Hard West

Hard West, a turn-based tactics title from 2015, presents an interesting case study for the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination. The measured frame rates across resolutions and settings reveal a system that scales predictably, with the GPU emerging as the primary bottleneck at higher visual fidelity. This analysis walks through the data to explain the performance profile of this specific pairing.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and clearly illustrates the role of the graphics card in this configuration. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 117 FPS at 1920x1080 to 74 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 39 FPS at 3840x2160. That represents a 37% reduction in performance when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 47% reduction when stepping up to 4K. The scaling is consistent, indicating that the RTX 4060’s compute and memory resources are being taxed progressively as pixel count increases.

The pattern holds across other settings presets. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 186 FPS at 1080p to 118 FPS at 1440p and then to 62 FPS at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is 68 FPS, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is 56 FPS. This suggests that while the GPU is the limiting factor at all resolutions, the relative cost of each additional pixel is slightly lower at the highest resolution, possibly due to other system bottlenecks becoming more relevant. For Medium settings, the averages are 152 FPS at 1080p, 96 FPS at 1440p, and 51 FPS at 4K.

The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling, with averages of 88 FPS at 1080p, 55 FPS at 1440p, and just 29 FPS at 4K. The difference between 1440p and 4K is 26 FPS, which is a significant drop that pushes the experience below the generally accepted threshold for smooth gameplay. The data clearly indicates that at 4K, even the High preset struggles to maintain 40 FPS, making 1440p the practical ceiling for this combination if aiming for higher frame rates. The resolution scaling behavior confirms that the RTX 4060 is the dominant factor in determining performance, as the CPU’s capabilities are not challenged by the increased pixel workload in this turn-based title.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus is a high-end desktop processor with 24 cores and 24 threads, base clock of 3.70 GHz, and boost clock of 5.80 GHz. It belongs to the Core Ultra Series 2 and is built on a 3 nm process. In the context of Hard West, a game that is not known for heavy multi-threaded CPU demands, this processor provides a massive amount of headroom. The benchmark results show that the CPU’s role is to ensure that the GPU is never starved of data, and the high single-thread performance is particularly relevant for game logic and turn-based calculations.

The CPU’s benchmark scores are impressive, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 51731 and a single-core score of 7303. Its Passmark multi-thread score is 60860, and single-thread score is 4823. These figures place the CPU in the 96th percentile when compared to all other CPUs, indicating it is one of the fastest available. However, the game’s performance scaling with resolution strongly suggests that the CPU is not the bottleneck. The fact that frame rates drop by roughly half when going from 1440p to 4K at the same settings is a classic sign of GPU limitation, as the CPU workload remains relatively constant regardless of resolution.

The nearest rivals for this CPU are the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which scores 0.2% higher on average, and the AMD EPYC 4584PX, which scores 1.1% lower. The performance difference between these high-end parts is negligible in a gaming scenario. The data shows that the CPU’s massive compute power is largely underutilized in Hard West, as the game’s frame rates are dictated by the graphics card. The high boost clock of 5.80 GHz and the substantial L3 cache of 36 MB ensure that any single-threaded tasks are handled with minimal latency, but the measured FPS numbers do not indicate any CPU-related performance ceiling being hit at any resolution or setting.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the clear performance limiter in this pairing. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz. Its architecture is Ada Lovelace, built on a 5 nm process. In the context of Hard West, the GPU’s role is to handle all the rendering, and the measured FPS data indicates that its capabilities are stretched at higher resolutions and settings.

The RTX 4060’s benchmark scores show it is a mid-range performer. Its Passmark G3D score is 19545, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2302. The GPU is in the 61st percentile when compared to all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which scores 0.2% lower, and the AMD Radeon 780M, which scores 0.3% higher. This places the RTX 4060 in a specific performance tier that is adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming but struggles with 4K in more demanding titles.

The GPU’s memory configuration is a key factor. With 8 GB of VRAM, it is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p at most settings, but the Ultra preset at 4K may push against memory limits, contributing to the low 29 FPS average. The 128-bit memory bus, while efficient, limits the memory bandwidth compared to wider-bus cards. The data shows that the GPU is the primary determinant of performance: at 1080p Low, it achieves 186 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it drops to 29 FPS. This is a classic GPU-bound scenario where the processor has ample headroom. The GPU’s TDP of 115 W indicates it is a power-efficient part, but its raw compute power is not sufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K in this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 1574 out of 2949 tested combos in Hard West. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the ranking, which is somewhat surprising given the high-end CPU. The ranking is likely pulled down by the GPU, which is not a top-tier performer. The data shows that the combo’s performance is directly tied to the GPU’s limitations, as the CPU is more than capable of handling the game’s demands.

