Red Dead Redemption 2

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor built on the Raptor Lake-R architecture, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This configuration places it in the 94th percentile against all CPUs in the database, signaling strong multi-threaded headroom for Red Dead Redemption 2's open-world simulation workloads. The CPU's 33 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4/DDR5 memory support give it ample bandwidth for streaming the game's large, densely populated environments.

In benchmark terms, the i7-14700F scores 35,443 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 5,003 in single-core, which are strong figures for a modern desktop platform. Its PassMark multithread score of 41,765 reflects the kind of sustained throughput that keeps the frame pacing stable when the game's physics and AI systems are under load. The nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, which scores 54,450 (0.6% higher), and the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D at 54,681 (1.1% higher); the Intel part trails both by narrow margins, while it leads the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 by 1.2% and the AMD EPYC 7313P by 1.7%.

What matters for Red Dead Redemption 2 is not raw compute alone but how consistently the CPU can feed the GPU. The data shows that at lower resolutions and settings, the CPU becomes more relevant, as the measured FPS climbs steeply with reduced graphical load. At 1080p Low, the combo reaches 193.2 FPS, which is far beyond what the GPU alone would deliver if the CPU were a bottleneck. The i7-14700F's 20 cores and 28 threads ensure that the game's background tasks—weather systems, NPC schedules, and streaming—do not starve the render threads, even at the highest frame rates observed.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock of 2550 MHz and 10,240 shading units deliver a measured FP32 throughput of 52.22 TFLOPS, placing it in the 88th percentile among all GPUs. This is a card designed for high-resolution, high-fidelity gaming, and the benchmark data confirms it handles Red Dead Redemption 2's heavy draw distances and volumetric effects with authority.

The GPU's nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT (0.2% higher average score), the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (0.4% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 7700S (2.1% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (2.9% lower). The 4080 SUPER's 16 GB frame buffer is particularly relevant for Red Dead Redemption 2 at 4K, where the Ultra preset still holds 44.8 FPS—a playable number that shows the VRAM is not being exhausted. The 736.3 GB/s bandwidth ensures that texture streaming at 3840x2160 does not cause stutter, even when the game's expansive vistas demand rapid asset loads.

At 1080p Low, the RTX 4080 SUPER pushes 193.2 FPS, which indicates the GPU is not the limiting factor at that resolution and settings combination. Instead, the CPU and memory subsystem are doing the heavy lifting. As settings rise to Ultra, the GPU's workload increases dramatically, and the frame rate drops to 88.8 FPS at 1080p—still well above 60 FPS, but showing a clear shift in bottleneck behavior.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Red Dead Redemption 2, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 112th out of 1,687 combos. That places it in the top 6.6% of all tested configurations, which is a strong result for a mid-high range desktop setup. The rank reflects not just raw component strength but how well the two parts work together in this specific game's rendering pipeline.

The combo's performance is notable because it achieves these frame rates without relying on exotic cooling or overclocking headroom—the CPU's 65 W TDP and the GPU's 320 W TDP are within standard desktop power envelopes. The rank also underscores that the RTX 4080 SUPER, despite being end-of-life, remains a formidable choice for this title, outperforming newer GPUs like the RTX 5070 Ti by 2.9% in average benchmark score. For a game like Red Dead Redemption 2, which favors raw rasterization over ray tracing, this GPU's strengths align well with the workload.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a complete picture of the combo's behavior. At 1080p, the average frame rates range from 88.8 FPS on Ultra to 193.2 FPS on Low, with High at 123.8 FPS and Medium at 142.1 FPS. This shows a smooth scaling curve where each settings step costs roughly 20-30% performance, and even the most demanding preset remains comfortably above 60 FPS.

Moving to 1440p, the averages drop to 68.1 FPS on Ultra, 90.6 FPS on High, 108.7 FPS on Medium, and 141.4 FPS on Low. The gap between Low and Ultra widens to about 2.1x, indicating that the GPU is starting to feel the resolution increase, but the 4080 SUPER's 16 GB buffer and high bandwidth keep the frame rates playable across the board. At 4K, the numbers are 44.8 FPS on Ultra, 58.5 FPS on High, 73.5 FPS on Medium, and 97.9 FPS on Low.

