Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i5-14600K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 delivers a highly capable Red Dead Redemption 2 experience, but the data reveals a clear performance hierarchy dictated by resolution and settings. At 1080p, the combination provides excellent headroom for high-refresh-rate displays, while at 4K, it becomes firmly GPU-bound, requiring settings adjustments to maintain smooth gameplay. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates, ranking, and the specific roles of the CPU and GPU in this open-world title.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is significant and consistent across all settings, confirming that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 162 FPS at 1920x1080 to 121 FPS at 2560x1440, a 25% reduction, and then further to 80 FPS at 3840x2160, a 51% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern indicates that the GPU is handling the increased pixel count, with the CPU providing sufficient overhead even at the lowest preset.

The trend continues at Medium settings, where the average FPS drops from 121 at 1080p to 90 at 1440p (a 26% decrease) and then to 60 at 4K (a 50% decrease from 1080p). The High preset shows a similar trajectory: 101 FPS at 1080p, 75 FPS at 1440p (26% lower), and 50 FPS at 4K (50% lower). The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with averages of 73 FPS at 1080p, 54 FPS at 1440p (26% lower), and 36 FPS at 4K (51% lower).

This consistent 25-26% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a subsequent 50-51% drop from 1080p to 4K across all presets is a textbook example of GPU-bound scaling. The frame rate is being halved as the pixel count roughly doubles, which points directly to the rendering load on the GeForce RTX 5070. The Intel Core i5-14600K, with its strong single-threaded performance, is not the bottleneck in any of these scenarios, as the scaling is purely resolution-driven.

The data suggests that the 4K Ultra setting is the most taxing, with an average of 36 FPS, which is nearly half the 4K High result of 50 FPS. This indicates that the jump from High to Ultra at 4K imposes a substantial additional load on the GPU. Conversely, the gap between Low and Medium at 4K is 20 FPS (80 vs 60), showing that these settings are less demanding on the graphics card. The scaling analysis makes it clear that for 4K gameplay, the user must make a trade-off between visual fidelity and frame rate, as the GPU cannot maintain high refresh rates at the most demanding settings.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-14600K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 holds the rank of 791 out of 3714 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places it in the top 21% of all configurations tested, indicating a strong overall performance level. The percentile data for the individual components supports this position: the CPU is in the 90th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 82nd percentile among all GPUs. This suggests that the pairing is well-balanced, with the CPU being slightly stronger relative to its peers than the GPU.

Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks, the i5-14600K is tightly clustered with several other processors. It is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, 0.3% behind the AMD EPYC 4345P, and 0.7% behind the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX. It also trails the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 by 0.8%. These minuscule performance deltas (all under 1%) indicate that in a purely CPU-bound scenario, the i5-14600K would be essentially interchangeable with these other processors. However, in this game, the GPU is the primary driver of frame rate, so these differences are unlikely to manifest.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals in the database are a mix of professional and mobile parts. The RTX 5070 is 0.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro 580, 0.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100, and 2% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile. It trails the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 by 1.2%. These results are interesting because they show that in the aggregate benchmark score, the RTX 5070 is comparable to these workstation-oriented cards. However, in gaming-specific metrics like the ones measured here, the GeForce card typically excels due to driver optimization and architecture design for DirectX titles.

The rank of 791 suggests that while this combo is very capable, there are many other configurations that achieve higher frame rates in Red Dead Redemption 2. This is likely due to the GPU's position in the 82nd percentile; it is a strong card, but not the absolute top-tier. The data shows that this combo is a solid choice for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming and playable 4K, but it does not sit at the very top of the performance hierarchy for this specific title.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear guide for optimizing the experience. For 1440p, the Medium preset offers an excellent balance, delivering an average of 90 FPS with a minimum of 77 FPS and a maximum of 104 FPS. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and provides a comfortable margin for action sequences. The High preset at 1440p is also viable, with an average of 75 FPS, but the Medium preset's higher minimum frame rate of 77 FPS suggests a more consistent experience.

For 1080p, the High preset is the standout recommendation, achieving an average of 101 FPS. This is ideal for users with 100Hz or 120Hz monitors. The Medium preset at 1080p is also very strong at 121 FPS average, but the High preset's visual improvements are likely worth the 20 FPS trade-off for most players. The Low preset at 1080p reaches 162 FPS, which would only be necessary for 165Hz or higher refresh rate displays, but the visual compromises are substantial.

At 4K, the situation is more nuanced. The High preset yields an average of 50 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. The Medium preset achieves 60 FPS, which is the standard for console-quality smoothness, and is the best choice for a consistent 4K experience. The Ultra preset, at 36 FPS, is not recommended for general play, as the frame rate dips below 30 FPS in the minimum data point and feels sluggish. The Low preset at 4K provides 80 FPS, but the graphical downgrade is so severe that it defeats the purpose of playing at 4K resolution.