The rank of 1574 out of 2949 means that a significant number of other CPU and GPU combinations deliver higher frame rates in this game. This is consistent with the idea that the RTX 4060 is the bottleneck. For instance, combos with a similar CPU but a much more powerful GPU would rank higher, as would combos with a mid-range CPU and a high-end GPU. The ranking is a holistic measure that reflects the average performance across all tested settings and resolutions, and the RTX 4060’s struggles at 4K and Ultra settings drag down the overall position.

The CPU’s percentile ranking of 96 compared to all CPUs is excellent, but this does not translate to a top-tier combo ranking in Hard West. The GPU’s percentile ranking of 61 is more modest, and it is this component that defines the combo’s position. The data indicates that this pairing is well-balanced for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it is not optimized for high-refresh-rate 4K or the most demanding visual presets. The combo’s rank of 1574 suggests that while it is a capable system, there is substantial headroom for improvement by pairing the CPU with a more powerful GPU.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with High settings?

A: The average frame rate at 1920x1080 with High settings is 117 FPS.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming well?

A: At 3840x2160, the average frame rate is 62 FPS on Low, 51 FPS on Medium, 39 FPS on High, and 29 FPS on Ultra. The data shows that only the Low preset provides a consistently smooth experience above 60 FPS at 4K.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003, which is 0.2% lower than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and 1.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 4584PX.

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

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the limiting factor. Frame rates scale heavily with resolution and settings, which is a characteristic of GPU-bound performance, while the CPU’s high benchmark scores suggest it has ample headroom.

Q: What is the GPU’s launch MSRP?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 has a launch MSRP of 299 USD.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 96, with a minimum of 82 FPS and a maximum of 111 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired smoothness. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers an average of 117 FPS, which is excellent for a turn-based tactics game. The Ultra preset at 1080p still provides a very playable 88 FPS average. For most users at 1080p, the High or Ultra preset is recommended, as both offer a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the High preset is the best balance, achieving an average of 74 FPS. The Medium preset offers a higher 96 FPS average but with less visual fidelity. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 55 FPS, which might be acceptable for a slower-paced game but is not ideal. The data suggests that High at 1440p is the sweet spot for this combo, providing a solid frame rate without compromising too much on visual quality.

For 3840x2160, the options are more limited. The Low preset is the only one that maintains an average above 60 FPS, at 62 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 51 FPS, and High falls to 39 FPS. The Ultra preset is not recommended, as it averages only 29 FPS. If playing at 4K is a priority, the Low preset is the only viable option for a smooth experience, but users may prefer to lower the resolution to 1440p and use higher settings for a better overall visual experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following is a detailed breakdown of the measured average FPS for each resolution and settings preset.

1920x1080:

• Low: 186 FPS average.
• Medium: 152 FPS average, with a minimum of 129 FPS and a maximum of 175 FPS.
• High: 117 FPS average.
• Ultra: 88 FPS average.

2560x1440:

• Low: 118 FPS average.
• Medium: 96 FPS average, with a minimum of 82 FPS and a maximum of 111 FPS.
• High: 74 FPS average.
• Ultra: 55 FPS average.

3840x2160:

• Low: 62 FPS average.
• Medium: 51 FPS average, with a minimum of 43 FPS and a maximum of 58 FPS.
• High: 39 FPS average.
• Ultra: 29 FPS average.

The data shows a clear and consistent progression. At each resolution, the frame rate decreases as the settings increase from Low to Ultra. The most significant drop occurs between Medium and High at 1440p, where the average falls from 96 FPS to 74 FPS. At 4K, the drop from Low to Medium is 11 FPS, and from Medium to High is 12 FPS. The performance characteristics are predictable, with the GPU’s workload scaling directly with the chosen preset. The minimum FPS numbers, where available, show that the frame time consistency is maintained, with the lowest minimum being 43 FPS at 4K Medium. Overall, this breakdown provides a complete picture of the performance envelope for this hardware combination in Hard West.