Red Dead Redemption 2

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured data for Red Dead Redemption 2 with the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D reveals a clear pattern: performance scales almost linearly with resolution, indicating that the GPU is the primary limiting component across all settings. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 233 FPS at 1920x1080 to 175 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 58 FPS, and then further to 115 FPS at 3840x2160, another 60 FPS drop. This consistent ~25% reduction at each resolution step demonstrates that the RTX 5090 D's rendering throughput is being taxed progressively as pixel count rises.

The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory, with averages of 175 FPS at 1080p, 131 FPS at 1440p, and 86 FPS at 4K. The delta between 1080p and 1440p is 44 FPS, while the delta between 1440p and 4K is 45 FPS — a remarkably uniform scaling pattern. This uniformity suggests that the game engine is not hitting any architectural bottleneck at higher resolutions; rather, it is purely fill-rate and shader-bound, which is expected for a title with this level of environmental detail.

At High settings, the scaling becomes slightly less steep but still consistent: 146 FPS at 1080p, 109 FPS at 1440p, and 72 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 25.3% and 33.9% respectively, indicating that the additional shading work at High settings begins to engage more of the GPU's compute units, though the CPU remains far from saturated given the Ryzen 5 7600's six cores and twelve threads.

Ultra settings present the most demanding scenario, with averages of 105 FPS at 1080p, 79 FPS at 1440p, and 52 FPS at 4K. The 4K result falls below the 60 FPS threshold, which is a critical finding for players targeting smooth gameplay at maximum fidelity. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p is a 24.8% reduction, while 1440p to 4K is a 34.2% reduction — the steepest drop in the entire dataset. This indicates that at Ultra, the RTX 5090 D's 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 compute are being pushed to their limits, with the 4K resolution exposing the true cost of the game's most demanding preset.

Notably, the measured frame times at Medium settings show minimums of 149 FPS at 1080p, 111 FPS at 1440p, and 74 FPS at 4K, with corresponding maximums of 202, 150, and 99 FPS. The spread between minimum and maximum widens as resolution increases, from 53 FPS at 1080p to 25 FPS at 4K, suggesting that frame pacing becomes more variable at higher resolutions — a sign that the GPU's workload is becoming less predictable under sustained load.

What the data does not show is any sign of CPU limitation. The Ryzen 5 7600's boost clock of 5.10 GHz and 32 MB of shared L3 cache are sufficient to feed the RTX 5090 D even at 1080p Low, where 233 FPS is achieved. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see diminishing returns as resolution decreases, but the consistent scaling across all settings confirms that the GPU is the sole constraint in this pairing.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the dominant contributor to this system's gaming performance, and the measured FPS data reflects its architectural strengths. With a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, this Blackwell 2.0 chip delivers 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 1,636.8 GTexel/s of texture rate. These figures translate directly to the high average frame rates observed across all resolution and settings combinations.

The 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus provides 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth, which is critical for Red Dead Redemption 2's open-world streaming. The game's large textures and draw distances benefit from this massive bandwidth, and the fact that even at 4K Ultra the system maintains 52 FPS average—rather than dropping to single digits—indicates that VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor. The 32 GB allocation is more than sufficient for this 2018 title, which was designed for significantly less capable hardware.

The RTX 5090 D's 21,760 shading units and 176 ROPs are the key specifications driving the resolution scaling observed in the data. At 1080p Low, the GPU is barely stressed, achieving 233 FPS average. The pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s allow the card to process the game's geometry and lighting at these high frame rates without breaking a sweat. However, as resolution increases, the pixel throughput requirement grows quadratically, and the 4K Ultra result of 52 FPS shows where the card's limits lie.

The RTX 5090 D's predecessor, the GeForce 40 series, would likely struggle to match these numbers, but the fact pack does not provide comparative data for prior generations. What is clear from the benchmark results is that this GPU sits in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 77,712. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT at 78,940 (1.6% higher) and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB at 79,605 (2.4% higher), which are interesting comparisons given that the RTX 5090 D is a desktop part while those are mobile and datacenter products respectively.

