Red Dead Redemption 2

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

The measured data for Red Dead Redemption 2 with the Intel Core i3-12100F and AMD Radeon RX 7700 shows a clear and consistent progression of frame rates as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo delivers 117 FPS average, which is a strong baseline for a 1080p experience. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low, the average drops to 87 FPS, and at 3840x2160 Low, it falls further to 57 FPS. This represents a 51% reduction from 1080p Low to 4K Low, indicating that the GPU is increasingly stressed as pixel count grows.

The pattern across all settings is uniform: the step from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 25-30% of the frame rate, while the step from 1440p to 4K costs another 30-35%. For instance, at High settings, the sequence is 73 FPS at 1080p, 54 FPS at 1440p, and 36 FPS at 4K. The scaling is nearly linear with pixel count, which strongly suggests the Radeon RX 7700 is the limiting component at higher resolutions. The GPU’s 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and 624.1 GB/s bandwidth are being taxed by the increased render load, while the CPU’s role diminishes as resolution climbs.

A key observation is the gap between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution. At 1080p, Low yields 117 FPS while Ultra yields 52 FPS—a 65 FPS spread. At 4K, the spread narrows to 31 FPS (57 Low vs 26 Ultra). This compression at 4K is a classic sign of GPU-bound operation: when the GPU is saturated, raising settings has less relative impact because the bottleneck is fixed. Conversely, at 1080p, the wider spread suggests that the CPU can still feed frames quickly enough, allowing the GPU to be the primary variable.

The data also reveals that 4K Ultra at 26 FPS is below the playable threshold for most users, while 4K Low at 57 FPS is borderline acceptable. The 1440p tier offers the best balance of fidelity and smoothness: 39 FPS at Ultra, 54 FPS at High, 65 FPS at Medium, and 87 FPS at Low. The 1080p tier is where this combo truly shines, with even Ultra settings hitting 52 FPS and Low reaching 117 FPS. Overall, the resolution scaling profile points to a system that is well-matched for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it lacks the headroom for consistent 4K performance beyond Low or Medium presets.

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

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor from the Alder Lake-S architecture, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. It features 12 MB of shared L3 cache and a TDP of 58 W. In the context of Red Dead Redemption 2, a game released in 2018, this CPU’s core count and clock speed are sufficient to avoid becoming the primary bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions where the GPU dominates.

Benchmark data for the i3-12100F shows a 3DMark single-thread score of 893 and a multi-thread score of 4051 (16 threads). The Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 11860, while the single-core score is 1674. These numbers indicate that the CPU has strong single-thread performance, which is critical for games like Red Dead Redemption 2 that rely heavily on a few main threads for game logic and physics. The 4.30 GHz boost clock ensures that these primary threads can run at high frequency, reducing the chance of CPU stalls.

However, the 4-core/8-thread configuration is modest by modern standards. The PassMark multi-thread score of 14015 and the Geekbench multi-core score of 7252 suggest that the CPU can handle moderate multi-threading, but it will not match higher-core-count rivals in heavily threaded scenes. In Red Dead Redemption 2, which is known for its open-world simulation and NPC density, the CPU could become a limiting factor in crowded areas or during complex scripted events, particularly at 1080p where frame rates are higher.

The measured FPS data supports this interpretation. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 117 FPS, which is high but not extremely high, suggesting that the CPU is starting to cap performance. If the GPU were the only limit, one might expect even higher frame rates at Low settings. The fact that 1080p Ultra yields 52 FPS, while 1440p Ultra yields 39 FPS, shows that the CPU can still keep up with the GPU’s output at these levels. The i3-12100F’s percentile rank of 68 among all CPUs indicates it is a mid-range performer, which aligns with its role as a capable but not top-tier gaming processor.

