Red Dead Redemption 2

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X paired with the Intel Arc B370 in Red Dead Redemption 2 presents a dataset that is sharply constrained by the graphics solution. Across all measured resolutions and settings, average frame rates remain in a narrow band between 10 and 47 FPS, with the highest figure appearing only at 1080p Low. The combination’s overall rank of 2670 out of 2902 tested combos places it in the lower decile of the database, indicating that this pairing struggles to deliver a fluid experience in this title under most conditions. The following analysis breaks down the measured results by resolution, component role, and settings to clarify where the bottleneck lies and what users can expect from each configuration.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all settings, revealing a system that is heavily dependent on pixel throughput. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 47 FPS at 1920x1080 to 35 FPS at 2560x1440 and then to 23 FPS at 3840x2160. That represents a 51% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K, which is a larger proportional decline than what would be expected from a purely CPU-limited scenario. Similarly, at Medium settings, the average drops from 35 FPS at 1080p to 26 FPS at 1440p and 17 FPS at 4K, a 51% decrease across the same range. High settings show a comparable trend: 29 FPS at 1080p, 22 FPS at 1440p, and 14 FPS at 4K, a 52% reduction. Ultra settings are the most punishing, moving from 21 FPS at 1080p to 16 FPS at 1440p and 10 FPS at 4K, a 52% drop.

The consistency of these percentage declines—hovering around 51–52% from 1080p to 4K regardless of preset—indicates that the limiting component scales almost linearly with resolution. This is a classic signature of a GPU-bound system, where the rendering workload grows with pixel count while the CPU’s contribution remains relatively static. The Arc B370, with its system-shared memory and modest compute resources, is clearly the constraining factor here; the Ryzen 7 3700X, with 8 cores and 16 threads, is unlikely to be the primary bottleneck at these frame rates. The data suggests that even at 1080p Low, where the highest average of 47 FPS is achieved, the GPU is still working near its ceiling, as dropping resolution further would not yield a dramatic improvement. For users seeking higher frame rates, the resolution scaling points squarely at the graphics card as the component to upgrade first.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the dominant factor in this combo’s performance, and its specifications explain why. The GPU operates with a boost clock of 2400 MHz and a base clock of 300 MHz, but its memory configuration is listed as “System Shared,” meaning it draws from the same pool as the CPU rather than having dedicated VRAM. This shared-memory design, combined with a 25 W TDP, places the Arc B370 in the integrated-graphics class, despite being branded as a discrete part. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark score of 1184 places the GPU in the 5th percentile of all GPUs in the database, and its nearest rivals—the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, ATI Radeon HD 5770, AMD Radeon HD 7650M, and AMD FirePro M2000—are all legacy parts with similar scores. This context is essential: the Arc B370 is not a high-performance gaming GPU, and its results in Red Dead Redemption 2 reflect that positioning.

In practical terms, the GPU’s role is visible in the measured FPS. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 47 FPS, which is the only configuration that approaches playability. Dropping to Medium reduces the average to 35 FPS, and High falls to 29 FPS, while Ultra bottoms out at 21 FPS. At 1440p, the same pattern holds: Low yields 35 FPS, Medium 26 FPS, High 22 FPS, and Ultra 16 FPS. At 4K, the numbers become marginal: Low 23 FPS, Medium 17 FPS, High 14 FPS, and Ultra 10 FPS. These figures align with the GPU’s low percentile ranking—the 5th percentile means 95% of GPUs in the database outperform it, and the benchmark results confirm that the Arc B370 is only suitable for light or older titles at reduced settings. The system-shared memory also means bandwidth is “System Dependent,” so performance can vary with the CPU’s memory configuration, but the measured data shows no scenario where the GPU can sustain 60 FPS in this game.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a far more capable component than the GPU, and its specifications suggest it is not the primary limiter in this combo. The CPU has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, built on TSMC’s 7 nm process. Its benchmark results are strong: Cinebench R15 multi-core scores 2092, Geekbench multi-core scores 8899, and Passmark multi-thread scores 22458. The CPU’s percentile rank is 84, meaning it outperforms 84% of all CPUs in the database, and its average benchmark score of 34260 places it in the same tier as the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 (34222, 0.1% delta), AMD EPYC 4244P (34220, 0.1% delta), Intel Core i5-13450HX (34333, -0.2% delta), and Intel Core Ultra 7 165H (34083, 0.5% delta). These rivals are all modern or high-end parts, underscoring that the 3700X remains competitive in compute tasks.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU’s role is likely to provide sufficient headroom for the GPU to be the bottleneck. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (47 FPS) is still below what the CPU could theoretically deliver, as the CPU’s single-thread score (Passmark single-thread 2656) and multi-core scores indicate it can handle more demanding workloads. The game’s engine does benefit from higher core counts, and the 3700X’s 8 cores are adequate for the title’s demands, but the frame rates never approach a level where CPU limitations would manifest—such as stutter or inconsistent frame pacing—since the GPU is already capping performance. The data shows that even at 4K Ultra (10 FPS), the CPU is not the constraint; the GPU is overwhelmed. If the GPU were upgraded, the 3700X could likely push higher frame rates, but within this combo, the CPU’s contribution is largely to keep up with the GPU’s modest output without introducing additional bottlenecks.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS is 47, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. No other configuration in the measured data exceeds this figure.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 10 (Ultra) to 23 (Low), with Medium at 17 FPS and High at 14 FPS. The minimum and maximum FPS are only recorded for Medium, showing 15 and 20 FPS respectively.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. FPS scales almost linearly with resolution—a 51-52% drop from 1080p to 4K across all settings—which is characteristic of GPU-bound performance. The CPU’s high percentile rank (84) and benchmark scores suggest it has ample headroom.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 2670 out of 2902 total combos in Red Dead Redemption 2, placing it in the bottom 8% of the database. This reflects the GPU’s low 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs.

