Red Dead Redemption 2

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination delivers a strong but nuanced performance profile in Red Dead Redemption 2. The data shows a system capable of high-refresh-rate play at 1080p and smooth 60 FPS experiences at 4K, though the demanding Ultra preset reveals the limits of even this high-end pairing.

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

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor from the 7000 series, built on the Zen 4 architecture (codenamed Raphael) using a 5 nm process at TSMC. It operates with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, with a 170 W TDP. The CPU features 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of shared L3 cache, and it supports DDR5 memory on the AMD Socket AM5 platform.

In the context of Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU's multi-threaded capability is substantial. Its 3DMark scores show a progression from 1,093 in single-thread to 12,536 at max threads, indicating excellent scaling across its 24 threads. Cinebench R23 results reinforce this, with a multi-core score of 29,300 and a single-core score of 2,016.5. The Geekbench multi-core score of 19,267 further confirms the processor's strength in heavily threaded workloads.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 91 out of all CPUs indicates it sits well above the median processor. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 9 7900X posts an average benchmark score of 53,288, which is a mere 0.2% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7313P (53,206) and 0.6% ahead of the Intel Xeon 634 (52,974). It trails the Intel Core i7-14700F by 0.6% (53,620 vs 53,288) and the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 by 0.3% (53,469 vs 53,288). These are extremely tight margins, suggesting that in synthetic tests, the 7900X is effectively at parity with these alternatives.

For Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU's role is primarily to feed the GPU. The measured FPS data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the system achieves 194 FPS average, which is a very high frame rate. This suggests that the CPU is capable of driving the game engine to high performance levels without becoming a significant bottleneck at lower resolutions. However, the game's open-world nature with many NPCs and physics calculations can be demanding, and the 7900X's strong multi-core performance helps maintain consistent frame pacing in such scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Ryzen 9 7900X and RTX 4080 ranks 260 out of 3,714 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places it in the top 7% of all tested configurations, which is a strong showing for a high-end desktop pairing. The rank of 260 out of 3,714 means there are 259 combos that perform better, which likely include more recent flagship GPUs or extreme overclocking setups, but this remains a top-tier result.

The data indicates that this combo is well-balanced for the game. The GPU's percentile ranking of 86 out of all GPUs and the CPU's percentile of 91 out of all CPUs are both high, and when combined, they produce a system that can handle the game's most demanding scenarios. The fact that the combo ranks 260th overall suggests that while there are faster combinations, this pairing is far from being a weak link in the chain.

The nearest rival GPUs to the RTX 4080 show how close the competition is. The RTX 4080's average benchmark score of 54,247 is only 0.1% behind the RTX 4080 SUPER (54,209), meaning they are effectively identical in synthetic performance. It is 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (54,828) and 2.6% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (55,698). These deltas are small, but in gaming, they can translate to a few frames per second. The combo rank reflects that this pair, while not the absolute fastest, is within a competitive window of the best available hardware.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear trend of performance decreasing as resolution increases, which is expected. At 1080p Low settings, the system averages 194 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops the average to 145 FPS, a reduction of 49 FPS or about 25%. At 4K Low, the average falls to 96 FPS, which is another 49 FPS drop from 1440p, representing a further 34% reduction. The total drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 98 FPS, or roughly half the original frame rate.

This scaling pattern is typical of a system where the GPU becomes more of a limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the CPU has more headroom, and the GPU can push very high frame rates. As resolution increases to 1440p and then 4K, the GPU's workload increases significantly, and the frame rate drops accordingly. The fact that the 1080p Low average of 194 FPS is so high suggests the CPU is not holding back the GPU at this resolution, and the system is capable of very high refresh rates.

Looking at the High settings, the drop from 1080p (121 FPS) to 1440p (90 FPS) is 31 FPS, and then from 1440p to 4K (60 FPS) is another 30 FPS. The consistent ~30 FPS drops between each resolution step at High settings indicate a GPU-bound scenario, where the RTX 4080's rendering workload scales predictably with pixel count. The 4K High result of exactly 60 FPS average is notable, as it shows the system can maintain a smooth 60 FPS experience at 4K on High settings.

At Medium settings, the pattern holds. The average FPS at 1080p is 145, dropping to 108 at 1440p (a 37 FPS drop) and then to 72 at 4K (a 36 FPS drop). The min FPS data for Medium settings is available, showing 123 at 1080p, 92 at 1440p, and 61 at 4K. These minimums indicate that even in demanding scenes, the system maintains playable frame rates, with the 4K min of 61 FPS staying just above the 60 FPS target.

