Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the Intel Arc B390 produces a deeply GPU-limited experience in Red Dead Redemption 2, with the processor’s 6 cores and 12 threads providing ample headroom while the integrated graphics struggle to maintain playable frame rates. The CPU’s base clock of 2.90 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz are more than sufficient for the game’s demands, as evidenced by the benchmark results where even the lowest settings at 1080p yield only 51 FPS. The processor’s cache configuration—64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3—supports the game’s open-world streaming needs without becoming a bottleneck. The data shows that the i5-10400F ranks in the 68th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 14185, placing it in a competitive position relative to its nearest rivals. Specifically, it sits just 0.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon 6756E, 0.5% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7552, while trailing the Intel Core 7 160UL by 0.3% and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C by 0.6%. This performance parity indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this configuration.

The GPU, however, tells a different story. The Intel Arc B390, built on the Xe3-LPG architecture with a 3 nm process, features 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, along with 12 ray tracing cores. Its boost clock of 2500 MHz and base clock of 300 MHz are paired with system-shared memory, which means bandwidth is system-dependent rather than fixed. The GPU’s 7.680 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 60.00 GPixel/s pixel rate are far below what Red Dead Redemption 2 requires for smooth gameplay. The Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1482, placing it just 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% ahead of the GeForce GT 710. This positions the GPU as the clear performance ceiling for this combo, as every measured frame rate reflects the GPU’s limitations rather than the CPU’s capabilities. The combination of a mid-range 2020 processor with a low-end integrated graphics solution results in a system that cannot deliver a consistently playable experience at any resolution or setting tested.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data across the four available presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—reveals a clear hierarchy, with the Low preset at 1080p providing the only remotely playable experience in this configuration. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 51 FPS, which is the single highest frame rate recorded for this combo. The Medium preset at 1080p drops to 39 FPS on average, with minimums of 33 and maximums of 44 FPS, indicating that the GPU can handle the additional workload but not without significant frame rate loss. High settings at 1080p further reduce the average to 32 FPS, while Ultra settings plummet to just 23 FPS, rendering the game essentially unplayable at the highest quality tier.

For the best experience based on the measured rows, the Low preset at 1080p is the only viable option, as it delivers an average FPS that approaches playability. The 51 FPS average is still below the 60 FPS target that many players consider ideal, but it is the closest this combo gets to a smooth experience. The Medium preset at 1080p, with its 39 FPS average, represents a marginal visual improvement but sacrifices 12 FPS, which is a significant percentage drop of roughly 24%. At 1440p, the Low preset achieves 38 FPS, while Medium drops to 29 FPS, and High falls to 24 FPS, with Ultra at just 17 FPS. The data suggests that even at lower resolutions, the GPU cannot maintain consistent frame rates above 30 FPS except at the lowest settings. The 4K results are uniformly poor, with Low settings yielding 25 FPS, Medium 19 FPS, High 16 FPS, and Ultra a dismal 11 FPS, confirming that this combo is not suited for high-resolution gaming.

The recommendation is straightforward: use the Low preset at 1080p if playability is the priority, as it offers the highest average FPS. For users who value visual fidelity over frame rate, the Medium preset at 1080p provides a 39 FPS average, but the trade-off is substantial. The Ultra preset should be avoided entirely, as its 23 FPS average at 1080p and 11 FPS at 4K make the game feel like a slideshow. The data indicates that no setting above Low at 1080p delivers a consistently smooth experience, so the optimal choice for this hardware combination is the lowest quality preset at the lowest resolution.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K demonstrates the classic signature of a GPU-bound system, where frame rates drop dramatically as resolution increases. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 51 FPS, which falls to 38 FPS at 1440p—a reduction of 13 FPS, or approximately 25%. Moving to 4K Low, the average drops further to 25 FPS, representing a 51% decrease from the 1080p result. This pattern holds across all settings, with the Medium preset showing 39 FPS at 1080p, 29 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K. The High preset follows suit with 32 FPS at 1080p, 24 FPS at 1440p, and 16 FPS at 4K, while Ultra settings produce 23 FPS, 17 FPS, and 11 FPS respectively.

