Red Dead Redemption 2

# Red Dead Redemption 2 with AMD Ryzen 5 7400F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050

This combo ranks 1760th out of 2902 tested combinations for Red Dead Redemption 2, placing it in the lower-middle tier of the benchmark database. The data shows a system that can handle the game at 1080p with respectable fluidity, but struggles significantly as resolution climbs to 4K. The pairing of a six-core Zen 4 processor with NVIDIA's entry-level Blackwell GPU produces a balanced but ultimately constrained experience, with the GPU clearly becoming the dominant bottleneck at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The 1760th position out of 2902 tested combos places this system in the 39th percentile of all configurations tested for Red Dead Redemption 2. This is not a top-tier result, but it is far from the bottom of the pack. The ranking reflects a system that can deliver playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p with adjusted settings, but falls below the threshold of smoothness at 4K in most presets.

The CPU component of this combo performs well in isolation. The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F achieves an average benchmark score of 32750, which puts it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600T with an average score of 32707 (0.1% behind), the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H at 32697 (0.2% behind), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H at 32812 (0.2% ahead). These deltas are minuscule, indicating that the 7400F sits in a tightly contested performance band where no single processor holds a meaningful advantage.

The GPU side tells a different story. The RTX 5050's average benchmark score of 21035 places it in the 66th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL at 21153 (0.6% ahead), the AMD Radeon HD 8970M at 21237 (1% ahead), and the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT at 20713 (1.6% behind). The RTX 5050's performance is closely clustered with these older or lower-tier parts, suggesting that while it is competent, it does not punch above its weight class.

The combination of a top-quartile CPU with a mid-tier GPU creates a system where the GPU is the limiting factor in most gaming scenarios. The rank of 1760 reflects this imbalance, as the overall combo performance is dragged down by the GPU's inability to fully utilize the CPU's capabilities at higher resolutions.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 320.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock runs at 2500 MHz, translating to 20 Gbps effective. The GPU's base clock is 2317 MHz with a boost clock of 2572 MHz. These specifications are modest by modern standards, and the benchmark results in Red Dead Redemption 2 reflect this.

The data shows a clear pattern: the RTX 5050 can handle the game at 1080p with average frame rates ranging from 44 FPS at Ultra to 98 FPS at Low. At 1440p, the range drops to 33 FPS at Ultra and 73 FPS at Low. At 4K, the GPU is clearly overwhelmed, with the best average being 48 FPS at Low and the worst being 22 FPS at Ultra.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity is a concern for Red Dead Redemption 2 at higher settings and resolutions. While the game was released in 2018 and is not the most VRAM-hungry title, the data suggests that Ultra settings at 1440p and above push the GPU to its limits. The 4K Ultra result of 22 FPS average indicates that the memory bandwidth and capacity are insufficient for smooth gameplay at that resolution.

The GPU's benchmark scores in synthetic tests show a mixed picture. Its PassMark G3D score of 17326 is respectable, but its DirectX 12 score of 66 is low, suggesting that the GPU may not excel in modern API workloads. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2502 reinforces this, indicating that the GPU's performance in current-generation graphics APIs is not its strongest suit.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 provides the most playable experience, with average frame rates ranging from 44 FPS at Ultra to 98 FPS at Low. At 1440p, only Low and Medium settings achieve average frame rates above 50 FPS, while 4K results are mostly below 50 FPS.

Q: How does this combo compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 5050's average benchmark score of 21035 is within 1.6% of its closest rivals. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT scores 20713 (1.6% lower), while the AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL scores 21153 (0.6% higher). These differences are negligible in real-world gaming.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: The CPU ranks in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU ranks in the 66th percentile. The measured frame rates show that the GPU is the limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions where frame rates drop significantly despite the CPU's strong performance.

Q: Can this combo handle Ultra settings at any resolution?

A: Yes, but only at 1080p where it achieves an average of 44 FPS. At 1440p, Ultra produces 33 FPS average, and at 4K, it drops to 22 FPS. None of these results are ideal for smooth gameplay.

Q: What is the CPU's launch MSRP?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F has a launch MSRP of $229.

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

A: The Ryzen 5 7400F's average benchmark score of 32750 is within 0.3% of its nearest rivals. The Intel Core i5-14600T scores 32707 (0.1% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H scores 32812 (0.2% higher).

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings to use for different priorities. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset delivers 73 FPS average with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 84 FPS. This is the sweet spot for a smooth experience, as it stays above 60 FPS in the minimum frame rate, indicating consistent performance.

