Which is better, Vulkan or DirectX 12?

Vulkan is the default. One early test showed a small Vulkan lead, but it depends on your hardware, so test both.

Does RDR2 have a benchmark?

Yes, the game includes a built-in benchmark tool you can use to compare settings.

When did RDR2 launch on PC?

November 5, 2019 on the Rockstar launcher, and on Steam in December 2019.

RDR2 PC Settings and Performance Tips: Vulkan vs DX12

Red Dead Redemption 2 came to PC on November 5, 2019 on the Rockstar launcher and reached Steam a month later. It still pushes hardware hard. This guide focuses on settings. For the parts list see our system requirements guide.

Key takeaways

Vulkan is the default API, and DirectX 12 is an option in advanced settings.
A preset slider trades image quality for speed.
A built-in benchmark lets you test changes.
Keep GPU drivers and the game updated.

Vulkan or DirectX 12?

The game defaults to Vulkan. Early tests by KitGuru on one high-end card at 1080p showed a small edge for Vulkan, about 93 fps against 88, which the author called preliminary. Results vary by GPU and driver. Try both and keep the one that feels smoother on your PC.

These screenshots may contain violence.

Images are provided by Steam and belong to their publishers.

Use the preset slider

The graphics menu has a preset slider with many steps. Slide toward performance for more frames, or toward quality for sharper visuals. Start in the middle, run the benchmark, then adjust. Change one thing at a time so you know what helped.

Goal	What to do
More fps	Move the slider toward performance
Sharper picture	Move toward quality and test again
Stable play	Pick a setting that holds your target fps

Simple checklist

Update your Nvidia or AMD graphics driver.
Update RDR2 in its launcher.
Install the game on an SSD if you can.
Close heavy apps such as browsers with many tabs.
Run the in-game benchmark before and after changes.

Where to get help

Rockstar Support has troubleshooting pages for PC problems and a returning-player resource. Contact them for crashes or account issues rather than editing system files.