Hard West

Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus pairs with the Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics in a configuration that is heavily skewed toward processor capability. The CPU is a 24-core, 24-thread part based on the Arrow Lake Refresh architecture, built on a 3 nm process by TSMC, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz. This is a desktop flagship-class processor, as evidenced by its 96th percentile ranking among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 84,003. In contrast, the Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution (IGP) with a 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs, scoring just 1,482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. The performance disparity is stark: the CPU is designed for heavy multi-threaded workloads, while the GPU is suited only for light rendering tasks. In "Hard West," a turn-based tactics game from 2015, this imbalance defines every frame rate outcome, as the integrated GPU becomes the primary bottleneck even at modest resolutions.

The measured FPS data confirms that the Arc B390 is the limiting component across all tested configurations. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 87 FPS, which drops to 41 FPS at Ultra settings—a 53% reduction purely from graphical fidelity changes. The CPU's massive compute resources—evidenced by Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51,731 and PassMark multi-thread score of 60,860—are largely idle during gameplay, as the IGP cannot feed frames fast enough to utilize them. For a 2015 title like "Hard West," which was designed for era-appropriate hardware, the CPU's 24 cores and 36 MB of L3 cache provide far more processing headroom than the game can demand. The result is a system where the GPU's 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 24 ROPs dictate playability, not the CPU's 5.80 GHz boost clock.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a 24-core, 24-thread processor with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.80 GHz, featuring 36 MB of shared L3 cache. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51,731 and single-core score of 7,303 place it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 84,003. In the context of "Hard West," a turn-based tactics game that relies on discrete simulation steps rather than continuous real-time rendering, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, AI pathfinding, and unit actions. The game's 2015 release date means its engine was optimized for processors with far fewer cores; the 290K Plus's 24 threads are overwhelmingly excessive for this workload.

Benchmark results indicate that the CPU is not the performance limiter in this combo. The nearest CPU rivals—the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (deltaPct 0.2), AMD EPYC 4584PX (deltaPct 1.1), and AMD EPYC 9135 (deltaPct 1.2)—all show negligible performance differences, confirming the 290K Plus is operating at the top of its class. However, the measured FPS data shows that even at 1080p Low, the combo only reaches 87 FPS, a figure that is modest by modern standards. This is because the Intel Arc B390, with its 1,536 shading units and 24 ROPs, is the constraining factor. The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1,482 places it in the 9th percentile, alongside rivals like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (deltaPct 1.3) and GT 710 (deltaPct 2.7), which are entry-level parts from over a decade ago.

The CPU's integrated graphics, the Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU, is technically part of the same silicon, but the discrete-like B390 IGP operates with system-shared memory and a 300 MHz base clock that boosts to 2500 MHz. For "Hard West," the game's turn-based nature means that frame rate dips are less jarring than in action titles, but the data shows that CPU-bound scenarios are virtually nonexistent. The PassMark single-thread score of 4,823 and data encryption score of 52,563 indicate a processor that excels at any computational task, yet the game's renderer cannot capitalize on this. Ultimately, the CPU's role here is to ensure that no frame is ever CPU-limited; the GPU's 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate and 120.0 GTexel/s texture rate are what determine the final output, and those figures are insufficient for smooth high-fidelity play.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this CPU-GPU combo in "Hard West"?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 87, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This drops to 55 FPS at High settings and 41 FPS at Ultra settings at the same resolution.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1,482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which is 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1,463), 1.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (1,460), and 2.5% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1,446). Its 9th percentile ranking among all GPUs indicates it is an entry-level performer.

Q: Does the CPU's 24-core configuration provide any measurable benefit in this game?

A: No. The measured FPS data shows that performance is consistently GPU-limited. Even at 4K Ultra (14 FPS) and 4K High (18 FPS), the CPU's 24 threads and 5.80 GHz boost clock cannot compensate for the GPU's limitations. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51,731 is irrelevant when the IGP can only produce 87 FPS at 1080p Low.

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

A: At 2560x1440, Low settings yield 55 FPS, while Ultra settings yield 26 FPS—a 53% reduction. Medium settings produce 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 FPS and maximum of 52 FPS, while High settings produce 35 FPS.