For players who prioritize visual quality over frame rate, the High preset at 1080p achieves 61 FPS average. This is still playable, but the lack of min/max data means we cannot confirm consistency. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 44 FPS average, which may be acceptable for slower-paced games but is not ideal for action sequences.

At 1440p, the Medium preset delivers 55 FPS average with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS. This is the highest resolution where Medium remains reasonably playable. The Low preset at 1440p achieves 73 FPS average, which is smoother but requires significant visual compromises. The High preset at 1440p drops to 46 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 33 FPS.

For 4K gaming, the data shows that only the Low preset achieves a playable average of 48 FPS. The Medium preset produces 36 FPS average with a minimum of 31 FPS, which is borderline. High and Ultra at 4K produce 30 FPS and 22 FPS averages respectively, which are not recommended for a good experience.

The best experience per the measured rows is the Medium preset at 1080p, offering a balance of 73 FPS average with a 62 FPS minimum. If visual fidelity is paramount, High at 1080p provides 61 FPS average, but Medium is the safest choice for consistent performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo produces its strongest results. The Low preset achieves 98 FPS average, the highest of any setting at any resolution. Medium delivers 73 FPS average with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 84 FPS. High produces 61 FPS average, and Ultra drops to 44 FPS average. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline, with Ultra representing a 55% reduction from Low.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops noticeably. Low produces 73 FPS average, which matches the 1080p Medium result. Medium delivers 55 FPS average with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 63 FPS. High drops to 46 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 33 FPS average. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 40 FPS, showing a similar percentage reduction as at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly overwhelmed. Low produces 48 FPS average, which is the only playable result at this resolution. Medium delivers 36 FPS average with a minimum of 31 FPS and a maximum of 41 FPS. High drops to 30 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 22 FPS average. The minimum frame rate of 31 FPS at Medium suggests that even this setting can experience stutters during demanding scenes.

The data shows that the GPU's performance scales predictably with settings and resolution. The 1080p Medium result of 73 FPS is the most balanced, while the 4K Low result of 48 FPS is the best 4K option but still below the 60 FPS threshold many players prefer.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is a six-core, twelve-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael. It has a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The CPU features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. It is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC with 6,570 million transistors on a 71 mm² die.

In synthetic benchmarks, the 7400F performs strongly. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 21765, and its single-core score is 3072. The PassMark multi-thread score is 25645, and the single-thread score is 3689. These results place the CPU in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is a capable processor for gaming workloads.

For Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with enough data to maintain frame rates. Given that the GPU is the bottleneck at higher resolutions, the CPU's strong performance is not fully utilized. However, at 1080p where the GPU is less stressed, the CPU's capabilities become more relevant. The 98 FPS average at Low settings at 1080p suggests that the CPU can support high frame rates when the GPU is not the limiting factor.

The CPU's memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s and dual-channel DDR5 support provide adequate data throughput for the game. The 32 MB of L3 cache helps with game data locality, potentially reducing memory latency. The 65 W TDP indicates efficient power usage, which is beneficial for sustained gaming sessions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how performance scales across resolutions. From 1080p to 1440p, the average frame rate drops by approximately 25-33% across settings. For example, at Medium settings, the average drops from 73 FPS at 1080p to 55 FPS at 1440p, a 25% reduction. At High settings, the drop is from 61 FPS to 46 FPS, a 25% reduction. At Ultra, the drop is from 44 FPS to 33 FPS, a 25% reduction.

From 1440p to 4K, the drops become more severe. At Medium settings, the average drops from 55 FPS to 36 FPS, a 35% reduction. At High settings, the drop is from 46 FPS to 30 FPS, a 35% reduction. At Ultra, the drop is from 33 FPS to 22 FPS, a 33% reduction. The Low preset shows a smaller drop from 73 FPS at 1440p to 48 FPS at 4K, a 34% reduction.

The scaling pattern indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. The pixel count increases by 2.25x from 1080p to 1440p and by 4x from 1080p to 4K. The frame rate drops do not match these ratios exactly, but they are significant enough to confirm that the GPU's rendering capabilities are the primary constraint.

The data suggests that the CPU is not a bottleneck at any resolution. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect frame rates to remain similar across resolutions. Instead, the consistent drops with each resolution increase point to the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth as the limiting factors. This is typical for a system with a high-performing CPU paired with a mid-range GPU.