Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 pairing in Red Dead Redemption 2 presents a fascinating study in component imbalance, where a mid-range 2021 processor is paired with a top-tier 2022 graphics card. The data reveals a system that is overwhelmingly GPU-bound at higher resolutions, but where the CPU’s capabilities still define the ceiling at lower settings. This analysis digs into the measured frames to see exactly where the bottleneck shifts.

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

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture, built on Intel’s 14 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The data from the benchmark suite shows this is a competent but not exceptional CPU for its generation; its average benchmark score of 17177 places it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs tested, and its nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 7H12 (within 0.3%) and the Intel Core i5-12450H (within -0.4%). This suggests a processor that is solidly mid-pack in raw compute, which is critical when considering Red Dead Redemption 2’s heavy simulation and physics loads.

In this specific game, the CPU’s influence is most visible at 1080p with Low settings, where the average frame rate reaches 178 FPS. This is the highest measured frame rate across all configurations, yet it is only 11% higher than the 160 FPS achieved at 1080p Medium. The fact that the jump from Low to Medium only costs 18 FPS, while the jump from Medium to High costs 26 FPS (down to 134 FPS), hints that the CPU is starting to become a limiting factor as the game’s draw calls and AI routines intensify. The 6-core, 12-thread configuration is likely enough to feed the RTX 4090 at lower settings, but the data shows that the CPU’s ceiling is around 178 FPS in this title, which is a significant cap for such a powerful GPU.

At 4K Ultra, the CPU’s role diminishes. The average FPS drops to 48, but this is almost entirely due to the GPU’s workload, not the CPU. The benchmark data supports this: the CPU’s multi-threaded scores (e.g., Cinebench R23 multi-core at 14340) are respectable, but they do not suggest the kind of headroom needed to push past the GPU’s limits at 4K. The CPU’s 14 nm process and 65 W TDP mean it runs efficiently, but its architectural age is evident when compared to newer parts; this is not a processor that will ever be the star of a high-refresh-rate 1080p build in this game. Instead, it functions as a stable foundation, ensuring the GPU is never starved of data at 1440p and above, where the frame rates are far more reasonable relative to the GPU’s capabilities.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is an absolute behemoth, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC. Its specifications are staggering: 16384 shading units, 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, and a memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s. The GPU’s boost clock is 2520 MHz, and it can achieve an FP32 performance of 82.58 TFLOPS. In the benchmark database, it holds an 88th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60347, placing it in the same league as the Intel Arc Pro A60 (0% delta) and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (0.3% delta). This is a GPU designed to obliterate any game thrown at it, and Red Dead Redemption 2 is no exception.

The measured FPS data clearly demonstrates the RTX 4090’s dominance. At 1080p High, the system averages 134 FPS, but this is not a GPU limitation—it’s the CPU holding things back. The GPU is capable of far more, as evidenced by the 178 FPS at 1080p Low. The 24 GB VRAM is never a concern in this game; even at 4K Ultra, the GPU’s memory buffer is more than sufficient for the textures and geometry. The 1.01 TB/s bandwidth ensures that data flows freely, but the bottleneck at 4K is the raw compute required for the game’s lighting and post-processing effects.

The GPU’s role becomes more apparent as resolution scales. At 1440p High, the system hits 100 FPS, and at 4K High, it drops to 66 FPS. These numbers show a GPU that is scaling predictably with pixel count, but the RTX 4090’s true potential is masked by the CPU at lower settings. At 4K Ultra, the 48 FPS average is a clear sign that the GPU is being pushed to its limits, but it is still a playable experience. The RTX 4090’s 450 W TDP and triple-slot cooler are justified here, as the GPU is clearly the primary driver of performance in this title beyond 1080p. Its nearest rivals in the database are professional workstation cards, which highlights its positioning as a halo product for gaming.

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

The resolution scaling in this data is a textbook example of a GPU-bound workload, but with a CPU-induced ceiling at the low end. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS drops by roughly 25-30% across all settings, which is a normal scaling factor for a high-end GPU. For instance, at High settings, the frame rate goes from 134 FPS at 1080p to 100 FPS at 1440p, a 25% reduction. From 1440p to 4K, the drop is more severe: 100 FPS down to 66 FPS at High settings, a 34% reduction. This indicates that the GPU is becoming the sole limiting factor at 4K, as the pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K, but the frame rate does not drop proportionally due to the GPU’s immense power.

The Low settings tell a different story. At 1080p Low, the system hits 178 FPS, but at 1440p Low, it only drops to 160 FPS—a mere 10% decrease. This is a huge anomaly, as a GPU-bound system would typically see a larger drop. The data suggests that at 1080p Low, the CPU is capping performance around 178 FPS, and even at 1440p Low, the CPU is still the bottleneck, preventing the frame rate from dropping further. It is only at 4K Low, where the average is 106 FPS, that the GPU begins to take over as the limiting factor, but even then, the 106 FPS figure is exceptionally high for 4K, confirming the RTX 4090’s strength.

