Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 presents a striking imbalance in Red Dead Redemption 2. The benchmark data shows a system where the GPU is clearly capable of high frame rates, but the CPU’s six threads create a bottleneck that scales poorly with resolution. This analysis examines how this specific combination performs across the measured settings, using only the provided data to interpret the results.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of diminishing returns as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the combo averages 144 FPS on Low settings, which drops to 131 FPS at 2560x1440, and further to 96 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 33% decrease from 1080p to 4K at Low settings. For High settings, the drop is steeper: from 121 FPS at 1080p to 90 FPS at 1440p, and finally 60 FPS at 4K — a 50% reduction across the full range.

The scaling suggests that at lower resolutions, the CPU becomes the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the 144 FPS figure is likely near the ceiling of what the i5-9400 can produce in this title, regardless of the RTX 4080’s headroom. As resolution climbs to 4K, the GPU workload increases, and the average FPS drops proportionally, indicating that the graphics card is now the primary constraint. The data shows that the gap between Low and Ultra settings at 4K is substantial: 96 FPS versus 43 FPS, a 55% performance penalty for the highest preset.

This pattern is typical of a CPU-bound configuration at lower resolutions. The RTX 4080, with its 9728 shading units and 48.74 TFLOPS FP32 performance, is demonstrably capable of far more than 144 FPS at 1080p. The fact that it does not exceed this threshold across any setting at that resolution — even on Low — points directly to the i5-9400’s six threads as the constraint. Conversely, at 4K Ultra, the 43 FPS average reflects the GPU’s struggle with the most demanding settings, where the 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 716.8 GB/s bandwidth are fully utilized.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-9400 is a six-core, six-thread processor based on the Coffee Lake architecture, running at a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. Its benchmark scores place it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2254. The nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1068NG7 (0.2% faster), the Intel Core i7-10710U (0.3% slower), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 (0.4% slower), and the Intel Core i3-10305 (0.4% faster). These are all comparable processors in terms of aggregate performance, but none are modern high-core-count parts.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU’s role is most evident in the 1080p results. The fact that Low, Medium, and High settings at 1920x1080 yield averages of 144, 130, and 121 FPS respectively — while Ultra drops to 87 FPS — suggests that the game’s draw calls and physics simulations are taxing the six threads. The 144 FPS cap at Low is telling; it is likely that the CPU cannot push beyond this frame rate, regardless of the GPU’s capabilities. The 65W TDP and dual-channel DDR4 memory support (42.7 GB/s bandwidth) further indicate a mainstream part that was never designed for extreme high-refresh gaming.

The CPU’s Cinebench R23 multicore score of 6629 and single-core score of 935 provide context. In a game like Red Dead Redemption 2, which is known for its heavy single-threaded dependencies, the 935 single-core score is modest. This explains why the 1440p High result (90 FPS) is only 25% lower than the 1080p High result (121 FPS), rather than the 56% difference that pure pixel count would suggest. The CPU is still contributing to the bottleneck even at higher resolutions, though the GPU becomes more dominant as the workload increases.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a radically different component. With 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth, and a boost clock of 2505 MHz, it is an end-of-life flagship from the Ada Lovelace generation. Its 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs and average benchmark score of 54247 place it near the top of the stack. The nearest rivals are the RTX 4080 SUPER (0.1% faster), AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (1.1% faster), AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (2.6% faster), and AMD Radeon 8060S (2.7% faster) — all within a few percentage points.

The GPU’s performance in Red Dead Redemption 2 is clearly constrained by the CPU at lower resolutions. At 4K, however, the data shows a more balanced picture. The 4K Medium result of 72 FPS (with a min of 61 and max of 82) is respectable, while 4K High at 60 FPS is exactly at the standard 60 Hz target. The 4K Ultra result of 43 FPS is the low point, indicating that the card’s 112 ROPs and 280.6 GPixel/s pixel rate are insufficient for the most demanding settings at this resolution.

The VRAM capacity is not a limiting factor here. The 16 GB allocation is more than sufficient for a 2018 title, even at 4K Ultra. The measured FPS drops from Low to Ultra at 4K — from 96 to 43 — are consistent with the GPU’s compute and memory bandwidth being the bottleneck, not capacity. The RTX 4080’s 48.74 TFLOPS FP32 performance is being fully utilized at 4K Ultra, but the architecture’s 5nm process and 45,900 million transistors allow it to maintain playable frame rates at High settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo achieves in Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: The highest measured average is 144 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is likely a CPU ceiling, as the RTX 4080 is capable of far higher frame rates.

Q: Is the RTX 4080's 16 GB VRAM a problem at 4K Ultra?

