Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i5-12600KF brings a hybrid Alder Lake design to Red Dead Redemption 2, with 10 physical cores and 16 threads operating at a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. This configuration, paired with 20 MB of shared L3 cache, provides substantial multi-threaded headroom for the game’s simulation and AI workloads. Benchmark data shows the CPU scoring 23,391 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3,302 in single-core, placing it in the 79th percentile of all tested CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, posts a nearly identical average benchmark score of 27,896 against the i5-12600KF’s 27,799, a delta of only -0.3%, meaning the two are effectively interchangeable for this title’s CPU-bound sections. The i5-12600KF also trails the Intel Core i9-10900K by just 0.3% in average score, indicating that its 16 threads are sufficient to avoid becoming a bottleneck in most scenes. However, the game is not heavily reliant on raw core counts; the data suggests that the CPU’s high boost clock of 4.90 GHz is more impactful for maintaining frame pacing in crowded towns and during dynamic weather transitions, where single-thread performance often dictates minimum frame rates.

The 10 nm process node and 125 W TDP indicate a power-efficient design, but the absence of integrated graphics means all rendering falls to the discrete GPU. In terms of memory, the CPU supports both DDR4 and DDR5, though the measured FPS results do not differentiate between memory types, implying that either configuration can deliver the listed performance. The benchmark scores for 16 threads (7,956 in 3DMark) versus 8 threads (6,128) show a 30% scaling improvement, which helps when the game spawns numerous NPCs or processes physics calculations. Still, the data reveals that the CPU is rarely the limiting factor at higher resolutions; the GPU takes over as the primary constraint, as evidenced by the FPS scaling patterns discussed later. For players targeting 1080p with Low settings, the CPU’s single-core strength shines, enabling an average of 102 FPS, but this advantage diminishes as resolution increases and the GPU becomes saturated.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is a Turing-architecture card with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock of 1605 MHz and boost clock of 1770 MHz, combined with 2560 shading units, provide a solid foundation for Red Dead Redemption 2’s demanding rasterization workload. The GPU’s 40 RT cores and 320 tensor cores are present, but the game does not heavily utilize ray tracing, so these features have minimal impact on the measured FPS. Instead, the card’s raw FP32 performance of 9.062 TFLOPS and texture rate of 283.2 GTexel/s are the key drivers for the game’s detailed environments and character models.

The GPU sits in the 65th percentile of all tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20,282. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Arc A750, which scores 20,582 (a delta of -1.5%), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which scores 20,534 (a delta of -1.2%). This places the RTX 2070 SUPER in a competitive tier, but the data indicates that its 8 GB VRAM becomes a limiting factor at 4K Ultra settings, where the average FPS drops to 23. The memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s is adequate for 1440p and 1080p, but at 4K, the card struggles to maintain fluid frame rates, particularly with High and Ultra presets. The GPU’s 12 nm process node and 215 W TDP reflect a design that prioritizes performance over efficiency, and the suggested 550 W PSU aligns with the system’s overall power draw.

Benchmark results show the GPU’s DirectX 12 score of 67 and DirectX 11 score of 151, indicating that the card performs better under older APIs, which is relevant since Red Dead Redemption 2 can run in both modes. The Vulkan score of 90,637 in Geekbench suggests that Vulkan is the preferred API for this title, as it leverages the GPU’s asynchronous compute capabilities more effectively. The data reveals that the RTX 2070 SUPER is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but at 4K, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, with FPS dropping below 31 on High settings. This is reflected in the resolution scaling analysis, where the GPU’s limited memory bandwidth and shading throughput cannot keep pace with the increased pixel count.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear progression from 1080p to 4K, with the RTX 2070 SUPER and i5-12600KF combo experiencing significant drops as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 102 FPS, which drops to 76 FPS at 1440p and 50 FPS at 4K. This represents a 51% decrease from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, while the CPU has ample headroom to feed the graphics card. At High settings, the scaling is steeper: 64 FPS at 1080p falls to 48 FPS at 1440p (a 25% drop) and then to 31 FPS at 4K (a 52% drop from 1080p). This pattern suggests that the GPU’s memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s and its 8 GB VRAM capacity are strained at 4K, particularly when textures and shading quality increase.

The Medium settings row provides additional insight, with 77 FPS at 1080p, 57 FPS at 1440p, and 38 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is 26%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 33%, showing that the GPU’s performance degrades non-linearly as resolution scales. At Ultra settings, the system only manages 46 FPS at 1080p, 34 FPS at 1440p, and 23 FPS at 4K, making this preset unplayable at higher resolutions. The data indicates that the limiting component shifts from the CPU at 1080p Low (where the CPU’s single-thread performance drives the high FPS) to the GPU at 1440p and 4K, where the card’s shading units and memory subsystem become saturated.

For 1080p, the CPU’s 4.90 GHz boost clock is the primary enabler of high frame rates, as evidenced by the 102 FPS on Low settings. However, at 4K, the GPU’s FP32 throughput of 9.062 TFLOPS is insufficient to maintain above 30 FPS on any preset except Low (50 FPS). The 4K Medium setting shows a min FPS of 32, indicating occasional stutters, while the 1440p Medium setting has a min of 49 FPS, which is more acceptable for gameplay. The resolution scaling data strongly suggests that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K reserved for Low or Medium presets if the user prioritizes frame rate over visual fidelity.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER ranks 2,154 out of 3,714 tested combinations in Red Dead Redemption 2, placing it in the 42nd percentile of all systems. This mid-tier ranking reflects the GPU’s age and the CPU’s strength, as the i5-12600KF outperforms many newer processors but the RTX 2070 SUPER lags behind modern graphics cards. The ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU’s 65th percentile score, which drags the combo down despite the CPU’s 79th percentile placement. In comparison to other combos, this system would likely be outclassed by any pairing with a higher-end GPU, but it holds its own against systems with similar mid-range graphics cards.

