Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Arc B570 combination delivers a playable, if not always flawless, experience in Red Dead Redemption 2. The data shows a clear performance hierarchy based on resolution and quality settings, with the sweet spot found at 1080p and 1440p on Medium and High presets. At 4K, the combo struggles to maintain acceptable frame rates, making it suitable only for the most demanding visual sacrifices.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. This configuration provides a solid foundation for gaming, particularly in a title like Red Dead Redemption 2, which can leverage multiple threads for physics, AI, and world simulation. The processor’s 18 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support help maintain consistent data flow to the GPU.

In synthetic benchmarks, the i5-12400 scores a 3DMark max-threads result of 5890 and a single-thread score of 910, indicating balanced multi-core and single-core prowess. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15989 and single-core score of 2257 further underscore its capability to handle both heavily threaded workloads and the less parallel tasks typical of game logic. The processor’s PassMark multi-thread score of 18747 and single-thread score of 3456 place it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, showing it is a competent, mid-range performer.

Within the measured FPS data for this game, the CPU’s role becomes apparent when considering that even at 1080p Low, the combo achieves an average of 79 FPS. This suggests that the i5-12400 is not the primary bottleneck at lower resolutions and settings, as the frame rate scales significantly with GPU-centric changes (like resolution). However, the processor’s 12 threads provide enough headroom to prevent major frame pacing issues, as evidenced by the 50 FPS minimum at 1080p Medium. The i5-12400's nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 7643, has an average benchmark score that is only 0.1% higher, confirming that the i5-12400 is a well-rounded performer for this type of workload, though it does not dominate its category.

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

The data indicates that the optimal experience balances visual fidelity with playable frame rates. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 79 FPS, but this comes at a significant visual cost. The Medium preset offers a much better visual experience while still delivering a highly playable average of 59 FPS, with a minimum of 50 FPS, which is smooth enough for the game's pacing. The High preset at 1080p yields 49 FPS, which is acceptable but starts to dip below the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 36 FPS, which is not recommended for a consistently smooth experience.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset hits an average of 59 FPS, but the Medium preset provides a more balanced experience at 44 FPS, with minimums of 38 FPS, making it the recommended choice for a visual upgrade without a drastic performance hit. The High preset at 1440p averages 37 FPS, which is a marginal experience, while Ultra falls to 27 FPS, which is too low for satisfying gameplay. For 4K, the data is less encouraging. The Low preset averages 39 FPS, which is playable but visually sparse. The Medium preset drops to 29 FPS, and High and Ultra are at 24 and 18 FPS respectively, making 4K a challenging target for this hardware.

For the best overall experience, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 is the clear winner, offering a frame rate that is 15% higher than High at the same resolution while maintaining a stable minimum. If a player has a 1440p monitor, the Medium preset is again the recommended starting point, as it provides a 19% improvement over High in average frame rate. The Low preset should be reserved for maximizing frame rates, but the visual compromise is substantial.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU combo to achieve a 60 FPS average?

A: Based on the measured data, the only configuration that reaches a 60 FPS average is 1920x1080 with the Low preset, which achieves 79 FPS. The next closest is 2560x1440 Low at 59 FPS and 1920x1080 Medium at 59 FPS, both effectively hitting the 60 FPS target.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to the Intel Arc A750 in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Intel Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556, while the Intel Arc A750 has a score of 20582. This makes the Arc A750 0.1% faster in these aggregated tests, indicating near-identical overall performance between the two.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-12400 a bottleneck for the Intel Arc B570 in this game?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not a significant bottleneck at the tested settings. For instance, at 1080p, lowering the preset from Medium to Low increases the average frame rate from 59 FPS to 79 FPS, showing that the GPU is the primary limiter. The CPU's 72nd percentile ranking and its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15989 indicate it has sufficient headroom for this title.

Q: What is the frame rate drop when moving from 1080p to 1440p at the High preset?

