Red Dead Redemption 2

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

The Intel Core i5-12600KF is a 10-core, 16-thread processor built on Intel's Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz. Its hybrid design combines performance and efficiency cores, though the fact pack does not specify the exact core split. The CPU's L3 cache is 20 MB shared, while L1 and L2 caches are 80 KB and 1.25 MB per core, respectively. This cache hierarchy, paired with a 125 W TDP, positions the chip as a strong mid-range desktop option.

Benchmark data for this CPU shows a single-thread score of 1016 in 3DMark and 3309 in Cinebench R23, indicating robust per-core performance. Multi-threaded results are equally compelling: Cinebench R23 multicore reaches 23444, while Geekbench multicore hits 12373. These numbers suggest the i5-12600KF can handle heavily threaded workloads without bottlenecking modern GPUs. The processor's percentile rank among all CPUs is 84, meaning it outperforms the vast majority of tested chips.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU's role is evident in how frame rates scale with settings. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 149.4 FPS, which drops to 69.7 FPS at Ultra — a 53% reduction. This scaling pattern implies that at lower settings, the CPU is feeding the GPU efficiently, but at Ultra, the increased graphical load shifts the bottleneck toward the GPU. The i5-12600KF's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-10900K (deltaPct 0), the Core i5-12600K (deltaPct -0.1), and the Core Ultra 5 125H (deltaPct -0.2). These deltas are negligible, confirming that the 12600KF sits in a performance tier where CPU-induced variance in this game is minimal.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC. It features 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs, along with 46 ray tracing cores and 184 tensor cores. The GPU's base clock is 1920 MHz with a boost clock of 2475 MHz, while memory runs at 1313 MHz, translating to 21 Gbps effective on 12 GB of GDDR6X across a 192-bit bus. This configuration yields a memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s, which is critical for texture-heavy open-world games like Red Dead Redemption 2.

The RTX 4070's compute capabilities are substantial: FP32 performance reaches 29.15 TFLOPS, with a pixel rate of 158.4 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 455.4 GTexel/s. The GPU's 200 W TDP and 550 W suggested PSU indicate it draws moderate power for its performance class. In benchmark tests, the RTX 4070 scores 26927 in Passmark G3D and 168006 in Geekbench OpenCL, placing it in the 81st percentile among all GPUs.

In this game, the GPU's VRAM and bandwidth become decisive at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, the combo manages only 32.1 FPS, while 4K Low reaches 73 FPS. This 56% performance swing highlights how the RTX 4070's 12 GB frame buffer and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are taxed by Ultra settings at 4K. The GPU's nearest rivals in aggregate benchmarks include the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 (deltaPct -0.6) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (deltaPct -2.2), though these comparisons are based on average scores, not in-game results.

# How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 ranks 480th out of 1687 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places the pairing in the top 28.5% of all systems benchmarked for this game. The rank suggests a balanced setup that delivers strong frame rates but is not at the absolute top tier — likely due to the GPU being mid-range in the 40-series lineup rather than a flagship.

Interpreting this rank requires context. With 1687 total combos, the 480th position means 1207 combinations outperform it, but 480 rank above the median. The data indicates the CPU is not the limiting factor, as its 84th percentile CPU rank exceeds the combo's overall percentile. Conversely, the GPU's 81st percentile is closer to the combo's standing, implying the RTX 4070 is the primary determinant of this pairing's position. The fact that the combo rank (480/1687, or roughly 71.5th percentile) sits below both component percentiles suggests the game's engine places more weight on GPU throughput than raw CPU power.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance scaling. At 1080p, the combo delivers 149.4 FPS on Low, 114 FPS on Medium, 93.7 FPS on High, and 69.7 FPS on Ultra. These numbers show a consistent 25-30 FPS drop for each settings tier, with the Ultra preset exacting the heaviest toll relative to High — a 24 FPS reduction. At 1440p, the pattern shifts: Low hits 111.4 FPS, Medium 87.1 FPS, High 69.4 FPS, and Ultra 48.5 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra here is 20.9 FPS, slightly less than at 1080p.

At 4K, the results compress dramatically. Low yields 73 FPS, Medium 57.3 FPS, High 47.3 FPS, and Ultra falls to 32.1 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 40.9 FPS, which is a smaller absolute gap than at 1080p (79.7 FPS) but represents a larger percentage loss. The data reveals that moving from 1080p to 4K at the same settings costs roughly 50-55% of the frame rate: High drops from 93.7 to 47.3 FPS, while Low falls from 149.4 to 73 FPS. This consistent halving across settings indicates a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions.

# FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured data, 1440p offers the best balance. At High settings, it achieves 69.4 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, while 4K High dips to 47.3 FPS. For higher refresh rates, 1080p Low reaches 149.4 FPS, but 1440p Medium at 87.1 FPS provides a smoother visual experience.

Q: How much FPS does the Ultra preset cost compared to High?

A: The penalty varies by resolution. At 1080p, Ultra is 24 FPS slower than High (69.7 vs 93.7). At 1440p, the gap is 20.9 FPS (48.5 vs 69.4). At 4K, Ultra loses 15.2 FPS relative to High (32.1 vs 47.3). The percentage cost increases with resolution, however, from 25.6% at 1080p to 32.1% at 4K.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this game?

A: The data suggests the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the frame rate scales nearly linearly with settings, indicating headroom in the CPU. At 4K, the substantial FPS drops across settings point to the RTX 4070 being the primary constraint, given its 81st percentile GPU rank versus the CPU's 84th percentile.

Q: How does this combo compare to the CPU's nearest rivals?

A: The i5-12600KF's nearest rivals — the Core i9-10900K (deltaPct 0), Core i5-12600K (deltaPct -0.1), and Core Ultra 5 125H (deltaPct -0.2) — have nearly identical average benchmark scores. This means swapping the CPU for any of these would have minimal impact on game performance, as differences are within 0.4%.

Q: What settings should be avoided for smooth gameplay?

A: The 4K Ultra preset at 32.1 FPS is the only measured configuration below 40 FPS. Additionally, 1440p Ultra at 48.5 FPS may feel stuttery on high-refresh displays. For 60+ FPS, stick to 1080p Ultra (69.7 FPS) or 1440p High (69.4 FPS).

Q: How does the combo's rank translate to real-world performance?

A: Ranking 480th out of 1687 combos means the pairing outperforms about 71.5% of tested systems. This aligns with the measured FPS: at 1080p Medium, it hits 114 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play, while 4K High at 47.3 FPS is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action.

# Settings Recommendations

The measured rows reveal clear thresholds for optimal play. For 1080p displays, the High preset at 93.7 FPS is the best overall choice — it delivers smooth gameplay while maintaining visual fidelity. Ultra at 69.7 FPS is acceptable, but the 24 FPS drop from High is substantial for marginal graphical gains. At 1440p, High at 69.4 FPS is the sweet spot, offering a near-60 FPS experience with good detail. Medium at 87.1 FPS is the alternative for players prioritizing frame rate over visuals.

For 4K, the situation is more constrained. High at 47.3 FPS is the highest playable setting, though it falls below 60 FPS. Medium at 57.3 FPS is the best compromise, staying close to the 60 FPS target while providing better performance than High. Ultra at 32.1 FPS is not recommended for general play, as the frame rate dips into slideshow territory. Low settings are only advisable for competitive multiplayer scenarios where frame rate trumps everything — at 1080p Low, 149.4 FPS offers maximum responsiveness.

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

The resolution scaling pattern is revealing. From 1080p to 1440p, the FPS drops by roughly 25-28% across all settings: High falls from 93.7 to 69.4 FPS (25.9% loss), Low from 149.4 to 111.4 FPS (25.4% loss), Medium from 114 to 87.1 FPS (23.6% loss), and Ultra from 69.7 to 48.5 FPS (30.4% loss). This consistent decrease suggests the GPU is handling the increased pixel count proportionally, with the CPU maintaining its feed rate.

Moving from 1440p to 4K, the losses become more dramatic. High drops from 69.4 to 47.3 FPS (31.8% loss), Low from 111.4 to 73 FPS (34.5% loss), Medium from 87.1 to 57.3 FPS (34.2% loss), and Ultra from 48.5 to 32.1 FPS (33.8% loss). The larger percentage drop at 4K indicates the RTX 4070's bandwidth and VRAM limitations are being stressed, particularly at Ultra where the 12 GB frame buffer may be insufficient for the game's highest textures at 3840x2160.

The scaling data also reveals the CPU's role. At 1080p, the gap between Low and Ultra is 79.7 FPS, while at 4K it narrows to 40.9 FPS. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the gap would remain constant or even widen at lower resolutions. Instead, the compression at 4K confirms the GPU is the bottleneck, as the processor's 10 cores and 16 threads are sufficient to feed the RTX 4070 even at 1080p Low, where the combo achieves nearly 150 FPS. The i5-12600KF's 84th percentile ranking among CPUs supports this, showing it has headroom to spare in this title.