Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 presents a demanding open-world workload that stresses both CPU and GPU heavily. For the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, the measured frame rates across resolutions and presets reveal a system that is consistently GPU-limited at higher settings, while the CPU demonstrates ample headroom at lower resolutions and presets. This analysis walks through the measured FPS data, the roles of each component, and how this specific combination ranks among the 2,902 tested combos in the database.

Resolution Scaling

The data shows a clear and predictable pattern of frame rate decline as resolution increases, but the magnitude of that decline varies significantly depending on the graphics preset. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 145 at 1920x1080 to 108 at 2560x1440, a 25.5% reduction, and then further to 72 at 3840x2160, a 50.3% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep scaling at Low settings indicates that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor as pixel count rises, even when the visual load is minimal. The RTX 3080’s 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth are being tasked with more pixels, and the frame rate responds accordingly.

At Medium settings, the pattern is similar but with slightly different absolute values. The average FPS is 109 at 1920x1080, 81 at 2560x1440, and 54 at 3840x2160. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 25.7%, while the drop from 1080p to 4K is 50.5%. These percentages are nearly identical to the Low preset scaling, suggesting that the relative performance penalty for resolution is consistent regardless of the preset, even though the absolute frame rates are lower. The 4K Medium result of 54 FPS is borderline playable, but the frame time consistency, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS, indicates noticeable variance.

High settings show a slightly different scaling curve. The average FPS is 91 at 1920x1080, 68 at 2560x1440, and 45 at 3840x2160. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 25.3%, and from 1080p to 4K is 50.5%. Again, the relative penalties are consistent, but the absolute values are lower than Medium. The 4K High result of 45 FPS is below the 60 FPS target that many players prefer, and the scaling suggests that even modest resolution reductions provide meaningful gains.

Ultra settings present the most demanding scenario. The average FPS is 65 at 1920x1080, 49 at 2560x1440, and 32 at 3840x2160. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 24.6%, and from 1080p to 4K is 50.8%. The 4K Ultra result of 32 FPS is the lowest measured across all configurations, and it highlights a significant limitation: the RTX 3080 cannot maintain playable frame rates at 4K Ultra in this title. The scaling pattern across all presets shows that the bottleneck is overwhelmingly the GPU, as the CPU’s performance is not the primary constraint at any resolution.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is built on the Ampere architecture with a GA102 chip, manufactured on Samsung’s 8 nm process. It features 8,704 shading units, 272 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units. The GPU’s base clock is 1440 MHz with a boost clock of 1710 MHz, and the memory operates at 1188 MHz, yielding 19 Gbps effective data rate. The 10 GB GDDR6X memory is paired with a 320-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 760.3 GB/s. These specifications place the RTX 3080 in the 68th percentile of all GPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 23,172.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the GPU’s role is dominant. The measured FPS data shows that the RTX 3080’s performance scales with resolution in a way that is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the GPU delivers 145 FPS, which is high enough to suggest that the CPU is not a limiting factor at this resolution. However, as resolution increases to 3840x2160, the frame rate at Low settings drops to 72 FPS, a 50.3% reduction, which directly correlates with the GPU’s pixel throughput capabilities.

The VRAM capacity of 10 GB is a notable consideration. At 4K with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 32, and the data does not report minimum or maximum values for this configuration. While the 10 GB capacity is not explicitly stated as a bottleneck in the measured data, the steep drop from Medium (54 FPS) to Ultra (32 FPS) at 4K suggests that the GPU’s compute and memory resources are being saturated. The RTX 3080’s pixel rate is 164.2 GPixel/s and texture rate is 465.1 GTexel/s, and at 4K Ultra, these limits are likely being approached.

The GPU’s nearest rivals in the benchmark database are the NVIDIA P106-100, AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16, AMD Radeon RX 6600M, and AMD Radeon R9 M290X, with deltaPct values of -0.3%, -0.3%, -0.4%, and -0.4% respectively. This indicates that the RTX 3080’s overall benchmark score is tightly clustered with these GPUs, despite the fact that the RTX 3080 is a higher-end part in terms of its specifications. The percentileVsAllGpus of 68 shows that it sits above the median but is not among the top-tier GPUs in the database.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 achieves a combo rank of 785 out of 2,902 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places the pairing in the 72.9th percentile of all tested combinations, meaning it outperforms approximately 73% of the combos in the database. The rank is a holistic measure that accounts for the measured FPS across all resolutions and settings, and it reflects a balanced pairing where neither component is severely mismatched.

For context, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46,062 and sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 with an avgScore of 46,030 and a deltaPct of 0.1%, the Intel Core i9-13900HX with an avgScore of 46,098 and a deltaPct of -0.1%, and the AMD EPYC 4364P and AMD EPYC 7303 with avgScores of 45,970 and 45,960 respectively, both with a deltaPct of 0.2%. The CPU’s performance is competitive with these parts, and its 89th percentile ranking indicates strong overall capability.

The GPU’s average benchmark score is 23,172 with a 68th percentile ranking. The combo rank of 785 out of 2,902 suggests that while the GPU is not in the top tier, the CPU’s strength helps boost the overall performance. The rank is lower than the CPU’s individual percentile but higher than the GPU’s percentile, which is consistent with a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck in gaming workloads. The data indicates that this combo is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K, particularly at higher presets.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and the desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 145 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth and suitable for competitive play or high-refresh-rate displays. The Medium preset at 1080p yields 109 FPS, which is still very fluid and offers a significant visual upgrade over Low. The High preset at 1080p produces 91 FPS, which remains above 60 FPS and provides a good balance between visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset at 1080p drops to 65 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers 108 FPS, which is excellent for a 1440p display. The Medium preset yields 81 FPS, which is above 60 FPS and offers a solid experience. The High preset at 1440p produces 68 FPS, which is still playable but closer to the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops to 49 FPS, which is below 60 FPS and may result in noticeable stuttering in demanding scenes.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset delivers 72 FPS, which is the only 4K preset that maintains a playable frame rate above 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K yields 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS, indicating inconsistent frame pacing. The High preset at 4K produces 45 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. The Ultra preset at 4K drops to 32 FPS, which is generally considered unplayable for a smooth experience.

