Red Dead Redemption 2

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and Intel Arc B370 combination delivers playable frame rates in Red Dead Redemption 2 only at 1080p with Low settings, where it averages 47 FPS, making it a strictly entry-level pairing for this title. The data indicates that the Intel Arc B370, with a 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs, is the primary bottleneck, as performance collapses at higher resolutions and quality presets, positioning this combo at rank 2670 out of 2902 tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep and consistent performance drop as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, confirming that the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting component. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 47 FPS at 1920x1080 to 35 FPS at 2560x1440, a 25.5% reduction, and further to 23 FPS at 3840x2160, representing a 51.1% drop from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario where pixel count directly dictates throughput, especially given the Arc B370’s modest 6.144 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 20 ROPs.

The drop becomes more pronounced at higher quality presets, which increase the per-pixel shading load. At High settings, the average FPS declines from 29 at 1080p to 22 at 1440p (-24.1%) and then to 14 at 4K (-51.7%). The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory: 35 FPS at 1080p, 26 FPS at 1440p (-25.7%), and 17 FPS at 4K (-51.4%). The Ultra preset is the most demanding, starting at just 21 FPS at 1080p and falling to 16 FPS at 1440p (-23.8%) and 10 FPS at 4K (-52.4%).

These percentages highlight that the relative performance loss from 1080p to 4K is nearly identical across all settings, hovering around 50%. This uniformity indicates that the GPU’s fillrate and memory bandwidth (System Shared) are saturated regardless of the quality preset, and no amount of graphical detail reduction can overcome the raw pixel throughput limitations. The 4K results, ranging from 10 to 23 FPS depending on settings, are uniformly unplayable, while 1440p results, from 16 to 35 FPS, only approach playability at Low settings. The 1080p results are the only tier where any preset exceeds 30 FPS, and only the Low preset achieves a smooth 47 FPS average.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for playable frame rates?

A: The only configuration exceeding 30 FPS average is 1920x1080 with Low settings, producing 47 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p averages 35 FPS, which is also playable, while High at 1080p dips to 29 FPS, borderline for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D scores 37,018 on average, placing it 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F and Intel Core Ultra 5 225, but 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 and 0.3% behind the Intel Core i9-12900T.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the bottleneck in Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The Intel Arc B370 ranks in the 5th percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU ranks in the 85th percentile among all CPUs. The dramatic FPS drops with increasing resolution further confirm GPU limitation.

Q: What are the minimum and maximum FPS recorded at Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 Medium, the average is 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 and maximum of 40. At 2560x1440 Medium, the average is 26 FPS with a minimum of 22 and maximum of 30. At 3840x2160 Medium, the average is 17 FPS with a minimum of 15 and maximum of 20.

Q: Does the CPU’s cache configuration matter for this game?

A: The CPU features a large 96 MB shared L3 cache, which is characteristic of the X3D series. However, given that the GPU is the bottleneck, the cache advantage is unlikely to be fully utilized, as frame rates are constrained by graphics processing rather than CPU throughput.

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

A: This pairing ranks 2670 out of 2902 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations. This low ranking aligns with the GPU’s weak 5th percentile standing.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D provides six cores and twelve threads based on the Zen 3 Vermeer architecture, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. Its synthetic benchmark scores indicate a capable processor, achieving a Passmark single-thread score of 2941 and a multithread score of 20363, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. In Red Dead Redemption 2, however, this computational headroom is largely unused because the Intel Arc B370 cannot keep pace.

The CPU’s 96 MB shared L3 cache is a standout feature, but its impact on gaming performance is muted when the GPU is the limiting factor. The data shows that FPS scales almost perfectly with resolution and settings, which is a hallmark of GPU-bound scenarios. For instance, at 1080p Low, the CPU could theoretically push higher frame rates, but the GPU caps the output at 47 FPS. The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (0.2% slower) and Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (0.2% slower), would likely produce identical gaming results with this GPU, as the bottleneck is not in the processor.

