RX 9070 Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1440p: FPS Benchmark & Optimal Settings

Quick Answer

The RX 9070 handles Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1440p with strong performance, delivering smooth framerates at High to Ultra settings when configured correctly. Dropping a few settings like volumetric lighting and water physics unlocks a significant FPS boost without sacrificing visual quality. This GPU is a capable choice for 1440p open-world gaming in SA.

RX 9070 Performance at 1440p in Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 remains one of the most demanding open-world titles ever released, and 1440p adds meaningful pressure to any GPU. The RX 9070 sits in a strong position for this resolution, targeting 60+ FPS at High settings across the game's varied environments -- from the dense forests of Roanoke Ridge to the sprawling plains of New Hanover.

At High preset with no modifications, the RX 9070 delivers comfortably above 60 FPS in most outdoor scenes, with some dips into the mid-50s during heavy rain or densely populated town areas like Valentine. Switching the preset to Medium-High (using High as a base but reducing the most expensive effects) keeps framerates consistently above 70 FPS without a noticeable visual downgrade.

The VRAM headroom on the RX 9070 at 1440p is adequate, with most High-preset configurations sitting around 8-9 GB of usage. This leaves breathing room compared to the 12 GB available on the card, meaning you can push texture quality high without hitting VRAM bottlenecks.

Optimal Settings for Maximum FPS at 1440p

These adjustments give the best framerate-to-quality ratio on the RX 9070 at 1440p:

Drop for big gains:

• Volumetric Lighting: reduce from Ultra to High (one of the biggest single savings in this game)
• Water Ripple Quality: set to Medium
• Water Physics Quality: set to Medium
• Reflection MSAA: off (TAA handles edge smoothing adequately)
• Shadow Quality: High rather than Ultra

Keep high for visual integrity:

• Texture Quality: Ultra (VRAM allows it)
• Anisotropic Filtering: 16x
• Ambient Occlusion: High
• TAA sharpening: 50-60%

With these changes, expect consistent 75-85 FPS in open countryside and 65-75 FPS in towns at 1440p. Enabling AMD FSR 3 (Quality mode) can push those numbers further for players who want a buffer above 90 FPS.

SA Gamer Considerations

For South African players building around the RX 9070, loadshedding is a real factor. Red Dead Redemption 2 has no mid-mission quick save, so power cuts during story missions mean lost progress. Pair your RX 9070 build with a quality UPS rated for your full PC draw -- typically 650-850W for a mid-high system -- so you can complete a save point before shutting down safely. A UPS in the R1,500 to R2,500 range covers most gaming PC loads and protects your GPU investment.

The RX 9070 is priced competitively in ZAR for what it delivers at 1440p, making it a strong value proposition versus stepping up to a more expensive card for a title that is several years old and well-optimised.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the RX 9070 support ray tracing in Red Dead Redemption 2?

Red Dead Redemption 2 does not include a ray tracing implementation, so this is not a concern for any GPU playing this title. The RX 9070 handles the game's traditional lighting and shadow pipeline efficiently.

Is 1440p 144Hz achievable with the RX 9070 in RDR2?

At medium-high settings with the optimisations above and FSR 3 in Quality mode, pushing towards 100+ FPS is achievable in many scenes, though sustained 144 FPS at High-Ultra across all environments is a stretch without significant setting reductions.

How does the RX 9070 perform in RDR2's Benchmark tool?

The in-game benchmark covers a demanding cross-section of the world. The RX 9070 at 1440p High typically scores an average in the mid-60s to low-70s FPS range in the benchmark, which slightly understates real gameplay performance in less demanding areas.