At Medium and Ultra settings, the scaling is more traditional. At Medium, the system goes from 160 FPS at 1080p to 120 FPS at 1440p (a 25% drop) and then to 79 FPS at 4K (a 34% drop from 1440p). At Ultra, the numbers are 96 FPS at 1080p, 72 FPS at 1440p, and 48 FPS at 4K, showing a consistent 25% reduction at each step. This consistent scaling at higher settings indicates that the GPU is the primary driver, and the CPU is providing enough headroom to avoid becoming a bottleneck. The takeaway is that this combo is ideal for 1440p and 4K gaming, but at 1080p with lower settings, the i5-11400F leaves performance on the table, preventing the RTX 4090 from reaching its full potential.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

In the grand scheme of all tested combinations, this pairing of Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 178th out of 3714 combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places it in the top 5% of all configurations tested, which is an impressive feat given that the CPU is not a high-end part. The rank reflects the GPU’s overwhelming influence on the game’s performance, as the RTX 4090 is capable of pushing high frame rates even when paired with a mid-range processor.

However, the rank also highlights the potential inefficiency of this pairing. The combo’s position in the 178th spot suggests that there are 177 other combinations that perform better, and many of those likely feature more powerful CPUs. The data indicates that the i5-11400F, with its 71st percentile CPU ranking, is holding back the 88th percentile GPU. If the system were paired with a top-tier CPU, such as a 16-core or 24-core part, the combo would likely rank much higher, as the CPU bottleneck at 1080p would be alleviated. This is not a criticism of the combo’s performance—it is still excellent—but rather an observation that the CPU is a weak link in an otherwise flagship GPU setup.

The rank also provides context for the measured FPS. Being in the top 5% means that this combo outperforms 95% of all tested systems in this game, which confirms the RTX 4090’s raw power. Yet, the fact that it is not in the top 50 or top 100 suggests that there is room for improvement, and the CPU is the most likely culprit. The data shows that this combo is a great choice for 4K gaming, where the GPU is the sole bottleneck, but for 1080p esports-style play, it is overkill and underutilized.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 178 FPS at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the maximum performance the system can deliver, and it is likely limited by the CPU rather than the GPU.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-11400F a bottleneck for the RTX 4090 in this game?

A: Yes, the data suggests a CPU bottleneck at 1080p with Low settings. The frame rate only drops by 10% from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings, which is abnormal for a GPU-bound system, indicating the CPU is capping performance around 178 FPS.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo averages 48 FPS. This is a playable frame rate for a demanding title, and it shows that the RTX 4090 is the primary limiting factor at this resolution.

Q: What is the combo’s rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This combo ranks 178th out of 3714 tested combinations in Red Dead Redemption 2, placing it in the top 5% of all systems tested for this game.

Q: Which setting provides the most consistent frame pacing?

A: The Medium settings at 1440p and 1080p include minimum and maximum FPS data. At 1440p Medium, the system averages 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 and maximum of 138, which suggests relatively stable performance. At 1080p Medium, the average is 160 FPS with a minimum of 136 and maximum of 184.

Q: Does the GPU’s 24 GB VRAM ever become a limitation?

A: No, the data does not indicate any VRAM-related performance drops. The RTX 4090’s 24 GB of GDDR6X memory is more than sufficient for this game, even at 4K Ultra settings, where the average FPS is 48.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo’s performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 178 FPS on Low, 160 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 136 and maximum of 184), 134 FPS on High, and 96 FPS on Ultra. The 1080p results show a clear progression of decreasing performance as settings increase, with a 46% drop from Low to Ultra. This is a significant range, and it highlights the GPU’s ability to handle high frame rates at lower settings, while the CPU limits the absolute maximum.

Moving to 2560x1440, the FPS figures are 160 on Low, 120 on Medium (with a minimum of 102 and maximum of 138), 100 on High, and 72 on Ultra. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent at around 25-30% for Medium, High, and Ultra, but only 11% for Low, reinforcing the CPU bottleneck at lower settings. The 1440p results are the sweet spot for this combo, offering a balance between visual fidelity and high frame rates, with even Ultra settings remaining above 70 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system delivers 106 FPS on Low, 79 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 67 and maximum of 91), 66 FPS on High, and 48 FPS on Ultra. The 4K results show a more severe drop-off, with the difference between Low and Ultra being 55%. This indicates that the GPU is the sole limiting factor at this resolution, as the CPU’s influence is minimal. The fact that 4K Low still achieves 106 FPS is remarkable, but the 48 FPS at Ultra suggests that users seeking the highest visual quality will need to accept lower frame rates or rely on upscaling technologies.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For 1080p gaming, the Low preset at 178 FPS is ideal for competitive play or high-refresh-rate monitors, but the Medium preset at 160 FPS (with a minimum of 136) offers a much better visual experience with only an 11% performance penalty. The High preset at 134 FPS is also excellent, but it represents a 16% drop from Medium, which may not be worth the visual gains for some users. The Ultra preset at 96 FPS is the most demanding, but it is still playable and provides the best image quality.

At 1440p, the Medium preset is the clear winner, offering 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay without frame drops. The High preset at 100 FPS is also solid, but the 20% reduction from Medium might be noticeable on a 144Hz monitor. The Low preset at 160 FPS is excessive for most 1440p displays, and the visual sacrifices are likely not worth it. The Ultra preset at 72 FPS is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action, as the lower frame rate could cause input lag.

For 4K gaming, the High preset at 66 FPS is the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, providing a smooth experience on a 60Hz display. The Medium preset at 79 FPS is even better for frame rate, but the drop from High to Medium may be visually apparent. The Low preset at 106 FPS is overkill for 4K, and the Ultra preset at 48 FPS is only suitable for slow-paced exploration, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold that most gamers prefer. Overall, the data suggests that this combo is best used at 1440p with Medium or High settings, or at 4K with High settings, to maximize the gaming experience.