Red Dead Redemption 2

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 produces a mid-pack result in Red Dead Redemption 2, landing at rank 1269 out of 2902 tested combos. This places the pairing in the 43rd percentile of all tested configurations, meaning roughly 43% of tested combos perform worse and 57% perform better. The rank reflects a balance where the CPU is a top-tier performer relative to its peers, while the GPU holds a more modest standing, resulting in a combination that is generally capable but not exceptional for this title. The data indicates that this system is positioned for solid 1080p gameplay and acceptable 1440p performance, with 4K requiring compromises in visual fidelity.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 1269 out of 2902 tested combinations places this CPU-GPU pairing firmly in the middle of the distribution. This is not a top-tier result, but it is also far from the bottom, indicating a system that can handle the game without being a benchmark leader. The ranking is influenced by the disparate performance levels of its components. The CPU, AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, a very strong showing, while the GPU, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, is in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, a more average result. The overall combo rank is a direct consequence of this gap, with the GPU acting as the performance ceiling in most scenarios.

Benchmark results show the CPU’s average score is 69996, which is remarkably close to its nearest rivals. It is 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, 0.7% above the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, and 0.9% above the Intel Core i7-14700K. It trails the Intel Core i7-14700KF by a mere 0.2%. This indicates the 9700F is in the same performance tier as some of the most powerful CPUs available, even those from different generations. For the GPU, the RTX 5060’s average score of 26331 puts it in a similar competitive bracket. It is 1.2% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, but 0.3% slower than both the AMD Radeon 860M and the NVIDIA GeForce MX550, and 0.8% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary. The GPU’s performance is therefore more middle-of-the-road, and it is this component that will define the gaming experience.

The data suggests that for Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU is not a bottleneck at the resolutions tested. The system’s ranking is instead determined by the GPU’s ability to render frames. The strong CPU ensures that frame pacing is consistent and that the GPU is fed with data, but the raw frame rate is limited by the RTX 5060. This is a typical pairing where the processor has headroom for future GPU upgrades, but in its current configuration, the GPU is the primary determinant of the in-game performance.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is the defining component for this game’s frame rate. It features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is adequate for Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1080p and 1440p, but the 8 GB capacity can become a limiting factor at 4K with higher texture settings, as the game’s large open world demands significant video memory. The GPU’s clock speeds are a base of 2280 MHz and a boost of 2497 MHz, and it is built on TSMC’s 5 nm process with 21,900 million transistors. These specifications place the GPU in a performance class that is competitive with older high-end cards, as evidenced by its Passmark G3D score of 20891.

The GPU’s performance relative to its nearest rivals is telling. It is a very small margin, less than 1.2%, that separates it from the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, AMD Radeon 860M, NVIDIA GeForce MX550, and AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary. This means the RTX 5060 is in a tight cluster of GPUs with similar compute capabilities. In Red Dead Redemption 2, this translates to a consistent performance level across these cards. The GPU’s 72nd percentile ranking among all GPUs confirms that it is a capable but not top-of-the-line part. Its 19.18 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 299.6 GTexel/s texture rate are the raw numbers that drive the rendering of the game’s detailed environments and character models.

The GPU’s role becomes more apparent when looking at the measured frame rates. At 1080p, it can deliver 117 FPS on Low settings, but this drops to 53 FPS on Ultra. This spread shows that the GPU is the primary driver of performance scaling with settings. The CPU is unlikely to be the cause of this drop, as its performance is far above what the game requires. The 8 GB of VRAM is a point of concern for the highest settings at 4K, where the Ultra preset yields only 26 FPS, suggesting that memory capacity and bandwidth are being stretched to their limits.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p with High settings, the combo achieves 73 FPS. This drops to 55 FPS at 1440p and further to 36 FPS at 4K. This represents a 24.7% performance hit when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a 50.7% hit from 1080p to 4K. This scaling is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering load on the graphics card increases significantly with each pixel count. The CPU’s role is to keep up with the game’s logic and draw calls, which it does effectively, and the frame rate is ultimately dictated by the GPU’s fill rate and shader processing.

The pattern is similar for the Low settings preset. At 1080p, the system produces 117 FPS. At 1440p, it drops to 87 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to 58 FPS. The percentage drops are 25.6% from 1080p to 1440p and 50.4% from 1080p to 4K. The consistency of these drops across different settings presets is a strong indicator that the GPU is the limiting component. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see frame rates that are more similar across resolutions, as the CPU’s workload does not scale with resolution. Instead, the frame rate nearly halves when the pixel count quadruples, which is the expected behavior for a system limited by GPU throughput.

