Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i7-12700KF paired with the Intel Arc B370 produces a strictly playable-only experience in Red Dead Redemption 2, with the data showing that this combination lands at rank 2670 out of 2902 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8% of all configurations. The measured frames per second across all resolutions and settings presets reveal a system that is heavily constrained by the graphics processor, which sits at the 5th percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU demonstrates substantial headroom that the integrated-class Arc B370 cannot exploit in this title.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS rows for this combo show a clear pattern: the Low preset is the only playable option at 1080p, while Medium and High fall below the generally accepted 30 FPS threshold for an action-adventure game. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 47 FPS, which is the highest measured value across the entire dataset for this configuration. The Medium preset at the same resolution produces an average of 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS, making it technically playable but with less headroom for demanding scenes. High at 1080p drops to 29 FPS average, which is borderline, while Ultra falls to 21 FPS, which is not recommended for smooth gameplay.

For the best experience per the measured rows, the Low preset at 1920x1080 is the clear recommendation, as it is the only setting that provides a comfortable margin above 30 FPS. The 47 FPS average gives enough buffer for the game’s open-world traversal, where draw distances and NPC populations can cause sudden frame drops. If visual fidelity is a priority, Medium at 1080p offers a compromise at 35 FPS average, but the minimum of 30 FPS suggests that some scenes will run right at the edge of acceptability. The data indicates that High at 1080p should be avoided, as its 29 FPS average is below the playable threshold and would result in noticeable stutter during action sequences.

At 2560x1440, the situation worsens significantly. Low produces 35 FPS average, which is playable but not ideal, while Medium drops to 26 FPS, High to 22 FPS, and Ultra to 16 FPS. The recommendation for 1440p is to stick with Low if the user insists on this resolution, but the measured data shows that 1080p Low is the only configuration that delivers a consistently smooth experience. At 3840x2160, all presets are effectively unplayable, with Low averaging 23 FPS, Medium 17 FPS, High 14 FPS, and Ultra 10 FPS. The 4K data suggests that this combo should not be used for 4K gaming under any settings preset, as even the lowest preset fails to reach 30 FPS.

The measured minimum and maximum FPS values are only available for the Medium preset across all resolutions, which provides some insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the range is 30 to 40 FPS, indicating a relatively stable experience. At 1440p Medium, the range is 22 to 30 FPS, showing more variance. At 4K Medium, the range is 15 to 20 FPS, which is a tight band but far too low for playability. The absence of min/max data for other presets limits deeper analysis, but the averages alone are sufficient to guide settings selection.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-12700KF is a 12-core, 20-thread processor from the Alder Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. It features a 25 MB shared L3 cache and per-core L1 and L2 caches of 80 KB and 1.25 MB respectively. The CPU’s benchmark scores show a strong performer: it achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 28838 and a single-core score of 4071, with a Geekbench multicore score of 14367 and single-core score of 2255. Its Passmark multithread score is 34092, and it sits at the 85th percentile among all CPUs, indicating that it is a high-end processor by general computing standards.

However, in Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU’s role is largely secondary to the GPU bottleneck. The measured FPS data shows that across all resolutions and settings, the frame rates are consistently low, which points to the Intel Arc B370 as the limiting component. The GPU has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184, placing it at the 5th percentile among all GPUs, and its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (deltaPct -0.2), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (deltaPct -0.5), AMD Radeon HD 7650M (deltaPct -0.7), and AMD FirePro M2000 (deltaPct 1.4). These are all older or low-end parts, confirming that the Arc B370 is nowhere near capable of driving modern AAA titles at high frame rates.

The CPU’s 3DMark threaded tests further illustrate its capability: 16-thread score of 9282, 8-thread score of 7211, 4-thread score of 4011, 2-thread score of 2065, and single-thread score of 1043. The max-thread score of 9983 shows that the processor scales well with additional threads, which is relevant for Red Dead Redemption 2’s use of multiple cores for physics, AI, and world simulation. Yet, the game’s frame rates do not improve with lower resolution in the way that would indicate a CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the CPU can theoretically feed the GPU with enough draw calls, but the GPU still only manages 47 FPS. At 4K Low, the frame rate drops to 23 FPS, which is a 51% reduction from 1080p, suggesting that the GPU is overwhelmed by the pixel count rather than being starved by the CPU.