The CPU’s 105 W TDP and AM4 socket support DDR4 memory with dual-channel bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, which is standard for its generation. The boost clock of 4.00 GHz is modest compared to modern flagships, but the single-thread score of 2941 suggests adequate IPC for older game engines like that used in Red Dead Redemption 2. The Passmark physics score of 2282 further indicates sufficient computational power for game logic, but again, this is irrelevant when the GPU delivers only 14 FPS at 4K High. In summary, the Ryzen 5 5500X3D is overqualified for the Arc B370 in this title, and any performance gains from the CPU’s cache or core count are invisible in the measured results.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2670 out of 2902 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations. This poor ranking is almost entirely attributable to the GPU, which holds a 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs, while the CPU enjoys an 85th percentile ranking. The disparity between the two components is stark: the CPU is a solid mid-range performer, while the GPU is an entry-level integrated part.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are all legacy parts, such as the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (0.2% faster), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (0.5% faster), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (0.7% faster), with the AMD FirePro M2000 being 1.4% slower. These comparisons underscore the Arc B370’s position as a very low-end graphics solution, despite its modern Xe3-LPG architecture and 3 nm process node. The GPU’s 1280 shading units and 40 TMUs are insufficient for the demands of a 2018 title at high resolution.

Given the CPU’s nearest rivals (AMD Ryzen 5 5600F, AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450, Intel Core Ultra 5 225, Intel Core i9-12900T) all score within 0.3% of the 5500X3D, swapping the CPU would have negligible impact on the game’s frame rates. The combo rank is effectively determined by the GPU’s 5th percentile performance, and even pairing the 5500X3D with a marginally better GPU would dramatically improve the ranking. The data indicates that this combo is severely imbalanced, with the CPU contributing little to the gaming experience while the GPU dictates the low overall standing.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves the best average of 47 FPS, followed by Medium at 35 FPS (min 30, max 40), High at 29 FPS, and Ultra at 21 FPS. The Medium preset is the only other setting at this resolution that maintains an average above 30 FPS, offering a playable experience with a minimum of 30 FPS. The High preset falls short of smoothness at 29 FPS, while Ultra at 21 FPS is stutter-prone.

Moving to 2560x1440, the Low preset drops to 35 FPS, which is still technically playable but less smooth than 1080p Low. The Medium preset averages 26 FPS (min 22, max 30), High averages 22 FPS, and Ultra averages 16 FPS. All presets at this resolution except Low are below the 30 FPS threshold for comfortable play, and the minimum FPS values for Medium (22) indicate noticeable dips during demanding scenes.

At 3840x2160, all presets produce unplayable frame rates. The Low preset averages 23 FPS, Medium averages 17 FPS (min 15, max 20), High averages 14 FPS, and Ultra averages 10 FPS. None of these configurations approach the 30 FPS target, and the low minimum values (e.g., 15 FPS at Medium) confirm severe performance issues. The step from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 25% performance across all settings, while the step from 1440p to 4K costs another 35%, highlighting the GPU’s inability to handle higher pixel counts.

The data also shows that the difference between Low and Ultra at a given resolution is significant: at 1080p, Low is 47 FPS while Ultra is 21 FPS, a 55.3% reduction. At 1440p, the gap is from 35 FPS to 16 FPS (-54.3%), and at 4K, from 23 FPS to 10 FPS (-56.5%). This consistent ~55% penalty for Ultra settings suggests that the GPU’s shading units are the bottleneck, as increasing the quality preset directly increases the per-pixel workload.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal configuration for this combo is 1920x1080 with the Low preset, which delivers an average of 47 FPS. This is the only setting that provides a comfortable margin above the 30 FPS threshold, ensuring smoother gameplay with minimal dips. The Low preset at 1080p is the recommended choice for players prioritizing frame rate stability over visual fidelity.

For those willing to accept slightly lower performance, the Medium preset at 1080p averages 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 FPS, which is still playable and offers better visual quality than Low. However, the minimum FPS of 30 is right at the edge of playability, and any demanding scene could cause noticeable stutter. The High preset at 1080p (29 FPS) is not recommended, as it falls below the 30 FPS average target, and Ultra (21 FPS) is unplayable.

At 2560x1440, only the Low preset (35 FPS) is viable, but its minimum FPS is not recorded, and the average is below the 1080p Low result. The Medium preset at 1440p (26 FPS) is borderline, with a minimum of 22 FPS that would be noticeable during gameplay. All 4K presets are unusable, with even the Low preset (23 FPS) failing to provide a smooth experience.

The data strongly suggests that this hardware combination is best suited for 1080p gaming with quality settings turned down. The GPU’s 5th percentile ranking and the measured FPS drops indicate that there is no headroom for higher resolutions or presets. Players should prioritize the Low preset at 1080p to achieve the best experience, as it is the only configuration that consistently stays above 40 FPS. If visual quality is a priority, the Medium preset at 1080p is the only alternative that maintains a playable average, but it requires accepting a minimum FPS of 30.