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. In the context of Red Dead Redemption 2, this CPU configuration provides substantial headroom for the game’s simulation and AI workloads, which are not typically the primary bottleneck at higher graphical presets. The processor’s 24 MB of shared L3 cache and 20 threads help maintain consistent frame pacing, particularly in busy town areas or during complex scripted events where draw calls and physics calculations can spike. Benchmark data places this CPU in the 90th percentile among all tested processors, indicating that its multi-threaded capabilities are well above the median for gaming workloads. In synthetic tests, it achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32544 and a single-core score of 4594, with the single-core performance being particularly relevant for Red Dead Redemption 2’s older engine, which still relies heavily on fewer threads for main game logic. The nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, shows an average benchmark score just 0.3% higher, making the performance difference negligible in real-world gaming, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G is 0.4% behind. This tight clustering suggests that the i5-14600KF is not leaving meaningful performance on the table in CPU-bound scenarios, and the measured frame rates in this game reflect that balance.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the dominant component in this pairing, featuring 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. Its boost clock of 2407 MHz and 21760 shading units provide immense raw compute power, which is directly leveraged by Red Dead Redemption 2’s demanding rendering techniques, including volumetric lighting and high-resolution texture streaming. The GPU’s 92nd percentile ranking among all tested GPUs underscores its position near the top of the performance hierarchy, though the nearest rivals in the database—such as the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT with a 1.1% higher average score—are not direct desktop competitors, indicating that the RTX 5090 D’s closest comparisons are synthetic rather than in-game. The 32 GB VRAM capacity is particularly relevant for Red Dead Redemption 2 at 4K with High or Ultra settings, as the game can consume large amounts of memory for textures and shadow maps, and the data shows no indication of VRAM-related frame drops even at the highest measured preset. The GPU’s 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 170 RT cores also ensure that any future driver-level enhancements or mods that add ray tracing would have ample headroom, though the base game does not utilize RT cores in its standard rendering path.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear scaling pattern that highlights the RTX 5090 D as the primary performance driver across all resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 234 FPS, which drops to 175 FPS at 1440p and 115 FPS at 4K, representing a 50.8% reduction from 1080p to 4K. This scaling is expected for a GPU-bound workload, as the pixel count increases by a factor of 4 from 1080p to 4K, though the frame rate does not drop by the full 75%, indicating that the CPU is still providing sufficient single-thread performance to feed the GPU at lower resolutions. Moving to High settings, the frame rates are 146 FPS at 1080p, 109 FPS at 1440p, and 72 FPS at 4K, with the 1080p to 4K drop being 50.7%, nearly identical to Low. This consistency suggests that the game’s settings scaling is primarily affecting GPU load rather than CPU overhead, and the i5-14600KF is not becoming a limiting factor even at 1080p, where CPU-bound scenarios typically manifest. At Medium settings, the 1080p result of 175 FPS matches the 1440p Low result exactly, and the 4K Medium result of 86 FPS with a minimum of 74 FPS shows a 50.9% drop from 1080p, maintaining the same ratio. The Ultra preset tells a similar story, with 105 FPS at 1080p, 79 FPS at 1440p, and 52 FPS at 4K, a 50.5% reduction from 1080p to 4K. The uniformity of these percentage drops—all falling between 50.5% and 50.9%—strongly indicates that the RTX 5090 D is the sole bottleneck across every resolution and settings combination tested, and the CPU’s role is to simply keep up with the GPU’s frame output without imposing additional limits.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks first overall in Red Dead Redemption 2, out of 2902 tested combos in the database. This top ranking is consistent with the individual component performance: the CPU sits in the 90th percentile and the GPU in the 92nd percentile, and when paired, there is no evident bottleneck that would drag the system down from its theoretical peak. The data shows that the combo achieves 72 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is the most demanding configuration tested, and this is well above the 60 FPS threshold typically considered playable for a smooth experience. The rank of 1 out of 2902 suggests that this pairing is at the very top of the database’s measured results, with no other combination of CPU and GPU producing higher average frame rates in this specific game. It is notably the nearest CPU rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, show a 0.3% higher average benchmark score, but this does not translate into a measurable advantage in Red Dead Redemption 2, as the game’s frame rates are dominated by GPU performance. Similarly, the GPU’s nearest rivals in the database are mobile and datacenter parts that are not directly comparable, reinforcing that the RTX 5090 D is in a class of its own for this workload. The practical takeaway from the rank is that users seeking the absolute highest frame rates in Red Dead Redemption 2 at any resolution and settings combination will not find a better-tested pairing in the database.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate, but the data provides clear guidance for each tier. At 1080p, the Medium preset delivers 175 FPS average with a minimum of 149 FPS and a maximum of 202 FPS, which is a strong balance for high-refresh-rate monitors, while the High preset at 146 FPS is also smooth but offers diminishing returns for the extra visual fidelity. For users prioritizing visual quality over raw speed at 1080p, the Ultra preset at 105 FPS is still well above playable thresholds, but the jump from High to Ultra costs 41 FPS, which is a significant trade-off for marginal graphical improvements. At 1440p, the Medium preset at 131 FPS with a minimum of 111 FPS is the recommended choice, as it stays comfortably above 100 FPS in all measured frames, while High at 109 FPS is acceptable for those who prefer higher detail settings. The Ultra preset at 79 FPS is playable but may feel less responsive on high-refresh displays, and the 52 FPS drop from Medium to Ultra is substantial. At 4K, the data shows that the High preset at 72 FPS is the sweet spot, providing a smooth experience that stays close to the 60 FPS baseline, while the Medium preset at 86 FPS offers more headroom for demanding scenes, with a minimum of 74 FPS ensuring no drops below the playable threshold. The Ultra preset at 52 FPS is below the ideal range for smooth motion and should be avoided if frame rate consistency is a priority. The Low preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it sacrifices too much visual quality for frame rate gains that are not necessary given the GPU’s capability—at 4K Low, the 115 FPS result is impressive but comes at the cost of severely reduced graphical fidelity that undermines the game’s presentation. The overall recommendation is to use Medium at 1080p and 1440p for the best balance of performance and quality, and High at 4K to maintain a consistent 60+ FPS experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this combo in Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 234 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the combo achieves an average of 52 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth playability.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor, as the frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are consistently around 50% across all settings, which matches the expected scaling for a GPU-bound workload.

