Red Dead Redemption 2

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 lands at rank 2933 out of 3714 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. That places this build in the lower-middle portion of the database, meaning it sits ahead of roughly 21% of all recorded configurations but trails the majority of systems tested with this game. For a six-core CPU from 2022 and a GPU that launched in early 2019, this ranking reflects a pairing that was never intended for high-refresh or maxed-out 4K play, but rather for dependable 1080p and modest 1440p sessions.

The CPU itself holds a 73rd percentile standing among all processors in the database, which is respectable for a budget-oriented chip. Its average benchmark score of 19593 places it nearly dead-even with the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 (19617, deltaPct -0.1) and the Intel Core i5-12500 (19668, deltaPct -0.4), while edging out the Intel Core i7-10700F (19499, deltaPct 0.5) and trailing the Intel Core i5-11600KF (19723, deltaPct -0.7). These deltas are all within a single percentage point, indicating that the 5500's raw compute performance is squarely in the middle of a tight cluster of mid-range rivals.

The RTX 2060, by contrast, sits at the 58th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15290. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 (15283, deltaPct 0), the AMD Radeon 680M (15270, deltaPct 0.1), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (15199, deltaPct 0.6), and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 (15171, deltaPct 0.8). All of these deltas are positive, meaning the RTX 2060 actually outscores each of them, but only by fractions of a percent. The practical takeaway is that this GPU performs essentially identically to a modern integrated graphics solution from AMD and a last-gen entry-level NVIDIA card, which tells you where it stands in the current landscape.

The combination of a mid-pack CPU and a lower-mid-pack GPU produces the observed in-game rank. The data shows that the RTX 2060's 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for 1080p, but the card's 192-bit bus and 1920 shading units become limiting factors as resolution climbs. Meanwhile, the Ryzen 5 5500's six Zen 3 cores and 12 threads provide enough headroom to avoid being the primary bottleneck at most settings, though the CPU's PCIe Gen 3 interface and 16 MB of L3 cache do cap its ability to feed the GPU in certain scenarios.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 brings six cores and twelve threads to this pairing, running at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boosting up to 4.20 GHz. It is built on TSMC's 7 nm process with the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Cezanne, and features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a 16 MB L3 cache. The chip supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s and connects to the rest of the system via PCIe Gen 3. Its power envelope is a modest 65 W TDP, and it uses the AMD Socket AM4 platform.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU's role is to maintain a consistent frame pacing across the game's dense open-world environments, where NPC counts, physics calculations, and draw-call processing can spike. The benchmark results indicate that the 5500's single-thread performance is adequate for this title, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2319 and Geekbench single-core score of 1730. Multi-threaded results are also solid, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16429 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 7976, but the game does not appear to scale heavily beyond eight threads based on the 3DMark results: 5386 for 16 threads versus 4593 for 8 threads, showing only a modest gain from adding more threads.

The CPU's percentile rank of 73 versus all other processors, combined with its near-identical average score to the Intel Core i5-12500 (deltaPct -0.4) and AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 (deltaPct -0.1), suggests that it delivers exactly the kind of mid-range compute throughput this game expects. The 5500's 12 threads are enough to avoid stuttering in most scenes, but the data does not show this chip pulling ahead of its rivals in a way that would meaningfully change the gaming experience. Instead, it performs as a steady, unremarkable workhorse that keeps the GPU fed at lower resolutions but fades into the background at higher ones.

At 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom to let the RTX 2060 stretch its legs, which is why the Low preset hits 85 FPS average. As resolution increases to 1440p and 4K, the CPU's contribution diminishes relative to the GPU's workload, and the frame rate drops become more attributable to the graphics card's limitations. The CPU's 65 W TDP and 7 nm process node also mean it runs cool and quiet, which is relevant for builders using compact or budget-oriented cooling solutions, though the data does not include thermal measurements for this specific game.

