Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor based on Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores place it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46881. This positions it nearly identically to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, which scores 46971, a delta of just -0.2%, and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375, which scores 47022, a delta of -0.3%. The data suggests that the CPU’s multi-threaded headroom is not a limiting factor for Red Dead Redemption 2; the game’s performance scaling is far more dependent on the graphics card. The 3DMark 16-thread score of 10717 and the max-thread score of 12412 illustrate that the processor can handle heavy background loads without compromising frame pacing.

In this specific game, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and physics data. The i7-13700K’s single-thread performance, evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 1136 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4333, ensures that the game’s primary simulation thread is rarely the bottleneck. At lower resolutions, such as 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS of 93 shows the CPU can push the frame rate high, but the GPU still governs the final output. The CPU’s 30 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel memory support provide ample bandwidth for the game’s open-world streaming, but these are not the constraining factors in the measured results. The processor’s performance is consistent, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745 and a single-core score of 2116, which indicates it is more than capable of sustaining high frame rates in any scenario this GPU can handle.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 is the primary performance driver in this pairing. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. The GPU’s base clock is 1720 MHz, with a boost clock of 2655 MHz and a game clock of 2250 MHz. Its compute power is rated at 21.75 TFLOPS FP32. The RX 7600 sits in the 57th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15171. This places it very close to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, which scores 15199, a delta of -0.2%, and the AMD Radeon 680M, which scores 15270, a delta of -0.7%. The GPU's performance in this game is heavily influenced by resolution and settings, with the 8 GB VRAM being a potential constraint at higher settings.

The data shows that the RX 7600 is best suited for 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 gaming. At 3840x2160, the GPU struggles to maintain playable frame rates, with the average FPS dropping below 50 even on Low settings. The GPU’s memory bandwidth and capacity appear to be the limiting factors at 4K. The measured results indicate a clear performance hierarchy: Low settings provide the highest frame rates, followed by Medium, High, and then Ultra. The GPU’s performance in synthetic benchmarks, such as a PassMark G3D score of 16634, supports its positioning as a mid-range card that excels at 1080p and can handle 1440p with adjusted settings. The Radeon RX 7600’s 32 ray accelerators and RDNA 3.0 architecture provide modern features, but the raw rasterization performance is what drives the FPS numbers in this title.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution, with average FPS ranging from 42 on Ultra to 93 on Low. At 2560x1440, performance drops to 31 on Ultra and 69 on Low, while 3840x2160 is largely unplayable, with the highest average being 46 on Low.

Q: How does the RX 7600 compare to its nearest rival, the RTX 3050 OEM?

A: The RX 7600 has an average benchmark score of 15171, which is 0.2% lower than the RTX 3050 OEM’s score of 15199. This indicates nearly identical synthetic performance, but the in-game FPS results are specific to this title and settings.

Q: Is the Core i7-13700K a bottleneck for the RX 7600 in this game?

A: No. The CPU’s average benchmark score of 46881 (89th percentile) is far above the GPU’s score. The FPS scaling with resolution and settings shows that the GPU is the limiting factor; at 1080p Low, the 93 FPS average suggests the CPU can push higher if the GPU allowed it.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS on Low is 69, while on Ultra it drops to 31. This represents a 55% reduction in average frame rate, indicating that Ultra settings are too demanding for this GPU at this resolution.

Q: Does the 8 GB VRAM cause issues at 4K?

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160, the average FPS is 29 on High and 21 on Ultra. While not directly measured as a VRAM overflow, the significant drop from 46 FPS on Low to 34 on Medium suggests that the card’s memory and bandwidth are overwhelmed at higher settings in 4K.

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

A: This specific combination of CPU and GPU is ranked 2595 out of 3714 tested combos, placing it in the lower half of the database’s results for this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and AMD Radeon RX 7600 ranks 2595 out of 3714 tested combos for Red Dead Redemption 2. This places the setup in the 30th percentile of all configurations, indicating that while it is capable of running the game, it is not a high-performance pairing. The rank reflects the GPU’s mid-range standing; the CPU is significantly more powerful than necessary. The data suggests that the RX 7600 holds the combo back, as the i7-13700K’s strong synthetic scores (89th percentile) do not translate into top-tier in-game performance when paired with this GPU. The combo’s rank is a direct consequence of the GPU’s 57th percentile standing, meaning most other tested combos with more powerful GPUs will outperform it.

The rank also indicates that this is a balanced setup for 1080p gaming, but it falls behind in higher-resolution scenarios. The benchmark results show that the FPS drops are more severe when moving from 1440p to 4K than from 1080p to 1440p, which is typical for a GPU with limited memory bandwidth. For context, the GPU’s nearest rivals have nearly identical average scores, so swapping the RX 7600 for an RTX 3050 OEM would likely result in a similar rank. The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, also have nearly identical scores, meaning the CPU choice has minimal impact on the overall rank. The ranking is thus dominated by the GPU’s performance class.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the combo’s capabilities across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 93 on Low to 42 on Ultra. The Medium setting yields an average of 70 FPS, with a minimum of 59 and a maximum of 80, while High produces an average of 58 FPS. These numbers indicate that 1080p is the sweet spot, with High settings still delivering a playable experience and Low providing a competitive edge. At 2560x1440, the average FPS drops to 69 on Low, 52 on Medium (min 44, max 60), 43 on High, and 31 on Ultra. The 1440p results show that Medium is the most balanced preset, while High and Ultra require compromises in frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the results are not suitable for smooth gameplay. The average FPS is 46 on Low, 34 on Medium (min 29, max 40), 29 on High, and 21 on Ultra. None of these averages reach the 60 FPS threshold, and even the Low preset struggles to maintain consistency. The data shows a clear pattern: each resolution step down (from 4K to 1440p, and 1440p to 1080p) yields a significant FPS increase. For example, moving from 1080p Low (93 FPS) to 1440p Low (69 FPS) is a 26% reduction, while moving from 1440p Low to 4K Low (46 FPS) is a 33% reduction. This indicates the GPU’s memory bandwidth is a primary constraint at higher resolutions.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with High settings, yielding an average of 58 FPS. This provides a good balance between visual fidelity and smoothness. For players seeking higher frame rates, dropping to Medium at 1080p increases the average to 70 FPS, with a minimum of 59, ensuring a consistent experience on standard 60 Hz displays. The Low preset at 1080p offers the highest average at 93 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play or high refresh rate monitors, though it sacrifices visual quality. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, with an average of 52 FPS and a minimum of 44, providing a playable experience, but users should be aware of occasional dips below 60 FPS. High at 1440p is borderline at 43 FPS, and Ultra is not recommended.

For 3840x2160, none of the settings provide a satisfactory experience. The Low preset’s 46 FPS average is the only one above 30 FPS, but it still lacks the smoothness expected for action-adventure titles. The data suggests avoiding 4K altogether with this GPU, as even the lowest settings cannot maintain a stable 60 FPS. The Ultra preset at any resolution is the worst performer, with averages of 42 FPS at 1080p, 31 FPS at 1440p, and 21 FPS at 4K. Therefore, the best overall experience is achieved at 1080p with High or Medium settings, where the game remains fluid and visually detailed. The Medium preset at 1440p is a viable alternative for users with 1440p monitors who prioritize resolution over maximum frame rates.