Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i5-12400 pairs a 6-core, 12-thread Alder Lake design with a 2.50 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost clock. This is a 10 nm desktop part on the LGA 1700 socket, and its 18 MB of shared L3 cache is substantial for a mid-range chip. In synthetic benchmarks, it posts a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15935 and a single-core score of 2249. The 3DMark results show strong scaling from 1692 in the 2-thread test up to 5890 at max threads, which indicates the processor can effectively leverage its full thread count. This matters for Red Dead Redemption 2, a game that routinely spawns many AI characters and physics objects. The data shows that a processor with solid multi-threaded throughput, like the i5-12400, prevents those background simulation tasks from bottlenecking the frame rate. Its PassMark multi-thread score of 18747 further confirms that this CPU has enough headroom to keep the game's world simulation fed with data. The i5-12400 ranks in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-9700, scores nearly identically with a delta of just 0.1%. This places the i5-12400 in a performance tier where it will not be the limiting factor in most gaming scenarios, especially at higher graphical presets where the GPU takes on more of the load. The chip's 65 W TDP also suggests it will run within reasonable thermal limits, allowing sustained boost clocks during long play sessions.

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

The i5-12400’s configuration is well-suited for Red Dead Redemption 2. The game is known for its demanding open-world engine, which taxes both the CPU and GPU. With 12 threads available, the processor can handle the game's background tasks—like streaming in the world geometry and managing NPC routines—without starving the main render thread. The boost clock of 4.40 GHz is critical for maintaining high frame rates at lower resolutions where CPU overhead is more pronounced. Looking at the measured data, at 1080p with Low settings, the combination averages 151.2 FPS. This high frame rate is only possible if the CPU can process draw calls quickly enough to keep the RTX 4070 fed. In contrast, at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 32.5 FPS, which is a clear sign that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at that extreme resolution and preset. The i5-12400’s Cinebench R20 single-core score of 944 indicates that its single-thread performance is robust, which is directly relevant to the game's main thread. The 3DMark 8-thread score of 4745 shows good scaling from the 4-thread score of 3012, meaning the extra cores are being utilized effectively. This is important because Red Dead Redemption 2 does scale across multiple cores, but it does not require an extreme number of them. The i5-12400’s 6 cores and 12 threads hit a sweet spot, providing enough parallelism for the game engine without the diminishing returns seen on higher-core-count parts.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is the dominant component in this pairing, especially at higher resolutions and settings. It features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory capacity is a significant factor in Red Dead Redemption 2, which can consume a large amount of VRAM when textures are set to High or Ultra. The data shows that at 1440p High, the average FPS is 69.5, while dropping to Medium yields 84.8 FPS. The gap suggests that texture quality and other VRAM-heavy settings have a noticeable impact on performance. The GPU's boost clock of 2475 MHz and its 5888 shading units provide substantial rasterization power. The PassMark G3D score of 26927 places the RTX 4070 in the 81st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, has a delta of -0.6%, which shows the RTX 4070 is performing at a high level. The GPU also supports modern APIs like DirectX 12 Ultimate, which the game can leverage for improved rendering efficiency. The 12 GB frame buffer is adequate for 4K High settings, where the measured average is 48.8 FPS, but it is not sufficient to maintain playable frame rates at 4K Ultra, which only hits 32.5 FPS. This indicates that the RTX 4070's raw compute power is strong, but VRAM capacity and bandwidth become the limiting factors at the most demanding settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run the game at 4K?

A: Yes, but with limitations. The measured data shows an average of 48.8 FPS at 4K High and 32.5 FPS at 4K Ultra. It is playable at High, but not at Ultra.

Q: What is the best resolution for this setup?

A: The data indicates 1440p is the sweet spot. At 1440p High, the combo averages 69.5 FPS, which is smooth for a story-driven game. At 1080p High, it reaches 96.1 FPS, offering higher refresh rate potential.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its direct rivals?

A: The i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 19850. The Intel Core i7-9700 scores 19831, a delta of 0.1%, meaning they are effectively tied. The AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX scores 19928, which is a 0.4% difference, showing the i5-12400 is competitive even against a high-end workstation chip.

