Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 achieves a combo rank of 2013 out of 3714 tested combinations in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places the pairing in the 54th percentile of all tested systems, indicating a mid-pack position where the hardware delivers playable performance at lower resolutions but struggles to maintain smooth frame rates at 4K with higher quality settings. The benchmark data reveals a configuration that is balanced at 1080p, but the GPU becomes the primary constraint as resolution and graphical demands increase.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 2013 out of 3714 tested combinations places this system slightly above the median performer for Red Dead Redemption 2. This ranking reflects a pairing where the CPU’s substantial processing power is not fully utilized at higher resolutions due to the GPU’s limitations. The data shows that at 1080p, the system can achieve respectable average frame rates across all settings, but the performance curve degrades significantly as resolution increases.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Core i7-14700KF holds a 94th percentile ranking against all CPUs, demonstrating that the processor is a top-tier component. Its average benchmark score of 70163 places it marginally ahead of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F by 0.2% and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX by 0.4%, while trailing the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K by 1%. The GPU, however, sits in the 61st percentile against all GPUs, with an average score of 17639 that is nearly identical to the AMD Radeon HD 7790, differing by only -0.2%.

The disparity between the CPU’s high percentile ranking and the GPU’s mid-range standing explains the overall combo position. In a game like Red Dead Redemption 2, which is graphically demanding, the GPU’s 8 GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory bus become limiting factors at higher resolutions. The system’s rank suggests that while the CPU is capable of feeding frames efficiently, the GPU cannot translate that capability into high frame rates at 4K Ultra settings, where the average drops to just 24 FPS.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1920x1080 as the optimal resolution, with average frame rates ranging from 49 FPS at Ultra settings to 110 FPS at Low settings. At 2560x1440, the average drops to between 37 FPS (Ultra) and 82 FPS (Low).

Q: How does the RTX 4060 perform at 4K with this game?

A: At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are 24 FPS for Ultra, 34 FPS for High, 41 FPS for Medium, and 54 FPS for Low. The Medium setting is the only 4K configuration with recorded minimum and maximum values, showing 35 FPS and 47 FPS respectively.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the bottleneck in this configuration?

A: Benchmark results indicate the GPU is the limiting component at higher resolutions. The CPU’s 94th percentile ranking against all processors contrasts with the GPU’s 61st percentile, and the frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are consistent with GPU-bound performance.

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The average frame rate at 1920x1080 is 110 FPS for Low settings compared to 49 FPS for Ultra settings, representing a performance gap of 61 FPS. Medium settings deliver 82 FPS, while High settings achieve 69 FPS.

Q: Are the frame rates stable across all settings?

A: The data only provides minimum and maximum values for Medium settings at each resolution. At 1920x1080 Medium, the range is 70 to 95 FPS; at 2560x1440 Medium, it is 52 to 71 FPS; and at 3840x2160 Medium, it is 35 to 47 FPS.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 2013 out of 3714 tested combinations, placing it in the 54th percentile. This indicates a mid-pack performance level, with the system outperforming roughly 46% of tested configurations in this game.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1830 MHz with a boost clock of 2460 MHz, and its memory runs at an effective speed of 17 Gbps. These specifications place the GPU in the 61st percentile against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17639.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the GPU’s VRAM capacity becomes a critical factor at 4K resolution. The game’s open-world environments and detailed textures require substantial memory bandwidth, and the 128-bit bus appears to constrain performance. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160, the average frame rate drops from 54 FPS at Low settings to 24 FPS at Ultra settings, a 55% reduction. This degradation suggests the GPU is operating near its memory capacity limits at higher resolutions.