The data points to the Medium preset as the most balanced option across all resolutions. It provides a significant boost over High in terms of minimum frame rates (77 FPS at 1440p and 103 FPS at 1080p), indicating better frame pacing. For users who prioritize visual quality over raw speed, High is the best choice at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the difference between High and Medium is only 10 FPS, making Medium the safer recommendation to avoid drops below 60 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 162 FPS average.
• Medium: 121 FPS average, with a minimum of 103 FPS and a maximum of 139 FPS.
• High: 101 FPS average.
• Ultra: 73 FPS average.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 121 FPS average.
• Medium: 90 FPS average, with a minimum of 77 FPS and a maximum of 104 FPS.
• High: 75 FPS average.
• Ultra: 54 FPS average.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 80 FPS average.
• Medium: 60 FPS average, with a minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 69 FPS.
• High: 50 FPS average.
• Ultra: 36 FPS average.

The 1080p results show the combo's full potential, with the Low preset exceeding 160 FPS, demonstrating the CPU's ability to feed the GPU efficiently. The step from Low to Medium at 1080p is a 41 FPS drop, which is substantial, but the step from Medium to High is only 20 FPS. The jump to Ultra costs another 28 FPS, showing that the Ultra preset is disproportionately demanding.

At 1440p, the same pattern holds, but the absolute numbers are lower. The Low preset still offers 121 FPS, which is excellent, while the Medium preset's 90 FPS is very strong. The High and Ultra presets fall to 75 and 54 FPS, respectively, highlighting the increased GPU load. The minimum frame rate data for the Medium preset at 1440p (77 FPS) is notably higher than the average for the High preset (75 FPS), indicating that the Medium preset provides a more stable experience.

The 4K results are the most telling. The Low preset's 80 FPS is impressive, but the Medium preset's 60 FPS is the only preset to hit the 60 FPS target consistently. The High preset's 50 FPS average is borderline, and the Ultra preset's 36 FPS is too low for a smooth experience. The minimum frame rate for 4K Medium is 51 FPS, which is still playable, but it shows that even at Medium, there can be dips below 60 FPS in demanding scenes.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Red Dead Redemption 2 at 60 FPS in 4K?

A: Yes, but only with the Medium preset. The measured data shows an average of 60 FPS at 3840x2160 with Medium settings. The High preset drops to 50 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 36 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve high refresh rates?

A: At 1080p, the combo can achieve an average of 162 FPS on Low and 121 FPS on Medium, making it suitable for 120Hz+ displays. At 1440p, the Low preset hits 121 FPS, and the Medium preset is at 90 FPS, which is also excellent for high-refresh monitors.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K?

A: Across all settings, the average frame rate drops by roughly 50%. For example, at High settings, it falls from 101 FPS at 1080p to 50 FPS at 4K. At Low settings, it falls from 162 FPS to 80 FPS.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The frame rate scales almost perfectly with resolution, dropping by 25% from 1080p to 1440p and by another 25% from 1440p to 4K. This is classic GPU-bound behavior, meaning the Intel Core i5-14600K has ample headroom.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested configurations?

A: It ranks 791 out of 3714 total combos, placing it in the top 21% of all tested systems. The CPU is in the 90th percentile, and the GPU is in the 82nd percentile of their respective categories.

Q: What is the most stable preset for consistent frame times?

A: The Medium preset offers the highest minimum frame rates across all resolutions. At 1440p, it has a minimum of 77 FPS, and at 1080p, it has a minimum of 103 FPS, which are both higher than the average FPS of the High preset at those resolutions.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a 14-core, 20-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. It features 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB of L2 cache per core. In Red Dead Redemption 2, this hardware configuration proves to be more than sufficient, as the resolution scaling analysis showed that the GPU is the primary bottleneck.

The CPU's strong single-threaded performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2064 and a Geekbench single-core score of 2491, is crucial for game logic and draw calls. The boost clock of 5.30 GHz ensures that the game's primary thread can run at maximum speed, which is essential for avoiding CPU-bound frame rate drops. The high single-threaded performance is the reason why the frame rate scales so predictably with resolution — the CPU is never holding the system back.

The multi-threaded capabilities, shown by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24491 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 16673, are also relevant for background tasks and any game systems that use multiple threads. With 20 threads, the processor can handle the various simulation and streaming tasks that Red Dead Redemption 2 requires without impacting the main game loop. The Passmark multi-thread score of 38682 and the Passmark physics score of 2473 further confirm its capability in complex computational tasks.

The data shows that the CPU's performance is in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals in the database all have average scores within 1% of the i5-14600K. For example, it is only 0.2% slower than the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H and 0.3% faster than the AMD EPYC 4345P. These differences are negligible in a gaming context, meaning that swapping this CPU for one of those would yield virtually identical frame rates in this title, as long as the GPU remains the same. The CPU's role here is to provide a stable, high-frequency platform that allows the RTX 5070 to perform to its full potential, and the measured FPS data confirms it does exactly that.