Red Dead Redemption 2

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination delivers a 1080p experience in Red Dead Redemption 2 that ranges from playable to very smooth, depending on the preset, but the pairing shows its limits quickly as resolution climbs. Benchmark results for this specific combo place it at rank 1544 out of 2902 tested combinations, which puts it in the lower-middle portion of the database’s tested configurations. The data indicates a system that can handle High settings at 1080p with an average of 69 FPS, yet struggles to maintain 60 FPS at 1440p on the same preset, and drops to 34 FPS at 4K. This pattern points to the GPU as the primary constraint in this pairing, though the CPU’s 14-core, 14-thread configuration with a 3.50 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost clock provides enough headroom for the game’s simulation and AI workloads at lower resolutions.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is built on the Arrow Lake architecture, fabricated on a 3 nm process by TSMC, and features 14 cores with 14 threads. The lack of hyper-threading means each core handles a single thread, which is a notable design choice for a desktop part. The base clock of 3.50 GHz can boost to 5.10 GHz, and the processor includes 24 MB of shared L3 cache, with 3 MB of L2 per core and 192 KB of L1 per core. For Red Dead Redemption 2, a game that relies heavily on single-thread performance for its main game logic and physics, the high boost clock is beneficial. The CPU’s Cinebench R23 single-core score of 4648 and multi-core score of 32924 indicate strong per-thread capability, which helps maintain frame pacing when the GPU is not the bottleneck.

In the measured FPS data, the CPU’s role becomes evident at 1080p with Low settings, where the average FPS reaches 110. At this point, the GPU is not heavily taxed, and the CPU’s ability to feed frames quickly is what allows such a high result. The processor’s PassMark single-thread score of 4394 and multithread score of 38706 suggest that it can handle the game’s draw calls and NPC logic without becoming a limiting factor at lower resolutions. However, the data also shows that the CPU’s advantage diminishes as resolution increases, because the GPU takes over as the primary bottleneck. The CPU’s nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, has an average benchmark score of 49196, which is 0.4% higher, while the Intel Core i5-14600K scores 48618, 0.8% lower than the Ultra 5 245. These differences are minor, indicating that the CPU’s raw compute is competitive with its peers, but in gaming, the GPU will dominate the FPS conversation.

The 14-core configuration is more than sufficient for Red Dead Redemption 2, which typically uses fewer than eight threads effectively. The CPU’s 65 W TDP and dual-channel DDR5 memory support with a bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s ensure that memory bandwidth is not a constraint for the game’s open-world streaming. The processor’s percentile ranking of 90 versus all CPUs means it outperforms most processors in general benchmarks, but that does not translate to a high in-game combo rank because the GPU is the weaker link. The data suggests that at 1080p High, the CPU can push the RTX 4060 to 69 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, the CPU is idle waiting for the GPU, which averages only 24 FPS.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 uses the AD107 chip on the Ada Lovelace architecture, fabricated on a 5 nm process by TSMC. It has 3072 shading units, 96 texture mapping units, and 48 raster output units, with 24 ray tracing cores and 96 tensor cores. The GPU’s base clock is 1830 MHz, boosting to 2460 MHz, and it is paired with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The memory clock is listed as 2125 MHz, with 17 Gbps effective speed. For Red Dead Redemption 2, the 8 GB VRAM is a critical factor, as the game’s High and Ultra textures can consume significant memory at higher resolutions.

At 1080p, the RTX 4060 performs admirably, with the data showing 110 FPS on Low, 82 FPS on Medium, 69 FPS on High, and 49 FPS on Ultra. The jump from High to Ultra at 1080p results in a 20 FPS drop, which is substantial and suggests that Ultra settings place a heavy load on the GPU’s shading and memory subsystems. The GPU’s FP32 performance of 15.11 TFLOPS and pixel rate of 118.1 GPixel/s are adequate for 1080p gaming, but the 128-bit memory bus becomes a limiting factor at higher resolutions. The 8 GB VRAM is likely the reason for the steep performance degradation at 1440p and 4K, as the game tries to fit larger texture sets into the limited memory pool.