The GPU’s performance relative to its nearest rivals is remarkably close. Its average score of 17639 is within 0.7% of the AMD Radeon Pro 460, which scores 17509, and within 0.3% of the AMD Radeon 780M, which scores 17588. The only rival with a higher score is the AMD Radeon HD 7790 at 17666, representing a 0.2% difference. This clustering indicates that the RTX 4060 is positioned in a competitive segment where minor architectural differences translate into negligible performance deltas.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rate data provides a comprehensive view of performance across three resolutions and four quality settings. At 1920x1080, the system achieves average frame rates of 110 FPS for Low, 82 FPS for Medium, 69 FPS for High, and 49 FPS for Ultra. The Medium setting is the only configuration with recorded minimum and maximum values, showing a range of 70 to 95 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages decrease to 82 FPS for Low, 61 FPS for Medium, 51 FPS for High, and 37 FPS for Ultra. The Medium setting again provides the only min/max data, with values of 52 and 71 FPS respectively. This represents a 25% reduction in average frame rate from the 1080p Medium setting.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops significantly. The average frame rates are 54 FPS for Low, 41 FPS for Medium, 34 FPS for High, and 24 FPS for Ultra. The Medium setting shows a range of 35 to 47 FPS. Across all resolutions, the scaling from Low to Ultra settings consistently reduces the average frame rate by more than half, with the most pronounced drop occurring at 4K where the Ultra setting achieves less than half the frame rate of the Low setting.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a clear pattern of GPU-bound performance. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 110 FPS at 1920x1080 to 82 FPS at 2560x1440, representing a 25% reduction. Moving to 3840x2160, the average drops further to 54 FPS, a 51% reduction from the 1080p baseline.

For Medium settings, the progression is from 82 FPS at 1080p to 61 FPS at 1440p, a 26% drop, and then to 41 FPS at 4K, a 50% drop from 1080p. High settings show a similar pattern: 69 FPS at 1080p, 51 FPS at 1440p (26% lower), and 34 FPS at 4K (51% lower). Ultra settings follow the trend with 49 FPS at 1080p, 37 FPS at 1440p (24% lower), and 24 FPS at 4K (51% lower).

The consistent reduction of approximately 50% between 1080p and 4K across all settings indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor. The CPU’s processing power, while substantial, is not the constraint in this scenario. The scaling pattern also shows that the game’s rendering demands at 4K exceed the GPU’s capabilities, particularly when considering the memory bandwidth limitations of the 128-bit bus.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rate data, the optimal experience balances visual quality with playable performance. At 1920x1080, the High setting provides an average of 69 FPS, which is suitable for smooth gameplay while maintaining reasonable visual fidelity. The Medium setting achieves 82 FPS and may be preferable for players who prioritize frame rate, especially given the recorded minimum of 70 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the High setting drops to 51 FPS, which remains playable but approaches the threshold where frame pacing issues can become noticeable. The Medium setting at 61 FPS offers a better balance, with a minimum of 52 FPS providing a more consistent experience. For 4K resolution, only the Low setting achieves an average above 50 FPS, at 54 FPS. The Medium setting at 41 FPS may be acceptable for slower-paced gameplay, but the Ultra setting at 24 FPS is not recommended for responsive play.

The data suggests that the Medium preset offers the best overall experience across all resolutions, as it is the only setting with recorded minimum and maximum values, indicating more predictable performance. At 1080p Medium, the 82 FPS average with a 70 FPS minimum provides a comfortable margin above common refresh rate thresholds.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process. It features a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. The CPU’s cache configuration includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 33 MB of shared L3 cache.

Synthetic benchmarks place this processor in the 94th percentile against all CPUs, with an average score of 70163. Its closest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, which scores 70879, a difference of -1%. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F trails by 0.2% with a score of 69996, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is 0.4% behind at 69875. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69515, which is 0.9% lower.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU’s role is primarily to feed the GPU with draw calls and manage game logic. The measured frame rates indicate that the CPU is not the bottleneck, as the performance scaling aligns with GPU limitations rather than CPU capabilities. The processor’s high multi-threaded performance, demonstrated by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 21462, ensures that it can handle the game’s computational demands without constraining frame rates.

The CPU’s single-thread performance is also strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 6235 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4480. This is relevant for Red Dead Redemption 2, which relies on single-threaded performance for certain game systems. However, the data shows that even with this capable processor, the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions prevent the system from achieving higher frame rates, confirming that the RTX 4060 is the defining component in this pairing for this specific game.