Red Dead Redemption 2

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, built on TSMC's 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, drawing a 65 W TDP. For this title, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and game logic, and its performance metrics suggest it is more than adequate for the task. In synthetic benchmarks, the processor scores 5,659 in 3DMark's max-thread test and 882 in the single-thread test. Multi-threaded performance is equally robust, with Cinebench R23 multicore and singlecore scores of 18,309 and 2,584, respectively. The 32 MB of shared L3 cache is a notable asset, as it reduces memory latency and helps maintain consistent frame pacing in open-world titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, which often stream large amounts of data.

The CPU's percentile rank against all CPUs is 79, placing it in the upper tier of processors. Its nearest rival, the Intel Xeon D-1746TER, has an average benchmark score of 21,635, which is only 0.6% lower, indicating the Ryzen 5 5600 sits in a tightly contested performance band. The data shows that the processor is not a bottleneck in this pairing, as the frame rates scale directly with resolution and settings changes, a hallmark of GPU-limited scenarios. At 1080p with Low settings, the system reaches 86.1 FPS, which is the highest measured result; if the CPU were limiting performance, we would expect to see smaller gains from lowering graphical settings at lower resolutions. The 6-core configuration with 12 threads provides enough parallelism for the game's engine, and the 4.40 GHz boost clock ensures strong single-thread performance, which is often critical for the main game thread in this type of simulation-heavy action-adventure title.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is built on the Turing architecture and uses the TU106 chip on a 12 nm process. It features 1,920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units, along with 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1365 MHz and a boost clock of 1680 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). It is equipped with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is a critical factor for Red Dead Redemption 2, a game known for its detailed textures and large draw distances, especially at higher resolutions and settings.

The GPU's percentile rank against all GPUs is 58, and its average benchmark score is 16,074. Its closest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, scores 15,996, which is 0.5% lower, showing that the RTX 2060 is positioned in the mid-range tier of graphics cards. The 6 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but the data indicates it becomes a limiting factor at 4K with higher settings. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 20.3 FPS, a steep decline from the 30.2 FPS at Medium settings, suggesting that the combination of VRAM capacity and raw compute power is stretched thin at that resolution. The FP32 performance of 6.451 TFLOPS and the texture rate of 201.6 GTexel/s provide a baseline for understanding its fill rate capabilities. The data shows that the GPU is the primary determinant of performance in this pairing, as frame rates vary significantly across resolution and settings changes while the CPU remains relatively constant in its output.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 1,365 out of 1,687 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places it in the lower half of the distribution, specifically around the 19th percentile of all possible pairings. The rank reflects the cumulative performance of both components; while the CPU is in the 79th percentile of all processors, the GPU is only in the 58th percentile of all graphics cards. The GPU's lower relative standing drags the overall combo rank down, as the graphics card is the more significant contributor to frame rates in this game. The data indicates that this pairing is not optimized for high-end performance, but rather for a balanced mid-range experience.

The combo rank of 1,365 suggests that there are 322 other combinations that perform worse, but a substantial number that perform better. This position is consistent with the measured FPS data, which shows that the system can achieve playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p with adjusted settings, but struggles at 4K. The rank is a holistic measure that accounts for all tested resolutions and settings, and the wide spread of results—from 20.3 FPS at 4K Ultra to 86.1 FPS at 1080p Low—illustrates the variability in performance. When compared to other combos in the database, this pairing is best suited for 1080p gaming with a preference for Medium or High settings, as the data shows diminishing returns when pushing to Ultra or higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a detailed picture of how this system performs across different resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system achieves an average of 86.1 FPS on Low settings, which drops to 65.4 FPS on Medium, 52.1 FPS on High, and 39.4 FPS on Ultra. This shows a clear scaling trend, with each step up in settings costing roughly 13-15 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 46.7 FPS, representing a 54% reduction in performance, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario where higher settings increase the pixel shading workload.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates decrease across all settings. At Low settings, the system averages 64.1 FPS, which is a 22 FPS drop from 1080p Low. Medium settings yield 49.1 FPS, High settings produce 37.4 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 28.7 FPS. The scaling between settings at this resolution is less steep than at 1080p, with a 35.4 FPS difference between Low and Ultra. The data shows that 1440p is a viable resolution for this combo, but only with Low or Medium settings to maintain frame rates above 50 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. Low settings produce an average of 43.5 FPS, which is the only setting at this resolution that approaches a playable level. Medium settings drop to 30.2 FPS, High settings fall to 24.8 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 20.3 FPS. The performance cliff between 1440p and 4K is significant, with even Low settings at 4K being 20.6 FPS slower than Low settings at 1440p. The 6 GB VRAM is likely a contributing factor, as the higher resolution demands more memory for textures and framebuffers, causing the GPU to spill over into slower memory operations.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a consistent 60 FPS?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 with Low settings is the only configuration that exceeds 60 FPS, achieving an average of 86.1 FPS. At 2560x1440, Low settings average 64.1 FPS, which is also above 60 FPS, but with less headroom.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in terms of average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 has an average benchmark score of 21,765, which is 0.6% higher than the Intel Xeon D-1746TER's score of 21,635. It is also 0.9% higher than the Intel Core i7-11700F, which scores 21,957.

Q: Is the GPU's performance bottlenecked by its VRAM at higher resolutions?

A: The measured data suggests VRAM pressure at 3840x2160. The average frame rate drops from 43.5 FPS on Low to 30.2 FPS on Medium, and further to 20.3 FPS on Ultra. This steep decline indicates that the 6 GB memory capacity is insufficient for high-quality textures at 4K.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 2560x1440?

A: The difference is 35.4 FPS. Low settings average 64.1 FPS, while Ultra settings average 28.7 FPS, representing a 55% reduction in performance.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all other tested combinations?

A: This pairing ranks 1,365 out of 1,687 total combos, placing it in the lower 19% of all tested systems for Red Dead Redemption 2.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile rank and its closest rival's score?

A: The RTX 2060 is in the 58th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, has an average score of 15,996, which is 0.5% lower than the RTX 2060's score of 16,074.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this system is achieved at 1920x1080 with Medium settings, yielding an average of 65.4 FPS. This configuration provides a good balance between visual fidelity and performance, as the frame rate is well above the 60 FPS threshold. For players who prioritize smoothness over visuals, Low settings at 1080p offer a substantial margin with 86.1 FPS, allowing for more headroom in demanding scenes. At 2560x1440, Low settings are the only viable option for a playable experience, averaging 64.1 FPS, but this comes at a significant visual cost. High settings at 1080p produce 52.1 FPS, which is playable but not smooth for fast-paced action sequences. Ultra settings are not recommended for any resolution, as the frame rates drop to 39.4 FPS at 1080p and 20.3 FPS at 4K, which compromises the gaming experience. The data indicates that Medium settings at 1080p is the sweet spot, providing a 25% performance increase over High settings while maintaining reasonable visual quality. For those with 1440p monitors, the choice is between playable frame rates at Low or a cinematic but less responsive experience at Medium.