Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i5-14600KF 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. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support for DDR4 and DDR5 position it as a high-end desktop part, and its benchmark percentile of 93 versus all CPUs confirms that positioning. In this specific title, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU efficiently across all tested settings and resolutions. The data shows that at the lowest graphical preset, where the GPU load is minimized, the processor is capable of pushing frame rates to 208.5 FPS at 1080p. This indicates that the CPU has ample headroom for high-refresh-rate gaming in Red Dead Redemption 2, as the frame rate ceiling at Low settings is far beyond the 60 FPS target. The processor’s multi-threaded performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32889, ensures that background tasks and the game’s simulation threads do not become a bottleneck. The gap between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p is substantial—a drop from 208.5 FPS to 89.8 FPS—which demonstrates that the CPU is not the limiting factor when visual fidelity is increased; the GPU takes over the heavy lifting. Even at 4K with High settings, the average frame rate of 63.6 FPS suggests that the processor is still delivering consistent performance, as the frame pacing is not collapsing under the combined load of high resolution and complex scenes. The Core i5-14600KF sits within 0.4% of the Intel Core i5-14600K in average benchmark score, and it leads the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X by 0.6%, indicating that its gaming performance is competitive with much more expensive multi-core processors, though this is a synthetic benchmark comparison rather than a direct game test.

CPU Role

The Core i5-14600KF’s core configuration is central to its performance in Red Dead Redemption 2. With 14 cores and 20 threads, the processor can handle the game’s multi-threaded rendering tasks, which benefit from the parallel processing of the Raptor Lake architecture. The boost clock of 5.30 GHz is particularly relevant for the game’s single-threaded logic, as higher clocks reduce latency in frame-to-frame simulation. The benchmark results show that at 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 208.5 FPS, a figure that is likely constrained by the CPU’s maximum throughput. When the resolution is increased to 1440p and 4K, the average FPS at Low settings drops to 153.2 and 99.6, respectively, which illustrates how the CPU’s workload scales with pixel count, but the GPU becomes increasingly dominant. The processor’s 125 W TDP and unlocked multiplier indicate it is designed for overclocking, which could further improve the already high frame rates, but the stock data shows no signs of CPU-bound stutter. The L3 cache of 24 MB shared is sufficient for the game’s asset streaming, and the processor’s PassMark multi-thread score of 38697 places it in the top tier of consumer chips, reinforcing that it is not a bottleneck in this title. Comparing to its nearest rivals, the i5-14600KF is 1.4% ahead of the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, which is a server-class chip with more cores, but the i5’s higher clocks give it the edge in a game that favors frequency over core count.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the primary driver of visual fidelity in this benchmark. It features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s, which is critical for streaming high-resolution textures in Red Dead Redemption 2’s open world. The GPU’s boost clock of 2617 MHz and its 10752 shading units provide the raw compute power needed for the game’s lighting and shadow effects. The benchmark data shows that the GPU is the limiting component at higher settings; at 4K Ultra, the average frame rate drops to 43 FPS, which is a clear indication that the graphics card is saturated by the game’s maximum visual demands. The RTX 5080’s 89th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 59188, places it ahead of rivals like the Intel Arc A580 by 2.5%, but the game-specific results show that even this high-end card cannot maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra. The GPU’s memory capacity of 16 GB is not exhausted at 4K, as the frame rate drop from High (63.6 FPS) to Ultra (43 FPS) at 4K is more attributable to the increase in shader complexity than to VRAM limitations. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 264461 and PassMark G3D score of 36565 are consistent with a GPU that excels in compute-heavy workloads, which translates to strong performance in this title’s particle and physics effects. The RTX 5080’s role is to scale the visual quality, and the data shows that it can deliver a playable experience at 4K High, but it requires the user to moderate settings to achieve higher frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS across resolutions reveals a clear scaling pattern that defines the system’s bottleneck. At 1080p, the average frame rates range from 208.5 FPS at Low to 89.8 FPS at Ultra, with the Low setting showing a 132% increase over Ultra. This massive spread indicates that at 1080p, the CPU has enough headroom to support very high frame rates, but the GPU’s load increases significantly with each preset level. Moving to 1440p, the frame rates drop to 153.2 FPS at Low and 72.2 FPS at Ultra, representing a 25% decrease from 1080p at Low and a 20% decrease at Ultra. This proportional drop suggests that the GPU is becoming the primary limiter as resolution increases, but the CPU is still keeping pace. At 4K, the scaling is more pronounced: the Low setting yields 99.6 FPS, a 35% drop from 1440p, while the Ultra setting yields 43 FPS, a 40% drop from 1440p. The data shows that the transition from 1080p to 4K at High settings results in a 51% reduction in frame rate (from 129.2 to 63.6 FPS), which is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. The limiting component at 4K is definitively the GPU, as the CPU’s performance at Low settings (99.6 FPS) is still well above the 60 FPS target, indicating that it is not holding back the system. The resolution scaling data also shows that the RTX 5080’s performance degrades gracefully, with no sudden collapses between settings, which speaks to the stability of the driver and the game engine’s optimization. For users targeting 4K, the data suggests that High settings are the ceiling for a smooth experience, while 1440p allows for Ultra settings at a playable 72.2 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate achievable at 1080p with this CPU-GPU combo?

A: The highest average frame rate measured at 1920x1080 is 208.5 FPS, achieved with the Low preset. This indicates that the CPU is capable of driving very high refresh rates when the GPU load is minimized.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K with High settings in Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: Yes, the data shows an average frame rate of 63.6 FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings. This is just above the 60 FPS threshold, but it is the highest preset that achieves this at 4K, as Ultra drops to 43 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 5080's performance compare to its nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 5080 has an average benchmark score of 59188, which is 2.5% higher than the Intel Arc A580's score of 57756. It also leads the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X by 2.6%, but trails the Intel Arc Pro A60 by 1.9%.

Q: Is the Core i5-14600KF a bottleneck at 1440p with Ultra settings?

A: No, the benchmark results show an average frame rate of 72.2 FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings. Since the CPU can achieve 153.2 FPS at Low settings in the same resolution, it is not the limiting factor; the GPU is.

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

A: The average frame rate drops from 208.5 FPS at Low to 89.8 FPS at Ultra, a reduction of 56.9%. This large difference highlights the significant graphical load that the Ultra preset places on the GPU.

Q: How does the i5-14600KF compare to the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X in average benchmark score?

A: The i5-14600KF has an average score of 49367, which is 0.6% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X's score of 49062. This shows that the i5 is slightly ahead in synthetic performance despite having fewer cores.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal preset depends on the user’s resolution and frame rate target. For 1080p, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 89.8 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS standard and provides the highest visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. The Medium preset at 1080p offers 156.6 FPS, which is beneficial for users with 144 Hz or higher refresh rate monitors, as it balances visual fidelity with a high frame rate. At 1440p, the High preset achieves 97.5 FPS, which is an excellent sweet spot for both quality and performance, while Ultra drops to 72.2 FPS, still playable but with a noticeable reduction in margin. For 4K, the High preset is the recommended choice, as it is the only one that averages above 60 FPS (63.6 FPS), providing a smooth experience. The Low preset at 4K yields 99.6 FPS, but the visual quality is severely compromised, making it a poor trade-off. The Ultra preset at 4K is not recommended for standard play, as 43 FPS is below the playable threshold for most users. The data indicates that the best experience is achieved by selecting High at 4K, Ultra at 1440p, or Ultra at 1080p, depending on whether the user prioritizes resolution or frame rate. The Medium preset at 1440p (112.8 FPS) is a viable alternative for those who want a high frame rate with moderate visual settings.