Known to slow down in the late game due to the exponential number of unit calculations. Single-core CPU speed is the most important factor for performance.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, frame rates range from 19 to 27 FPS depending on quality settings. At 1440p, frame rates range from 10 to 21 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 9 to 19 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 870% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 570) for Hearts of Iron IV. The Athlon II N370 is 70% below minimum CPU requirement.
At lower resolutions (1080p low), the Athlon II N370 sets the FPS ceiling. As graphical load increases at (1440p (medium/high/ultra), 4k (medium/high/ultra)), the GeForce RTX 4090 becomes the FPS-limiting side. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1080p (medium/high/ultra), 1440p low, 4k low.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1659. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 19 FPS, equivalent to 0.01 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.016 fps/$ | 0.016 fps/$ | 0.015 fps/$ | 0.011 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.013 fps/$ | 0.008 fps/$ | 0.008 fps/$ | 0.006 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.011 fps/$ | 0.008 fps/$ | 0.007 fps/$ | 0.005 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 4k ultra, the GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 11 FPS, while the Athlon II N370 has headroom up to 27 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 59% (FPS gap: 16 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 6/12 cells, CPU limits 1/12, balanced 5/12.
Your GeForce RTX 4090 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the Athlon II N370 frame-generation potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU Limits GPU 33% | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | Balanced | GPU Limits CPU 41% | GPU Limits CPU 48% | GPU Limits CPU 52% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | Balanced | GPU Limits CPU 44% | GPU Limits CPU 48% | GPU Limits CPU 59% |
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) | CPU94% - 100% <> GPU2% - 8% <> | CPU94% - 100% <> GPU2% - 8% <> | CPU94% - 100% <> GPU2% - 8% <> | CPU94% - 100% <> GPU2% - 8% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU93% - 100% <> GPU20% - 48% <> | CPU93% - 100% <> GPU20% - 48% <> | CPU93% - 100% <> GPU20% - 48% <> | CPU93% - 100% <> GPU20% - 48% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU94% - 99% <> GPU31% - 59% <> | CPU94% - 99% <> GPU31% - 59% <> | CPU94% - 99% <> GPU31% - 59% <> | CPU94% - 99% <> GPU31% - 59% <> |
The Athlon II N370 + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 93% and 100% and GPU utilization between 2% and 59%. Athlon II N370 reaches high load in heavier scenarios, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 5% at 1080p to 45% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 97% to 96%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a CPU-heavy load profile. At 1080p (Full HD) Low, the Athlon II N370 reaches 97% average load (94-100%), while the GeForce RTX 4090 remains comparatively lower at 5% (2-8%). This points to heavier CPU-side frame preparation work, but utilization alone does not define the FPS limiter.
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 97% and GPU 5%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 96% and GPU 34%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 96% and GPU 45%. 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 96% (94-99%) and GPU 45% (31-59%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Athlon II N370 remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the CPU. The Athlon II N370 reaches 97% average load at 1080p (Full HD) Low 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 hardware is below minimum requirements. CPU is the limiting factor (70% below minimum). Expect performance issues. Low settings recommended.
-57%vsrecommended
+870%vsrecommended
-70%vsminimum
+1112%vsminimum
The Athlon II N370 and GeForce RTX 4090 will struggle to run Hearts of Iron IV at smooth framerates. At 1080p Ultra, you can expect around 19 FPS which is classified as "struggling". Consider lowering settings or upgrading your hardware.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1659 ($10 CPU + $1649 GPU). Your GeForce RTX 4090 provides phenomenal top-tier performance but at a premium enthusiast price. Since you are essentially at the ceiling of current hardware capabilities, there are no meaningful performance upgrades available. However, if you wanted a more cost-effective build that still delivers a great experience, you could theoretically step down to a high-end card with a significantly better value rating.
Your GeForce RTX 4090 is already a top-tier graphics card. While it's technically the limiting factor here (which means you are fully utilizing your GPU's visual horsepower exactly as intended), there is no meaningful upgrade path that would drastically improve your Hearts of Iron IV performance right now. GPU fully utilized at: 1440p medium, 1440p high, 1440p ultra, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra. CPU-limited at: 1080p low.
Hearts of Iron IV 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.
Hearts of Iron IV requires at minimum a Core 2 Quad Q9400 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 470 (GPU) with 4 GB RAM and 2 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-750 and GeForce GTX 570 with 4 GB RAM. Your hardware falls below the minimum requirements for this game, which may result in poor performance.
These Hearts of Iron IV 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.
