Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 pairs a 14-core, 14-thread Arrow Lake design with a 3.40 GHz base clock and a 5.00 GHz boost clock. This is a modern desktop CPU on the Intel Socket 1851 platform, built on a 3 nm process from TSMC. Its 24 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR5 memory support (102.4 GB/s bandwidth) give it a solid foundation for gaming workloads. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 14,769 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,085 in single-core, with a Passmark multithread score of 37,816 and a single-thread score of 4,516. These results place it in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46,062. Its nearest rivals are tightly clustered: the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 scores 46,030 (0.1% slower), the Intel Core i9-13900HX scores 46,098 (0.1% faster), and the AMD EPYC 4364P scores 45,970 (0.2% slower). The data shows that the Core Ultra 5 235 is essentially performance-equivalent to these competitors, meaning CPU headroom is not a differentiator in this combo.

For Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU's role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle the game's simulation and AI logic. The 14 cores and 14 threads are more than sufficient for this title, as the game rarely scales beyond eight threads effectively. The high 5.00 GHz boost clock ensures strong single-thread performance, which matters for the game's main thread. Even at 1080p Low settings, where the GPU load is lightest, the CPU does not appear to be the bottleneck; the measured 85 FPS average suggests the processor can comfortably keep up. The benchmark results indicate that the Core Ultra 5 235 is a capable pair for the RTX 2060, as its performance relative to rivals (within 0.2%) means any frame rate differences across tested combos would come from the GPU, not this processor.

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

The Core Ultra 5 235 offers a 14-core, 14-thread configuration, which is a hybrid-free design (no efficiency cores) running at a base of 3.40 GHz and boosting to 5.00 GHz. For Red Dead Redemption 2, this is more than adequate. The game's engine, while demanding, does not utilize 14 threads effectively; it typically scales well up to 8 threads. Therefore, the extra six cores provide headroom for background tasks but do not directly translate to higher frame rates over a similarly fast 8-core chip. What matters more here is the single-thread performance, reflected in the 2,085 Cinebench R23 single-core score and the 4,516 Passmark single-thread score. These scores indicate that the CPU can process the game's primary game logic thread without stalling the GPU.

The 5.00 GHz boost clock is the key specification for this game. In scenes with heavy NPC counts or complex physics, the CPU must maintain high IPC and clock speed to avoid frame drops. The measured FPS data confirms this: at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 85 FPS average, which is a high number for this mid-range GPU. This suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions. The 24 MB of L3 cache also helps, as Red Dead Redemption 2 has large texture streaming requirements; the cache reduces latency for frequently accessed data. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Core Ultra 5 235 is statistically tied with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (0.1% slower), the Intel Core i9-13900HX (0.1% faster), and the AMD EPYC 4364P (0.2% slower). This clustering means any of these CPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in this game when paired with the same GPU.

The CPU's 65 W TDP is modest, but it does not indicate a lack of performance. The 3 nm process node allows for high clocks without excessive heat, which is beneficial for sustained gaming sessions. In practice, the CPU's Passmark physics score of 2,570 is a strong indicator of its gaming potential, as this test simulates real-world physics calculations similar to those in Red Dead Redemption 2. The data shows that the CPU is never the bottleneck in this combo, even at the lowest settings where the GPU has the least work. At 1080p Low, the 85 FPS average is likely near the CPU's maximum output for this game, but it is still high enough to avoid limiting the RTX 2060 in most scenarios. The CPU's performance percentile (89th) reinforces that it is an upper-mid-range part, well-suited for pairing with a mainstream GPU like the RTX 2060.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-generation card with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 1365 MHz with a boost of 1680 MHz, and it features 1,920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. For Red Dead Redemption 2, the 6 GB VRAM is the primary constraint. The game's High and Ultra settings at high resolutions can exceed 6 GB, leading to texture thrashing and frame rate drops. This is evident in the measured FPS: at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 19 FPS, which is unplayable, while at 4K High it only reaches 26 FPS. The GPU's 6.451 TFLOPS FP32 performance is adequate for 1080p gaming but struggles at higher resolutions.

The RTX 2060 sits in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 15,290. Its nearest rivals are telling: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 scores 15,283 (0.0% difference), the AMD Radeon 680M scores 15,270 (0.1% slower), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 15,199 (0.6% slower). The AMD Radeon RX 7600 scores 15,171 (0.8% slower). This places the RTX 2060 as a strong 1080p card, but its age shows at 1440p and 4K. In Red Dead Redemption 2, the GPU's 6 GB VRAM is the bottleneck at 4K, where the game's textures exceed the available memory. The 336 GB/s bandwidth is also insufficient for 4K texture streaming, causing the frame rate to collapse from 42 FPS at 4K Low to 19 FPS at 4K Ultra.

The GPU's role in this combo is clear: it is the limiting component at all resolutions above 1080p. At 1080p, the RTX 2060 delivers playable frame rates, with 53 FPS at High and 63 FPS at Medium. The GPU's boost clock of 1680 MHz is modest by modern standards, but it is sufficient for this game's demands at 1080p. The card's 6 GB VRAM is the critical weakness; Red Dead Redemption 2's High preset at 1440p requires more than 6 GB, leading to a 39 FPS average, which is a 26% drop from the 1080p High result. The data suggests that the RTX 2060 is best utilized at 1080p with Medium or High settings, where it can maintain a stable frame rate. The GPU's 80.64 GPixel/s pixel rate and 201.6 GTexel/s texture rate are adequate for 1080p, but they are overwhelmed at 4K, as shown by the 19 FPS Ultra result.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Red Dead Redemption 2 at 4K?

