Dota 2 moved to the Source 2 engine well before CS2. The 'New Frontiers' update expanded the map by 40%, increasing the load on CPU and memory. Unlike LoL, Dota 2 uses more complex models and lighting. It benefits significantly from the Vulkan API, which distributes load better across CPU cores, though it still relies heavily on main core performance. For stable performance in chaotic 5v5 fights, 16GB of RAM is highly recommended.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, performance runs at around 38 FPS. At 1440p, performance is around 38 FPS. At 4K, performance is around 38 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 521% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 960) for Dota 2. The A6-6400K is 76% below recommended, but 45% above minimum.
The A6-6400K sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom.
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 1440p low, the A6-6400K sets the ceiling at about 38 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 466 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 92% (FPS gap: 428 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your A6-6400K is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the GeForce RTX 4090 rendering potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU Limits GPU 91% | CPU Limits GPU 91% | CPU Limits GPU 90% | CPU Limits GPU 89% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 92% | CPU Limits GPU 91% | CPU Limits GPU 91% | CPU Limits GPU 89% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 89% | CPU Limits GPU 89% | CPU Limits GPU 88% | CPU Limits GPU 85% |
We estimate the maximum FPS the processor can sustain and the maximum FPS the graphics card can sustain in each setting, then compare those limits directly.
Limit Factor formula: (stronger - weaker) / stronger. Example: if CPU ceiling is 200 FPS and GPU ceiling is 140 FPS, then GPU limits CPU by 30%.
CPU Limits GPU means the processor ceiling is lower. GPU Limits CPU means the graphics ceiling is lower. Balanced means the FPS ceilings are close enough that the gap is negligible.
A component can still be the FPS limiter without reaching 100% utilization. The displayed percentages are derived from FPS ceilings, not generic utilization heuristics.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU70% - 79% <> GPU20% - 56% <> | CPU70% - 79% <> GPU20% - 56% <> | CPU70% - 79% <> GPU20% - 56% <> | CPU74% - 92% <> GPU26% - 58% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU70% - 79% <> GPU37% - 65% <> | CPU70% - 79% <> GPU37% - 65% <> | CPU70% - 79% <> GPU37% - 65% <> | CPU76% - 100% <> GPU45% - 73% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU70% - 79% <> GPU39% - 76% <> | CPU70% - 79% <> GPU39% - 76% <> | CPU70% - 79% <> GPU39% - 76% <> | CPU76% - 100% <> GPU47% - 84% <> |
The A6-6400K + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 70% and 100% and GPU utilization between 20% and 84%. A6-6400K reaches high load in heavier scenarios, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 39% at 1080p to 60% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 76% to 78%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a CPU-heavy load profile. At 1440p (2K QHD) Ultra, the A6-6400K reaches 88% average load (76-100%), while the GeForce RTX 4090 remains comparatively lower at 59% (45-73%). This points to heavier CPU-side frame preparation work, but utilization alone does not define the FPS limiter.
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 76% and GPU 39%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 78% and GPU 53%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 78% and GPU 60%. This shows that GPU demand scales sharply with resolution while CPU load remains comparatively stable.
4K (Ultra HD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 74% (70-79%) and GPU 58% (39-76%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while A6-6400K remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the CPU. The A6-6400K reaches 88% average load at 1440p (2K QHD) Ultra while the GeForce RTX 4090 remains comparatively underutilized, so a faster processor would improve frame-time consistency and top-end FPS.
Understanding Hardware Utilization: These percentages represent how much of your component's maximum processing power is actively being used during gameplay. They describe hardware load, but they do not directly tell you which component sets the FPS ceiling.
Important: a CPU or GPU can still be the FPS limiter without reaching 100% utilization. Two processors can both show 40% usage and still deliver very different frame rates, depending on per-core speed, cache, engine threading, driver overhead, and frame preparation efficiency.
Data generated by our Machine Learning engine trained on real-world benchmarks. Shows the approximate average utilization at each setting.
See how your processor and graphics card compare against the game official minimum and recommended system specs. The placement of your hardware is calculated using relative synthetic performance scores to help you gauge overall playability.
Your CPU is 76% below recommended and your GPU is 521% below recommended, but both meet minimum specs. Playable at Low/Medium settings, 1080p or below.
-76%vsrecommended
+521%vsrecommended
+45%vsminimum
+13367%vsminimum
The A6-6400K and GeForce RTX 4090 will struggle to run Dota 2 at smooth framerates. At 1080p Ultra, you can expect around 38 FPS which is classified as "playable". Consider lowering settings or upgrading your hardware.
Price data is not currently available for this combination. In general, look for setups where the CPU and GPU are balanced — this ensures you're not overspending on one component that the other can't keep up with.
For Dota 2, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The A6-6400K is currently the limiting factor — the GeForce RTX 4090 has extra headroom that a faster processor could take advantage of. This is especially noticeable at 1080p where CPU performance matters more. CPU-limited at: 1080p low, 1080p medium, 1080p high, 1080p ultra, 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p high, 1440p ultra, 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra.
Dota 2 does not currently support Frame Generation technologies like DLSS 3 or FSR 3. Your performance is based entirely on native rendering. If the game adds support in a future update, newer GPUs will benefit the most.
Dota 2 requires at minimum a Core 2 Duo E7400 (CPU) and GeForce 8600 GT (GPU) with 4 GB RAM and 60 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-2500K and GeForce GTX 960 with 8 GB RAM. Your setup meets the minimum requirements but falls short of the recommended specs. You may need to lower some settings for smooth performance.
These Dota 2 FPS results are not arbitrary numbers. They come from calculations informed by thousands of real gaming benchmarks, and the typical accuracy range is around 10% to 15%. That makes them far more useful than generic FPS calculators that simply invent values without a benchmark foundation. Actual in-game performance can still vary with drivers, updates, RAM configuration, cooling, and the exact scene being rendered.
Performance estimates are based on synthetic benchmarks and hardware capabilities.
Results may vary based on drivers, OS, and background processes.