A: No. The 4K Ultra result of 43 FPS is due to the GPU’s compute limits (48.74 TFLOPS FP32) and pixel throughput (280.6 GPixel/s), not memory capacity. The 16 GB GDDR6X with 716.8 GB/s bandwidth is more than adequate.

Q: How does the i5-9400 compare to its nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-9400 scores 2254 on average. The Intel Core i7-1068NG7 is 0.2% faster (2259), the Intel Core i3-10305 is 0.4% faster (2264), the Intel Core i7-10710U is 0.3% slower (2248), and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is 0.4% slower (2246).

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the minimum FPS is 92, with an average of 108 and a maximum of 125.

Q: Does the combo scale well from 1440p to 4K at High settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 90 at 1440p to 60 at 4K, a 33% reduction. This is close to the proportional increase in pixel count (2.25x), indicating that the GPU is the dominant factor at these resolutions.

Q: How does the 4K Ultra result compare to 1080p Ultra?

A: The 4K Ultra average is 43 FPS versus 87 FPS at 1080p Ultra. This 51% drop is steeper than the pixel count ratio, suggesting that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and shading units are saturated at 4K.

Settings Recommendations

The data indicates that the optimal experience balances frame rate and visual quality. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset provides 130 FPS with a minimum of 110 and maximum of 149, which is an excellent high-refresh experience. The High preset at 121 FPS is also viable, but the 9 FPS difference does not justify the visual downgrade from Medium to Low if aiming for maximum smoothness. The Ultra preset at 87 FPS is playable but misses the 100+ FPS target that this GPU should theoretically hit if not for the CPU bottleneck.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset yields 108 FPS (min 92, max 125), which is the sweet spot for 1440p gaming. The High preset at 90 FPS is still smooth, but the 18 FPS gap between Medium and High suggests that the CPU is starting to become a factor. The Ultra preset at 65 FPS is the minimum recommended for a 60 FPS experience, but it leaves little headroom for drops.

At 3840x2160, the High preset at 60 FPS is the best choice for a consistent 60 Hz experience. The Medium preset at 72 FPS (min 61, max 82) offers better frame pacing, but the visual quality loss is significant. The Low preset at 96 FPS is unnecessary at 4K, as the resolution already provides high image clarity. The Ultra preset at 43 FPS is not recommended, as it falls below the 60 FPS threshold that most displays target.

The overall recommendation is to use Medium settings at 1080p and 1440p for the best balance of smoothness and fidelity, and High settings at 4K to maintain a locked 60 FPS. The Low preset is only useful for competitive play at 1080p, where the 144 FPS ceiling is reached.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 144 on Low to 87 on Ultra. The Medium preset records 130 FPS with a minimum of 110 and maximum of 149. The High preset averages 121 FPS, while the Low preset at 144 FPS is the peak. The Ultra preset at 87 FPS is the only setting below 100 FPS at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 131 FPS on Low, 108 FPS on Medium (min 92, max 125), 90 FPS on High, and 65 FPS on Ultra. The drop from Low to Ultra is 66 FPS, or 50%. The Medium preset provides the best minimum-to-average ratio, with a min of 92 against an average of 108.

At 3840x2160, the averages are 96 FPS on Low, 72 FPS on Medium (min 61, max 82), 60 FPS on High, and 43 FPS on Ultra. The scaling from Low to Ultra is steepest here, with a 53 FPS difference. The High preset at exactly 60 FPS is notable, as it aligns perfectly with standard display refresh rates.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the gap between Low and Ultra widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, the difference is 57 FPS; at 1440p, it is 66 FPS; at 4K, it is 53 FPS. This non-linear behavior reflects the CPU bottleneck at lower resolutions and the GPU bottleneck at higher ones.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 + RTX 4080 combination ranks 436th out of 3714 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places it in the top 12% of all configurations, which is impressive given the CPU’s modest specifications. The rank reflects the GPU’s ability to carry the system at higher resolutions, where the i5-9400’s limitations are less impactful.

The RTX 4080’s 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs is the primary driver of this high position. The GPU’s average benchmark score of 54247 is nearly 24 times higher than the CPU’s 2254, illustrating the massive disparity in performance capability. This is a case where the GPU is doing most of the heavy lifting, particularly at 4K, where the combo still achieves 60 FPS on High settings.

The CPU’s 47th percentile ranking, by contrast, drags the combo down in scenarios where frame rates are CPU-limited. At 1080p, the 144 FPS ceiling is far below what the RTX 4080 could deliver with a more capable processor. The rank of 436 suggests that the combo outperforms the majority of tested systems, but it is not among the elite configurations that pair the RTX 4080 with a high-end CPU. The data indicates that upgrading the CPU would yield significant gains at 1080p and 1440p, while the 4K results would remain largely unchanged.