The lighting engine has been updated over the years. It scales well, but running at 'Ultra' settings with high scaling can challenge even modern GPUs.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, performance runs at around 39 FPS. At 1440p, performance is around 39 FPS. At 4K, performance is around 39 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 227% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 1660) for Euro Truck Simulator 2. The A6-6420K is 75% below minimum CPU requirement.
The A6-6420K 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 1080p low, the A6-6420K sets the ceiling at about 39 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 502 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 92% (FPS gap: 463 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your A6-6420K 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 92% | CPU Limits GPU 91% | CPU Limits GPU 90% | CPU Limits GPU 88% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 92% | CPU Limits GPU 90% | CPU Limits GPU 89% | CPU Limits GPU 87% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 91% | CPU Limits GPU 90% | CPU Limits GPU 89% | 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) | CPU31% - 57% <> GPU94% - 98% <> | CPU31% - 57% <> GPU94% - 98% <> | CPU32% - 56% <> GPU97% - 97% | CPU32% - 56% <> GPU97% - 97% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU32% - 60% <> GPU79% - 92% <> | CPU32% - 60% <> GPU79% - 92% <> | CPU33% - 60% <> GPU82% - 92% <> | CPU33% - 60% <> GPU82% - 92% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU32% - 60% <> GPU79% - 92% <> | CPU32% - 60% <> GPU79% - 92% <> | CPU33% - 60% <> GPU82% - 92% <> | CPU33% - 60% <> GPU82% - 92% <> |
The A6-6420K + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 31% and 60% and GPU utilization between 79% and 98%. A6-6420K keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce RTX 4090 carries most of the graphics load at heavier visual settings. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 97% at 1080p to 87% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 44% to 46%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 1080p (Full HD) High, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 97% usage (97-97%), while the A6-6420K stays at 44% (32-56%). This shows the graphics pipeline is carrying most of the workload, but utilization alone does not define the FPS limiter.
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 44% and GPU 97%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 46% and GPU 87%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 46% and GPU 87%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
1440p (2K QHD) High is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 46% (33-60%) and GPU 87% (82-92%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while A6-6420K remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the GPU. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 97% average load at 1080p (Full HD) High while the A6-6420K still has headroom, so a faster graphics card would deliver the largest uplift.
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 hardware is below minimum requirements. CPU is the limiting factor (75% below minimum). Expect performance issues. Low settings recommended.
-91%vsrecommended
+227%vsrecommended
-75%vsminimum
+830%vsminimum
The A6-6420K and GeForce RTX 4090 will struggle to run Euro Truck Simulator 2 at smooth framerates. At 1080p Ultra, you can expect around 39 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 Euro Truck Simulator 2, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The A6-6420K 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.
Euro Truck Simulator 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.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 requires at minimum a Core i5-6400 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 660 (GPU) with 8 GB RAM and 25 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-9600 and GeForce GTX 1660 with 12 GB RAM. Your hardware falls below the minimum requirements for this game, which may result in poor performance.
These Euro Truck Simulator 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.