Q: What is the minimum frame rate recorded for the Medium preset at 1440p?

A: The minimum frame rate for the Medium preset at 2560x1440 is 111 FPS, with an average of 131 FPS and a maximum of 150 FPS.

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

A: This combo ranks first overall, out of 2902 tested combinations in the database for Red Dead Redemption 2.

Q: What settings provide the best experience at 4K?

A: The High preset at 4K, which averages 72 FPS, provides the best experience, as it stays above 60 FPS while maintaining higher visual quality than Medium or Low.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table breaks down the exact measured FPS values for each resolution and settings combination. All values are average FPS unless otherwise noted, with minimum and maximum values provided only where the data includes them.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 234 FPS average
• Medium: 175 FPS average, 149 FPS minimum, 202 FPS maximum
• High: 146 FPS average
• Ultra: 105 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 175 FPS average
• Medium: 131 FPS average, 111 FPS minimum, 150 FPS maximum
• High: 109 FPS average
• Ultra: 79 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 115 FPS average
• Medium: 86 FPS average, 74 FPS minimum, 99 FPS maximum
• High: 72 FPS average
• Ultra: 52 FPS average

The data shows a consistent pattern where the Medium preset is the only configuration with recorded minimum and maximum values, providing insight into frame time variance. At 1080p Medium, the variance between minimum and maximum is 53 FPS, which narrows to 39 FPS at 1440p and 25 FPS at 4K, indicating that frame consistency improves as resolution increases and the GPU becomes more uniformly saturated. The Low and High presets do not have recorded min/max values, but their averages suggest that Low is primarily useful for hitting extreme refresh rates at 1080p, while High offers the best balance of quality and performance across all resolutions, with the 4K High result of 72 FPS being particularly notable for maintaining playability without significant compromises. The Ultra preset consistently delivers the lowest frame rates, with the 4K result of 52 FPS being the only configuration in the entire dataset that falls below the 60 FPS threshold, highlighting that the game’s highest settings are extremely demanding even for the RTX 5090 D.