The consistent frame rate degradation across resolutions points squarely at the GPU as the limiting component. The CPU’s performance characteristics—its 6 cores, 12 threads, and 12 MB L3 cache—remain constant regardless of resolution, so if the processor were the bottleneck, the frame rates would remain relatively flat as resolution increases. Instead, the data shows a clear downward trend that accelerates at higher resolutions, indicating that the Arc B390’s rendering capabilities are being maxed out. The GPU’s system-shared memory architecture compounds this issue, as memory bandwidth is system-dependent and cannot provide the dedicated bandwidth that discrete GPUs offer. The 25 FPS at 4K Low versus 51 FPS at 1080p Low represents a 26 FPS gap, which is a substantial loss that cannot be attributed to CPU limitations. The scaling behavior confirms that users should stick to 1080p for any semblance of playability, as the 1440p and 4K results are uniformly below 40 FPS even at the lowest settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B390 ranks 3306 out of 3714 tested combos for Red Dead Redemption 2, placing it in the bottom 11% of all configurations. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU’s weak performance, as the CPU alone would likely rank much higher given its 68th percentile standing among all processors. The combo’s position in the database reflects the reality that the Arc B390 is the primary constraint, dragging down what would otherwise be a competent CPU performance. The gap between this combo and the top performers is immense, with the bottom 11% ranking indicating that the vast majority of tested systems deliver better frame rates in this game.

The data suggests that the i5-10400F is not the issue, as its nearest rivals—all of which have similar average benchmark scores—would likely produce better results when paired with a more capable GPU. The combo’s rank confirms the GPU’s limitations, as the 9th percentile standing of the Arc B390 means it performs worse than 91% of all GPUs in the database. The measured FPS results confirm this, with the highest average frame rate of 51 FPS at 1080p Low being barely acceptable for gameplay. In the context of the 3714 tested combos, this configuration sits in the bottom tier, making it suitable only for users who prioritize low-resolution, low-detail gaming over visual quality. The ranking also highlights that the CPU’s potential is entirely untapped, as the processor could easily support a discrete GPU capable of delivering 60+ FPS at higher settings.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390’s role in this combo is defined by its integrated graphics architecture and the severe limitations it imposes on Red Dead Redemption 2. The GPU operates with system-shared memory, meaning its memory size, type, and bus width are all labeled as "System Shared," with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This architecture is fundamentally different from discrete graphics cards, as it relies on the system’s main memory rather than dedicated VRAM, which can cause bandwidth bottlenecks in demanding games. The GPU’s boost clock of 2500 MHz is relatively high, but this does not compensate for the lack of dedicated memory or the low number of execution units. With 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs, the Arc B390 is designed for basic compute tasks rather than high-end gaming, and its 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 performance reflects this positioning.

The GPU’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463, 1.3% behind) and GeForce 800M (1460, 1.5% behind). This performance level is several generations behind what modern games require, and Red Dead Redemption 2’s open-world rendering demands are too much for the Arc B390 to handle. The GPU’s 12 ray tracing cores and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 are technically advanced, but they do not translate into playable frame rates in this title. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU cannot exceed 51 FPS even at the lowest settings, and at higher resolutions and quality presets, the frame rates fall into the teens and twenties. The GPU’s 80 W TDP and IGP slot width indicate its intended use as an integrated solution, and the data confirms that it is not suitable for demanding AAA games like Red Dead Redemption 2, making the CPU’s potential entirely wasted in this configuration.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this hardware in Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: The data shows that the Low preset at 1920x1080 delivers the highest average FPS at 51. This is the only configuration that approaches playable frame rates, as the Medium preset at 1080p drops to 39 FPS and the High preset falls to 32 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-10400F compare to its nearest CPU rivals?

A: The i5-10400F has an average benchmark score of 14185, ranking in the 68th percentile. It is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon 6756E and 0.5% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7552, while trailing the Intel Core 7 160UL by 0.3% and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C by 0.6%.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The frame rates drop consistently as resolution increases, from 51 FPS at 1080p Low to 25 FPS at 4K Low, while the CPU’s performance remains constant. The Arc B390’s 9th percentile GPU ranking confirms its limitations.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between 1080p and 4K at Medium settings?

A: At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 39 at 1080p to 29 at 1440p and then to 19 at 4K. This represents a 51% reduction from 1080p to 4K, highlighting the GPU’s inability to handle higher resolutions.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 rank among all GPUs in the database?

A: The Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile with an average benchmark score of 1482. It is 1.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX and 2.7% ahead of the GeForce GT 710, placing it among the lowest-performing GPUs tested.

Q: What is the combo’s overall ranking for Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: This combo ranks 3306 out of 3714 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 11% of all systems. The ranking reflects the GPU’s severe performance limitations, as the CPU alone would rank significantly higher.