The Ultra preset at 4K dips below 45 FPS, which is the weakest result in the dataset, but it is still a playable experience for a single-player title. The High preset at 4K hits 58.5 FPS, which is just short of a locked 60 FPS, but the Medium preset at 73.5 FPS offers a smoother experience with only a minor visual compromise.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals where the bottleneck shifts. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 193.2 FPS; at 1440p Low, it drops to 141.4 FPS (a 26.8% reduction), and at 4K Low, it falls to 97.9 FPS (a 49.3% reduction from 1080p). This pattern—a roughly 27% drop from 1080p to 1440p and another 31% drop from 1440p to 4K—indicates that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor as pixel count rises, but the CPU still has headroom to spare.

On the Ultra preset, the scaling is steeper: 88.8 FPS at 1080p, 68.1 FPS at 1440p (23.3% drop), and 44.8 FPS at 4K (49.5% drop from 1080p). The steeper decline at Ultra suggests that the GPU's shading units and memory bandwidth are being saturated by the combination of high resolution and maximum settings. In contrast, the Low preset's more moderate drop indicates that the CPU and memory subsystem are still keeping pace, and the GPU is the primary constraint.

This split behavior is the classic signature of a balanced combo: at lower settings, the CPU handles the game logic while the GPU idles; at higher settings, the GPU takes over. The i7-14700F's strong single-thread performance (5,003 in Cinebench R23) ensures that even at 4K Ultra, the frame time is not dominated by CPU stalls, which would cause inconsistent frame pacing.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1440p High as the sweet spot, delivering 90.6 FPS, which is well above 60 FPS while maintaining high visual fidelity. At 4K High, the average drops to 58.5 FPS, which is still playable but not locked to 60.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K Ultra settings?

A: Yes, but just barely. The measured average at 4K Ultra is 44.8 FPS, which is playable for a single-player title but below the 60 FPS target that most users prefer.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i7-14700F scores 54,097 on average, trailing the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X by 0.6% and the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D by 1.1%, while leading the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 by 1.2% and the AMD EPYC 7313P by 1.7%.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 SUPER better than newer GPUs?

A: In average benchmark score, the RTX 4080 SUPER beats the RTX 5070 Ti by 2.9% and the RX 7700S by 2.1%, while trailing the RX 6900 XT by 0.2% and the Radeon Pro W6600M by 0.4%.

Q: What settings give the largest performance headroom?

A: Dropping from Ultra to High at any resolution yields roughly 30% more FPS. For example, at 1080p, Ultra gives 88.8 FPS and High gives 123.8 FPS, a 39.4% increase.

Q: Does the combo stutter at 4K due to VRAM limits?

A: No. The 16 GB GDDR6X frame buffer with 736.3 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for all tested settings, as evidenced by the smooth scaling from Low to Ultra at 4K without any min-FPS anomalies in the data.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the High preset offers the best balance of visual quality and frame rate across all resolutions. At 1080p, High delivers 123.8 FPS, which is above the 120 Hz refresh rate of many gaming monitors, while 1440p High at 90.6 FPS is ideal for 1440p displays with 90-100 Hz refresh rates. At 4K, High at 58.5 FPS is close to a locked 60 FPS, and the visual difference from Ultra is minimal in most scenes.

For users prioritizing maximum smoothness, the Medium preset is the safer choice at 4K, offering 73.5 FPS, which is a 62% improvement over Ultra's 44.8 FPS. At 1440p, Medium at 108.7 FPS provides a comfortable margin above 100 FPS, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate panels. The Low preset is only recommended for competitive play or if the user values raw frame rate above all else, as it pushes past 141 FPS at 1440p and 193 FPS at 1080p.

The Ultra preset is technically playable on this combo, but the 44.8 FPS at 4K is below the 60 FPS threshold that most players consider mandatory. The data suggests that the performance cost of Ultra over High is disproportionately high relative to the visual gain, making High the optimal choice for this pairing.