FAQ

Q: Is this combo better suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming in Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: The measured FPS data clearly favors 1080p. At 1080p High, the combo averages 53 FPS, while at 1440p High it drops to 39 FPS. The 1080p Low preset reaches 85 FPS average, whereas 1440p Low only manages 63 FPS. For smooth gameplay, 1080p is the safer choice, while 1440p is playable only on Low settings.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5500 compare to its closest CPU rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The 5500's average benchmark score of 19593 is within one percentage point of all four nearest rivals. It trails the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 (19617, deltaPct -0.1) and Intel Core i5-12500 (19668, deltaPct -0.4) by fractions of a percent, and it outperforms the Intel Core i7-10700F (19499, deltaPct 0.5) and Intel Core i5-11600KF (19723, deltaPct -0.7). These differences are negligible in real-world gaming.

Q: What is the highest playable setting at 4K with this hardware?

A: At 3840x2160, the Low preset delivers an average of 42 FPS, which is the only 4K setting with a playable frame rate. Medium drops to 31 FPS average (with a minimum of 27 FPS), High falls to 26 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 19 FPS. None of these settings except Low provide a consistently smooth experience at 4K.

Q: Does the RTX 2060 outperform its nearest GPU rivals?

A: Yes, but only marginally. The RTX 2060's average benchmark score of 15290 is higher than all four listed rivals: the GTX 580 (15283, deltaPct 0), Radeon 680M (15270, deltaPct 0.1), RTX 3050 OEM (15199, deltaPct 0.6), and RX 7600 (15171, deltaPct 0.8). The largest delta is just 0.8%, so the performance difference is effectively a tie.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p?

A: The gap is substantial. At 1080p Low, the combo averages 85 FPS, while at Ultra it drops to 38 FPS. That is a 47 FPS difference, or a 55% reduction in average frame rate. Medium sits at 63 FPS and High at 53 FPS, showing a steady decline as settings increase.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1440p Medium?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary limiter at 1440p. The RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are taxed at this resolution, as evidenced by the 47 FPS average at Medium (with a 40 FPS minimum). The CPU's multi-threaded scores are strong enough that it does not appear to be the bottleneck, though the lack of PCIe Gen 4 support could slightly constrain data transfer.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four quality presets, providing a complete picture of this combo's capabilities in Red Dead Redemption 2. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 85 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded for this pairing. Medium follows at 63 FPS average, with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS. High drops to 53 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 38 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a consistent degradation of about 20-25% per step, which is typical for this game's scaling.

At 2560x1440, the same pattern holds but with lower absolute numbers. Low averages 63 FPS, Medium averages 47 FPS (minimum 40, maximum 54), High averages 39 FPS, and Ultra averages 28 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at each setting is roughly 25-30%, indicating that the GPU is becoming increasingly stressed as pixel count rises. The Medium preset at 1440p shows a minimum of 40 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay, while Low remains the only preset that consistently stays above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles significantly. Low averages 42 FPS, Medium averages 31 FPS (minimum 27, maximum 36), High averages 26 FPS, and Ultra averages 19 FPS. None of these settings reach a playable 60 FPS threshold, and even the Low preset dips below 30 FPS in demanding scenes, as indicated by the Medium preset's minimum of 27 FPS. The 4K results clearly show that this hardware is not designed for ultra-high-resolution gaming.

The measured data includes minimum and maximum FPS only for the Medium presets across all three resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the range is 54 to 73 FPS, which is a spread of 19 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range narrows to 40 to 54 FPS, a 14 FPS spread. At 4K Medium, the range is 27 to 36 FPS, a 9 FPS spread. This tightening of the frame time variance at higher resolutions suggests that the GPU is consistently maxed out, leaving less room for fluctuation.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals where the bottleneck lies. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 85 FPS at 1080p to 63 FPS at 1440p (a 26% reduction) and then to 42 FPS at 4K (a 33% reduction from 1440p). At Medium settings, the progression is 63 FPS at 1080p, 47 FPS at 1440p (a 25% drop), and 31 FPS at 4K (a 34% drop). At High settings, it goes from 53 FPS at 1080p to 39 FPS at 1440p (a 26% drop) and 26 FPS at 4K (a 33% drop). At Ultra, the numbers are 38 FPS at 1080p, 28 FPS at 1440p (a 26% drop), and 19 FPS at 4K (a 32% drop).

