Red Dead Redemption 2

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a highly playable experience in Red Dead Redemption 2, though the data reveals a clear performance hierarchy dictated by both resolution and graphics preset. This combination, ranking 785th out of 2902 tested combos in this specific title, shows a system that is well-balanced for 1440p gaming but begins to show its limits at 4K, particularly when pushing settings to their maximum.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for this combination shows a consistent and predictable pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the High preset, the average frame rate drops from 91 FPS at 1080p to 68 FPS at 1440p, representing a 25% decrease, and then further down to 45 FPS at 4K, a 34% drop from the 1440p figure. This scaling behavior indicates that the RTX 3080’s rendering load is scaling significantly with pixel count, which is expected for a GPU-bound scenario at these settings.

The Low preset shows a steeper relative decline across resolutions. The system achieves 145 FPS at 1080p, which drops to 108 FPS at 1440p (a 26% reduction) and then to 72 FPS at 4K (a 33% reduction from 1440p). The fact that even at the lowest settings, the 4K frame rate is only 72 FPS suggests that the GPU is still the primary limiting factor at this resolution, as the CPU is unlikely to be a bottleneck with such low graphical demands.

At the Medium preset, the pattern continues, with average FPS of 109 at 1080p, 81 at 1440p, and 54 at 4K. The percentage drops are 26% and 33% respectively, mirroring the other presets. This uniformity across presets strongly suggests that the scaling penalty from 1080p to 4K is a function of the GPU's fillrate and memory bandwidth limitations rather than any CPU constraint. The Ultra preset follows the same trend, albeit at lower absolute numbers: 65 FPS at 1080p, 49 FPS at 1440p, and 32 FPS at 4K.

The data indicates that the transition from 1440p to 4K is consistently more punishing than the transition from 1080p to 1440p. This is characteristic of a GPU that is running out of pixel processing headroom at the highest resolution. The RTX 3080 with its 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and 320-bit bus is being pushed to its limits, making 4K a challenging target for maintaining high refresh rates, especially with the frame rate dropping below 60 FPS for all presets except Low.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is the dominant component in determining performance for this game, especially at higher resolutions. Its specifications include a GA102 chip on the Ampere architecture, built on an 8 nm process from Samsung. The GPU has 8704 shading units, 272 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units. The base clock is 1440 MHz with a boost clock of 1710 MHz, which are the figures that dictate its processing throughput.

The memory subsystem is a critical factor in Red Dead Redemption 2's performance. The card has 10 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 320-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s. The memory clock runs at 1188 MHz, which translates to 19 Gbps effective. This bandwidth is substantial, but the 10 GB capacity can be a limiting factor at 4K with higher presets, where texture data demands are high. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the average FPS plunges to 32, which is barely playable, suggesting the GPU is struggling with both compute and memory pressure.

The RTX 3080's compute capabilities are strong, with a FP32 performance of 29.77 TFLOPS and a texture rate of 465.1 GTexel/s. The pixel rate is 164.2 GPixel/s. These numbers help explain why the card performs admirably at 1080p and 1440p, where it can maintain high frame rates even at High and Medium settings. The transition to 4K, however, requires rendering four times the pixels of 1080p, and the data shows the GPU’s performance scales down accordingly.

The GPU's benchmark scores support its position. It achieves a passmark G3D score of 25086 and a passmark GPU compute score of 14397. Its average benchmark score is 23172, placing it at the 68th percentile of all GPUs. In the nearest rivals comparison, it is nearly identical in performance to the NVIDIA P106-100, AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16, AMD Radeon RX 6600M, and AMD Radeon R9 M290X, with delta percentages of -0.3%, -0.3%, -0.4%, and -0.4% respectively. This indicates that while the RTX 3080 is a capable card, its raw compute power is not unique in its class. The 68th percentile ranking also suggests that a majority of GPUs tested are less performant, but a significant number are faster.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F serves as the supporting component in this configuration, and the data suggests it is not the primary bottleneck in Red Dead Redemption 2. This CPU features 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 5 architecture, known as Granite Ridge. It has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which are high enough to feed the GPU adequately in most gaming scenarios. The CPU's cache structure includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and a shared 32 MB of L3 cache.

The CPU's performance metrics show it is a strong processor. Its passmark single-thread score is 4691, and its multithread score is 36470. The average benchmark score is 69996, placing it at the 94th percentile of all CPUs, indicating it is faster than the vast majority of processors on the market. When compared to its nearest rivals, it is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX (0.2% delta), Intel Core i7-14700KF (-0.2% delta), AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (0.7% delta), and Intel Core i7-14700K (0.9% delta). This shows that the 9700F is a top-tier CPU in terms of synthetic benchmarks.