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

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest frame rates. Low settings produce an average of 194 FPS. Medium settings average 145 FPS, with a minimum of 123 FPS and a maximum of 167 FPS. High settings average 121 FPS. Ultra settings are the most demanding, with an average of 87 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 107 FPS, showing the significant impact of graphical fidelity on performance.

At 2560x1440, the averages are lower but still strong. Low settings average 145 FPS. Medium settings average 108 FPS, with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 125 FPS. High settings average 90 FPS. Ultra settings drop to an average of 65 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 80 FPS, which is a smaller gap than at 1080p, indicating the GPU is becoming more of a bottleneck at higher resolutions.

At 3840x2160, the system still performs admirably. Low settings average 96 FPS. Medium settings average 72 FPS, with a minimum of 61 FPS and a maximum of 82 FPS. High settings average exactly 60 FPS. Ultra settings are the hardest, with an average of 43 FPS. At 4K, the gap between Low and Ultra is 53 FPS, and the Ultra result of 43 FPS is the only average below 60 FPS across all tested configurations. The Medium setting at 4K, with its 61 FPS minimum, is the only 4K setting that guarantees a 60 FPS experience in all scenes.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best resolution for achieving 144 FPS or higher in Red Dead Redemption 2 with this combo?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 194 FPS. At 2560x1440 with Low settings, the average drops to 145 FPS. Therefore, 1080p Low is the only tested configuration that exceeds 144 FPS, while 1440p Low just barely reaches that threshold with a 145 FPS average.

Q: Can this system maintain a stable 60 FPS at 4K?

A: Yes, but only on certain settings. At 4K High, the average FPS is exactly 60. At 4K Medium, the average is 72 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS, ensuring it stays above 60 FPS. At 4K Low, the average is 96 FPS. However, at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 43 FPS, which is below 60 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54,247, which is 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080 SUPER's score of 54,209. This means the two GPUs are effectively at performance parity in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: What is the CPU's single-threaded performance like for this game?

A: The Ryzen 9 7900X scores 1,093 in 3DMark single-thread and 2,016.5 in Cinebench R23 single-core. Its PassMark single-thread score is 4,238. These scores indicate strong single-thread performance, which is important for game logic and physics in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Q: Is there a large difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: Yes. At 1920x1080, Low settings average 194 FPS, while Ultra settings average 87 FPS. This is a difference of 107 FPS, or roughly 55% lower performance at Ultra compared to Low.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo in the entire test set?

A: The lowest minimum FPS recorded is 61 FPS, which occurs at 4K Medium settings. All other tested settings either have no minimum FPS data or have minimums above 61 FPS, such as the 92 FPS minimum at 1440p Medium and the 123 FPS minimum at 1080p Medium.

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

For players targeting a smooth 60 FPS experience at 4K, the Medium preset is the clear recommendation. It delivers an average of 72 FPS with a minimum of 61 FPS, ensuring that even in the most demanding scenes, the frame rate does not dip below 60. This is the only 4K setting that guarantees a 60 FPS floor. The High preset at 4K averages exactly 60 FPS, but without minimum FPS data, it is riskier, as any dip would go below 60 FPS.

At 1440p, Medium settings offer an excellent balance with an average of 108 FPS and a minimum of 92 FPS. This provides a high-refresh-rate experience that remains consistently smooth. High settings at 1440p average 90 FPS, which is also good, but the Medium preset's higher minimum FPS makes it more stable. For players with 144 Hz monitors, the Low preset at 1440p averages 145 FPS, which is right at the refresh rate limit, but the Medium preset's 108 FPS average is a more visually appealing compromise.

At 1080p, Medium settings again stand out with an average of 145 FPS and a minimum of 123 FPS. This is a very high frame rate that will satisfy most competitive or fast-paced play. The High preset averages 121 FPS, which is also strong. If maximum visual quality is the goal, Ultra at 1080p averages 87 FPS, which is still playable, but it is a significant drop from Medium. The data suggests that Medium settings provide the best combination of high average FPS and high minimum FPS across all resolutions, making it the most consistently smooth experience. For 4K specifically, Medium is the only setting that guarantees 60 FPS, making it the safest choice for that resolution.