A Source engine sandbox where performance depends entirely on the mods and contraptions you spawn. RAM errors are common on systems with only 4GB.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 91 FPS. At 1440p, all settings exceed 91 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 91 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 1051% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 750) for Garry's Mod. The Core i3-4170 is 73% below recommended, but 21% above minimum.
The Core i3-4170 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: $1689. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 91 FPS, equivalent to 0.05 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.054 fps/$ | 0.054 fps/$ | 0.054 fps/$ | 0.054 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.054 fps/$ | 0.054 fps/$ | 0.054 fps/$ | 0.054 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.054 fps/$ | 0.054 fps/$ | 0.054 fps/$ | 0.054 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 1080p low, the Core i3-4170 sets the ceiling at about 91 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 487 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 81% (FPS gap: 396 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your Core i3-4170 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 81% | CPU Limits GPU 79% | CPU Limits GPU 78% | CPU Limits GPU 74% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 80% | CPU Limits GPU 79% | CPU Limits GPU 78% | CPU Limits GPU 75% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 76% | CPU Limits GPU 74% | CPU Limits GPU 74% | CPU Limits GPU 67% |
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) | CPU7% - 24% <> GPU14% - 36% <> | CPU7% - 24% <> GPU14% - 36% <> | CPU7% - 24% <> GPU14% - 36% <> | CPU5% - 24% <> GPU14% - 34% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU26% - 43% <> GPU7% - 20% <> | CPU26% - 43% <> GPU7% - 20% <> | CPU26% - 43% <> GPU7% - 20% <> | CPU24% - 42% <> GPU7% - 19% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU26% - 43% <> GPU7% - 20% <> | CPU26% - 43% <> GPU7% - 20% <> | CPU26% - 43% <> GPU7% - 20% <> | CPU24% - 42% <> GPU7% - 19% <> |
The Core i3-4170 + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 5% and 43% and GPU utilization between 7% and 36%. Core i3-4170 keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 25% at 1080p to 14% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 16% to 34%.
Neither component is close to saturation: CPU tops out at 43% and GPU at 36%. This pattern suggests possible engine-side limits, an FPS cap, or workload constraints unrelated to raw hardware throughput. It also shows why low utilization does not automatically mean there is no FPS limiter.
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 16% and GPU 25%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 34% and GPU 14%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 34% and GPU 14%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
1080p (Full HD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 16% (7-24%) and GPU 25% (14-36%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i3-4170 remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Core i3-4170 and GeForce RTX 4090 remain reasonably matched for this title.
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 73% below recommended and your GPU is 1051% below recommended, but both meet minimum specs. Playable at Low/Medium settings, 1080p or below.
-73%vsrecommended
+1051%vsrecommended
+21%vsminimum
+11449%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i3-4170 paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Garry's Mod smoothly up to 4k achieving around 91 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 1051% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 73% below the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1689 ($40 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).
For Garry's Mod, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i3-4170 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.
Garry's Mod 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.
Garry's Mod requires at minimum a Pentium 4 (CPU) and GeForce 6 series (GPU) with 4 GB RAM and 5 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5 and GeForce GTX 750 with 8 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 Garry's Mod 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.