The GPU’s benchmark scores show a mixed picture. Its PassMark G3D score of 19545 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2302 indicate solid performance for its class, but the nearest rivals are telling. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 has an average score of 17666, which is 0.2% higher than the RTX 4060’s average of 17639, while the AMD Radeon 780M scores 17588, 0.3% lower. This suggests that the RTX 4060’s synthetic benchmark performance is closely matched by much older or integrated GPUs, which is surprising given its modern architecture. However, in real gaming scenarios, the RTX 4060’s features like DLSS and ray tracing acceleration provide advantages that synthetic scores do not fully capture, though the measured FPS data shows the GPU’s raw rasterization limits.

The GPU’s percentile ranking of 61 versus all GPUs places it in the upper third of the database, but its performance in Red Dead Redemption 2 at 4K is poor, with an average of 34 FPS on High and just 24 FPS on Ultra. The 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit bus are the likely culprits, as the game’s high-resolution textures exceed the memory capacity, forcing the GPU to swap data frequently. The GPU’s TDP of 115 W and suggested PSU of 300 W indicate a power-efficient design, but that efficiency does not translate to high-end performance in this specific title.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases, which is typical for a GPU-bound scenario. At 1080p High, the average FPS is 69, dropping to 51 at 1440p High, and further to 34 at 4K High. This represents a 26% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 33% drop from 1440p to 4K. At Medium settings, the progression is 82 FPS at 1080p, 61 FPS at 1440p, and 41 FPS at 4K, showing a similar percentage decline. The Low preset follows the same trend: 110 FPS at 1080p, 82 FPS at 1440p, and 54 FPS at 4K.

The scaling from 1080p to 4K at High settings shows a total drop of 35 FPS, from 69 to 34, which is a 51% reduction. This steep decline indicates that the GPU is the limiting component, as the CPU’s performance does not change with resolution. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain relatively constant across resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the CPU is capable of pushing the GPU to 110 FPS, but as resolution increases, the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth become insufficient. The 4K Ultra result of 24 FPS is particularly telling, as it suggests that the GPU is overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and demanding settings.

The ratio of FPS drops is not linear. For example, at High settings, 1080p to 1440p reduces FPS by 18, while 1440p to 4K reduces it by 17. This consistency suggests that the GPU’s shading units are saturated, and the memory bandwidth is the secondary constraint. The 272.0 GB/s bandwidth is insufficient for 4K textures, leading to the low results. The data also shows that the min FPS values, where available, are close to the averages, indicating stable frame pacing rather than sudden stutters. For instance, at 1080p Medium, the min FPS is 70 against an average of 82, and at 1440p Medium, the min is 52 against an average of 61. This stability is a positive sign for gameplay, even at lower average FPS levels.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 ranks 1544 out of 2902 tested combos in Red Dead Redemption 2. This places the pairing in the 53rd percentile of all tested combinations, meaning slightly more than half of the tested systems perform better in this game. The rank is influenced primarily by the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions, as the CPU’s performance is above average. The CPU’s percentile of 90 versus all CPUs contrasts sharply with the GPU’s percentile of 61, highlighting the imbalance in this pairing.

The combo rank of 1544 suggests that while the system is not a top-tier performer, it is not a weak one either. For context, the CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 with a deltaPct of -0.5% and the Intel Core i5-14600K with a deltaPct of 0.8%, would likely produce similar or slightly better frame rates when paired with the same GPU, because the CPU is not the limiting factor in most scenarios. The GPU’s nearest rivals, including the AMD Radeon 780M with a deltaPct of 0.3%, are less relevant because they are not direct competitors in the discrete GPU space.

