Baldur's Gate 3FPS onCore i3-N300&GeForce RTX 4090

Baldur's Gate 3

A dense RPG where Act 3 becomes a CPU stress test due to the high number of NPCs. An SSD is vital for loading times. 16GB of RAM is recommended, and the game benefits greatly from upscaling tech like DLSS and FSR.

Baldur's Gate 3 - FPS Estimates by Resolution

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

1080P
low182 FPS
medium175 FPS
high141 FPS
ultra116 FPS
1440P
low151 FPS
medium143 FPS
high115 FPS
ultra94 FPS
4K
low101 FPS
medium99 FPS
high82 FPS
ultra65 FPS

Performance Report

Baldur's Gate 3

GeForce RTX 4090 + Core i3-N300
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 116 FPS. At 1440p, all settings exceed 94 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 65 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 4090 is 131% above the recommended GPU (GeForce RTX 2060 Super) for Baldur's Gate 3. The Core i3-N300 is 53% below recommended, but 40% above minimum.

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

At lower resolutions (all 1080p settings), the Core i3-N300 sets the FPS ceiling. As graphical load increases at (1440p (medium/high), 4k (medium/high/ultra)), the GeForce RTX 4090 becomes the FPS-limiting side. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1440p (low/ultra), 4k low.

💰Value Analysis

Approximated average price on current market:

GeForce RTX 4090:$1649(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $1599
Core i3-N300:$309(updated 2/9/2026)
Official Launch Price: $309

Combo price: $1958. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 116 FPS, equivalent to 0.06 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.093 fps/$0.089 fps/$0.072 fps/$0.059 fps/$
1440p0.077 fps/$0.073 fps/$0.059 fps/$0.048 fps/$
4k0.052 fps/$0.051 fps/$0.042 fps/$0.033 fps/$

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

Performance Limiter Analysis

Core i3-N300|GeForce RTX 4090

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

📈Analysis

At 1080p low, the Core i3-N300 sets the ceiling at about 185 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 264 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 30% (FPS gap: 79 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 4/12 cells, GPU limits 5/12, balanced 3/12.

Verdict

CPU Limits GPU

Your Core i3-N300 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 30%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 21%
HighCPU Limits GPU 22%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 28%
1440p (2K QHD)
LowBalanced
MediumGPU Limits CPU 12%
HighGPU Limits CPU 9%
UltraBalanced
4K (Ultra HD)
LowBalanced
MediumGPU Limits CPU 19%
HighGPU Limits CPU 23%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 14%
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 i3-N300 and GeForce RTX 4090

1080p (Full HD)

Low
CPU69% - 100%
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GPU42% - 92%
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Medium
CPU64% - 100%
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GPU41% - 89%
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High
CPU40% - 100%
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GPU44% - 94%
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Ultra
CPU42% - 100%
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GPU52% - 96%
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1440p (2K QHD)

Low
CPU67% - 100%
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GPU48% - 94%
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Medium
CPU62% - 100%
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GPU48% - 92%
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High
CPU38% - 100%
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GPU49% - 97%
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Ultra
CPU41% - 100%
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GPU57% - 97%
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4K (Ultra HD)

Low
CPU68% - 100%
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GPU54% - 95%
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Medium
CPU63% - 100%
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GPU54% - 93%
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High
CPU39% - 100%
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GPU55% - 98%
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Ultra
CPU43% - 100%
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GPU63% - 97%
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Performance Summary

The Core i3-N300 + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 38% and 100% and GPU utilization between 41% and 98%. Core i3-N300 stays in a controlled operating range, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 69% at 1080p to 76% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 77% to 77%.

Load Interpretation

The utilization pattern is relatively even. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 80% average at its highest-load preset, while the Core i3-N300 peaks at 84% average. This suggests a fairly controlled load distribution, but the actual FPS-limiting side should still be read from the limiter analysis above.

Resolution Scaling

At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 77% and GPU 69%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 76% and GPU 73%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 77% and GPU 76%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.

Optimal Settings Recommendation

4K (Ultra HD) Ultra is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 72% (43-100%) and GPU 80% (63-97%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i3-N300 remains stable for consistent frame delivery.

Upgrade Insight

Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Core i3-N300 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.

  • 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.

Baldur's Gate 3 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-N300
cpu icon
8,283
Your Score
MinimumCore i5-4690
RecommendedCore i7-8700K
GPU - GeForce RTX 4090
gpu icon
38,112
Your Score
MinimumGeForce GTX 970
RecommendedGeForce RTX 2060 Super

Your CPU is 53% below recommended and your GPU is 131% below recommended, but both meet minimum specs. Playable at Low/Medium settings, 1080p or below.

CPU

-53%vsrecommended

GPU

+131%vsrecommended

CPU

+40%vsminimum

GPU

+295%vsminimum

Minimum Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTX 970
Processor: Core i5-4690
Memory: 8 GB
Disk Space: 150 GB (SSD)
System: Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended Requirements
Processor: Core i7-8700K
Memory: 16 GB
Disk Space: 150 GB (SSD)
System: Windows 10 64-bit

Frequently Asked Questions

1Can the Core i3-N300 and GeForce RTX 4090 run Baldur's Gate 3 well?

Yes, the Core i3-N300 paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Baldur's Gate 3 smoothly up to 4k achieving around 65 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 131% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 53% below the recommended requirements.

2Is there a more cost-effective setup to run Baldur's Gate 3?

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1958 ($309 CPU + $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 Baldur's Gate 3 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 Baldur's Gate 3 performance right now. GPU fully utilized at: 1440p medium, 1440p high, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra. CPU-limited at: 1080p low, 1080p medium, 1080p high, 1080p ultra.

4Does this setup support Frame Generation for Baldur's Gate 3?

Baldur's Gate 3 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 Baldur's Gate 3?

Baldur's Gate 3 requires at minimum a Core i5-4690 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 970 (GPU) with 8 GB RAM and 150 GB (SSD) storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i7-8700K and GeForce RTX 2060 Super with 16 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.

6How accurate are these Baldur's Gate 3 FPS estimates for the Core i3-N300 and GeForce RTX 4090?

These Baldur's Gate 3 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.