Red Dead Redemption 2

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 combination delivers a playable yet demanding experience in Red Dead Redemption 2, with the data indicating that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The measured frame rates show a clear pattern: the system is capable of high refresh rates at 1080p with adjusted settings, but struggles to maintain fluid motion at 4K Ultra. This analysis breaks down the benchmark results by component role, resolution scaling, and overall ranking to provide a methodical look at what this hardware pair achieves in Rockstar’s open-world title.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, manufactured on TSMC's 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The chip features a 32 MB L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. In synthetic benchmarks, the processor scores 2092 points in Cinebench R15 multi-core and 204 points in single-core, while Geekbench results show 8899 multi-core and 1593 single-core scores.

Relative to its nearest rivals in the database, the Ryzen 7 3700X sits in a tight cluster. It is 0.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 and the AMD EPYC 4244P, and 0.5% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H, but it trails the Intel Core i5-13450HX by 0.2%. This places the CPU in the 84th percentile of all processors, indicating that its computational power is above average but not exceptional by modern standards.

For Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle game logic, physics, and AI. The 8-core/16-thread configuration is well-suited for this title, which can utilize multiple threads. However, the measured frame rates suggest that the CPU is not the limiting factor in most scenarios. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 117 FPS average, which is a high frame rate that would stress the CPU, yet the GPU still manages to produce substantial output. The gap between 1080p Low (117 FPS) and 1080p High (73 FPS) is more attributable to GPU load than CPU limitations, as the resolution and settings increase the pixel and shading workload. The CPU's 84th percentile ranking and its close performance parity with rivals like the Ryzen AI 7 350 and Core i5-13450HX indicate that it provides sufficient headroom for the RTX 5060 in this game, though it does not offer the same level of single-thread performance as newer architectures.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process, featuring 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. It operates at a base clock of 2280 MHz and a boost clock of 2497 MHz, with 3840 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The GPU has 30 RT cores and 120 tensor cores, supporting modern rendering features. Its FP32 performance is 19.18 TFLOPS, and it consumes 145 W of power, requiring a 300 W suggested PSU.

In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 5060 scores 3628 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 and 20891 in Passmark G3D. Its Passmark DirectX 12 score is 77, while DirectX 11 scores 200. The GPU sits in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 860M, which is 0.3% behind, and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, which is 1.2% behind the RTX 5060. The NVIDIA GeForce MX550 is 0.3% behind, and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary is 0.8% behind.

The GPU's 8 GB VRAM is a critical factor in Red Dead Redemption 2. The game is known for its large textures and open-world streaming. The benchmark results show a steep performance cliff when moving from Medium to High settings at 4K, where the average FPS drops from 43 to 36. This suggests that the 8 GB frame buffer is being saturated at higher settings, forcing the GPU to manage memory more aggressively. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 26, which is borderline unplayable. The GPU is clearly the bottleneck at 4K, as the CPU's performance headroom cannot compensate for the pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth demands. The 448.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is substantial for a 128-bit bus, but it is still insufficient for the highest textures at 4K resolution.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern across resolutions. At 1080p, the system delivers 117 FPS average on Low settings, 88 FPS on Medium, 73 FPS on High, and 53 FPS on Ultra. Moving to 1440p, the averages drop to 87 FPS (Low), 65 FPS (Medium), 55 FPS (High), and 39 FPS (Ultra). At 4K, the averages fall to 58 FPS (Low), 43 FPS (Medium), 36 FPS (High), and 26 FPS (Ultra).

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a performance reduction of approximately 25-30% across all settings. This is a typical delta for pixel count increase, as 1440p has about 1.78 times the pixels of 1080p. The system maintains playable frame rates at 1440p Medium (65 FPS) and High (55 FPS), but Ultra (39 FPS) becomes less fluid.

The more dramatic drop occurs when moving from 1440p to 4K. The 4K resolution has 2.25 times the pixels of 1440p. At Low settings, the FPS drops from 87 to 58, a 33% reduction. At Medium, it drops from 65 to 43, a 34% reduction. At High, it drops from 55 to 36, a 35% reduction. At Ultra, it drops from 39 to 26, a 33% reduction.

This consistent ~33% reduction across all settings, despite the larger pixel count increase, indicates that the GPU is the limiting component at 4K. The RTX 5060 is unable to maintain the same performance scaling as the resolution increases, and the frame rates plateau at a level that suggests compute and memory bandwidth constraints. The CPU's role becomes less significant at 4K, as the GPU is fully saturated. The data shows that the system is balanced at 1080p and 1440p, where the CPU can feed the GPU adequately, but the GPU becomes the sole bottleneck at 4K, especially on Ultra settings where the average FPS drops to 26.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 combination ranks 1673 out of 3714 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places it in the 55th percentile of all tested hardware combinations, meaning that roughly 45% of tested combos perform better and 55% perform worse. This is a mid-pack ranking, which is consistent with the hardware's specifications: the CPU is in the 84th percentile, but the GPU is in the 72nd percentile, pulling the overall combo ranking down.

