Red Dead Redemption 2

# Red Dead Redemption 2 — Intel Core i3-12100F + Intel Arc B370

This combination pairs a 4-core/8-thread Alder Lake desktop processor with an integrated-class Intel Arc B370 GPU, producing benchmark results that are heavily constrained by the graphics side. The measured data shows playable frame rates only at 1080p with Low settings, while higher resolutions and quality presets fall well below smooth thresholds. The combo ranks 2670th out of 2902 tested configurations in this game, placing it in the bottom 8 percent of all systems measured.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F provides 4 physical cores with 8 threads, running at a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. This is a modest modern desktop processor with a 12 MB shared L3 cache, built on Intel's 10 nm Alder Lake architecture. Its benchmark profile shows a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11860 and a single-core score of 1674, with a Geekbench multi-core result of 7252. The processor sits at the 68th percentile among all CPUs tested, indicating it is comfortably mid-range for general computing tasks.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU is rarely the limiting factor for this pairing. Across all measured resolutions and settings, the frame rates are consistently low — even at 1080p Low, the average is 47 FPS, which is the single best result in the entire dataset. The 3DMark thread scaling scores reveal why: the processor achieves 4051 in the 16-thread test, 4026 in the 8-thread test, and 4023 at max threads, showing that the 4-core/8-thread design saturates quickly. The game's engine, which is known for heavy draw-call and physics workloads, can utilize these threads, but the GPU simply cannot keep up with rendering demands at higher settings.

The nearest rival comparisons for this CPU show it is essentially average for its class. The Intel Core 3 N355 scores 13492 (0 percent delta), the Intel Core i5-9500 scores 13452 (0.3 percent faster), and the Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13594 (0.7 percent faster). The i3-12100F's average benchmark score of 13494 puts it in a dead heat with these alternatives, meaning any frame rate differences in this game would come from the GPU or platform, not the processor's raw compute.

When examining the measured FPS data, the CPU's influence is visible in the consistency of frame pacing at lower settings. At 1080p Medium, the average is 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 and maximum of 40. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 26 FPS with a 22-30 range. The narrow min-to-max spread suggests the CPU is delivering stable frame delivery, but the overall averages are too low for fluid gameplay. The processor's passmark single-thread score of 3444 and 3DMark single-thread score of 893 indicate adequate per-core performance for the game's main thread, but this does not compensate for the GPU bottleneck.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. It features 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster operation units, with 10 ray tracing cores. The GPU runs at a base clock of 300 MHz and boosts to 2400 MHz, producing a pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s. Its FP32 throughput is rated at 6.144 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 12.29 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio).

Critically, the memory configuration is "System Shared" — there is no dedicated VRAM, and the memory bus width and bandwidth are listed as "System Dependent." This means the GPU relies on the system's main memory for all graphics data, which severely limits performance in a memory-intensive title like Red Dead Redemption 2. The GPU's only benchmark score is 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it at the 5th percentile among all GPUs — an exceptionally low position.

The nearest rival comparisons for this GPU are telling. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186 (0.2 percent faster), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190 (0.5 percent faster), and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192 (0.7 percent faster). The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168 (1.4 percent slower). These are all legacy integrated or entry-level discrete parts from over a decade ago, confirming that the Arc B370's raw graphics compute is extremely limited by modern standards.

The GPU's 25 W TDP and IGP slot width indicate it is designed for low-power portable devices, not desktop gaming. The measured FPS data confirms this: at 4K Ultra, the average is just 10 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra it is 21 FPS. Even at 1080p Low, the best-case scenario, the average of 47 FPS is barely acceptable, and it comes with the understanding that the game's visual quality is significantly reduced. The shared memory architecture means the GPU competes with the CPU for bandwidth, further constraining performance in open-world scenes with heavy texture streaming.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy of playability across the four quality presets. At 1080p, Low settings deliver an average of 47 FPS, which is the only configuration in the entire dataset that approaches a smooth experience. Medium settings at 1080p drop to 35 FPS, High to 29 FPS, and Ultra to 21 FPS. The jump from Low to Medium costs 12 FPS (roughly a 25 percent reduction), while the jump from Medium to High costs another 6 FPS.

At 1440p, the situation worsens significantly. Low settings produce 35 FPS, Medium drops to 26 FPS, High to 22 FPS, and Ultra to 16 FPS. None of these are ideal for fast-paced action, but 35 FPS at Low could be tolerable for slower exploration segments. At 4K, the results are uniformly poor: Low averages 23 FPS, Medium 17 FPS, High 14 FPS, and Ultra 10 FPS. The 4K Medium row includes a minimum of 15 FPS and maximum of 20 FPS, showing tight but low frame delivery.

The data suggests that 1080p Low is the only recommended preset for this combo, as it is the sole configuration that maintains an average above 45 FPS. For users who prioritize visual fidelity over smoothness, 1080p Medium at 35 FPS might be acceptable, but the 30 FPS minimum in that row indicates potential stutter during demanding scenes. The 1440p Low setting at 35 FPS is a viable alternative for users with 1440p displays who prefer resolution over detail, but the performance is identical to 1080p Medium, suggesting the GPU is the bottleneck regardless of resolution.

