Red Dead Redemption 2

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination delivers a playable experience in Red Dead Redemption 2, but the data reveals a system that is heavily constrained by the graphics card at higher resolutions. The benchmark results show a clear performance hierarchy across the three tested resolutions, with the gap between the Low and Ultra presets widening dramatically as pixel count increases. This pairing places in the lower-middle tier of tested combinations, ranking 960th out of 1687 combos, indicating that while it is functional, it does not compete with high-end rigs for this title.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep, and the data indicates the RTX 4060 is the primary limiting factor. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 111.7 FPS, which is nearly double the 55.2 FPS seen at 4K with the same preset. This 56.5 FPS reduction represents a 50.6% performance loss, a substantial hit that points directly to the GPU struggling with the increased pixel workload. The CPU, with its Zen 4 architecture and 6 cores, has enough headroom at lower resolutions, but the graphics card's 8 GB of memory and 128-bit bus become bottlenecks as resolution scales.

Moving from 1440p to 4K at Medium settings shows a similar trend: 63.2 FPS drops to 42.3 FPS, a 33.1% decline. The scaling is not linear, which suggests that memory bandwidth and fill rate are being saturated. At Ultra settings, the situation becomes critical. The 4K Ultra result of 22.5 FPS is barely playable, and even the 1440p Ultra result of 34.6 FPS falls below the 60 FPS threshold that most users consider smooth. The 1080p Ultra score of 49.5 FPS, while better, still cannot maintain a locked 60 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset is simply too demanding for this GPU at any resolution.

The most telling data point is the Low preset scaling. At 1080p Low, the system produces 111.7 FPS, but at 4K Low, it falls to 55.2 FPS. This 50% reduction at the lowest settings proves that the GPU's raw compute throughput is the limiting factor, not the CPU or memory subsystem. If the Ryzen 5 8400F were the bottleneck, we would expect a smaller delta between resolutions at Low settings, as the CPU load would remain constant while the GPU work scales. The results show the opposite, confirming that the RTX 4060 is the component holding back performance in this configuration.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame of 960 out of 1687 places this pairing in the 57th percentile of tested combinations, meaning roughly 43% of tested systems perform worse. This is a mid-pack result, but the context matters. The RTX 4060, while a modern Ada Lovelace part, sits at the 66th percentile for GPUs, and the Ryzen 5 8400F is at the 82nd percentile for CPUs. The GPU is the weaker link, and the rank reflects that imbalance.

Comparing to the nearest rivals, the RTX 4060's closest competitor is the AMD Radeon RX 6600M, which scores 23321 versus the 4060's 23181, a 0.6% difference. The Intel Arc B580 is also close, scoring 23021, which is 0.7% lower. This means the 4060 is essentially tied with these alternatives in synthetic benchmarks, but the in-game ranking tells a more nuanced story. The combo's 960th rank suggests that in Red Dead Redemption 2 specifically, the pairing does not punch above its weight class.

The CPU side shows a similar pattern. The Ryzen 5 8400F is virtually identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X in average benchmark score, with a delta of 0%. However, the 8400F is a much newer part with a higher single-thread score of 2943 in Cinebench R23 versus the older chip's architecture. This indicates that the 8400F has plenty of single-thread performance for gaming, but the combo's overall rank is dragged down by the GPU's limitations in this title. The data shows that this is a balanced but not exceptional pairing, ideal for 1080p gaming with some settings compromises, but not for high-refresh-rate 1440p or 4K play.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1080p is the optimal resolution. At High settings, the combo achieves 67 FPS, which is playable, while at Low settings it reaches 111.7 FPS. At 1440p, the best result is 84 FPS on Low, but High settings drop to 52.3 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. 4K is not viable, with the highest result being 55.2 FPS on Low.

Q: Can this system run the game at Ultra settings?

A: Benchmark results indicate no. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 49.5, which is below 60 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 34.6 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 22.5 FPS. The Ultra preset is too demanding for the RTX 4060 in this title.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The RTX 4060 scores 23181 in the average benchmark, which is 0.6% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6600M's 23321 and 0.7% higher than the Intel Arc B580's 23021. The performance difference is minimal, making these GPUs functionally equivalent in synthetic tests.

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

A: The resolution scaling data points to the GPU. From 1080p Low to 4K Low, performance drops by 56.5 FPS, a 50.6% reduction. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain more constant across resolutions. The RTX 4060's 8 GB memory and 128-bit bus are the likely constraints.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among tested systems?

A: The combination ranks 960th out of 1687 tested combos for this game. This places it in the middle of the pack, indicating that while it is not a top-tier performer, it is also far from the bottom of the list.

Q: What are the CPU's performance characteristics?

A: The Ryzen 5 8400F has 6 cores and 12 threads with a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. It scores 20851 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 2943 in single-core. Its average benchmark score is 25064, placing it at the 82nd percentile of all CPUs, with a 0% delta compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. Low settings produce an average of 111.7 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings drop to 79.6 FPS, still a smooth experience. High settings yield 67 FPS, which is acceptable for most users. Ultra settings, however, fall to 49.5 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target and may cause noticeable stuttering on standard 60 Hz displays.

At 2560x1440, the performance takes a significant hit. Low settings manage 84 FPS, which is still playable, but the margin for error shrinks. Medium settings produce 63.2 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold. High settings drop to 52.3 FPS, making the game feel less fluid. Ultra settings are the worst, with 34.6 FPS, which is a poor experience for a game with this much visual detail. The 1440p results suggest that users should stick to Medium or Low settings for a consistent frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4060 is clearly overmatched. Low settings produce 55.2 FPS, which is technically playable but not ideal. Medium settings drop to 42.3 FPS, and High settings fall to 36.5 FPS. Ultra settings are a slideshow at 22.5 FPS. Even the best 4K result is below the 60 FPS target, and the Low preset is the only one that approaches playability. The data suggests that 4K gaming with this combo in Red Dead Redemption 2 requires significant compromises and is not recommended for a smooth experience.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark data suggests that the best experience for this combo is at 1080p with Medium settings, which produces 79.6 FPS. This preset offers a good balance between visual quality and performance, staying well above the 60 FPS target. High settings at 1080p are also viable at 67 FPS, but the drop from Medium to High is 12.6 FPS, which may not be worth the graphical improvement for some users. Low settings at 111.7 FPS are the best for maximizing frame rate, but the visual fidelity loss is substantial.

For users with 1440p monitors, the recommended preset is Medium, which delivers 63.2 FPS. This is just above the 60 FPS threshold, but the margin is slim. Low settings at 84 FPS provide a more comfortable buffer, but the visual quality is reduced. High settings at 52.3 FPS should be avoided, as the frame rate is below the playable threshold for most users. Ultra settings are not recommended at any resolution due to the poor frame rates.

At 4K, the only playable option is Low settings, which produces 55.2 FPS. This is a marginal experience, and users should be aware of the significant visual compromises required. Medium settings at 42.3 FPS are playable for some, but the experience will feel sluggish. High and Ultra settings are not recommended, as the frame rates of 36.5 and 22.5 FPS respectively make the game difficult to play. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p possible at reduced settings and 4K reserved for users who prioritize resolution over frame rate.