Elden RingFPS onCore 2 Duo E7600&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
low29 FPS
medium29 FPS
high29 FPS
ultra29 FPS
1440P
low29 FPS
medium29 FPS
high29 FPS
ultra29 FPS
4K
low29 FPS
medium29 FPS
high29 FPS
ultra29 FPS

Performance Report

Elden Ring

GeForce RTX 4090 + Core 2 Duo E7600
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, performance runs at around 29 FPS. At 1440p, performance is around 29 FPS. At 4K, performance is around 29 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 4090 is 182% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 1070) for Elden Ring. The Core 2 Duo E7600 is 91% below minimum CPU requirement.

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

The Core 2 Duo E7600 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom.

💰Value Analysis

Approximated average price on current market:

GeForce RTX 4090:$1649(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $1599
Core 2 Duo E7600:$50(updated 2/9/2026)
Official Launch Price: $133

Combo price: $1699. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 29 FPS, equivalent to 0.02 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.017 fps/$0.017 fps/$0.017 fps/$0.017 fps/$
1440p0.017 fps/$0.017 fps/$0.017 fps/$0.017 fps/$
4k0.017 fps/$0.017 fps/$0.017 fps/$0.017 fps/$

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

Performance Limiter Analysis

Core 2 Duo E7600|GeForce RTX 4090

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

📈Analysis

At 1080p high, the Core 2 Duo E7600 sets the ceiling at about 29 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 68 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 57% (FPS gap: 39 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.

Verdict

CPU Limits GPU

Your Core 2 Duo E7600 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the GeForce RTX 4090 rendering potential remains unused in those settings.

🧩Detailed Breakdown
1080p (Full HD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 55%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 56%
HighCPU Limits GPU 57%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 56%
1440p (2K QHD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 50%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 51%
HighCPU Limits GPU 52%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 54%
4K (Ultra HD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 53%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 53%
HighCPU Limits GPU 54%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 53%
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.

📊Predicted Hardware Utilization for Core 2 Duo E7600 and GeForce RTX 4090

1080p (Full HD)

Low
CPU98% - 100%
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GPU0% - 6%
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Medium
CPU99% - 100%
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GPU0% - 8%
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High
CPU98% - 100%
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GPU2% - 13%
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Ultra
CPU98% - 100%
<>
GPU5% - 17%
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1440p (2K QHD)

Low
CPU99% - 100%
<>
GPU4% - 19%
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Medium
CPU99% - 100%
<>
GPU7% - 21%
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High
CPU99% - 100%
<>
GPU7% - 21%
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Ultra
CPU99% - 100%
<>
GPU8% - 24%
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4K (Ultra HD)

Low
CPU98% - 100%
<>
GPU6% - 23%
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Medium
CPU98% - 100%
<>
GPU8% - 26%
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High
CPU98% - 100%
<>
GPU8% - 26%
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Ultra
CPU98% - 100%
<>
GPU11% - 30%
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Performance Summary

The Core 2 Duo E7600 + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 98% and 100% and GPU utilization between 0% and 30%. Core 2 Duo E7600 reaches high load in heavier scenarios, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 7% at 1080p to 17% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 99% to 99%.

Load Interpretation

From a utilization perspective, this is a CPU-heavy load profile. At 1080p (Full HD) Medium, the Core 2 Duo E7600 reaches 100% average load (99-100%), while the GeForce RTX 4090 remains comparatively lower at 4% (0-8%). This points to heavier CPU-side frame preparation work, but utilization alone does not define the FPS limiter.

Resolution Scaling

At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 99% and GPU 7%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 100% and GPU 14%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 99% and GPU 17%. This shows that GPU demand scales sharply with resolution while CPU load remains comparatively stable.

Optimal Settings Recommendation

4K (Ultra HD) Ultra is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 99% (98-100%) and GPU 20% (11-30%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core 2 Duo E7600 remains stable for consistent frame delivery.

Upgrade Insight

Upgrade priority should be the CPU. The Core 2 Duo E7600 reaches 100% average load at 1080p (Full HD) Medium 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.

  • High GPU Load: You typically want to see High GPU Utilization (90%+) and moderate CPU usage when visual settings are heavy. This indicates the graphics pipeline is under strong load, but the exact FPS limiter should still be confirmed by the FPS ceiling analysis.
  • High CPU Load: If you see High CPU Utilization (85%+) paired with lower GPU utilization, the processor is handling a disproportionate share of frame preparation and game logic. That can point to CPU-side pressure, but it should not be treated as a direct replacement for FPS ceiling analysis.
  • Low CPU and GPU Load: If both CPU and GPU utilization are relatively low, it means the hardware is waiting on something else. This could be a game engine limitation, poorly optimized code, or an artificial framerate cap like VSync holding performance back. It does not mean both parts are equally fast in FPS terms.

Data generated by our Machine Learning engine trained on real-world benchmarks. Shows the approximate average utilization at each setting.

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 2 Duo E7600
cpu icon
1,150
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 (91% below minimum). Expect performance issues. Low settings recommended.

CPU

-94%vsrecommended

GPU

+182%vsrecommended

CPU

-91%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 2 Duo E7600 and GeForce RTX 4090 run Elden Ring well?

The Core 2 Duo E7600 and GeForce RTX 4090 will struggle to run Elden Ring at smooth framerates. At 1080p Ultra, you can expect around 29 FPS which is classified as "struggling". Consider lowering settings or upgrading your hardware.

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

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1699 ($50 CPU + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Since the CPU is the main limiting factor, investing in a stronger processor will improve your framerates and overall value. For example, the Ryzen 9 9950X is a great upgrade option for around $649 (Rank #5 for value).

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

For Elden Ring, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core 2 Duo E7600 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.

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 2 Duo E7600 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.