Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. In Red Dead Redemption 2, this CPU configuration places it in the 72nd percentile against all tested CPUs, indicating that its single-thread and multi-thread performance are well above the median for this title. The processor’s 12 MB of shared L3 cache and support for DDR4 and DDR5 memory provide adequate bandwidth for feeding the GPU, though the data suggests that in this game, the CPU is rarely the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. Benchmark results from Cinebench R23 show a multi-core score of 11912 and a single-core score of 1681, which are strong numbers for a quad-core part and align with the game’s ability to utilize up to 8 threads effectively.

The i3-12100F’s nearest rivals in average benchmark score include the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (scoring 13534, a 0.1% difference) and the Intel Core i7-1250U (scoring 13462, a 0.4% difference). This close grouping suggests that the i3-12100F’s performance in this game is comparable to much higher-tier workstation and mobile parts, which is surprising given its mainstream desktop positioning. The Core i3-10105, another budget-friendly quad-core, trails by only 0.6%, implying that generation-over-generation improvements are modest in this specific workload. For Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU’s 4 cores and 8 threads are sufficient to maintain playable framerates, but the data shows that at 1080p with Low settings, the GPU becomes the limiting factor, as the CPU can push beyond what the GTX 1070 can render.

FAQ

Q: How does the Core i3-12100F compare to its closest CPU rivals in this game?

A: The i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516, which is 0.1% lower than the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX (13534) and 0.4% higher than the Intel Core i7-1250U (13462). It also leads the Intel Core i3-10105 by 0.6% and the Intel Core i7-7700K by 1.8%, indicating that the 12th-gen part is slightly ahead of its immediate predecessors.

Q: What is the CPU’s percentile ranking among all processors for this game?

A: The Core i3-12100F sits in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs tested, meaning it outperforms roughly 72% of the processors in the database for Red Dead Redemption 2. This places it in the upper-middle tier, capable of handling the game’s CPU demands without significant frame drops.

Q: Is the GTX 1070 a bottleneck at 1080p with Low settings?

A: Yes, the measured FPS data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 75.6 FPS, which is the highest average across all tested settings. This suggests the GPU is the limiting component, as the CPU could likely push higher framerates if paired with a more powerful graphics card.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 combination ranks 1423 out of 1687 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 15% of all configurations. This rank reflects the GPU’s age and the CPU’s mid-range positioning, rather than any specific incompatibility with the game.

Q: What is the GPU’s percentile ranking and how does it compare to rivals?

A: The GTX 1070 falls in the 51st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 12331. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Quadro K4200, scores 12241 (0.7% lower), while the GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER scores 12504 (1.4% higher), showing that the 1070 remains competitive with newer entry-level cards.

Q: Does the CPU’s single-thread performance affect high-resolution gameplay?

A: The single-core score of 1681 in Cinebench R23 is strong, but at 4K resolutions, the measured FPS drops below 30 FPS on High settings. This indicates that the GPU’s rendering capabilities are the primary constraint, not the CPU’s single-thread speed.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo averages 47.4 FPS, which drops to 35.5 FPS at 2560x1440 and further to 26 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 25% reduction from 1080p to 1440p and a 45% reduction from 1440p to 4K, showing that the GTX 1070’s 8 GB of VRAM and 256.3 GB/s memory bandwidth are insufficient for maintaining playable framerates at higher resolutions.

The scaling is more dramatic when comparing Low settings across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 75.6 FPS, but this falls to 56.2 FPS at 1440p and 36.1 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is 26%, and from 1440p to 4K is 36%, indicating that even at the lowest settings, the GPU’s pixel throughput becomes a limiting factor. At Ultra settings, the framerate plummets to 35.9 FPS at 1080p, 28 FPS at 1440p, and 16.2 FPS at 4K, with the 4K result being nearly unplayable.

These results suggest that the limiting component shifts depending on resolution and settings. At 1080p Low, the CPU is likely the bottleneck, as the GTX 1070 can render frames faster than the i3-12100F can feed it. However, at 4K Ultra, the GPU is clearly the constraint, with the CPU’s 4 cores being sufficient to keep up with the reduced frame rate. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can achieve above 60 FPS on Low settings and near 60 FPS on Medium.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 ranks 1423 out of 1687 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2, placing it in the bottom 15% of all configurations. This low ranking is primarily driven by the GPU’s age, as the GTX 1070’s average benchmark score of 12331 places it in the 51st percentile of all GPUs. The CPU, in contrast, ranks in the 72nd percentile, suggesting that the processor is not the primary cause of the combo’s low standing.

When compared to other combos in the database, this pairing is outperformed by configurations with newer graphics cards, such as those based on the GeForce 20-series or later. However, the combo’s performance is still respectable for 1080p gaming, as evidenced by the 75.6 FPS average on Low settings. The rank of 1423 indicates that while the combo is not competitive at higher resolutions, it remains viable for players willing to adjust settings to achieve playable framerates.

The deltaPct values for the GPU’s nearest rivals show that the GTX 1070 is closely matched with the GTX 1650 SUPER (1.4% lower) and the GTX 880M (1.3% lower), but it trails the Tesla K20Xm by 1.7%. This suggests that the 1070’s performance in this game is consistent with other mid-range GPUs from its era, and the combo rank reflects the overall hardware generation rather than any specific optimization issue.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is built on the Pascal architecture with a GP104 chip, fabricated on a 16 nm process by TSMC. It features 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, with a base clock of 1506 MHz and a boost clock of 1683 MHz. The GPU’s 8 GB of GDDR5 memory operates at 2002 MHz with a 256-bit bus, providing 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth. These specifications place the GTX 1070 in the 51st percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 12331.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the GPU’s role is critical at higher resolutions and settings. The measured FPS data shows that at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo drops to 16.2 FPS, which is unplayable. Even at 2560x1440 with High settings, the average FPS is 35.5, indicating that the GPU’s 6.463 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is insufficient for demanding scenes. The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is adequate for 1080p and 1440p textures, but at 4K, the memory capacity and bandwidth become limiting factors.

The GTX 1070’s nearest rivals in benchmark score include the Quadro K4200 (0.7% lower) and the GTX 1650 SUPER (1.4% higher), showing that the 1070 remains competitive with entry-level Pascal and Turing cards. However, its end-of-life production status and lack of ray tracing cores mean it cannot handle modern graphical features, which is reflected in the game’s performance at higher settings. For players targeting 60 FPS, the GPU is best paired with Low or Medium settings at 1080p, where it achieves 75.6 and 57 FPS respectively.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best performance across all settings. With Low settings, the average FPS is 75.6, providing a smooth experience for competitive play. Medium settings yield 57 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for most displays. High settings drop the average to 47.4 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. Ultra settings result in 35.9 FPS, indicating that the GTX 1070 cannot handle the game’s highest graphical presets at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance decreases noticeably. Low settings average 56.2 FPS, which is still acceptable, but Medium drops to 42.6 FPS and High to 35.5 FPS. Ultra settings at this resolution average 28 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most players. The data shows that 1440p is only viable with Low or Medium settings, and even then, framerates are borderline.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles significantly. Low settings average 36.1 FPS, Medium drops to 29.8 FPS, and High falls to 26 FPS. Ultra settings produce an average of 16.2 FPS, which is unplayable. These results confirm that the GTX 1070 is not suited for 4K gaming in Red Dead Redemption 2, regardless of settings. The measured FPS breakdown highlights the GPU as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s performance remains consistent across all tests.