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

A: This combo ranks 2,614 out of 2,949 total tested combos, placing it in the bottom 11% of all configurations. The ranking reflects the GPU's weak performance, as the CPU is in the 96th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B390's memory bandwidth a factor in the game's performance?

A: The GPU uses system-shared memory with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 24 with a minimum of 20 and maximum of 27, while at 1080p Medium, the average rises to 71 FPS (min 61, max 82). The shared memory architecture likely contributes to the steep drop at higher resolutions, but the exact bandwidth is not specified in the data.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data reveals a consistent and steep performance degradation as resolution increases, confirming that the Intel Arc B390 is the limiting component. At Low settings, the combo delivers 87 FPS at 1080p, 55 FPS at 1440p, and 29 FPS at 4K. This represents a 67% drop from 1080p to 4K, which is far more severe than what would be expected if the CPU were the bottleneck. A CPU-limited scenario would show minimal FPS variation across resolutions, as the processor's workload does not scale with pixel count. Instead, the data shows that every resolution increase causes a proportional decrease in frame rate, which is the hallmark of a GPU-bound system.

At Medium settings, the pattern continues: 71 FPS at 1080p, 45 FPS at 1440p, and 24 FPS at 4K. The 4K Medium result includes a minimum of 20 FPS and maximum of 27 FPS, indicating frame time inconsistency that is typical of an underpowered GPU struggling with memory bandwidth. At High settings, the FPS drops from 55 at 1080p to 35 at 1440p and 18 at 4K. The Ultra settings show the most dramatic scaling: 41 FPS at 1080p, 26 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra figure of 14 FPS is essentially unplayable, and the gap between 1080p and 4K at Ultra is 66%, nearly identical to the Low setting drop.

This scaling behavior indicates that the GPU's 24 ROPs and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate are the primary constraints. Doubling the resolution from 1080p to 4K quadruples the pixel count, and the Arc B390 cannot maintain its fill rate under that load. The CPU's role is passive; its 115.2 GB/s memory bandwidth and DDR5 support are more than sufficient for the game's needs, but the GPU's system-shared memory architecture creates additional latency. The percentile data reinforces this: the GPU sits at the 9th percentile, while the CPU is at the 96th, meaning the combo's overall performance is dragged down by the integrated graphics. For a turn-based tactics game where players spend time planning moves, the low FPS at 4K might be tolerable, but the data clearly shows that 1080p is the only resolution where the combo approaches smooth playability.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

For the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and Intel Arc B390 combo, the measured FPS data indicates that Low settings at 1080p offer the only consistently playable experience, with an average of 87 FPS. This is the only tested configuration that exceeds the 60 FPS threshold that most players consider the minimum for smooth gameplay. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 71 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS, which is also acceptable, but the 16 FPS average reduction from Low to Medium suggests that the visual quality gains may not justify the performance cost. The 1080p High setting produces 55 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target but still playable for a turn-based game, while Ultra at 1080p yields 41 FPS, which is noticeably less fluid.

At 1440p, the best option is Low at 55 FPS, followed by Medium at 45 FPS (min 38, max 52). High at 35 FPS and Ultra at 26 FPS are both below the 30 FPS threshold that many consider the floor for acceptable playability, though the game's turn-based nature mitigates the impact of lower frame rates. At 4K, all settings are problematic: Low produces 29 FPS, Medium 24 FPS (min 20, max 27), High 18 FPS, and Ultra 14 FPS. None of these are suitable for a responsive experience, even in a slower-paced genre.