The CPU’s nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the Intel Core i7-13700T (avgScore 35403, deltaPct -0.1), Intel Core i5-13600T (avgScore 35305, deltaPct 0.2), Intel Core 5 213PE (avgScore 35428, deltaPct -0.2), and Intel Core i7-12700K (avgScore 35287, deltaPct 0.2). These scores are all within 0.2% of the i7-12700KF’s average of 35365, meaning that the CPU’s raw compute power is not the issue in this combo. The bottleneck is unequivocally the GPU, as evidenced by the 5th percentile ranking and the fact that even the lowest settings at 1080p cannot push past 47 FPS.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings preset for this combo in Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: The measured data shows that 1920x1080 with the Low preset delivers an average of 47 FPS, which is the highest playable frame rate for this configuration. Medium at 1080p provides 35 FPS average, but Low is the only preset that offers a comfortable margin above 30 FPS.

Q: Can this combo run the game at 4K?

A: No. At 3840x2160, the highest measured average is 23 FPS on the Low preset, with Medium at 17 FPS, High at 14 FPS, and Ultra at 10 FPS. All 4K presets fall below the playable threshold of 30 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-12700KF the limiting factor in this setup?

A: No. The CPU ranks at the 85th percentile among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 35365, while the GPU ranks at the 5th percentile with a score of 1184. The frame rates are consistently low across resolutions, indicating a GPU bottleneck.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B370 has a 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184, which is within 1.4% of the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168, deltaPct 1.4) and within 0.7% of the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192, deltaPct -0.7). All rivals are similarly low-performing GPUs.

Q: What is the frame rate range for the Medium preset?

A: At 1080p Medium, the range is 30 to 40 FPS. At 1440p Medium, the range is 22 to 30 FPS. At 4K Medium, the range is 15 to 20 FPS. These are the only presets with min/max data available.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 2670 out of 2902 tested combos, placing it in the bottom portion of the database. This reflects the GPU’s low performance relative to other graphics cards.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame field places this configuration at rank 2670 out of 2902 total combos, which means it outperforms only 232 other tested configurations in Red Dead Redemption 2. This is a bottom-tier ranking, consistent with the GPU’s 5th percentile standing among all GPUs. The Intel Arc B370’s average benchmark score of 1184 places it in the company of legacy mobile and entry-level desktop parts, and its nearest rivals all have deltaPct values within 1.4%, indicating a cluster of similarly weak performers. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186 (deltaPct -0.2), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190 (deltaPct -0.5), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192 (deltaPct -0.7), and the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168 (deltaPct 1.4). These are not modern gaming GPUs, and the fact that the Arc B370 sits among them underscores its unsuitability for this title.

In contrast, the CPU’s ranking is far more favorable. The Intel Core i7-12700KF sits at the 85th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 35365. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13700T (35403, deltaPct -0.1), Intel Core i5-13600T (35305, deltaPct 0.2), Intel Core 5 213PE (35428, deltaPct -0.2), and Intel Core i7-12700K (35287, deltaPct 0.2). All of these CPUs are within 0.2% of each other in average score, meaning the i7-12700KF is a strong, competitive processor. The disparity between the CPU’s high percentile and the GPU’s low percentile creates a massive imbalance in this combo, where the processor’s potential is wasted by the graphics solution.