The consistency of these percentage drops across all quality presets—hovering around 25-26% from 1080p to 1440p and 32-34% from 1440p to 4K—indicates that the scaling is driven almost entirely by pixel count rather than by settings-specific effects. This is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, where the RTX 2060's rendering throughput is the limiting factor. The CPU's role in this scaling is minimal, as the same relative drops occur at Low settings (where CPU overhead is lower) and Ultra settings (where GPU load is highest).

The data also shows that the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM capacity is likely a constraint at 4K, particularly at High and Ultra presets where texture memory demands increase. The 4K Ultra result of 19 FPS average is so low that it suggests the GPU is not only compute-bound but also potentially spilling over its memory bandwidth, which is rated at 336.0 GB/s. The GPU's 192-bit memory bus and 14 Gbps effective GDDR6 speed are simply insufficient for the data throughput required at 4K with this game's high-resolution textures.

For a 1080p monitor, this combo scales well: the 85 FPS Low and 63 FPS Medium results provide smooth gameplay, while High at 53 FPS is acceptable for slower-paced exploration. At 1440p, the scaling shows that users must drop to Low to maintain a 60 FPS average, which sacrifices visual fidelity for smoothness. At 4K, the combo is effectively unusable for anything beyond the Low preset, and even then, the 42 FPS average will feel sluggish in action sequences.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend entirely on the target resolution and the user's tolerance for frame rate fluctuations. At 1080p, the Medium preset (63 FPS average, 54 FPS minimum) offers the best balance of visual quality and smoothness. The High preset (53 FPS average) is also viable, but the 10 FPS drop from Medium to High may not justify the visual improvements, especially in a game with as much environmental detail as Red Dead Redemption 2. The Low preset (85 FPS) is only recommended for competitive or high-refresh-rate play, as the visual downgrade is significant.

At 1440p, the Low preset (63 FPS average) is the only setting that consistently stays above 60 FPS. The Medium preset (47 FPS average, 40 FPS minimum) is playable but will experience noticeable dips during heavy scenes, such as crowded towns or dense forests. The High preset (39 FPS average) is borderline, and the Ultra preset (28 FPS average) should be avoided entirely. For users with a 1440p monitor who prioritize smoothness, Low is the clear recommendation; for those who accept occasional frame drops, Medium provides a richer visual experience.

At 4K, the Low preset (42 FPS average) is the only option worth considering, and even that will feel stuttery in fast-moving sequences. The Medium preset (31 FPS average, 27 FPS minimum) is below the threshold for comfortable play, and High (26 FPS) and Ultra (19 FPS) are effectively slideshows. The data suggests that 4K gaming with this hardware is not a realistic expectation, and users should instead target 1080p or 1440p for a satisfying experience.

The RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM is a notable constraint at higher settings and resolutions. The 4K Ultra result of 19 FPS average, combined with the GPU's 12 nm process node and 160 W TDP, indicates that the card is operating at its absolute limit. The CPU, by contrast, shows no signs of being the bottleneck at any resolution, as its performance in synthetic benchmarks (Cinebench R23 multi-core 16429, single-core 2319) is more than adequate for this game's engine.

For the best overall experience, this combo should be configured at 1080p Medium, which provides a 63 FPS average with a 54 FPS minimum, ensuring smooth gameplay without excessive visual compromises. Users with 1440p monitors should choose Low settings for a locked 60 FPS experience, while those with 4K displays should either lower their expectations to Low or consider upgrading the GPU. The Ultra preset at any resolution is not recommended, as the frame rate drops below 40 FPS even at 1080p, which detracts from the game's cinematic feel.