A classic 2D sandbox. While generally light, heavy boss fights and fluid physics can slow down older CPUs. It requires Shader Model 2.0 support.
This game has a built-in FPS cap of 60 FPS
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 140 FPS. At 1440p, all settings exceed 130 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 127 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 6804% above the recommended GPU (GeForce 9600 GT) for Terraria. The Core i5-12600KF is 1159% above the recommended CPU (Core 2 Duo).
The GeForce RTX 4090 sets the FPS ceiling at 1440p ultra, all 4k settings, while the Core i5-12600KF still has additional frame-generation headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at all 1080p settings, 1440p (low/medium/high).
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1839. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 149 FPS, equivalent to 0.08 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.076 fps/$ | 0.076 fps/$ | 0.078 fps/$ | 0.081 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.071 fps/$ | 0.071 fps/$ | 0.073 fps/$ | 0.075 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.069 fps/$ | 0.069 fps/$ | 0.072 fps/$ | 0.073 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 4k ultra, the GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 132 FPS, while the Core i5-12600KF has headroom up to 146 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 10% (FPS gap: 14 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 8/12 cells, CPU limits 0/12, balanced 4/12.
The Core i5-12600KF and GeForce RTX 4090 stay close in effective frame-generation ceiling across most presets, so neither side consistently suppresses the other by a large margin.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | GPU Limits CPU 6% | GPU Limits CPU 6% | GPU Limits CPU 6% | GPU Limits CPU 8% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | GPU Limits CPU 8% | GPU Limits CPU 7% | GPU Limits CPU 8% | GPU Limits CPU 10% |
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) | CPU0% - 3% <> GPU10% - 31% <> | CPU0% - 3% <> GPU10% - 31% <> | CPU0% - 3% <> GPU10% - 31% <> | CPU1% - 15% <> GPU5% - 20% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU0% - 3% <> GPU16% - 36% <> | CPU0% - 3% <> GPU16% - 36% <> | CPU0% - 3% <> GPU16% - 36% <> | CPU1% - 9% <> GPU14% - 34% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU0% - 0% GPU22% - 42% <> | CPU0% - 0% GPU22% - 42% <> | CPU0% - 0% GPU22% - 42% <> | CPU0% - 0% GPU21% - 39% <> |
The Core i5-12600KF + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 0% and 15% and GPU utilization between 5% and 42%. Core i5-12600KF keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 18% at 1080p to 32% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 4% to 0%.
Neither component is close to saturation: CPU tops out at 15% and GPU at 42%. 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 4% and GPU 18%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 3% and GPU 26%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 0% and GPU 32%. This shows that GPU demand scales sharply with resolution while CPU load remains comparatively stable.
4K (Ultra HD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 0% (0-0%) and GPU 32% (22-42%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i5-12600KF remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Core i5-12600KF 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 1159% above and your GPU is 6804% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+1159%vsrecommended
+6804%vsrecommended
+820%vsminimum
+2422%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i5-12600KF paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Terraria smoothly up to 4k achieving around 135 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 6804% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 1159% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1839 ($190 CPU (Rank #72 Value) + $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.
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 Terraria performance right now. GPU fully utilized at: 1440p ultra, 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra.
Terraria 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.
Terraria requires at minimum a Pentium 4 (CPU) and GeForce FX 5900 (GPU) with 2.5 GB RAM and 200 MB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core 2 Duo and GeForce 9600 GT with 4 GB RAM. Your Core i5-12600KF and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Terraria 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.