A: Technically yes, but not at playable frame rates. At 4K Medium, the average FPS is 31, and at 4K High it drops to 26 FPS. The 4K Ultra setting yields only 19 FPS. For a smooth experience, stick to 1080p or 1440p.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1080p?

A: The data shows that 1080p Low achieves 85 FPS average, while 1080p High achieves 53 FPS. The Medium preset offers a balanced 63 FPS. For a 60 FPS target, Medium is the recommended setting, as it provides a 63 FPS average with minimums of 54 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 2060's average benchmark score is 15,290. It is essentially tied with the GTX 580 (15,283, 0.0% difference), slightly ahead of the Radeon 680M (15,270, 0.1% slower), and ahead of the RTX 3050 OEM (15,199, 0.6% slower) and the RX 7600 (15,171, 0.8% slower). Performance is nearly identical across these cards.

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

A: The GPU is the bottleneck at all resolutions above 1080p. At 1080p Low, the CPU can push 85 FPS, but the GPU limit is what causes the drop to 53 FPS at High. The CPU's performance is on par with rivals, so it is not holding back the GPU.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between 1080p and 1440p at High settings?

A: At 1080p High, the average is 53 FPS. At 1440p High, it drops to 39 FPS. This is a 26% reduction, indicating that the GPU's memory bandwidth and VRAM are strained at 1440p.

Q: Does the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM cause issues?

A: Yes, at higher resolutions. The 6 GB VRAM is insufficient for 4K textures, causing the frame rate to drop from 42 FPS at 4K Low to 26 FPS at 4K High. At 1440p Ultra, the average is 28 FPS, which is below playable thresholds.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combo—Intel Core Ultra 5 235 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060—ranks 2,290 out of 2,902 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places it in the bottom 21% of all combos, which is expected given the RTX 2060's age and VRAM limitation. The rank reflects the GPU's performance ceiling, not the CPU's capability. The CPU is a high-performing part, ranking in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, but the GPU sits in the 58th percentile. The combo's rank is dragged down by the GPU's inability to handle high resolutions.

Comparing to other combos, this pairing is best suited for 1080p gaming. The 2,290 rank out of 2,902 means there are 612 combos that perform worse, but there are also 2,289 combos that perform better. This is a mid-to-low tier ranking for a modern game like Red Dead Redemption 2. The data indicates that the RTX 2060 is the limiting factor; if paired with a stronger GPU, the CPU would likely support higher frame rates. The combo's ranking is consistent with the GPU's 58th percentile score, suggesting that most of the performance variance is due to the GPU. For reference, the CPU's nearest rivals (all within 0.2% performance) would yield nearly identical combo rankings if paired with the same GPU, confirming that the CPU choice has minimal impact on this game's outcome.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows how the combo scales across resolutions. At 1080p Low, the average is 85 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, it drops to 63 FPS, a 26% reduction. At 4K Low, it falls to 42 FPS, a 51% reduction from 1080p. This scaling pattern indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as the CPU's performance does not change with resolution. The frame rate drop from 1080p to 1440p at High settings is 53 to 39 FPS (26%), and from 1080p to 4K High is 53 to 26 FPS (51%). The scaling is nearly linear with pixel count, which is typical of a GPU-bound scenario.

The data also shows that the frame rate drop is more severe at higher settings. From 1080p Medium to 4K Medium, the average drops from 63 to 31 FPS, a 51% reduction. At Ultra settings, the drop is even steeper: 38 FPS at 1080p to 19 FPS at 4K, a 50% reduction. This pattern confirms that the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM and bandwidth are overwhelmed at 4K, regardless of settings. The Low preset at 4K (42 FPS) is the only 4K setting that approaches playability, but it still falls short of a 60 FPS target. The resolution scaling analysis indicates that the combo is designed for 1080p, with 1440p being a stretch at lower settings. At 4K, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck, and no combination of settings can achieve a smooth experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The exact measured FPS data for this combo in Red Dead Redemption 2 is as follows:

• 1920x1080 (1080p):
• Low: 85 FPS average
• Medium: 63 FPS average (54 min, 73 max)
• High: 53 FPS average
• Ultra: 38 FPS average

• 2560x1440 (1440p):
• Low: 63 FPS average
• Medium: 47 FPS average (40 min, 54 max)
• High: 39 FPS average
• Ultra: 28 FPS average

• 3840x2160 (4K):
• Low: 42 FPS average
• Medium: 31 FPS average (27 min, 36 max)
• High: 26 FPS average
• Ultra: 19 FPS average

These numbers tell a clear story. At 1080p, the combo is viable for gaming, with even the High preset hitting 53 FPS, which is close to a 60 FPS target. The Medium preset is the sweet spot, offering 63 FPS with minimums of 54 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay. At 1440p, only the Low preset achieves a playable 63 FPS; Medium drops to 47 FPS, and High to 39 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p is only 28 FPS, which is not smooth. At 4K, all settings are below 45 FPS, with the Low preset being the only one that is technically playable at 42 FPS, but it still lacks the headroom for a stable experience.

The data shows a consistent pattern: each resolution jump reduces the frame rate by roughly 25-30% at the same settings. The 1080p Medium result (63 FPS) is the best balance of visual quality and performance. The 4K Ultra result (19 FPS) is the worst, confirming that the RTX 2060 is not a 4K card for this game. The measured FPS breakdown concludes that this combo is best used at 1080p, with 1440p Low as an alternative if a higher resolution is desired. The CPU's performance is sufficient across all resolutions, as evidenced by the 85 FPS at 1080p Low, which is likely near the CPU's maximum output for this title.