Looking at nearest rivals, the Intel Core i5-9500 has a similar average benchmark score (13452 vs 13494, a 0.3% difference), while the Intel Core 5 120UL is 0.7% slower and the Intel Core i7-1250U is 1.1% faster. These small deltas show that the i3-12100F sits in a tightly contested performance band. For this game, the CPU’s 4 cores are adequate, but the system’s overall frame rates are ultimately governed by the GPU, especially as resolution increases.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and the desired frame rate threshold. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the data shows that 1920x1080 Medium delivers 87 FPS average, which comfortably exceeds 60 FPS. Even 1080p High at 73 FPS is above the 60 FPS mark, making it a viable choice for gamers who prioritize visual fidelity. At 1080p Low, the 117 FPS average provides headroom for high-refresh-rate displays, though it sacrifices visual quality.

At 2560x1440, the situation becomes more nuanced. The Medium preset yields 65 FPS average, which is just above 60 FPS, while High drops to 54 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. For a consistent 60 FPS experience at 1440p, Medium is the recommended preset. Low at 87 FPS is also viable for competitive play, but the visual downgrade is significant. Ultra at 39 FPS is not recommended for smooth gameplay, as it falls well below 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, none of the presets achieve 60 FPS. Low yields 57 FPS, which is close but not quite there; Medium yields 43 FPS; High yields 36 FPS; and Ultra yields 26 FPS. For 4K gaming, Low is the only playable option if 60 FPS is the target, and even then, it falls short. Users with 4K displays may need to accept lower frame rates or consider reducing resolution to 1440p for a better experience.

From a pure performance-to-quality standpoint, 1920x1080 High at 73 FPS offers the best balance of visual fidelity and frame rate. It provides a substantial improvement over Low while staying well above the 60 FPS mark. At 1440p, Medium at 65 FPS is the sweet spot, as it maintains playable frame rates while offering better image clarity than 1080p. The data also shows that the min FPS values, where available, are reasonable: 1080p Medium has a min of 74 FPS, and 1440p Medium has a min of 55 FPS, indicating that frame pacing is consistent without severe drops.

For users who prioritize maximum visual quality and can tolerate lower frame rates, 1440p High at 54 FPS is a viable option, but 1080p Ultra at 52 FPS offers a similar frame rate with higher settings. Ultimately, the measured rows suggest that Medium or High at 1080p, or Medium at 1440p, provide the best user experience for this hardware combination.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 achieves a combo rank of 1320 out of 2902 tested combinations in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places the combo in the 45th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms roughly 55% of the combinations in this game. The rank is a composite measure that accounts for performance across all resolutions and settings, providing a holistic view of how this pairing compares to others.

Given the mid-range nature of both components, this ranking is consistent with expectations. The i3-12100F ranks in the 68th percentile among CPUs, while the RX 7700 ranks in the 58th percentile among GPUs. The combo’s overall rank of 1320 is slightly lower than either component’s individual percentile, which suggests that the pairing is not perfectly balanced for this game. The CPU’s 4 cores may slightly limit the GPU’s potential in certain scenarios, particularly at lower resolutions where the CPU has more influence on frame rates.

The nearest GPU rivals to the RX 7700 include the AMD Radeon R9 370X (0.1% slower), the AMD Radeon RX 9060 (1% faster), the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (1.1% slower), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (1.7% faster). These small deltas indicate that the RX 7700 is tightly clustered with these cards in synthetic benchmarks, but the actual in-game performance may vary due to driver optimizations and game-specific workloads. For Red Dead Redemption 2, the RX 7700’s 16 GB of VRAM is an advantage, as the game can be memory-hungry at higher resolutions.

The CPU’s nearest rivals are similarly close, with the Intel Core 3 N355 matching the i3-12100F’s average score, the Core i5-9500 being 0.3% faster, and the Core 7-1250U being 1.1% faster. This tight grouping means that swapping to any of these CPUs would have a negligible impact on overall performance. The combo’s rank of 1320 suggests that it is a competent but not exceptional pairing, and users seeking higher performance would need to upgrade both components significantly to move up the ranks.

FAQ

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

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

Q: Can this combo achieve 60 FPS at 2560x1440 resolution?

