Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D delivers a top-tier experience in Red Dead Redemption 2, securing the number one position out of 2,902 tested combos. The data indicates a system that is heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions, yet still provides exceptional frame rates across all settings and resolutions. The measured FPS figures reveal a clear hierarchy of performance scaling, with the RTX 5090 D’s immense power being the primary driver of results, while the i7-13700K provides ample headroom to avoid bottlenecking even at 1080p.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, clearly identifying the GPU as the limiting factor at higher resolutions. At Medium settings, the average frame rate falls from 175 FPS at 1920x1080 to 131 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 44 FPS, and then further down to 86 FPS at 3840x2160, a 45 FPS drop from 1440p. This pattern shows a steep decline in performance as pixel count increases, which is the expected behavior for a system that is rendering a graphically intensive title like Red Dead Redemption 2.

The scaling from 1440p to 4K is particularly steep, with the average FPS at High settings dropping from 109 to 72, a 34% decrease. This indicates that at 4K, the RTX 5090 D is working near its limits, with the render load of the higher resolution having a significant impact on the final output. The difference between 1080p and 1440p is also notable, but less severe, showing a 37 FPS gap at High settings (146 to 109 FPS), which suggests the GPU is still the main constraint but has more headroom at the lower resolution.

At 1080p, the system’s performance is less constrained by the resolution itself. The jump from 1440p to 1080p at High settings yields a 37 FPS increase, and at Low settings, the jump is even larger, from 175 FPS to 234 FPS. This higher relative gain at lower resolutions suggests that while the GPU is still dominant, the CPU’s role becomes more prominent. However, the fact that frame rates at 1080p are extremely high, even at 234 FPS on Low, indicates the i7-13700K is capable of feeding the GPU without creating a significant bottleneck in this particular game.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is the undisputed performance leader in this configuration. Its specifications, including 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus with 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth, are more than sufficient for Red Dead Redemption 2 at any setting. The benchmark results show that the GPU is the primary determinant of frame rates, as evidenced by the significant FPS drops at 4K resolution, which is a pure GPU workload. The card’s high pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s contribute to its ability to maintain high detail levels.

The GPU’s clock speeds, with a base of 2017 MHz and a boost of 2407 MHz, are key to its consistent performance. The data shows that the RTX 5090 D’s raw compute power, measured at 104.8 TFLOPS for FP32 operations, allows it to handle the game’s complex rendering tasks with ease. This is reflected in the high average FPS figures across all tested configurations, even at Ultra settings, where it still manages 52 FPS at 4K. The 32 GB frame buffer is a significant asset, ensuring that texture data and other assets are readily available without causing any memory-related stutters or drops.

The role of the RTX 5090 D is clearly to provide overwhelming performance headroom. In the context of this game, it is not a question of whether the GPU can handle the workload, but rather what frame rate ceiling it will set. The measured results, such as 234 FPS at 1080p Low and 175 FPS at 1440p Low, demonstrate that the card is not being stressed at lower resolutions, allowing the CPU to play a more significant role in the final frame rate. The GPU's performance is so dominant that it is the primary reason this combo achieves the top rank.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D achieves a rank of 1 out of 2,902 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. This is the best possible ranking, placing this configuration at the absolute pinnacle of performance for this game in the benchmark database. The data shows that no other tested combination of CPU and GPU is able to outperform this pairing, making it the definitive choice for maximum frame rates.

This top ranking is a direct result of both components being at the top of their respective performance tiers. The RTX 5090 D is in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 77,712 is within 1.6% of its closest rival in the database, the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, and 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT. While these rival scores are close, the RTX 5090 D’s specific architecture and features must provide a tangible advantage in this particular game’s rendering engine, leading to the number one combo rank.

The CPU also contributes to this top position, as the i7-13700K is in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 46,881 is effectively tied with its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, which is only 0.2% lower. This indicates that while the CPU may not be the single most powerful model ever tested, its performance is more than adequate to support the RTX 5090 D in this game. The synergy between the two components, with the CPU providing enough throughput to keep the GPU fed, is what ultimately secures the top spot in the rankings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system excels, with an average of 234 FPS on Low settings. The Medium preset yields 175 FPS, with a minimum of 149 FPS and a maximum of 202 FPS. High settings produce an average of 146 FPS, while the Ultra preset, which is the most demanding, still delivers a highly playable 105 FPS. These numbers show that at 1080p, the system can easily handle any setting with very high frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance remains excellent. The Low preset averages 175 FPS, while Medium settings drop to 131 FPS, with a minimum of 111 FPS and a maximum of 150 FPS. High settings produce an average of 109 FPS, and the Ultra preset still manages a solid 79 FPS. The data shows a consistent scaling pattern, with each step up in settings reducing the average FPS by a similar margin, indicating a well-balanced level of GPU load.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is pushed harder. The Low preset averages 115 FPS, while Medium settings yield 86 FPS, with a minimum of 74 FPS and a maximum of 99 FPS. High settings produce an average of 72 FPS, and the Ultra preset is the only configuration to dip below 60 FPS, with an average of 52 FPS. These 4K results demonstrate that the RTX 5090 D is powerful enough to provide a smooth experience at High settings, but users seeking the highest visual fidelity on Ultra will need to accept a lower, though still playable, frame rate.

