Red Dead Redemption 2

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a 6-core, 12-thread desktop processor built on the Zen 4 (Phoenix) architecture, manufactured on TSMC's 4 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 4.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, drawing a 65 W TDP. The chip uses AMD Socket AM5 and supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing a memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. Its cache layout includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 16 MB L3 cache.

In the context of Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU's role is to manage game logic, physics, and the simulation of the open world. The recorded benchmark scores for this processor show a multithreaded capability that is strong for a 6-core part. For instance, the Cinebench R23 multicore score is 20851, while the single-core score is 2943. The 3DMark suite shows a maximum-thread score of 6165 and a single-thread score of 951. These numbers indicate that the processor has solid single-thread performance, which is critical for a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 that relies heavily on a few primary threads for rendering commands.

The data from the database shows that this CPU sits at the 77th percentile when compared to all CPUs, meaning it outperforms a significant majority of processors in general compute tasks. Its nearest rivals in the database's aggregate scoring include the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F with a delta of 0.2% (meaning the 8400F is 0.2% ahead in average score), the Intel Core i7-11850H at 0.3% ahead, and the Intel Core i7-13620H at 0.4% ahead. The AMD EPYC 9474F is 0.4% ahead of the 8400F in the opposite direction. These narrow margins suggest that the 8400F's computational throughput is highly competitive with these specific processors, all of which have different core counts but similar aggregate performance profiles.

For Red Dead Redemption 2, the 6-core configuration is adequate to prevent the CPU from becoming a hard bottleneck at most settings, particularly at lower resolutions where the GPU is less taxed. However, the data reveals that at 1080p with Low settings, the average FPS reaches 220, which is a high frame rate that demands strong per-thread performance. The boost clock of 4.70 GHz helps deliver that. The processor's 16 MB of shared L3 cache is modest, but the game's engine does not appear to be heavily sensitive to cache size, as the frame rates scale predictably with resolution and settings changes.

The processor's memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s is sufficient for the game's data streaming needs, especially when paired with fast DDR5 memory. The PCIe Gen 4 support with 20 lanes ensures that the GPU can communicate without interface constraints. Overall, the CPU provides enough headroom to feed the GPU in most scenarios, but the measured FPS data shows that at lower resolutions, the combination approaches the limits of what this CPU can push, particularly when the GPU is capable of very high frame rates.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is a massive GPU based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, using the GB202 chip manufactured on TSMC's 5 nm process. It features 21,760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 raster operation units. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, with memory clocked at 1750 MHz or 28 Gbps effective. The memory subsystem is substantial: 32 GB of GDDR7 on a 512-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. This immense bandwidth and capacity are highly relevant to Red Dead Redemption 2, which features detailed textures and large open-world environments.

The GPU's compute capabilities are extraordinary. It delivers 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and a texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s, with a pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s. The 170 RT cores and 680 tensor cores support advanced rendering features, though the game's DirectX 12 path primarily benefits from the raw rasterization power. The GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it fully compatible with the API used by Red Dead Redemption 2.

In benchmark terms, the RTX 5090 records a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 18355, a Geekbench OpenCL score of 334370, and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 376728. Its Passmark G3D score is 39650, and the GPU compute score is 26756. The GPU sits at the 92nd percentile of all GPUs in the database, which places it among the top tier of graphics hardware. Its nearest rivals in aggregate scoring are the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB (0.3% ahead in score), the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB (0.6% ahead), and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (1.1% ahead), while the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X is 1.4% behind the 5090. These deltas are small, but the RTX 5090's real-world advantage in gaming is more pronounced due to its driver optimization and architectural features.

For Red Dead Redemption 2, the RTX 5090's role is to handle the heavy graphical load. The measured FPS data shows that at 4K Ultra settings, the average FPS is 49, which is a demanding scenario that stresses the GPU's raw compute and memory bandwidth. The 32 GB VRAM is more than sufficient for this game, even at 4K Ultra, which typically uses far less than 32 GB. The 1.79 TB/s bandwidth ensures that texture streaming and high-resolution assets do not cause stuttering. The boost clock of 2407 MHz is high, and the GPU maintains consistent performance across the recorded tests.

The GPU's power draw is listed at 575 W TDP, with a suggested PSU of 950 W. This is a high-power component, but the benchmark results reflect its capability. In this game, the GPU is clearly the dominant component at higher resolutions and settings, as the FPS drops significantly from 1080p Low to 4K Ultra, a pattern that indicates the GPU is being pushed to its limits.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 ranks 88th out of 3714 tested combos in the database for Red Dead Redemption 2. This places the combo in the top 2.4% of all tested configurations, which is a strong result given that the CPU is a mainstream 6-core part and the GPU is a flagship. The rank reflects the overall measured FPS across all resolutions and settings, weighted by the database's methodology.

The high rank is driven almost entirely by the GPU's massive performance headroom. The RTX 5090 is capable of delivering very high frame rates, and even with a mid-range CPU, the combo achieves playable or better performance at all tested settings. The CPU does not severely limit the GPU at higher resolutions, where the GPU becomes the bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 220 FPS, which is a result that many other combos cannot match, even with more powerful CPUs, because the GPU is the primary driver.