The combo’s rank of 2,154 suggests that it is an average performer in the database, with roughly 58% of tested combos delivering better FPS in this game. This is consistent with the measured FPS data, which shows playable frame rates at 1080p and 1440p but sub-30 FPS at 4K Ultra. The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, would not significantly change the ranking if paired with the same GPU, as the GPU remains the bottleneck. Conversely, upgrading the GPU to a card with higher average benchmark scores would substantially improve the combo’s rank, but the data does not provide such projections. The ranking underscores that this combo is a balanced 1440p solution, capable of High settings at 48 FPS, but not designed for 4K enthusiast-level gaming.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: The data shows that 1080p and 1440p are the optimal resolutions. At 1080p High, the system averages 64 FPS, while at 1440p High, it averages 48 FPS. 4K High drops to 31 FPS, making it less viable for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the i5-12600KF compare to its closest CPU rivals?

A: The i5-12600KF has an average benchmark score of 27,799, which is 0.3% lower than the Intel Core i9-10900K (27,872) and 0.3% lower than the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (27,896). It is 0.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE (27,712), indicating near-identical performance across these chips.

Q: Is the RTX 2070 SUPER sufficient for Ultra settings?

A: No. At 1080p Ultra, the combo averages 46 FPS, which is playable, but at 1440p Ultra it drops to 34 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it falls to 23 FPS. The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for Ultra at higher resolutions.

Q: What is the FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, Low settings yield an average of 102 FPS, while Ultra yields 46 FPS, a 55% reduction. This indicates that the GPU is heavily taxed by the Ultra preset’s graphical effects.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance at 1440p?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor at 1440p. The CPU’s 16 threads and 4.90 GHz boost clock provide sufficient headroom, as evidenced by the FPS drop from 76 FPS at Low to 34 FPS at Ultra, which correlates with GPU load rather than CPU capability.

Q: Can this combo maintain 60 FPS at any resolution and settings?

A: Yes, but only at 1080p Low, where it averages 102 FPS. At 1080p Medium, it averages 77 FPS, and at 1440p Low, it averages 76 FPS. No 4K preset reaches 60 FPS, with the highest being 50 FPS at Low.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1080p with Medium settings, which delivers an average of 77 FPS with a minimum of 65 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay without significant stutters. This preset balances visual fidelity and performance, as the High preset drops to 64 FPS and the Ultra preset falls to 46 FPS, which may introduce noticeable frame pacing issues. For players prioritizing frame rate, 1080p Low offers 102 FPS, but the visual downgrade may not be worth the extra 25 FPS over Medium.

At 1440p, the Medium preset is the best choice, averaging 57 FPS with a minimum of 49 FPS, which remains above the 30 FPS threshold for playability. The High preset at 1440p averages 48 FPS, which is acceptable for slower-paced exploration but may struggle during intense action sequences. At 4K, the Low preset is the only viable option, averaging 50 FPS, while Medium drops to 38 FPS and High to 31 FPS, both of which risk dipping below 30 FPS in demanding scenes. For a consistent experience, 1440p Medium is recommended, as it provides a 57 FPS average with a 49 FPS minimum, offering 66% of the performance of 1080p Medium while delivering higher resolution detail.

The data indicates that the Ultra preset is not recommended for any resolution, as it fails to reach 60 FPS even at 1080p and drops to 23 FPS at 4K. The GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is likely the constraint, as Ultra textures exceed the memory capacity at higher resolutions. Therefore, the best experience per the measured rows is achieved by using Medium settings, which provides the highest average FPS above the 60 FPS threshold at 1080p and remains playable at 1440p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 (4K), the combo delivers an average of 31 FPS on High settings, 50 FPS on Low, 38 FPS on Medium (with a minimum of 32 and maximum of 43), and 23 FPS on Ultra. The Low preset is the only one that exceeds 30 FPS, while the High and Medium presets hover near the playability threshold. The Ultra preset is effectively unplayable, with frame rates below 25 FPS. The min FPS data for Medium (32) indicates that even at this settings level, the system occasionally dips below 30 FPS, which may cause visible stuttering.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the average FPS improves significantly: High averages 48 FPS, Low averages 76 FPS, Medium averages 57 FPS (with a minimum of 49 and maximum of 66), and Ultra averages 34 FPS. The Medium preset provides the best balance with a 57 FPS average and a 49 FPS minimum, ensuring consistent frame delivery. The High preset’s 48 FPS is acceptable, but the Low preset’s 76 FPS offers 58% more performance than High, making it a viable option for competitive play.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system reaches its peak performance: High averages 64 FPS, Low averages 102 FPS, Medium averages 77 FPS (with a minimum of 65 and maximum of 88), and Ultra averages 46 FPS. The Low preset’s 102 FPS is the highest recorded across all resolutions and settings, demonstrating the CPU’s ability to drive high frame rates when the GPU is not heavily taxed. The Medium preset’s 77 FPS and 65 FPS minimum are ideal for smooth gameplay, while the Ultra preset’s 46 FPS is the only setting that dips below 50 FPS at 1080p. The data shows a clear degradation pattern as resolution increases, with the 4K Ultra preset being the worst-performing configuration at 23 FPS, representing a 77% reduction from the 1080p Low peak.