There is no measured configuration that achieves 60 FPS in this game. The best result — 1080p Low at 47 FPS — is 13 FPS short of that target. Users seeking higher frame rates would need to reduce the resolution below 1080p, which is not covered in the measured data, or accept the visual compromises inherent to the Low preset.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of Intel Core i3-12100F and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2670th out of 2902 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places it in the bottom 8 percent of all systems measured, which is consistent with the GPU's 5th percentile standing among all GPUs. The CPU's 68th percentile ranking does little to boost the combo's position because the graphics hardware is the dominant constraint.

This ranking means that the vast majority of tested systems outperform this combo in this game. The gap between this combo and mid-range configurations is substantial — the measured FPS data shows that even 1080p Low at 47 FPS is far below what typical discrete GPUs achieve. The combo's position suggests it is suitable only for users who prioritize portability or low power consumption over gaming performance.

The delta between the CPU's average benchmark score and the GPU's average benchmark score highlights the imbalance: the CPU is competitive with peers like the Intel Core i5-9500 (0.3 percent delta), while the GPU is comparable only to legacy parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (0.5 percent delta). This asymmetry means that upgrading the GPU would yield significant improvements, while upgrading the CPU would produce minimal gains in this game.

FAQ

Q: What is the best frame rate this combo can achieve in Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: The highest measured average is 47 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. No configuration in the measured data reaches 60 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The Arc B370 scores 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. It is 0.2 percent slower than the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186), 0.5 percent slower than the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), and 0.7 percent slower than the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192). It is 1.4 percent faster than the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168).

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

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU ranks at the 68th percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks at the 5th percentile. The frame rates remain low across all resolutions, indicating the graphics hardware cannot keep up with rendering demands.

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

A: At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 47. At 1080p Ultra, the average drops to 21 FPS, representing a reduction of 26 FPS (approximately 55 percent lower).

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming in Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the best average is 23 FPS with Low settings. Ultra settings produce just 10 FPS, and Medium produces 17 FPS with a minimum of 15 FPS.

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

A: It ranks 2670th out of 2902 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8 percent of all configurations measured for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data covers three resolutions and four quality presets, providing a 12-point matrix of performance. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low averages 47 FPS, Medium averages 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 and maximum of 40, High averages 29 FPS, and Ultra averages 21 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline of roughly 6-12 FPS per preset step.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops across the board. Low averages 35 FPS, Medium averages 26 FPS with a 22-30 range, High averages 22 FPS, and Ultra averages 16 FPS. The delta between 1080p and 1440p is consistent: Low drops by 12 FPS, Medium by 9 FPS, High by 7 FPS, and Ultra by 5 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the results are largely unplayable. Low averages 23 FPS, Medium averages 17 FPS with a 15-20 range, High averages 14 FPS, and Ultra averages 10 FPS. The delta between 1440p and 4K is also consistent: Low drops by 12 FPS, Medium by 9 FPS, High by 8 FPS, and Ultra by 6 FPS.

The minimum and maximum FPS values are only provided for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1080p Medium, the range is 30-40 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range is 22-30 FPS. At 4K Medium, the range is 15-20 FPS. These narrow ranges suggest that the GPU's shared memory architecture produces stable but low frame delivery, without significant spikes or drops.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K reveals the nature of the bottleneck. At Low settings, the average FPS goes from 47 at 1080p to 35 at 1440p to 23 at 4K — a reduction of 12 FPS for each resolution step, which represents a 25.5 percent drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 34.3 percent drop from 1440p to 4K. At Medium settings, the averages are 35, 26, and 17 FPS respectively, with drops of 9 FPS (25.7 percent) and 9 FPS (34.6 percent).

At High settings, the averages are 29, 22, and 14 FPS, with drops of 7 FPS (24.1 percent) and 8 FPS (36.4 percent). At Ultra settings, the averages are 21, 16, and 10 FPS, with drops of 5 FPS (23.8 percent) and 6 FPS (37.5 percent). The consistent percentage drops across all settings — roughly 24-26 percent from 1080p to 1440p and 34-38 percent from 1440p to 4K — indicate a purely resolution-bound scaling pattern.

This scaling behavior is characteristic of a GPU-limited scenario. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would remain relatively flat as resolution increases, because the processor would be maxed out regardless of pixel count. Instead, the proportional drops in FPS as resolution increases show that the Arc B370's pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s is the limiting factor. The GPU simply cannot fill more pixels at higher resolutions, and the shared memory bandwidth compounds this limitation.

The data suggests that the i3-12100F has ample headroom even at 4K. The fact that FPS scales almost exactly with pixel count — 4K has 4 times the pixels of 1080p, and the FPS at 4K Low (23) is roughly half of 1080p Low (47) — implies the CPU is not constraining performance. Users considering this combo for Red Dead Redemption 2 should expect the GPU to be the primary limiter at every resolution and settings combination, making 1080p Low the only configuration that approaches acceptable playability.