Red Dead Redemption 2

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. It carries a 32 MB L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration. Its benchmark profile shows strong scaling from single-thread to multi-thread workloads: the 3DMark single-thread score is 959, while the 16-thread score reaches 7683, and the max-thread score is 7680. This near-linear scaling indicates that the processor can effectively utilize all 16 threads when a workload demands it, which is relevant for a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 that can distribute tasks across multiple cores.

In the context of this game's measured performance, the CPU's role becomes apparent when comparing frame rates across resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo produces 162.3 FPS, while at 4K with Low settings it drops to 78.4 FPS. The 1080p Low result suggests that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to reach high frame rates, but the substantial drop as resolution increases points to the GPU becoming the primary constraint at higher pixel counts. The processor's 16 threads and 8 cores are sufficient to avoid becoming a bottleneck at 1080p, where the measured 162.3 FPS indicates headroom for high-refresh-rate displays.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 86 among all processors, with an average benchmark score of 29774, places it in the upper tier of desktop CPUs. Its nearest rivals in average score include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755GE (deltaPct 0.1), the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (deltaPct -0.3), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 (deltaPct 0.3), and the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (deltaPct -0.3). These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, indicating that the 5800XT sits in a tightly contested performance band. For Red Dead Redemption 2, this means the CPU is unlikely to be the limiting factor in most scenarios, as even the closest rivals show nearly identical average scores.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 2325 MHz and a boost clock of 2512 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). Its 6144 shading units and 48 RT cores give it substantial compute capability, reflected in a PassMark G3D score of 29137 and an average benchmark score of 41687, placing it in the 83rd percentile among all GPUs.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the GPU's influence is most evident in the scaling of average frame rates with graphics settings. At 4K, the average FPS ranges from 35.5 at Ultra settings to 78.4 at Low settings, a difference of more than 2x. At 1080p, the range is from 75 FPS at Ultra to 162.3 at Low. The GPU's 12 GB of VRAM is likely sufficient for the game's textures at these settings, as no anomalies appear in the measured data that would suggest memory capacity issues. The memory bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s helps maintain consistent performance across detail levels, though the frame rate drops at Ultra settings indicate the GPU's compute limits are being approached.

The RTX 5070's nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (deltaPct 0.2), the NVIDIA Tesla M40 (deltaPct -0.5), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (deltaPct 0.6), and the AMD Radeon Pro 580X (deltaPct -0.7). Notably, the RTX 3090 is within 0.6% of the RTX 5070's average score, suggesting that the newer card delivers comparable raw performance in synthetic benchmarks. For this game, the GPU's role is dominant at higher resolutions, as the frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K at the same settings shows a clear GPU-bound pattern.

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

The measured data provides a clear picture of how this combo scales across resolutions. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 100.9 at 1080p to 74.3 at 1440p, then to 48 at 4K. This represents a 26% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a further 35% drop from 1440p to 4K, for a total reduction of 52% from 1080p to 4K. At Low settings, the drop is from 162.3 at 1080p to 123.1 at 1440p to 78.4 at 4K, a total reduction of 52% as well. At Medium settings, the values are 120.4, 92.5, and 62.3, respectively, a 48% total drop. At Ultra settings, the values are 75, 54.2, and 35.5, a 53% total drop.

The consistency of these percentage drops across all four settings levels indicates that the scaling behavior is uniform and predictable. The almost identical relative reductions (48-53%) suggest that the same component is limiting performance at each resolution, and that component is the GPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the frame rate to remain more constant as resolution increases, because the CPU workload per frame does not scale with pixel count. Instead, the measured FPS drops proportionally with the increase in pixel count, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario.

At 1080p Low, the 162.3 FPS result shows that the CPU can push well beyond 144 Hz, meaning that for gamers targeting high refresh rates at lower resolutions, the combo has headroom. However, at 4K Ultra, the 35.5 FPS average indicates that the GPU is heavily loaded and the experience would fall below the 60 FPS threshold commonly desired for smooth gameplay. The data shows that at 1440p High, the 74.3 FPS result is above 60 FPS, making this a viable resolution for balanced quality and performance. At 4K, only Low settings (78.4 FPS) and Medium settings (62.3 FPS) remain above 60 FPS, while High (48 FPS) and Ultra (35.5 FPS) fall short.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with High settings for this combo?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings is 74.3. This is above the 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this resolution and settings combination provides a smooth experience for Red Dead Redemption 2.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to its single-threaded performance?

A: The 3DMark 16-thread score is 7683, while the single-thread score is 959. The ratio of approximately 8x indicates excellent scaling across the 8 cores, and the max-thread score of 7680 confirms that the processor maintains its performance when all threads are utilized.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this combo at any resolution?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 162.3, which occurs at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The next highest is 123.1 at 2560x1440 with Low settings, showing that Low settings at lower resolutions yield the highest frame rates.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: At 4K, the average FPS ranges from 35.5 at Ultra to 78.4 at Low, and the proportional drop from 1080p to 4K (approximately 52% at all settings) indicates the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU's performance is sufficient to feed the GPU at these pixel counts.

Q: How does the GPU's average benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The RTX 5070 has an average benchmark score of 41687, while its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 5300, has a score of 41610, a deltaPct of 0.2. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 is within 0.6% with a score of 41441.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combinations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 372nd out of 1687 tested combinations, placing it in the top 22% of all combos tested for Red Dead Redemption 2.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 achieves a rank of 372 out of 1687 tested combinations for Red Dead Redemption 2. This places the combo in the top 22% of all tested pairings, indicating that it delivers above-average performance for this game. The rank reflects the combined capabilities of both components, and given the data showing that the GPU is the primary limiter at higher resolutions, the CPU's strong multi-threaded performance ensures that it is not dragging down the overall result.

The CPU's percentile of 86 among all processors and the GPU's percentile of 83 among all GPUs are closely aligned, suggesting that neither component is significantly mismatched with the other. This balance is evident in the measured frame rates, where the combo delivers 100.9 FPS at 1080p High and 74.3 FPS at 1440p High. The 162.3 FPS at 1080p Low demonstrates that the combo can handle high-refresh-rate gaming when settings are lowered, while the 48 FPS at 4K High shows the limits of the GPU at higher pixel counts.

Compared to other combos in the database, a rank of 372 out of 1687 means that roughly 78% of tested combinations score higher in this game. This is a solid result for a mid-range to upper-mid-range pairing, and the data shows that the combo is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming with high settings. At 4K, the combo requires lowered settings to maintain playable frame rates, with only Low and Medium settings exceeding 60 FPS. The consistent scaling across resolutions and settings suggests that this combo provides predictable performance, and the rank reflects its position among a large field of tested hardware pairings.