The rank of 1673 suggests that while the CPU is relatively strong, the RTX 5060's 8 GB VRAM and mid-range performance limit the system's ability to excel in this particular game. The measured FPS data confirms this, as the system struggles to maintain 60 FPS at 1440p High (55 FPS average) and cannot reach 60 FPS at 4K on any setting. The combo's ranking reflects that it is a capable 1080p and entry-level 1440p solution, but it is not competitive with higher-end configurations for 4K gaming.

The deltaPct values from the nearest rivals are not directly applicable to the combo ranking, but they provide context for the individual components. The CPU's performance is within 0.5% of its rivals, indicating that the processor is not a differentiator. The GPU's performance is within 1.2% of its rivals, suggesting that the RTX 5060 is also not a standout performer. The combo's mid-pack ranking is therefore a result of the balance between the two components, with neither providing a significant advantage.

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

At 1920x1080, the system's performance is as follows: Low settings produce an average of 117 FPS, Medium produces 88 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS and a maximum of 101 FPS, High produces 73 FPS, and Ultra produces 53 FPS. The 1080p results show that the system is capable of high refresh rate gaming on Low and Medium settings, with 117 FPS and 88 FPS respectively. High settings still provide a smooth experience above 60 FPS, while Ultra drops below the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the averages are: Low at 87 FPS, Medium at 65 FPS (min 56, max 75), High at 55 FPS, and Ultra at 39 FPS. The 1440p results indicate that the system is best suited for Medium settings, which maintain a 65 FPS average with a reasonable minimum of 56 FPS. High settings dip to 55 FPS, which is borderline, while Ultra is not recommended for competitive play.

At 3840x2160, the averages are: Low at 58 FPS, Medium at 43 FPS (min 37, max 50), High at 36 FPS, and Ultra at 26 FPS. The 4K results show that the system can only achieve playable frame rates on Low settings, with 58 FPS average. Medium settings drop to 43 FPS, which is playable but not smooth, while High and Ultra are below the 30 FPS threshold for sustained action.

The data across all resolutions shows a consistent pattern: each increase in settings level costs approximately 15-20 FPS at 1080p, 20-25 FPS at 1440p, and 10-15 FPS at 4K. The min and max values for Medium settings provide insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p, the range is 75 to 101 FPS, a 26 FPS spread. At 1440p, the range is 56 to 75 FPS, a 19 FPS spread. At 4K, the range is 37 to 50 FPS, a 13 FPS spread. This suggests that frame pacing is more stable at higher resolutions, but the average FPS is too low for a fluid experience.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p, the High preset at 73 FPS average provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, staying above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 88 FPS offers a higher margin for demanding scenes, with a minimum of 75 FPS ensuring consistent smoothness. The Low preset at 117 FPS is suitable for competitive play or high refresh rate monitors, but it sacrifices significant visual fidelity.

For 1440p, the Medium preset at 65 FPS is the best choice, as it maintains a minimum of 56 FPS, which is close to the 60 FPS target. The High preset at 55 FPS is playable but may experience dips below 60 FPS in busy areas. The Low preset at 87 FPS is a viable option for those prioritizing frame rate over visuals, but it is not necessary for a smooth experience.

For 4K, the Low preset at 58 FPS is the only setting that provides a playable experience, though it is on the edge of the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset at 43 FPS is marginal, and High and Ultra are not recommended due to average FPS below 40. Users with 4K displays should consider using the Low preset or reducing the resolution to 1440p for a better experience.

The data suggests that the system is best utilized at 1080p with High settings or 1440p with Medium settings. These configurations offer the best visual quality while maintaining an average FPS above 60, which is the standard for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it drops below 60 FPS at 1080p and below 40 FPS at 1440p and 4K.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS is 117, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 1440p with High settings?

A: No, the average FPS at 1440p High is 55, which is below the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset at 65 FPS is the highest setting that maintains an average above 60 FPS.

Q: What is the performance difference between 1080p and 4K on Medium settings?

A: At 1080p Medium, the average FPS is 88, while at 4K Medium, it drops to 43. This represents a 51% reduction in performance.

Q: How does the RTX 5060's VRAM affect performance at 4K?

A: The 8 GB VRAM is insufficient for high texture settings at 4K, as evidenced by the drop from 43 FPS at Medium to 36 FPS at High. The GPU becomes memory-bound, limiting its ability to maintain frame rates.

Q: What is the combo's ranking among all tested hardware combinations?

A: The combo ranks 1673 out of 3714 tested combinations, placing it in the middle of the pack.

Q: Which settings preset provides the best balance at 1080p?

A: The High preset at 73 FPS average offers a good balance, but the Medium preset at 88 FPS with a minimum of 75 FPS provides a more consistent experience above 60 FPS.