Red Dead Redemption 2

Intel Core Ultra 5 235 pairs with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 to deliver a robust experience in Red Dead Redemption 2, though the data shows that the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates at higher resolutions. The 14-core, 14-thread processor with a 5.00 GHz boost clock provides ample headroom for the game's open-world workloads, while the 16 GB RTX 4080 with GDDR6X memory ensures high visual fidelity. Benchmark results indicate that this combination is a strong performer, ranking in the 260th spot out of 3714 tested combos, placing it in the top 7% of all configurations.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 brings 14 cores and 14 threads to the table. This is a unified design where every core handles both performance and background tasks, without the hybrid efficiency-core split found in some other processors. For a game like Red Dead Redemption 2, which scales reasonably across multiple threads but still leans heavily on a few strong cores, this setup is solid. The base clock sits at 3.40 GHz and can boost up to 5.00 GHz, giving the game's main simulation and AI threads plenty of single-thread muscle. The 24 MB of shared L3 cache is another plus, keeping frequently accessed game data close at hand.

The CPU's benchmark scores reflect its capability. In Cinebench R23, it scores 14769 in multi-core and 2085 in single-core. These are solid numbers, but the real story for gaming is the single-core performance, which is what Red Dead Redemption 2's engine most often depends on. The single-core score of 2085 in Cinebench R23 is respectable for a modern desktop processor. It is backed by a PassMark single-thread score of 4516.

The data shows the CPU is not the primary limiting factor in this game. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches 194 FPS average. This indicates the CPU can feed the GPU far beyond what's needed for a smooth experience. The processor's 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs reinforces its position as a capable gaming chip. When paired with a flagship GPU like the RTX 4080, it provides sufficient headroom to keep up with the graphics card's demands.

The Core Ultra 5 235 competes closely with several other processors in general compute benchmarks. Its average benchmark score of 46062 places it within 0.2% of the AMD EPYC 4364P and AMD EPYC 7303, which score 45970 and 45960 respectively. It also sits within 0.1% of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 375 and Intel Core i9-13900HX. This suggests that in pure CPU-bound tasks, the Ultra 5 235 is in good company, though it draws more power at 65W TDP.

For Red Dead Redemption 2, the CPU's role is about maintaining a consistent frame time. The game's open world streams in assets and handles NPC AI, weather, and physics. The 14 cores and 14 threads provide enough parallelism for these systems. The boost clock of 5.00 GHz ensures that the main game loop threads can run at high frequency. The data supports this: at 1080p with Low settings, the CPU is able to push the average FPS to 194, which is far above the refresh rate of most displays.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the powerhouse in this setup. It has 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. This is critical for Red Dead Redemption 2 at high resolutions, which can be demanding on VRAM and bandwidth. The RTX 4080's 9728 shading units, 304 texture mapping units, and 112 render output units ensure that the pixel throughput is high. The base clock is 2205 MHz with a boost clock of 2505 MHz, and the memory runs at 1400 MHz.

The GPU's performance in benchmarks is strong. It has a PassMark G3D score of 34457. Its percentile ranking among all GPUs is 86th, indicating it's well above average. The RTX 4080 is an end-of-life product in the GeForce 40 series, but it still holds its own against newer offerings. Its nearest rivals include the RTX 4080 SUPER, which scores 54209 in average benchmarks, a delta of 0.1% from the RTX 4080's 54247. This shows the 4080 is still a top-tier graphics card.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, the GPU's performance is the primary determinant of frame rate at 1440p and 4K. The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases, the average FPS drops, which is a classic sign of GPU scaling. The GPU's 16 GB of VRAM ensures that the game can load high-resolution textures without stuttering. The bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s is also sufficient for the game's streaming needs.

The GPU's performance in the game's Ultra preset shows its limits. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 43, which is still playable but not ideal. The 4080's boost clock of 2505 MHz is a factor in this, but the game's heavy use of MSAA and other effects can burden even a top-tier card. The 76 RT cores in the RTX 4080 also support the game's real-time reflection technologies, though they are not the primary bottleneck.

Resolution Scaling — the FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The data shows a clear pattern in resolution scaling. At 1080p with High settings, the average FPS is 121. At 1440p, it drops to 90, and at 4K, it falls to 60. That's a 25.6% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 33.3% drop from 1440p to 4K. This scaling indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU's performance is sufficient to feed the GPU at all but the most demanding settings.

The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 25.6%, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. The drop from 1440p to 4K is 33.3%, which is also consistent with the GPU being the bottleneck. The data shows that the system is well-balanced at 1080p, but at 4K Ultra, the GPU is maxed out. The 16 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game at 4K High, but the GPU's raw compute is what limits the frame rate.

The setting's impact is also seen in resolution scaling. At 1080p Low, the average is 194 FPS. At 1080p Medium, it's 145, High is 121, and Ultra is 87. This scaling is steep, suggesting that the GPU is the primary limit. The CPU's performance is far above the game's needs, so the bottleneck is clearly the RTX 4080.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

Here is the full breakdown of the measured frames per second for the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 in Red Dead Redemption 2.

At 3840x2160 (4K): The average FPS varies significantly by preset. At Low settings, the average is 96 FPS. Medium settings yield an average of 72 FPS, with a minimum of 61 and a maximum of 82. High settings produce an average of 60 FPS. Ultra settings drop the average to 43 FPS.

At 2560x1440 (1440p): Low settings average 145 FPS. Medium settings average 108 FPS, with a minimum of 92 and a maximum of 125. High settings average 90 FPS. Ultra settings average 65 FPS.

At 1920x1080 (1080p): Low settings hit an average of 194 FPS. Medium settings average 145 FPS, with a minimum of 123 and a maximum of 167. High settings average 121 FPS. Ultra settings average 87 FPS.

The data shows that the Ultra preset is the most demanding, but even at 4K Ultra, the game remains playable at 43 FPS. The Medium preset is a good option for those who want a balance between visual quality and frame rate. The Low preset is the best for high refresh rate monitors, especially at 1080p and 1440p.

How This Combo Ranks — the comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combo ranks 260th out of 3714 tested configurations in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places it in the top 7% of all tested combos, a strong result. The GPU's high benchmark score and the CPU's solid performance both contribute to this ranking. The combo's position suggests it will handle the game at high settings with good frame rates.

The ranking is a combination of the CPU's capabilities and the GPU's raw power. The RTX 4080 is the main driver of performance in this game, and the CPU provides sufficient support. The combo's ranking is also influenced by the game's optimization. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a well-optimized title, and the data shows this combo can take advantage of that.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS, the best experience for this combo is the Medium preset at 1440p. This yields an average of 108 FPS, with a minimum of 92 and a maximum of 125. This is a smooth frame rate for a high-quality visual experience. The 1440p Medium setting is a sweet spot, delivering high frame rates without sacrificing too much visual quality.

For 1080p, the High preset at 121 FPS is a good choice. It provides a high frame rate and good visuals. For 4K, the Medium preset at 72 FPS is the best option, as Ultra drops to 43 FPS, which is not ideal for action scenes. The Low preset at 4K yields 96 FPS, but the visual quality is reduced.

For players with high refresh rate monitors, the 1080p Low preset at 194 FPS is the best. For those who prioritize visuals over frame rate, the 4K Medium preset is the highest quality you can use while keeping the FPS above 60. The Ultra preset is only recommended for screenshot purposes, as the frame rate drops below 60 at 4K.

In summary, the best experience is at 1440p Medium, which provides a high frame rate and good visuals. The 4K resolution is best at Medium settings, where the FPS remains above 60. The Ultra preset is not recommended for this combo, as it drops below 60 FPS at 4K.