The rank of 2670 out of 2902 means that approximately 92% of tested combos perform better than this one in Red Dead Redemption 2. This is not a configuration that can deliver a high-quality experience, and the data suggests that any user with this combo should consider it a temporary or entry-level solution. The measured FPS values confirm the ranking: no preset at any resolution reaches 60 FPS, and only 1080p Low achieves a solid playable frame rate. The ranking also reflects the GPU’s 10 RT cores and 20 ROPs, which are far too few for the demands of a 2018 open-world game with heavy draw distances and complex lighting.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a clear scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 47 at 1080p to 35 at 1440p (a 25.5% reduction) and then to 23 at 4K (a further 34.3% reduction from 1440p, or 51.1% from 1080p). At the Medium preset, the averages are 35 at 1080p, 26 at 1440p (a 25.7% reduction), and 17 at 4K (a 34.6% reduction from 1440p, or 51.4% from 1080p). The High preset shows 29 at 1080p, 22 at 1440p (a 24.1% reduction), and 14 at 4K (a 36.4% reduction from 1440p, or 51.7% from 1080p). The Ultra preset has 21 at 1080p, 16 at 1440p (a 23.8% reduction), and 10 at 4K (a 37.5% reduction from 1440p, or 52.4% from 1080p).

The consistent pattern across all presets is that moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces FPS by roughly 24-26%, while moving from 1440p to 4K reduces FPS by roughly 34-37%. The total reduction from 1080p to 4K is approximately 51-52% for every preset. This scaling is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering load increases with the number of pixels. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rate would remain relatively flat as resolution increases, because the CPU would limit the number of draw calls regardless of pixel count. Instead, the near-linear relationship between resolution and FPS indicates that the Intel Arc B370 is fully saturated at all resolutions, and its limited pixel throughput (48.00 GPixel/s) and texture rate (96.00 GTexel/s) are the primary constraints.

The GPU’s memory is listed as "System Shared," meaning it uses system RAM rather than dedicated VRAM. This is a major factor in the scaling behavior, as shared memory bandwidth is "System Dependent" and typically much lower than dedicated GDDR memory. At higher resolutions, the GPU must access more texture data and framebuffer information, and the shared memory interface becomes a further bottleneck. The FP32 performance of 6.144 TFLOPS is also low by modern standards, and the 1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 20 ROPs are insufficient for the visual complexity of Red Dead Redemption 2. The resolution scaling data confirms that this combo is unsuitable for 1440p or 4K gaming, as even Low settings fail to reach 30 FPS at 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS values are as follows: Low delivers 47 FPS, Medium delivers 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 and maximum of 40, High delivers 29 FPS, and Ultra delivers 21 FPS. The 1080p Low preset is the only configuration in the entire dataset that exceeds 40 FPS, and it is the recommended setting for any playable experience. The Medium preset’s minimum of 30 FPS is exactly at the playable threshold, but the average of 35 FPS leaves little room for demanding scenes. High at 29 FPS is below 30, and Ultra at 21 FPS is not recommended.

At 2560x1440, the measured averages are: Low at 35 FPS, Medium at 26 FPS with a minimum of 22 and maximum of 30, High at 22 FPS, and Ultra at 16 FPS. The 1440p Low preset matches the 1080p Medium average, but it is the only 1440p preset that approaches playability. The Medium preset’s maximum of 30 FPS indicates that even the best-case scenes are marginal. High and Ultra are clearly unplayable at this resolution, with averages well below 30 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the measured averages are: Low at 23 FPS, Medium at 17 FPS with a minimum of 15 and maximum of 20, High at 14 FPS, and Ultra at 10 FPS. None of these presets are playable, and the data shows that 4K is entirely out of reach for this combo. The Medium preset’s minimum of 15 FPS and maximum of 20 FPS illustrate the narrow band of performance, which would result in constant stuttering and a poor experience. The 4K Low preset at 23 FPS is the best 4K result, but it still falls short of the 30 FPS threshold.

The complete measured FPS dataset shows a total of 12 data points across three resolutions and four settings presets. The only preset with min/max values is Medium, which provides insight into frame time consistency. At 1080p Medium, the 30-40 FPS range is the tightest, indicating relatively stable performance. At 1440p Medium, the 22-30 FPS range shows more variance, and at 4K Medium, the 15-20 FPS range is narrow but far too low. The absence of min/max data for Low, High, and Ultra presets means that the averages are the only guide, but they are sufficient to determine that this combo should be used exclusively at 1080p with the Low preset for any semblance of smooth gameplay.