In the context of this game, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls. Given that the frame rates scale so heavily with resolution, it is clear that the GPU is the limiting factor. For instance, at 1080p Low, the system achieves 145 FPS, which is a high frame rate but not so high that it would necessarily expose a CPU bottleneck. The fact that the frame rate drops to 72 FPS at 4K Low, while the CPU is doing the same amount of work, confirms that the GPU is the constraint. The CPU's high single-thread performance is sufficient to maintain these frame rates without becoming a limiting factor.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at how this combination performs across different settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system delivers an average of 145 FPS on Low settings, 109 FPS on Medium, 91 FPS on High, and 65 FPS on Ultra. The Medium preset also provides a minimum FPS of 92 and a maximum of 125, showing a stable frame time. This indicates that at 1080p, the system is well-suited for high refresh rate monitors, even at High settings, where it stays above 90 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops as expected. The Low preset yields an average of 108 FPS, which is still very smooth. The Medium preset averages 81 FPS with a minimum of 69 and a maximum of 93. The High preset averages 68 FPS, which is right at the edge of what many consider ideal for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset drops to 49 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. This resolution appears to be the sweet spot for this combination, as it offers a good balance between visual fidelity and frame rate at High settings.

At 3840x2160, the performance becomes more challenging. The Low preset averages 72 FPS, which is acceptable for a 60 Hz display. The Medium preset averages 54 FPS with a minimum of 46 and a maximum of 62, indicating occasional dips below the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset averages 45 FPS, which is below the smoothness threshold. The Ultra preset averages 32 FPS, which is only suitable for slower-paced gameplay or for users who prioritize visual quality over frame rate. The data clearly shows that 4K is demanding for this GPU, and users should expect to lower settings to maintain playable frame rates.

FAQ

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

A: The combination achieves an average of 68 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings, with no minimum or maximum FPS data provided. This is a solid performance level for a smooth gaming experience, though not quite enough for 120 Hz displays.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor. This is evident because frame rates at 4K are significantly lower than at 1080p across all settings, while the CPU's workload remains constant. The CPU’s high benchmark scores, placing it at the 94th percentile, also suggest it has ample headroom for this title.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 9700F compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-14700KF?

A: The Ryzen 7 9700F has an average benchmark score of 69996, which is 0.2% lower than the Intel Core i7-14700KF's score of 70163. This makes them statistically indistinguishable in performance. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is also close, with a score that is 0.7% lower than the 9700F.

Q: What is the highest playable resolution for this setup?

A: The data suggests that 2560x1440 is the highest resolution where the system can consistently maintain an average frame rate above 60 FPS, specifically at High settings with 68 FPS. At 4K, only the Low preset achieves an average above 60 FPS (72 FPS), while Medium and High drop below that threshold.

Q: What are the minimum FPS numbers for the Medium preset?

A: The Medium preset is the only one with min/max data. At 1080p, the minimum is 92 FPS and maximum is 125. At 1440p, the minimum is 69 FPS and maximum is 93. At 4K, the minimum is 46 FPS and maximum is 62.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all other tested combinations?

A: This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 ranks 785th out of 2902 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places it in the top 27% of all tested systems for this game.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combination depend heavily on the user's target resolution and refresh rate. For 1920x1080, the High preset is the best choice, providing an average of 91 FPS. This delivers a high-quality visual experience while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS standard and suitable for 75 Hz to 100 Hz monitors. The Ultra preset at 65 FPS is also viable for those who want maximum visual fidelity and are willing to accept a lower but still playable frame rate. The Low and Medium presets are unnecessary at this resolution, as they offer higher FPS but with a significant visual trade-off.

For 2560x1440, the High preset is again the recommended choice, with an average of 68 FPS. This is a playable frame rate for most users, offering a good balance between visual quality and smoothness. The Medium preset at 81 FPS is a better option for competitive or fast-paced play, as it provides a higher frame rate buffer. The Ultra preset at 49 FPS is not recommended for general play, as it dips below the 60 FPS threshold, which can be noticeable. The Low preset at 108 FPS is only for users who prioritize maximum frame rate over all else.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more constrained. The Low preset is the only option that provides an average above 60 FPS at 72 FPS, making it the only truly smooth experience. The Medium preset at 54 FPS is playable but may show occasional dips, as indicated by its 46 FPS minimum. The High preset at 45 FPS is for users who prioritize visual quality and are willing to accept a lower frame rate. The Ultra preset at 32 FPS is not recommended for a playable experience. For 4K, users should start with the Low preset and consider the Medium preset if they can tolerate slightly lower frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scope of the benchmark database, this combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 achieves a rank of 785 out of 2902 tested combinations in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places the system in the top 27% of all tested hardware pairings for this specific game. This ranking is a result of the GPU's strong performance, as the RTX 3080 sits at the 68th percentile of all GPUs, and the CPU's exceptional performance, which is at the 94th percentile of all CPUs.

The ranking suggests that while this system is not at the absolute top tier of performance, it is certainly in the upper echelon. The primary factor holding it back from a higher rank is the GPU's performance at 4K, where it struggles to maintain high frame rates. The CPU, on the other hand, provides ample headroom, and its performance is unlikely to be a limiting factor in most gaming scenarios. The gap between the CPU's high percentile and the GPU's lower percentile suggests that a more powerful GPU would yield significant improvements in this game, particularly at higher resolutions.

The data shows that this combo is well-balanced for 1440p gaming, where it ranks as a high-performing setup. At this resolution, the system can deliver a great experience on High settings. The 4K performance is less impressive, with the system falling behind more powerful GPU configurations. Overall, the ranking of 785 out of 2902 reflects the system's capability, but it also highlights the potential for improvement with a more potent graphics card.