The GPU's 170 RT cores and 680 tensor cores are not heavily utilized in Red Dead Redemption 2, as the game does not feature ray tracing by default. However, the card's DirectX 12 Ultimate support ensures compatibility with the game's rendering pipeline. The 575 W TDP and 950 W suggested PSU indicate that this is a power-hungry component, but the measured performance justifies the power draw in the context of this benchmark.

The VRAM temperature and clock behavior are not provided in the fact pack, but the stable frame rates at 4K Medium (86 FPS average) suggest that the memory subsystem is not throttling under sustained load. The 1750 MHz memory clock (28 Gbps effective) is the maximum specified, and the 1.79 TB/s bandwidth is fully utilized at higher resolutions where texture streaming becomes more demanding.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance for this CPU-GPU combination. At 1080p, Medium delivers 175 FPS average with a minimum of 149 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and provides headroom for potential frame rate drops in dense scenes. The 4K Medium result of 86 FPS average with a 74 FPS minimum is particularly compelling, as it offers a playable experience at ultra-high definition without requiring the visual compromise of Low settings.

High settings are the next best option for players prioritizing visual quality. At 1440p, High achieves 109 FPS average, which is still excellent for competitive or cinematic play. The 4K High result of 72 FPS average is above the 60 FPS target, making it a viable alternative to Medium if players are willing to accept slightly lower frame rates for improved shadows, textures, and draw distances. However, the lack of minimum FPS data for High settings means we cannot assess frame pacing consistency.

Ultra settings are not recommended for 4K play, as the 52 FPS average falls below the 60 FPS threshold. At 1440p, Ultra delivers 79 FPS average, which is acceptable but represents a significant drop from High's 109 FPS. The 37.6% performance penalty for Ultra over High at 1440p may not be worth the marginal visual improvement, especially given that Red Dead Redemption 2's Ultra preset often includes settings that are difficult to distinguish from High in motion.

Low settings are only recommended for players targeting maximum frame rates, such as those with 144 Hz or 240 Hz monitors. At 1080p, Low achieves 233 FPS, which is the highest measured result in the entire dataset. However, the visual compromise is substantial, and the 1440p Low result of 175 FPS is identical to the 1080p Medium result, suggesting that players can achieve the same frame rate with better visuals by selecting Medium at a lower resolution.

The data suggests that the sweet spot for this system is 1440p High, which delivers 109 FPS average with the visual quality that the game's art direction deserves. For 4K, Medium is the clear choice, as the 86 FPS average provides a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS target. Players with 1080p monitors should opt for Medium to maximize visual quality while maintaining 175 FPS average, which is more than sufficient for any display technology.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 233 FPS average
• Medium: 175 FPS average, 149 FPS minimum, 202 FPS maximum
• High: 146 FPS average
• Ultra: 105 FPS average

At 1080p, the RTX 5090 D is never challenged, with even Ultra settings exceeding 100 FPS. The 88 FPS gap between Low and Ultra demonstrates the full range of the game's settings impact. The Medium preset's minimum of 149 FPS ensures that even the most demanding scenes maintain high frame rates.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 175 FPS average
• Medium: 131 FPS average, 111 FPS minimum, 150 FPS maximum
• High: 109 FPS average
• Ultra: 79 FPS average

At 1440p, the GPU begins to show its limits, with Ultra dropping below 80 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 111 FPS is still well above the 60 FPS threshold, making it a safe choice for consistent performance. The 96 FPS difference between Low and Ultra is nearly identical to the 1080p spread, indicating that the settings impact is resolution-independent.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 115 FPS average
• Medium: 86 FPS average, 74 FPS minimum, 99 FPS maximum
• High: 72 FPS average
• Ultra: 52 FPS average

At 4K, the resolution scaling effect becomes apparent. Ultra drops below 60 FPS, and even High is only 12 FPS above the threshold. The Medium preset's 86 FPS average with a 74 FPS minimum is the most reliable 4K option. The 63 FPS gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is narrower than at lower resolutions, confirming that the GPU's pixel throughput is the limiting factor.

The combo rank of 28 out of 2,902 combinations places this system in the top 1% of tested configurations for Red Dead Redemption 2. This ranking is consistent with the raw performance numbers, which show that the RTX 5090 D can handle even the most demanding settings at mainstream resolutions.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Red Dead Redemption 2 at 4K with maximum settings?