Q: Are there any settings where the game is playable at 60 FPS?

A: No. The maximum average FPS recorded is 47 at 1080p Low, and every other configuration falls below 60 FPS. The highest at 1440p is 35 FPS (Low), and at 4K it is 23 FPS (Low).

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

A: The Arc B370’s 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 is within 1.4% of its nearest rivals: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186, -0.2% delta), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190, -0.5% delta), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, -0.7% delta), and AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, 1.4% delta). These are all legacy GPUs with similar performance levels.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low averages 47 FPS, Medium averages 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 and maximum of 40, High averages 29 FPS, and Ultra averages 21 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the averages drop: Low 35 FPS, Medium 26 FPS (min 22, max 30), High 22 FPS, and Ultra 16 FPS. At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low 23 FPS, Medium 17 FPS (min 15, max 20), High 14 FPS, and Ultra 10 FPS. The minimum and maximum values are only provided for Medium settings at each resolution, so those are the only configurations where frame variability can be assessed. For Medium at 1080p, the range is 30 to 40 FPS, a spread of 10 FPS; at 1440p, the range is 22 to 30 FPS (8 FPS spread); and at 4K, the range is 15 to 20 FPS (5 FPS spread). This narrowing of the frame range at higher resolutions is consistent with the GPU becoming more consistently saturated as pixel count increases.

The progression from Low to Ultra at each resolution shows a clear pattern: Low is always the fastest, followed by Medium, then High, with Ultra as the slowest. The percentage difference between Low and Ultra is substantial—at 1080p, Low is 124% faster than Ultra (47 vs 21 FPS); at 1440p, Low is 119% faster (35 vs 16 FPS); and at 4K, Low is 130% faster (23 vs 10 FPS). This indicates that the GPU’s limited compute resources are severely taxed by the higher-quality presets, particularly Ultra, which likely enables heavier post-processing and draw distances. The data also shows that the gap between Medium and High is smaller than between Low and Medium, suggesting diminishing returns from Medium to High, but the overall trend is that each preset step costs a meaningful portion of frame rate.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the only configuration that approaches a playable experience is 1080p Low, which delivers an average of 47 FPS. This is the highest frame rate in the entire dataset and the only setting where the combo exceeds 45 FPS. If a user prioritizes frame rate over visual fidelity, 1080p Low is the clear choice, as it provides the best chance of maintaining smooth motion in action sequences. However, even this setting falls short of 60 FPS, so users should expect some compromise in responsiveness.

For those who can tolerate lower frame rates in exchange for improved visuals, 1080p Medium offers 35 FPS with a recorded range of 30 to 40 FPS, which is more consistent than the higher presets. This setting may be preferable for users who value image quality but still want a playable frame rate. The High preset at 1080p drops to 29 FPS, and Ultra falls to 21 FPS, both of which are likely to feel sluggish in a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 that involves frequent camera movement and action. At 1440p and 4K, no setting achieves even 35 FPS at High or above, so those resolutions are only viable at Low or Medium for users who prioritize resolution over frame rate. Given the data, the recommendation is to run the game at 1080p with Low settings for the best measured performance, or 1080p Medium if visual quality is more important than the 12 FPS difference. Higher resolutions should be avoided unless the user is willing to accept sub-30 FPS averages.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo holds a rank of 2670 out of 2902 tested combinations in Red Dead Redemption 2, placing it in the bottom 8% of all systems measured. This low rank is directly attributable to the Intel Arc B370, which sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs and has an average benchmark score of 1184—barely above the lowest-scoring GPUs in the database. In contrast, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a high-performing CPU in the 84th percentile, with a multi-thread Passmark score of 22458 and a Cinebench R15 multi-core score of 2092. The mismatch between the CPU’s capability and the GPU’s limitation creates a system that is heavily imbalanced for gaming; the CPU is effectively wasted in this configuration because the GPU cannot translate its compute potential into frame rate.

The rank of 2670 means that only 232 other combos perform worse in this specific game, which is a stark indicator of the Arc B370’s limitations. For context, the GPU’s nearest rivals are all legacy parts from over a decade ago, and its 3DMark score of 1184 is within 1.4% of those older cards. This means the Arc B370 is not just underperforming relative to modern GPUs; it is on par with hardware that was entry-level in the early 2010s. The CPU’s nearest rivals, by contrast, are modern or high-end parts—the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, AMD EPYC 4244P, Intel Core i5-13450HX, and Intel Core Ultra 7 165H—all of which score within 0.5% of the 3700X’s average. This stark contrast between the two components’ peer groups underscores that any upgrade path for this combo would need to start with the GPU, as the CPU is already well above the level required for this game’s measured performance. The data shows that this combo is fundamentally limited by its graphics solution, and the low rank reflects that reality.