Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 delivers a solid, though not class-leading, experience in Red Dead Redemption 2, with performance heavily dictated by graphics settings and resolution. The data shows a combination that is clearly capable of smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p, but which struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K with maximum detail.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700K serves as the processing foundation for this combo, and its specifications are more than sufficient for the demands of Red Dead Redemption 2. The chip features 12 cores and 20 threads, a configuration that provides ample parallelism for the game's simulation and AI workloads. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, ensuring strong single-thread performance, which is often critical for game logic and frame pacing. The processor’s 25 MB of shared L3 cache also helps keep frequently accessed data close at hand, reducing latency.

In broader synthetic tests, the i7-12700K scores an average of 35684, placing it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. This places it in a tight competitive cluster, as its nearest rivals show minimal score differences. For instance, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 scores 35802, a delta of -0.3%, while the Intel Core i7-13700T scores 35468, a delta of 0.6%. This indicates that the i7-12700K is positioned right at the edge of a performance tier where slight variations in workload can shuffle the ranking order. In the context of this game, the processor's robust multi-threading capability (evidenced by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 29241) prevents it from becoming a bottleneck, allowing the GPU to be the primary driver of frame rate changes when settings are altered.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is the primary engine for rendering in this benchmark, and its memory configuration is a key factor in the results. It comes equipped with 12 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 192-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 672.0 GB/s. This bandwidth is sufficient for the high-resolution textures and detailed environments of Red Dead Redemption 2, particularly at 1080p and 1440p. The GPU’s boost clock of 2512 MHz and base clock of 2325 MHz provide the raw compute throughput needed to drive the game’s advanced lighting and shadow effects.

The RTX 5070's overall capability is reflected in its average benchmark score of 41687, which places it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database are an eclectic mix, including the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (score 41610, delta 0.2%) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (score 41441, delta 0.6%). The performance parity with the RTX 3090 is a notable data point, as it suggests that the newer architecture of the 5070 achieves a similar level of raw performance in these tests. However, in the measured FPS data for this game, the GPU’s performance is not uniform across all settings, showing a steep drop-off when moving to Ultra presets, which will be explored in the subsequent sections.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of scaling across resolutions, indicating where the system’s limits lie. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 161.5 FPS, showcasing the CPU's ability to feed frames quickly. Moving to Medium drops this to 122.6 FPS, and High yields 104 FPS. The most demanding Ultra preset at 1080p produces an average of 72.7 FPS, a significant 55% reduction from the Low setting.

At 2560x1440, the same settings show a predictable shift. Low settings average 123.3 FPS, Medium drops to 91.5 FPS, and High produces 77.5 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 52.7 FPS, which is a substantial drop from the already demanding 1080p Ultra result. This indicates that the Ultra preset is highly taxing on the GPU.

The trend culminates at 3840x2160, where the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor. Low settings average 80.7 FPS, Medium falls to 60.6 FPS, and High averages 52.9 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K yields only 38.4 FPS, which is barely playable. The scaling from 1080p Low to 4K Low shows a 50% reduction in frame rate (from 161.5 to 80.7 FPS). This dramatic drop, combined with the severe impact of the Ultra preset at 4K, confirms that the RTX 5070 is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions and quality settings, while the CPU has ample headroom to keep up.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested combinations for Red Dead Redemption 2, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 holds a rank of 329 out of 1687 total combos. This places it in the top 20% of all tested systems, a strong showing that underscores its overall capability. The ranking is a holistic measure that accounts for performance across various settings and resolutions.

The rank suggests that while this combo is not a top-tier enthusiast configuration, it significantly outperforms the majority of systems in the database. The data indicates that the system’s performance is competitive, falling behind only the most powerful combinations that feature higher-end CPUs and GPUs. The substantial performance headroom of the CPU, as evidenced by its high percentile ranking, helps to boost the combo's overall position, even though the GPU struggles with the most extreme settings. This is a balanced pairing that delivers a high level of performance for most gaming scenarios, with the caveat that 4K Ultra settings are beyond its optimal range.

FAQ

Q: What is the performance difference between the i7-12700K and its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845?

A: The average benchmark score for the Intel Core i7-12700K is 35684, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 scores 35802. The deltaPct is -0.3%, meaning the i7-12700K is very slightly slower in aggregate, but the difference is negligible in real-world terms.

Q: How does the RTX 5070's score compare to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090?

A: The RTX 5070 has an average score of 41687, while the RTX 3090 scores 41441. This yields a deltaPct of 0.6%, indicating that the newer RTX 5070 is marginally faster in these specific benchmarks.

Q: What is the best average FPS recorded for this combo at 1920x1080?

A: The highest average FPS at 1080p is achieved with Low settings, where the system produces an average of 161.5 FPS.

Q: What is the only configuration that results in an average frame rate below 40 FPS?

A: The system drops to an average of 38.4 FPS when running the game at 3840x2160 resolution with Ultra settings. This is the only tested scenario where the frame rate falls below this threshold.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K. The frame rate drops significantly from 80.7 FPS at 4K Low to 38.4 FPS at 4K Ultra, showing that the RTX 5070 is overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and intense graphical settings.

Q: How does the combo's ranking in this game compare to its overall performance percentiles?

A: The combo ranks 329 out of 1687 tested configurations for this game. The CPU is in the 89th percentile and the GPU is in the 83rd percentile, indicating that while both components are above average, their combined performance in this specific game places them in the top 20% of all systems.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the average FPS measured for the Intel Core i7-12700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 combination in Red Dead Redemption 2 across all tested resolutions and settings.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

|:--- |:--- |:--- |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 161.5 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 122.6 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 104 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 72.7 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 123.3 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 91.5 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 77.5 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 52.7 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 80.7 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 60.6 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 52.9 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 38.4 |