A: The data shows 52 FPS average at 4K Ultra, which falls below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. For a consistent 60 FPS experience at 4K, Medium settings (86 FPS average) or High settings (72 FPS average) are recommended.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU-GPU combination?

A: The measured data indicates that 1440p High (109 FPS average) offers the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. At 1080p, Medium (175 FPS average) provides excellent frame rates, while 4K Medium (86 FPS average) is the best ultra-high-definition option.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 D compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 5090 D scores 77,712 on average, which is 1.1% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT (76,904), 1.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (78,940), and 2.1-2.4% lower than the NVIDIA Tesla P100 variants. It sits in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 7600 CPU bottlenecking the RTX 5090 D in this game?

A: The resolution scaling pattern shows consistent FPS drops from 1080p to 4K, which indicates GPU-bound performance. The CPU's 12 threads and 5.10 GHz boost clock are sufficient to maintain 233 FPS at 1080p Low, suggesting no CPU limitation.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1080p with different settings?

A: The measured data shows 233 FPS at Low, 175 FPS at Medium, 146 FPS at High, and 105 FPS at Ultra. All settings exceed 100 FPS at 1080p, making this resolution ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

Q: Does the 32 GB VRAM matter for this game?

A: Red Dead Redemption 2 does not appear to be VRAM-constrained, as the game runs at 52 FPS minimum even at 4K Ultra. The 32 GB GDDR7 memory provides ample headroom, and the 1.79 TB/s bandwidth supports the game's texture streaming without issue.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 plays a supporting role in this benchmark, and the data shows that its six cores and twelve threads are more than adequate for Red Dead Redemption 2. The CPU's base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 5.10 GHz, combined with its Zen 4 architecture, provide the single-thread performance that this game's engine requires. The 3DMark single-thread score of 999 and Geekbench single-core score of 2,521 confirm that the Ryzen 5 7600 excels in lightly-threaded workloads.

The CPU's 32 MB of shared L3 cache is particularly relevant for game performance, as it reduces memory latency and improves data locality for the game's world-streaming systems. The 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth from dual-channel DDR5 support ensures that the CPU can feed the GPU without creating a data bottleneck. The fact that the system achieves 233 FPS at 1080p Low without any sign of CPU limitation reflects the processor's efficiency.

The Ryzen 5 7600's 78th percentile ranking among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 26,324, places it in the upper tier of desktop processors. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX (26,274, 0.2% higher), AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS (26,402, 0.3% lower), Intel Core i9-11900KF (26,212, 0.4% higher), and AMD Ryzen 5 8540U (26,187, 0.5% higher). These close margins indicate that the Ryzen 5 7600 is competitively positioned in its class.

In the context of Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU's 12 threads are more than sufficient, as the game's engine is not heavily multithreaded. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 12,735 and passmark multithread score of 27,058 demonstrate solid multi-threaded capability, but the game likely uses fewer than eight threads effectively. The 3DMark 8-thread score of 5,508 is particularly relevant, as it shows how the CPU performs under gaming-like workloads.

The Ryzen 5 7600's TDP of 65 W is notably low for a desktop CPU, which means it generates less heat and requires less cooling than higher-end parts. This efficiency does not come at the cost of performance, as the boost clock of 5.10 GHz is competitive with more power-hungry processors. The 5 nm process node and 6,570 million transistors on a 71 mm² die contribute to this efficiency.

The CPU's integrated Radeon Graphics are present but not utilized in this benchmark, as the RTX 5090 D handles all rendering. The PCIe Gen 5 interface with 24 lanes (CPU only) provides ample bandwidth for the GPU, ensuring that data transfer between the CPU and GPU does not become a bottleneck. The memory bus of dual-channel DDR5 with a 83.2 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for the game's streaming requirements.

The release date of 2023-01-13 and launch MSRP of $229 position the Ryzen 5 7600 as a mainstream option, but its performance in this benchmark shows that it can drive a flagship GPU without limitation. The multiplier unlocked and active production status indicate that this CPU remains a viable choice for current and future builds. The data confirms that for Red Dead Redemption 2, the Ryzen 5 7600 is not the limiting factor — the RTX 5090 D's rendering capabilities define the system's performance ceiling.