The data indicates that the combo’s rank would improve if the GPU were upgraded, as the CPU has enough headroom to support a more powerful graphics card. However, with the RTX 4060, the system is best suited for 1080p gaming at High settings, where it achieves 69 FPS, or 1440p at Medium settings, where it averages 61 FPS. The rank reflects this reality: it is a mid-pack performer that excels at lower resolutions but falls behind at 4K. The 24 FPS at 4K Ultra is among the lowest results in the database for this resolution, dragging the combo’s overall ranking down.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, the High preset delivers an average of 69 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Medium preset offers 82 FPS, which is even smoother, but the visual quality difference between Medium and High in Red Dead Redemption 2 is noticeable in terms of texture detail and shadow quality. The Low preset at 110 FPS is overkill for most displays, but it provides the highest frame rate for competitive or high-refresh-rate gaming. The Ultra preset at 49 FPS is below 60 FPS, so it is not recommended for 1080p unless the user prioritizes visuals over smoothness.

At 1440p, the situation changes. The Medium preset averages 61 FPS, which is right at the playable threshold, with a min FPS of 52, indicating some dips below 60. The High preset at 51 FPS is below 60, so it may feel less smooth. The Low preset at 82 FPS is the best choice for 1440p if frame rate is the priority, but the visual trade-offs are significant. The Ultra preset at 37 FPS is not recommended for 1440p, as it falls below the playable threshold.

At 4K, no preset achieves 60 FPS. The Low preset at 54 FPS is the closest, but it still falls short. The Medium preset at 41 FPS and High at 34 FPS are playable for slower-paced games, but Red Dead Redemption 2’s open-world action benefits from higher frame rates. The Ultra preset at 24 FPS is not viable for a smooth experience. The data suggests that the best experience for this combo is 1080p High, which balances visual fidelity with a 69 FPS average, or 1440p Medium, which provides 61 FPS with a reasonable visual compromise.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with High settings for this combo?

A: The average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 69 FPS, with no min or max FPS values recorded.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 24 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most users.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: The data shows that 1080p High (69 FPS) and 1440p Medium (61 FPS) are the only presets that achieve an average above 60 FPS, with 1440p Medium having a min FPS of 52.

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

A: The resolution scaling indicates the GPU is the bottleneck, as FPS drops significantly from 1080p to 4K, while the CPU’s performance is resolution-independent.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 1544 out of 2902 tested combinations in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Q: What are the min and max FPS values for 1080p Medium?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 82, with a min FPS of 70 and a max FPS of 95.

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

The measured FPS data for the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 and RTX 4060 combination is as follows, organized by resolution and settings.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the High preset yields an average of 34 FPS, with no min or max values recorded. The Low preset produces an average of 54 FPS. The Medium preset shows an average of 41 FPS, with a min FPS of 35 and a max FPS of 47. The Ultra preset results in an average of 24 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K gaming is not viable for this combo, as even Low settings fail to reach 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the High preset averages 51 FPS, with no min or max values. The Low preset averages 82 FPS. The Medium preset averages 61 FPS, with a min of 52 and a max of 71. The Ultra preset averages 37 FPS. The 1440p results show that Medium is the only preset that maintains an average above 60 FPS, while High and Ultra fall below that threshold.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the High preset averages 69 FPS. The Low preset averages 110 FPS. The Medium preset averages 82 FPS, with a min of 70 and a max of 95. The Ultra preset averages 49 FPS. The 1080p results demonstrate that this combo can handle High settings comfortably, and even Ultra is playable, though it drops below 60 FPS.

The data shows a clear progression: 1080p is the sweet spot for this combo, 1440p requires Medium settings for smooth gameplay, and 4K is only playable on Low settings with a 54 FPS average. The min FPS values for Medium settings at 1080p and 1440p indicate that frame drops are contained, with the 1080p Medium min of 70 being particularly stable. The lack of min and max FPS data for most presets limits deeper analysis, but the averages provide a reliable basis for settings recommendations.