FAQ

Q: What are the best settings for a 4K monitor?

A: The data shows that at 3840x2160, the High preset provides an average of 72 FPS, which is a good balance of visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset averages 52 FPS, which may be too low for some users seeking a 60 FPS experience.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck for this GPU?

A: The benchmark results indicate that the CPU is not a significant bottleneck. At 1080p, where the CPU load is relatively higher, the system still achieves 234 FPS on Low settings, suggesting the i7-13700K can keep up with the RTX 5090 D. The high FPS at 1080p, compared to 4K, indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor.

Q: How much faster is the RTX 5090 D compared to its nearest rivals?

A: Based on the average benchmark scores, the RTX 5090 D is 1.1% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and 1.6% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT. This shows a close performance margin in general benchmarks, but in this specific game, the combo achieves the top rank.

Q: What is the minimum FPS I can expect at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The measured data for the Medium preset at 2560x1440 shows a minimum FPS of 111, with an average of 131 FPS and a maximum of 150 FPS. This indicates a very stable experience without significant frame drops.

Q: Can this system handle 1080p gaming at maximum settings?

A: Yes. The Ultra preset at 1920x1080 yields an average FPS of 105. This is well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay and shows that the system has no trouble handling the game’s highest settings at this resolution.

Q: Is there a big difference between Low and High settings at 4K?

A: Yes, the difference is substantial. The Low preset at 3840x2160 averages 115 FPS, while the High preset averages 72 FPS. This is a 43 FPS difference, showing that the High preset imposes a significantly higher load on the GPU.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K plays a supporting but crucial role in this configuration. With 16 cores and 24 threads, it provides ample multi-threaded processing power for modern game engines. The CPU’s boost clock of 5.40 GHz ensures high single-threaded performance, which is important for game logic and draw calls. The benchmark data shows that in general compute tasks, it is competitive, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 30,745 and a single-core score of 2,116.

The CPU’s role in this game is to ensure that the RTX 5090 D is not starved of data. The high frame rates at 1080p, particularly the 234 FPS on Low settings, indicate that the i7-13700K can process and deliver instructions faster than the GPU can render frames at that resolution. This is a key indicator of a balanced system. The fact that the combo achieves the top rank of 2,902 suggests that the CPU’s performance is more than sufficient to enable the GPU to reach its full potential in Red Dead Redemption 2.

While the CPU’s average benchmark score of 46,881 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, with a delta of just -0.2% compared to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900, its combination of high clock speeds and core count is well-suited for this game. In scenarios where the GPU is not the bottleneck, such as at 1080p with lower settings, the CPU’s performance becomes more relevant. However, the data shows that even in these cases, the system maintains exceptionally high frame rates, demonstrating that the i7-13700K is a capable partner for the RTX 5090 D.

Settings Recommendations

The ideal settings preset depends on the user’s resolution and preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity. For users with a 1080p display, the Ultra preset is recommended, as it provides an average of 105 FPS, which is high enough for a responsive and visually rich experience. The data shows that even at this highest setting, the system maintains excellent performance.

For 1440p gaming, the High preset is the optimal choice. It delivers an average of 109 FPS, which is a great balance between high frame rates and enhanced visual details. While the Ultra preset is also playable at 79 FPS, the 30 FPS gain from using High settings is significant and will be noticeable in gameplay smoothness. The Medium preset, at 131 FPS, is also an excellent option for those who prioritize frame rate above all else.

At 4K resolution, the High preset is the best recommendation. It provides an average of 72 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS target for a smooth experience. The Ultra preset, at 52 FPS, is not recommended for users who prefer a consistent 60 FPS, but it remains an option for those who prioritize maximum visual quality and can tolerate a lower frame rate. The Low and Medium presets are not recommended for 4K, as they would sacrifice too much visual fidelity for a frame rate increase that is not necessary given the High preset’s strong performance.