The recommendation based on the data is to prioritize 1080p with Low settings for the best balance of frame rate and visual fidelity. If the player values image quality over smoothness, 1080p Medium at 71 FPS is a viable alternative, as the 61 FPS minimum ensures that frame drops remain above playable levels. For those who insist on higher resolutions, 1440p Low at 55 FPS is the only option that approaches playability, but the 37% FPS loss compared to 1080p Low (87 to 55 FPS) is significant. The data shows that the Arc B390 is not capable of delivering a consistent 60 FPS experience at any setting above 1080p Medium, and the combo's 2,614th rank out of 2,949 combos reflects this limitation. Players should accept that this integrated graphics solution is best suited for lower resolutions and minimal graphical presets.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and Intel Arc B390 combination ranks 2,614 out of 2,949 tested combos in "Hard West," placing it in the bottom 11.4% of all configurations. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU's performance, as the CPU is a top-tier part. To contextualize this, the CPU's nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (avgScore 83,807, deltaPct 0.2) and AMD EPYC 4584PX (avgScore 83,090, deltaPct 1.1), all of which are within 1.3% of the 290K Plus's average score of 84,003. The CPU's 96th percentile ranking means it outperforms 96% of all CPUs, yet the combo still lands in the bottom 11% of game-specific results. This discrepancy highlights the GPU bottleneck clearly.

On the GPU side, the Arc B390's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (avgScore 1,463, deltaPct 1.3), GeForce 800M (avgScore 1,460, deltaPct 1.5), and GeForce GT 625 OEM (avgScore 1,446, deltaPct 2.5). These are all legacy or entry-level GPUs from the early 2010s, and the Arc B390 is within 2.7% of their performance. The GPU's 9th percentile ranking means it outperforms only 9% of all GPUs, which is consistent with its role as an integrated solution. In the context of "Hard West," the combo rank of 2,614 indicates that the vast majority of tested systems—even those with older CPUs—deliver better frame rates because they pair their processors with discrete GPUs.

The data shows that this combo is severely imbalanced: the CPU is a 96th percentile performer, while the GPU is a 9th percentile performer. The 87-point gap in percentile rankings (96th vs 9th) is one of the largest possible in the database, and it manifests in the game as a hard GPU ceiling. Even the weakest CPU rival (AMD EPYC 7F72, deltaPct -1.3) would likely achieve similar or better gaming results if paired with a more capable GPU. For players, this means that upgrading the GPU would yield massive FPS gains, while upgrading the CPU would yield none. The combo rank of 2,614 is a quantitative measure of this inefficiency, and it serves as a warning that high-end CPUs do not compensate for weak integrated graphics in gaming workloads.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data for "Hard West" with the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and Intel Arc B390 is as follows:

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 87 FPS average
• Medium: 71 FPS average, 61 FPS minimum, 82 FPS maximum
• High: 55 FPS average
• Ultra: 41 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 55 FPS average
• Medium: 45 FPS average, 38 FPS minimum, 52 FPS maximum
• High: 35 FPS average
• Ultra: 26 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 29 FPS average
• Medium: 24 FPS average, 20 FPS minimum, 27 FPS maximum
• High: 18 FPS average
• Ultra: 14 FPS average

At 1080p, the combo ranges from 41 FPS at Ultra to 87 FPS at Low, with the Medium setting providing a balanced 71 FPS and a minimum of 61 FPS that keeps frame pacing consistent. The High setting at 55 FPS is a 23% drop from Medium, indicating that the GPU's shading units and texture units are saturated by the increased effects. At 1440p, the performance falls below 60 FPS even at Low (55 FPS), and the Medium setting's minimum of 38 FPS shows significant frame drops that could cause stutter in a turn-based game's camera movements. The High and Ultra settings at 1440p (35 and 26 FPS, respectively) are borderline playable at best.

At 4K, the combo is essentially non-functional for gaming. The Low setting at 29 FPS is the only one that approaches 30 FPS, while Medium (24 FPS), High (18 FPS), and Ultra (14 FPS) all fall into unplayable territory. The frame time data for 4K Medium (min 20, max 27 FPS) shows a 7 FPS variance, indicating unstable performance. The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: the Arc B390's 24 ROPs and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate cannot handle the pixel throughput required at higher resolutions. The 1080p Low result of 87 FPS is the only configuration where the combo exceeds 60 FPS, and even that is modest compared to what a discrete GPU would achieve with this CPU. The data underscores that this combo is best restricted to 1080p with Low or Medium settings, as any other configuration produces frame rates that compromise the gameplay experience.