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 111 FPS. At 1440p, all settings exceed 111 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 111 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 227% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 1660) for Euro Truck Simulator 2. The Core i3-7101E is 31% below minimum CPU requirement.
The Core i3-7101E 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: $1699. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 111 FPS, equivalent to 0.07 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.065 fps/$ | 0.065 fps/$ | 0.065 fps/$ | 0.065 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.065 fps/$ | 0.065 fps/$ | 0.065 fps/$ | 0.065 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.065 fps/$ | 0.065 fps/$ | 0.065 fps/$ | 0.065 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 i3-7101E sets the ceiling at about 111 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 484 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 77% (FPS gap: 373 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your Core i3-7101E 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 77% | CPU Limits GPU 73% | CPU Limits GPU 71% | CPU Limits GPU 68% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 75% | CPU Limits GPU 71% | CPU Limits GPU 68% | CPU Limits GPU 65% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 71% | CPU Limits GPU 68% | CPU Limits GPU 67% | CPU Limits GPU 56% |
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) | CPU27% - 47% <> GPU92% - 94% <> | CPU27% - 47% <> GPU92% - 94% <> | CPU28% - 50% <> GPU92% - 100% <> | CPU28% - 50% <> GPU92% - 100% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU27% - 51% <> GPU92% - 95% <> | CPU27% - 51% <> GPU92% - 95% <> | CPU28% - 53% <> GPU92% - 100% <> | CPU28% - 53% <> GPU92% - 100% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU27% - 51% <> GPU92% - 95% <> | CPU27% - 51% <> GPU92% - 95% <> | CPU28% - 53% <> GPU92% - 100% <> | CPU28% - 53% <> GPU92% - 100% <> |
The Core i3-7101E + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 27% and 53% and GPU utilization between 92% and 100%. Core i3-7101E 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 95% at 1080p to 95% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 38% to 40%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 1080p (Full HD) High, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 96% usage (92-100%), while the Core i3-7101E stays at 39% (28-50%). 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 38% and GPU 95%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 40% and GPU 95%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 40% and GPU 95%. This shows that workload scaling is limited, which can indicate engine-side constraints.
1080p (Full HD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 37% (27-47%) and GPU 93% (92-94%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i3-7101E remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the GPU. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 96% average load at 1080p (Full HD) High while the Core i3-7101E 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 hardware is below minimum requirements. CPU is the limiting factor (31% below minimum). Expect performance issues. Low settings recommended.
-75%vsrecommended
+227%vsrecommended
-31%vsminimum
+830%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i3-7101E paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Euro Truck Simulator 2 smoothly up to 4k achieving around 111 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 227% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 75% below the recommended requirements.
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).
For Euro Truck Simulator 2, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i3-7101E 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 hardware falls below the minimum requirements for this game, which may result in poor 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.