Q: Is the GPU's 12 GB VRAM enough for this game?

A: The benchmark results suggest yes for most settings. At 4K High, it averages 48.8 FPS, which is playable. However, at 4K Ultra, the frame rate falls to 32.5 FPS, indicating the VRAM or memory bandwidth is struggling with the highest texture quality at that resolution.

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

A: The gap is significant. At 1080p, Low averages 151.2 FPS, while Ultra averages 66.8 FPS. This is a difference of 84.4 FPS. At 4K, the gap is even more pronounced, with Low at 75.5 FPS and Ultra at 32.5 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: It ranks 428th out of 1687 tested combos. This places it in the top 25% of all systems tested, indicating a high-performance pairing.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination ranks 428th out of 1687 tested combos. This puts it in the upper quartile of all systems in the database. The ranking reflects a balanced pairing where both components are capable of supporting high frame rates. The CPU's 77th percentile performance among all CPUs ensures it is not a bottleneck, and the GPU's 81st percentile standing means it is a strong performer. In the context of the measured FPS, this rank is justified. The combo can deliver over 60 FPS at 1440p High and over 90 FPS at 1080p High, which are excellent results for a demanding title like Red Dead Redemption 2. The rank also indicates that there are many stronger systems, likely featuring higher-tier CPUs and GPUs, but this pairing offers a solid balance of performance. The delta between the CPU and its nearest rival, the i7-9700, is negligible at 0.1%, reinforcing that the i5-12400 is a well-positioned mid-range processor. The GPU's performance relative to the RX Vega 56, which is -0.6% lower, shows the RTX 4070 is a generational leap in performance. This ranking confirms the RTX 4070's strength, as the CPU is competent but not top-tier.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this combo is achieved at 1440p with High settings. This yields an average of 69.5 FPS, which is smooth for a game of this genre and provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium. The jump from Medium (84.8 FPS) to High (69.5 FPS) costs 15.3 FPS, but the visual fidelity gains are substantial. At 1080p, High settings are also excellent, hitting 96.1 FPS, which is ideal for high refresh rate monitors. For players prioritizing frame rate over visuals, 1080p Low is the clear choice, averaging 151.2 FPS, but this makes the game look dated. The Ultra preset is not recommended for this pairing. At 1440p Ultra, the frame rate drops to 53.4 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for a smooth experience. At 4K, High settings are the only viable option, with 48.8 FPS, but this is a compromise. The data suggests that 1440p High offers the best balance of visual quality and performance for this RTX 4070 and i5-12400 combination.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the settings scale predictably. Low settings produce an average of 151.2 FPS, which is exceptionally high. Medium settings reduce this to 111.6 FPS, a drop of 39.6 FPS. High settings average 96.1 FPS, showing a further reduction of 15.5 FPS. Ultra settings bring the average down to 66.8 FPS, which is a significant 29.3 FPS loss from High. This resolution is clearly CPU-bound at lower settings, as the i5-12400 can push frame rates high enough to challenge the RTX 4070.

At 2560x1440, the performance curve is similar but with lower overall numbers. Low settings average 113.3 FPS, which is still very high. Medium settings average 84.8 FPS, a reduction of 28.5 FPS. High settings drop to 69.5 FPS, and Ultra falls to 53.4 FPS. The transition from High to Ultra costs 16.1 FPS, which is the largest single-step drop at this resolution. This indicates that Ultra settings, particularly the advanced draw distance and shadow quality, are taxing on the GPU.

At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. Low settings average 75.5 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a 4K experience. Medium settings average 58.4 FPS, a drop of 17.1 FPS. High settings average 48.8 FPS, which is borderline. Ultra settings produce an average of 32.5 FPS, which is not smooth enough for most players. The data shows that 4K is only viable with Low or Medium settings, and even then, the frame rates are not exceptional. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K is a massive 43 FPS difference, highlighting the extreme demand of the Ultra preset at this resolution.