The data from the Medium preset reinforces this analysis. The frame rate goes from 88 FPS at 1080p to 65 FPS at 1440p, a 26.1% drop, and then to 43 FPS at 4K, a 51.1% drop from 1080p. The Ultra preset shows the same trend, with 53 FPS at 1080p, 39 FPS at 1440p, and 26 FPS at 4K. This consistent scaling across all four settings presets is the key evidence that the RTX 5060 is the performance bottleneck. The CPU’s high percentile ranking and benchmark scores suggest it has plenty of headroom, but the GPU’s capabilities are being fully utilized at all resolutions, leading to the observed frame rate limits.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system’s performance is the most playable. With Low settings, the average FPS is 117, which is very high and provides a smooth experience. Medium settings yield 88 FPS, with a minimum of 75 and a maximum of 101. High settings produce 73 FPS, which is still excellent for a game like this. Ultra settings, however, bring the average down to 53 FPS. This is playable, but it is approaching the threshold where some users might prefer lower settings for a higher frame rate. The data shows a wide range of performance, indicating that the GPU has enough power for high refresh rate monitors at lower settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates decrease across the board. Low settings average 87 FPS, which remains very good. Medium settings average 65 FPS, with a range of 56 to 75 FPS. High settings drop to 55 FPS, which is still acceptable for a smooth experience. Ultra settings fall to 39 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target that many players prefer. At this resolution, the GPU is starting to work harder, and the difference between settings presets becomes more pronounced. The High preset is the most balanced, offering a decent frame rate without a significant visual compromise.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. Low settings average 58 FPS, which is on the edge of playability. Medium settings average 43 FPS, with a minimum of 37 and a maximum of 50, which will feel less smooth. High settings drop to 36 FPS, and Ultra settings average just 26 FPS. At 4K, the GPU is clearly overburdened. The 8 GB of VRAM may also be a factor, as the game’s high-resolution textures can exceed this capacity. For a consistent experience at this resolution, users would need to stick to Low settings or consider a more powerful GPU. The data shows that 1080p is the sweet spot for this combo, with 1440p being a viable option if settings are managed.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Red Dead Redemption 2 with this combo?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 provides the highest frame rates, with a maximum of 117 FPS on Low settings. 2560x1440 is also playable, but 3840x2160 results in average FPS below 60 on all settings presets.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F or the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 the limiting factor?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU’s average benchmark score is 69996, placing it in the 94th percentile, while the GPU’s average score is 26331, in the 72nd percentile. The frame rate drops consistently with resolution, indicating a GPU bottleneck.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 compare to the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT?

A: The RTX 5060 is 1.2% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT, based on average benchmark scores. This is a very small performance difference, meaning the two cards should perform nearly identically in this game.

Q: Can this system run Red Dead Redemption 2 at 4K with High settings?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS is 36, which is not a smooth experience. Even on Low settings, the average FPS is only 58, which is marginally playable.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS on Low settings is 117, while on Ultra settings it is 53. This is a drop of 64 FPS, representing a 54.7% decrease in performance.

Q: What is the combo’s overall rank compared to all other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 1269 out of 2902 tested combinations. This places it in the middle of the pack, indicating that it is a capable but not top-tier system for this game.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the user’s resolution and performance priorities. For 1920x1080, the High preset is the most balanced choice. The average FPS of 73 is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, and it offers a significant visual improvement over Medium settings. For users with high refresh rate monitors, the Low preset at 117 FPS is an option, but the visual quality will suffer. The Ultra preset at 53 FPS is the most demanding and may cause noticeable frame drops in busy scenes.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended starting point. It produces an average of 65 FPS, which is above 60, and its minimum of 56 FPS is still within an acceptable range. The High preset at 55 FPS is also playable, but it is more likely to dip below 60 FPS during intense action. The Low preset at 87 FPS is the best for competitive play, but the visual trade-offs are substantial. The Ultra preset at 39 FPS is not recommended, as the game will feel sluggish and unresponsive.

For 3840x2160, the data shows that only the Low preset, at 58 FPS, provides a frame rate that is close to playable. The Medium preset at 43 FPS and the High preset at 36 FPS are too slow for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset at 26 FPS is not viable. If a user insists on 4K, they must use Low settings, but they should be prepared for a less detailed image. A more reasonable approach is to play at 1440p with Medium or High settings to achieve a better balance of visual quality and performance. The data suggests that for the best overall experience, 1080p with High settings is the sweet spot, offering high frame rates and good visual fidelity.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is a high-performance processor that provides more than enough power for Red Dead Redemption 2. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. This is a Zen 5 architecture processor, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC, with a 32 MB shared L3 cache. Its average benchmark score of 69996 places it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, and its performance is within 0.9% of rivals like the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and Intel Core i7-14700K. This indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this system.

The CPU’s role in this game is to handle the simulation of the game world, including AI, physics, and other background tasks. Its high single-threaded performance, as indicated by a Passmark single-thread score of 4691, ensures that the game’s main logic thread runs efficiently. Its multithreaded score of 36470 also ensures that it can handle multiple concurrent tasks without issue. The data from the measured FPS shows that the frame rate scales with resolution in a way that is characteristic of GPU-bound performance, confirming that the CPU is not limiting the system.

The Ryzen 7 9700F’s position among its nearest rivals is notable. It is 0.2% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX and 0.9% faster than the Intel Core i7-14700K, but 0.2% slower than the Intel Core i7-14700KF. This places it in the top tier of processors on the market. In Red Dead Redemption 2, this means the CPU will not cause frame drops or stutters, even in the most demanding areas. The system’s overall performance is entirely dependent on the GPU’s capabilities, and the CPU provides a stable and powerful foundation for the game to run on. The data confirms that upgrading the GPU in the future would be a viable path to improve performance, as the CPU has significant headroom.