Comparatively, the combo outperforms the vast majority of configurations, but it is not the top performer. The 88th rank means there are 87 combos that score higher, likely those pairing the RTX 5090 with higher-end CPUs like the Ryzen 9 series or Intel Core i9 parts. Those combos would show higher minimum frame rates and better performance at 1080p, where the CPU matters more. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the 8400F is likely holding the combo back from reaching even higher frame rates, as the GPU is underutilized. However, at 4K Ultra, the combo's rank is more dependent on the GPU, and the CPU's influence is minimal.

The rank of 88 out of 3714 is a strong indicator that this pairing is well-balanced for high-resolution gaming. It confirms that the 8400F is not a severe bottleneck for the 5090 in this specific game, despite being a lower-tier processor. The database's measured results show that the combo delivers consistent performance across all settings, with no catastrophic frame rate collapses.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for Red Dead Redemption 2 with this combo provides a detailed picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings levels.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the combo delivers its highest frame rates. With Low settings, the average FPS is 220. This is a very high frame rate, indicating that the GPU is not fully utilized and the CPU is handling the workload. With Medium settings, the average FPS drops to 164, with a minimum of 140 and a maximum of 189. At High settings, the average is 137 FPS. At Ultra settings, the average drops to 99 FPS. The progression from 220 to 99 FPS shows a 55% reduction from Low to Ultra, which is a significant but expected impact of increasing graphical fidelity.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the frame rates are lower but still high. Low settings produce an average of 164 FPS. Medium settings yield 123 FPS average, with a minimum of 104 and a maximum of 141. High settings average 102 FPS. Ultra settings average 74 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra at 1440p is from 164 to 74 FPS, a 55% reduction, consistent with the 1080p scaling pattern.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the performance is more demanding. Low settings average 108 FPS. Medium settings average 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 and a maximum of 93. High settings average 68 FPS. Ultra settings average 49 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra at 4K is from 108 to 49 FPS, a 55% reduction, which mirrors the other resolutions. The minimum FPS recorded at 4K Medium is 69, which is above the threshold for smooth gameplay, but the 49 FPS at 4K Ultra is below the 60 FPS target.

The data shows a clear pattern: the combo is capable of 60+ FPS at 4K High, but not at 4K Ultra. At 1440p, it can handle Ultra at 74 FPS, which is good for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1080p, it exceeds 100 FPS at all settings, making it suitable for 144Hz displays even at Ultra settings.

Resolution Scaling

The resolution scaling behavior reveals which component is the limiting factor at each setting. The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial and consistent across settings. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 220 at 1080p to 108 at 4K, a drop of 51%. At Medium settings, it goes from 164 to 81, a drop of 50.6%. At High settings, it goes from 137 to 68, a drop of 50.4%. At Ultra settings, it goes from 99 to 49, a drop of 50.5%.

These ratios are nearly uniform, which indicates that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at all settings. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K would be smaller, because the CPU workload is relatively constant regardless of resolution, while the GPU workload increases significantly. The fact that the FPS roughly halves when moving from 1080p to 4K means that the GPU's rendering capacity is being consumed by the higher pixel count.

The scaling also shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 220 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's maximum frame rate capability. The GPU could probably push more, but the CPU's single-thread performance caps the output. However, this cap is not severe enough to distort the scaling pattern. The FPS at 1080p Low is more than double the FPS at 4K Low (220 vs 108), which aligns with the pixel count difference (4K has 4 times the pixels of 1080p, but the FPS does not drop to one quarter, indicating that the GPU has some headroom at 1080p Low).

The data suggests that the RTX 5090 is the dominant component in this combo. At 4K Ultra, the GPU is fully saturated, delivering 49 FPS, which is a realistic figure for this game's extreme settings. At 1080p Low, the GPU is underutilized, and the CPU becomes the ceiling. The consistent scaling across all settings confirms that the CPU is not a bottleneck at higher resolutions, but it does limit the absolute maximum frame rate at 1080p.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo achieves in Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 220, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this combo run Red Dead Redemption 2 at 60 FPS in 4K?

A: Yes, at 4K with High settings the average FPS is 68, and at 4K Medium it is 81. However, at 4K Ultra the average drops to 49 FPS, which is below 60.

Q: How does the combo's rank in this game compare to other tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 88th out of 3714 tested combinations for Red Dead Redemption 2, placing it in the top 2.4% of all recorded configurations.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo in the database?

A: The only recorded minimum FPS values are at Medium settings: 140 at 1080p, 104 at 1440p, and 69 at 4K. No minimum FPS values were recorded for Low, High, or Ultra settings.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance more in this game?

A: The GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings, as shown by the consistent FPS drop from 1080p to 4K across all settings. The CPU becomes the limiting factor only at 1080p Low, where the average FPS of 220 likely approaches the CPU's maximum output.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS at Low settings is 164, while at Ultra settings it is 74, a reduction of 90 FPS or 55%.