 78, a 23% reduction that is consistent with increased graphical load rather than a memory bottleneck. The RTX 5090’s performance percentile of 92 among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 79,842, places it at the top tier of hardware, and the measured in-game results reflect this. The GPU’s ability to maintain a 78 FPS average at 4K High, a settings level that typically introduces more complex lighting and shadow calculations, underscores its capability in this title. The data suggests that the RTX 5090 is the clear driver of performance at 1440p and 4K, where its compute and memory resources are fully engaged.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings preset depends heavily on the target resolution and refresh rate. At 1920x1080, even the Ultra preset, with an average of 175 FPS, provides a smooth experience on high-refresh-rate monitors. The Low preset’s 353 FPS is far beyond the capability of most displays, making it a less practical choice. The Medium preset, at 304 FPS, offers a negligible visual downgrade from High for a significant frame rate increase, but all options at 1080p are effectively overkill.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the standout choice, delivering an average of 148 FPS. This is sufficient for 144Hz monitors and provides a substantial visual upgrade over Medium, which runs at 192 FPS. The Ultra preset at 111 FPS is also viable for 120Hz displays, but the 25% frame rate drop from High makes it a less balanced option. For 4K, the Medium preset, with an average of 101 FPS, is the only option that consistently breaks the 100 FPS barrier, and its minimum FPS of 86 is still respectable. The High preset at 78 FPS is the better choice for players prioritizing visual quality over raw speed, as it remains playable on standard 60Hz displays and offers a richer scene. The Ultra preset at 58 FPS is the most demanding, and while it is technically playable, the low average frame rate makes it the least recommended for competitive or fast-paced play. The data suggests that Medium at 4K offers the best compromise between frame rate and visual fidelity, while High at 1440p is the sweet spot for the majority of users.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system produces exceptional frame rates across all presets. The Low settings average 353 FPS, with no minimum or maximum recorded. Medium settings average 304 FPS, with a minimum of 258 FPS and a maximum of 350 FPS. High settings average 234 FPS, and Ultra settings average 175 FPS. The transition from Low to Ultra represents a 50% reduction in frame rate, but even the lowest figure is far above what is needed for smooth gameplay.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but show a clear scaling pattern. Low settings average 235 FPS. Medium settings average 192 FPS, with a minimum of 163 FPS and a maximum of 221 FPS. High settings average 148 FPS, and Ultra settings average 111 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is noticeable, with the High preset seeing a 37% reduction in average FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system begins to show its limits. Low settings average 123 FPS. Medium settings average 101 FPS, with a minimum of 86 FPS and a maximum of 116 FPS. High settings average 78 FPS, and Ultra settings average 58 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K is the only configuration measured that dips below the 60 FPS mark, indicating that this is the most demanding scenario for the RTX 5090 in Hard West. The data shows a consistent performance hierarchy, with Low being the fastest and Ultra being the slowest at every resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and RTX 5090 in Hard West?

A: The data indicates that 2560x1440 on High settings, with an average of 148 FPS, provides the best balance of visual quality and speed. At this resolution, the system is not as CPU-bound as at 1080p, nor as GPU-bound as at 4K, resulting in a high frame rate that exceeds the refresh rate of most monitors.

Q: Is the RTX 5090 able to run Hard West at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes. The measured results show an average of 78 FPS at 4K High settings and 101 FPS at 4K Medium settings. Even the most demanding 4K Ultra preset maintains an average of 58 FPS, which is on par with standard 60Hz display refresh rates.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance at lower resolutions?

A: At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high, with Low settings hitting 353 FPS. This suggests that the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, with its 24 cores and boost clock of 5.50 GHz, is the limiting factor at this resolution, as the RTX 5090 has ample headroom to render frames faster than the CPU can deliver them.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: The average frame rate drops from 235 FPS at Low settings to 111 FPS at Ultra settings at 2560x1440. This represents a 53% reduction in performance, highlighting the significant graphical load imposed by the Ultra preset.

Q: Does the RTX 5090 have enough memory for Hard West at 4K?

A: The RTX 5090 has 32 GB of GDDR7 memory. The measured frame rates at 4K, even at Ultra settings, do not indicate any memory capacity issues, as the average FPS remains consistent with the expected performance scaling from lower settings.

Q: Is the RTX 5090’s performance in Hard West consistent with its benchmark scores?

A: The GPU’s average benchmark score of 79,842 places it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. The measured in-game frame rates, which exceed 100 FPS at 4K Medium, are consistent with a top-tier graphics card that is well-suited for this title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus plays a crucial role in ensuring the RTX 5090 is not starved of data, particularly at lower resolutions. With 24 cores and 24 threads, the CPU provides a high level of parallel processing capability. Its benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 44,253 and a single-core score of 2,439, indicating robust performance in both heavily threaded and lightly threaded workloads. The boost clock of 5.50 GHz is particularly relevant for games like Hard West, which may rely on a few primary threads for game logic and AI.

The CPU’s performance percentile of 96 among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 93,785, places it slightly below rivals like the AMD EPYC 4564P, which has a deltaPct of -1.5. However, in the context of gaming, the Ultra 7 270K Plus’s high single-thread performance, as evidenced by its Passmark single-thread score of 5,068, is more critical. The data shows that at 1080p, the frame rates are high enough to suggest that the CPU is the bottleneck, as the GPU could theoretically render more frames if given the chance. The 24 cores and 24 threads ensure that background tasks and game engine processes do not interfere with frame delivery, maintaining a smooth experience. The CPU’s architecture, Arrow Lake Refresh, with 36 MB of shared L3 cache, provides fast access to frequently used data, which helps maintain consistent frame times. Overall, the CPU is a capable partner for the RTX 5090, ensuring that the GPU is fully utilized at 1440p and 4K, where the graphical load is higher.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 ranks 26th out of 2,949 tested combos in Hard West. This places it in the top 1% of all system configurations tested for this game, indicating that it is a high-end pairing that delivers exceptional performance. The rank reflects the synergy between the two components, where the CPU’s strong single-thread performance and the GPU’s massive compute and memory resources work together to produce the high frame rates seen in the measured data.

This high ranking is supported by the individual component standings. The CPU is in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, and while its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Xeon 6520P, have an identical average score, the gaming-oriented design of the Ultra 7 270K Plus gives it an edge in scenarios that require rapid single-thread responses. The GPU is in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, with its average score of 79,842 being slightly higher than the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB, which has a deltaPct of 0.3. The combination of a top-tier CPU and GPU ensures that the system is well-balanced for Hard West, with no single component being a glaring bottleneck in most scenarios. The 26th rank out of 2,949 combos confirms the overall capability of this hardware pairing, making it a top choice for players seeking maximum performance in this title.