A: Yes, at Medium settings the combo achieves 65 FPS average, which is above 60 FPS. However, High settings drop to 54 FPS, which is below 60 FPS.

Q: What is the frame rate at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average of 26 FPS, which is not suitable for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the RX 7700 compare to the RTX 3060 Ti in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti has an average benchmark score of 16129, which is 1.7% higher than the RX 7700’s score of 15852.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 1320 out of 2902 tested combinations, placing it in the upper-middle tier of systems.

Q: Does the i3-12100F support overclocking?

A: No, the multiplier is locked (multiplierUnlocked: false), meaning the CPU cannot be overclocked.

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

The measured FPS data for this combo in Red Dead Redemption 2 is as follows:

1920x1080:

• Low: 117 FPS average
• Medium: 87 FPS average, with a min of 74 FPS and max of 100 FPS
• High: 73 FPS average
• Ultra: 52 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 87 FPS average
• Medium: 65 FPS average, with a min of 55 FPS and max of 75 FPS
• High: 54 FPS average
• Ultra: 39 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 57 FPS average
• Medium: 43 FPS average, with a min of 37 FPS and max of 49 FPS
• High: 36 FPS average
• Ultra: 26 FPS average

These numbers reveal a consistent hierarchy: Low always delivers the highest frame rate, followed by Medium, High, and Ultra in descending order. The min and max FPS values for Medium settings show that frame times are relatively stable, with the spread between min and max being 26 FPS at 1080p, 20 FPS at 1440p, and 12 FPS at 4K. This narrowing spread at higher resolutions further confirms that the GPU becomes the dominant bottleneck as resolution increases.

The transition from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings (117 to 87 FPS) represents a 25.6% reduction, while the transition from 1440p to 4K (87 to 57 FPS) is a 34.5% reduction. This pattern holds across all settings, indicating that the game’s rendering load scales predictably with pixel count. At Ultra settings, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is 13 FPS (52 to 39), and from 1440p to 4K is another 13 FPS (39 to 26), showing a more linear degradation at the highest quality preset.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with a 5 nm process node, featuring 28,100 million transistors on a 346 mm² die. It has a base clock of 1900 MHz, a boost clock of 2459 MHz, and a game clock of 2041 MHz. The GPU is equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. This generous memory capacity is particularly relevant for Red Dead Redemption 2, which can consume significant VRAM at higher resolutions and settings.

The GPU’s compute capabilities include 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 96 raster operation units, along with 40 ray tracing cores. It delivers a pixel rate of 236.1 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 393.4 GTexel/s, with an FP32 performance of 25.18 TFLOPS. These specifications place the RX 7700 in the mid-to-upper range of the Radeon RX 7000 series, and its PassMark G3D score of 20974 reflects a solid level of rasterization performance.

In the context of the measured FPS data, the GPU’s role is clearly dominant at higher resolutions. The 16 GB VRAM ensures that the game does not exceed memory limits even at 4K Ultra, which would otherwise cause severe stuttering or texture pop-in. The memory bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s is also sufficient to feed the GPU’s shading units at high resolutions, as evidenced by the consistent frame rates across different settings.

The GPU’s percentile rank of 58 among all GPUs indicates it is slightly above average, but its nearest rivals show that it is closely matched with cards like the Radeon RX 9060 (1% faster) and the RTX 3060 Ti (1.7% faster). The RX 7700’s advantage in VRAM capacity (16 GB vs typical 8-12 GB on rivals) may provide a benefit in this game, particularly at 4K where memory pressure is high. However, the synthetic benchmark scores suggest that raw compute performance is similar to these competitors.

The data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, as the CPU’s 4 cores are sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions but become less relevant as pixel count increases. The GPU’s 200 W TDP and dual-slot cooler indicate that it is a power-hungry but manageable component, and its PCIe 4.0 x16 interface ensures adequate bandwidth for data transfer. Overall, the RX 7700 is a capable GPU for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but its performance at 4K is constrained by its compute throughput rather than memory capacity.