The data suggests that for a 60 FPS target, the best experience is achieved with the High preset at 1920x1080 (91 FPS) or the Medium preset at 2560x1440 (81 FPS). For 4K gaming, the Low preset at 72 FPS is the only viable option for 60 FPS, but the visual quality reduction is substantial. The Medium preset at 4K at 54 FPS is a compromise, but the frame time variance may be noticeable. Ultimately, the measured data indicates that High settings at 1440p or Medium settings at 1080p provide the best balance of visual quality and performance for this combo.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 91.

Q: Does the combo maintain 60 FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings?

A: No, the average FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings is 49, which is below the 60 FPS target.

Q: What is the highest average FPS measured at 3840x2160?

A: The highest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 72, achieved with Low settings.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 compare to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 in average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 has an average benchmark score of 46,062, while the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 has an average score of 46,030, resulting in a deltaPct of 0.1%.

Q: What is the combo rank for this CPU-GPU pairing in Red Dead Redemption 2?

A: The combo rank is 785 out of 2,902 tested combos.

Q: What is the minimum FPS reported for Medium settings at 2560x1440?

A: The minimum FPS reported for Medium settings at 2560x1440 is 69, with a maximum of 93.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a desktop processor from the Core Ultra Series 2, based on the Arrow Lake architecture. It has 14 cores and 14 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The CPU’s TDP is 65 W, and it uses the Intel Socket 1851. It supports DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The CPU includes 192 KB of L1 cache per core, 3 MB of L2 cache per core, and 24 MB of shared L3 cache. It is manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC, with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die.

In terms of benchmarks, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 achieves a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14,769 and a single-core score of 2,085. Its Passmark multithread score is 37,816, and its Passmark single-thread score is 4,516. The CPU’s percentileVsAllCpus is 89, and its average benchmark score is 46,062. These scores indicate a strong CPU that is well-suited for gaming, as the single-thread performance is particularly relevant for game engines that rely on a few heavily loaded threads.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU’s role is to feed the GPU with draw calls, physics calculations, and AI processing. The measured FPS data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 145 FPS, which is a very high frame rate. This suggests that the CPU is not a limiting factor at this resolution and preset, as the GPU is capable of rendering frames faster than the CPU can issue them. However, at higher resolutions, the frame rate drops significantly, which is a clear indication that the GPU becomes the bottleneck.

The CPU’s performance relative to its nearest rivals is competitive. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 has an average score of 46,030, which is only 0.1% lower than the Core Ultra 5 235. The Intel Core i9-13900HX has an average score of 46,098, which is 0.1% higher. The AMD EPYC 4364P and AMD EPYC 7303 have scores of 45,970 and 45,960, respectively, both 0.2% lower. This tight clustering indicates that the Core Ultra 5 235 is a well-balanced processor that performs on par with other high-end CPUs in the database.

The CPU’s 14 cores and 14 threads are notable because it does not support hyper-threading, which means each core handles one thread. Despite this, the Passmark multithread score of 37,816 is strong, and the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14,769 shows robust multi-threaded performance. For Red Dead Redemption 2, which is known to scale with multiple cores, this CPU provides sufficient headroom to avoid being the primary bottleneck in most scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 perform across three resolutions and four presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 145 FPS, which is the highest measured frame rate in the entire dataset. The Medium preset at 1080p yields 109 FPS, with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 125 FPS. The High preset at 1080p produces 91 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 65 FPS. These results show that at 1080p, even the Ultra preset remains playable, though the jump from High to Ultra is a 28.6% reduction in frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset delivers 108 FPS, which is a 25.5% reduction from the 1080p Low result. The Medium preset at 1440p yields 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS. The High preset at 1440p produces 68 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 49 FPS. The 1440p Ultra result is 24.6% lower than the 1080p Ultra result, which is consistent with the resolution scaling pattern. The 1440p Medium result of 81 FPS is the best balance of visual quality and performance at this resolution, as it stays above 60 FPS with a reasonable minimum of 69 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset delivers 72 FPS, which is the only 4K preset that exceeds 60 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K yields 54 FPS, with a minimum of 46 FPS and a maximum of 62 FPS. The High preset at 4K produces 45 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 32 FPS. The 4K Low result of 72 FPS is 50.3% lower than the 1080p Low result, and the 4K Ultra result of 32 FPS is 50.8% lower than the 1080p Ultra result. This consistency in percentage drops across presets indicates that the GPU’s performance scaling is uniform, and the limiting factor is the pixel throughput.

The data shows that the RTX 3080’s performance in Red Dead Redemption 2 is heavily influenced by resolution and preset. The 10 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p at all presets, but at 4K Ultra, the combination of high-resolution textures and demanding effects likely pushes the GPU to its limits. The measured FPS values provide a clear roadmap for users: for 60 FPS, use High at 1080p, Medium at 1440p, or Low at 4K. For higher refresh rates at 1080p, the Low preset at 145 FPS or Medium at 109 FPS are excellent choices. The Ultra preset is only recommended for 1080p, where it achieves 65 FPS, and even then, the visual gains over High may not justify the 28.6% frame rate penalty.