A: Moving from 1080p High to 1440p High reduces the average frame rate from 49 FPS to 37 FPS. This is a 24.5% decrease in performance, showing a significant scaling cost at this quality level.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested combinations for Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: The combo ranks 2335 out of 2902 total tested combinations. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the performance spectrum, indicating that while it is capable of running the game, many other hardware pairings deliver higher frame rates.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the 4K Medium preset?

A: The 3840x2160 Medium preset has a measured minimum FPS of 25, with a maximum of 34 FPS. This shows a wide variance in frame times, which could lead to noticeable stuttering during demanding scenes.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Arc B570 combination ranks 2335 out of 2902 tested combos for Red Dead Redemption 2. This places it in the 19.5th percentile of performance, meaning that roughly 80% of other tested hardware configurations deliver higher average frame rates. This ranking is a reflection of the GPU's mid-range positioning, as the Arc B570's 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs suggests it is a capable but not top-tier graphics card.

When compared to its nearest rivals, the Arc B570’s performance is closely matched. It is 0.1% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and 0.4% faster than the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M, but 0.1% slower than the Intel Arc A750 and 0.5% slower than the AMD Radeon R9 M390X. This tight grouping shows that the Arc B570 is firmly in a competitive mid-range segment. However, the game's demanding nature means this level of GPU performance places the combo in the lower half of tested systems, making it better suited for 1080p and lighter 1440p gaming rather than high-refresh-rate or 4K play.

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

The Intel Arc B570 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture with a 5 nm process and features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base and boost clocks are both 2500 MHz, and it has 2304 shading units. The GPU’s 18 ray tracing cores and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate make it technically capable for modern titles, but its 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs indicate it is a mid-range part.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the GPU's role is dominant, as evidenced by the FPS scaling across resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the average is 59 FPS, but this drops to 44 FPS at 1440p Medium and 29 FPS at 4K Medium. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. The 10 GB VRAM allocation is sufficient for the tested presets, as the 4K High preset still runs, albeit at 24 FPS, without the card failing due to memory limits. The GPU's 380.0 GB/s bandwidth is a limiting factor for high-resolution textures, but the 160-bit bus is adequate for the game's demands at lower settings.

The Arc B570’s synthetic benchmarks, such as its Geekbench Vulkan score of 96844 and PassMark G3D score of 14195, support its mid-range classification. Its performance in Red Dead Redemption 2 reflects this, as it can handle 1080p and 1440p with playable frame rates, but it does not have the raw compute power to maintain high settings at 4K.

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.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 39 FPS average
• Medium: 29 FPS average, with a minimum of 25 and a maximum of 34 FPS
• High: 24 FPS average
• Ultra: 18 FPS average

At 4K, the combo is clearly overburdened. The Low preset is the only one that approaches playability, but even then, 39 FPS is below the 60 FPS standard. The Medium preset’s 29 FPS average, with a 25 FPS minimum, indicates frequent dips into unplayable territory. High and Ultra presets are essentially for screenshots rather than gameplay.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 59 FPS average
• Medium: 44 FPS average, with a minimum of 38 and a maximum of 51 FPS
• High: 37 FPS average
• Ultra: 27 FPS average

1440p presents a mixed bag. The Low preset nearly hits 60 FPS, making it a viable option for competitive or fast-paced play. The Medium preset offers a more balanced experience, with a 44 FPS average and minimums that stay above 35 FPS, which is generally acceptable for a story-driven game. High and Ultra presets are less desirable, with average frame rates below 40 FPS.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 79 FPS average
• Medium: 59 FPS average, with a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 68 FPS
• High: 49 FPS average
• Ultra: 36 FPS average

1080p is where this combo performs best. The Low preset provides a smooth 79 FPS, well above the 60 FPS target. The Medium preset’s 59 FPS average is excellent, and its 50 FPS minimum ensures consistent performance without major stutters. The High preset offers a 49 FPS average, which is playable but not ideal for those who prefer a locked 60 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 36 FPS, making it a poor choice for this resolution. The data shows a clear 20 FPS difference between Low and Medium at 1080p, but only a 10 FPS difference between Medium and High, suggesting diminishing returns as settings increase.