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, all quality settings exceed 155 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 143 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 120 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 227% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 1660) for Euro Truck Simulator 2. The Core i3-12300T is 26% below recommended, but 105% above minimum.
The Core i3-12300T sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1813. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 155 FPS, equivalent to 0.09 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.136 fps/$ | 0.111 fps/$ | 0.095 fps/$ | 0.085 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.117 fps/$ | 0.098 fps/$ | 0.086 fps/$ | 0.079 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.102 fps/$ | 0.089 fps/$ | 0.081 fps/$ | 0.066 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 1440p high, the Core i3-12300T sets the ceiling at about 153 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 288 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 47% (FPS gap: 135 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your Core i3-12300T 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 38% | CPU Limits GPU 43% | CPU Limits GPU 45% | CPU Limits GPU 45% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 42% | CPU Limits GPU 46% | CPU Limits GPU 47% | CPU Limits GPU 46% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 39% | CPU Limits GPU 41% | CPU Limits GPU 43% | CPU Limits GPU 38% |
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) | CPU19% - 40% <> GPU60% - 78% <> | CPU19% - 40% <> GPU60% - 78% <> | CPU16% - 41% <> GPU91% - 97% <> | CPU16% - 41% <> GPU91% - 97% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU22% - 41% <> GPU61% - 78% <> | CPU22% - 41% <> GPU61% - 78% <> | CPU19% - 42% <> GPU91% - 100% <> | CPU19% - 42% <> GPU91% - 100% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU22% - 41% <> GPU61% - 78% <> | CPU22% - 41% <> GPU61% - 78% <> | CPU19% - 42% <> GPU91% - 100% <> | CPU19% - 42% <> GPU91% - 100% <> |
The Core i3-12300T + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 16% and 42% and GPU utilization between 60% and 100%. Core i3-12300T 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 82% at 1080p to 83% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 29% to 31%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 1440p (2K QHD) High, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 96% usage (91-100%), while the Core i3-12300T stays at 30% (19-42%). 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 29% and GPU 82%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 31% and GPU 83%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 31% and GPU 83%. This shows that workload scaling is limited, which can indicate engine-side constraints.
1080p (Full HD) High is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 28% (16-41%) and GPU 94% (91-97%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i3-12300T remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the GPU. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 96% average load at 1440p (2K QHD) High while the Core i3-12300T 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 CPU is 26% below recommended and your GPU is 227% below recommended, but both meet minimum specs. Playable at Low/Medium settings, 1080p or below.
-26%vsrecommended
+227%vsrecommended
+105%vsminimum
+830%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i3-12300T paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Euro Truck Simulator 2 smoothly up to 4k achieving around 120 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 227% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 26% below the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1813 ($164 CPU (Rank #243 Value) + $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).
For Euro Truck Simulator 2, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i3-12300T 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 setup meets the minimum requirements but falls short of the recommended specs. You may need to lower some settings for smooth 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.
