Elden RingFPS onCore i3-9300&GeForce RTX 4090

Elden Ring

Capped at 60 FPS, Elden Ring doesn't need ultra-high-end hardware for high frame rates, but its seamless open world demands an efficient memory subsystem. While shader compilation issues have been improved, it still relies heavily on single-thread CPU performance.

This game has a built-in FPS cap of 60 FPS

Elden Ring - FPS Estimates by Resolution

Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors

1080P
low60 FPS
medium60 FPS
high60 FPS
ultra53 FPS
1440P
low53 FPS
medium52 FPS
high57 FPS
ultra44 FPS
4K
low49 FPS
medium45 FPS
high49 FPS
ultra35 FPS

Performance Report

Elden Ring

GeForce RTX 4090 + Core i3-9300
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, frame rates range from 53 to 78 FPS depending on quality settings. At 1440p, frame rates range from 44 to 57 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 35 to 49 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 4090 is 182% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 1070) for Elden Ring. The Core i3-9300 is 47% below minimum CPU requirement.

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4090 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, 4k (low/medium/high), while the Core i3-9300 still has additional frame-generation headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 4k ultra.

💰Value Analysis

Approximated average price on current market:

GeForce RTX 4090:$1649(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $1599
Core i3-9300:$75(updated 2/10/2026)
Official Launch Price: $143

Combo price: $1724. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 53 FPS, equivalent to 0.03 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.038 fps/$0.041 fps/$0.045 fps/$0.031 fps/$
1440p0.031 fps/$0.030 fps/$0.033 fps/$0.026 fps/$
4k0.028 fps/$0.026 fps/$0.028 fps/$0.020 fps/$

* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)

Performance Limiter Analysis

Core i3-9300|GeForce RTX 4090

This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.

📈Analysis

At 1080p high, the GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 72 FPS, while the Core i3-9300 has headroom up to 145 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 50% (FPS gap: 73 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 11/12 cells, CPU limits 0/12, balanced 1/12.

Verdict

GPU Limits CPU

Your GeForce RTX 4090 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the Core i3-9300 frame-generation potential remains unused in those settings.

🧩Detailed Breakdown
1080p (Full HD)
LowGPU Limits CPU 45%
MediumGPU Limits CPU 47%
HighGPU Limits CPU 50%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 22%
1440p (2K QHD)
LowGPU Limits CPU 41%
MediumGPU Limits CPU 38%
HighGPU Limits CPU 42%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 13%
4K (Ultra HD)
LowGPU Limits CPU 33%
MediumGPU Limits CPU 26%
HighGPU Limits CPU 33%
UltraBalanced
Percentages show how much potential FPS of the stronger component is lost because the other component has a lower FPS ceiling.
🧠Methodology

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.

Elden Ring Requirements Comparison

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.

CPU - Core i3-9300
cpu icon
7,105
Your Score
MinimumCore i5-8400
RecommendedCore i7-8700K
GPU - GeForce RTX 4090
gpu icon
38,112
Your Score
MinimumGeForce GTX 1060
RecommendedGeForce GTX 1070

Your hardware is below minimum requirements. CPU is the limiting factor (47% below minimum). Expect performance issues. Low settings recommended.

CPU

-61%vsrecommended

GPU

+182%vsrecommended

CPU

-47%vsminimum

GPU

+279%vsminimum

Minimum Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTX 1060
Processor: Core i5-8400
Memory: 12 GB
Disk Space: 60 GB
System: Windows 10
Recommended Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTX 1070
Processor: Core i7-8700K
Memory: 16 GB
Disk Space: 60 GB
System: Windows 10

Frequently Asked Questions

1Can the Core i3-9300 and GeForce RTX 4090 run Elden Ring well?

The Core i3-9300 and GeForce RTX 4090 will struggle to run Elden Ring at smooth framerates. At 1080p Ultra, you can expect around 53 FPS which is classified as "playable". Consider lowering settings or upgrading your hardware.

2Is there a more cost-effective setup to run Elden Ring?

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1724 ($75 CPU (Rank #200 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). 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.

3Which component should I upgrade first to improve Elden Ring performance?

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 Elden Ring performance right now. GPU fully utilized at: 1080p low, 1080p medium, 1080p high, 1080p ultra, 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p high, 1440p ultra, 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high.

4Does this setup support Frame Generation for Elden Ring?

Elden Ring 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.

5What are the minimum and recommended specs for Elden Ring?

Elden Ring requires at minimum a Core i5-8400 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 1060 (GPU) with 12 GB RAM and 60 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i7-8700K and GeForce GTX 1070 with 16 GB RAM. Your hardware falls below the minimum requirements for this game, which may result in poor performance.

6How accurate are these Elden Ring FPS estimates for the Core i3-9300 and GeForce RTX 4090?

These Elden Ring 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.