1Can the Core i5-13600K and GeForce RTX 4090 run Path of Exile 2 well?
The Core i5-13600K and GeForce RTX 4090 will struggle to run Path of Exile 2 at smooth framerates.
Path of Exile 2FPS onCore i5-13600K&GeForce RTX 4090
Path of Exile 2
A massive evolution with physically based rendering and fluid animations. The high density of effects creates a heavy load on both CPU and GPU. It scales well up to 16 threads.
Performance Report
Path of Exile 2
GeForce RTX 4090 + Core i5-13600K
🎮Visual Experience
✅Official Requirements
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 170% above the recommended GPU (GeForce RTX 2060) for Path of Exile 2. The Core i5-13600K is 68% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-10500).
✅FPS Ceiling Analysis
No major FPS-ceiling mismatch detected. The GeForce RTX 4090 and Core i5-13600K stay close in effective frame-generation ceiling across the tested resolutions and quality settings.
💰Value Analysis
📊Predicted Hardware Utilization for Core i5-13600K and GeForce RTX 4090
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU56% - 68% <> GPU68% - 78% <> | CPU45% - 67% <> GPU96% - 98% <> | CPU45% - 67% <> GPU96% - 98% <> | CPU38% - 65% <> GPU96% - 99% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU46% - 52% <> GPU68% - 79% <> | CPU35% - 51% <> GPU96% - 99% <> | CPU35% - 51% <> GPU96% - 99% <> | CPU29% - 52% <> GPU96% - 100% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU35% - 36% <> GPU68% - 79% <> | CPU25% - 34% <> GPU96% - 99% <> | CPU25% - 34% <> GPU96% - 99% <> | CPU20% - 34% <> GPU96% - 100% <> |
1080p (Full HD)
Low
CPU56% - 68%
<>
GPU68% - 78%
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Medium
CPU45% - 67%
<>
GPU96% - 98%
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High
CPU45% - 67%
<>
GPU96% - 98%
<>
Ultra
CPU38% - 65%
<>
GPU96% - 99%
<>
1440p (2K QHD)
Low
CPU46% - 52%
<>
GPU68% - 79%
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Medium
CPU35% - 51%
<>
GPU96% - 99%
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High
CPU35% - 51%
<>
GPU96% - 99%
<>
Ultra
CPU29% - 52%
<>
GPU96% - 100%
<>
4K (Ultra HD)
Low
CPU35% - 36%
<>
GPU68% - 79%
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Medium
CPU25% - 34%
<>
GPU96% - 99%
<>
High
CPU25% - 34%
<>
GPU96% - 99%
<>
Ultra
CPU20% - 34%
<>
GPU96% - 100%
<>
Performance Summary
The Core i5-13600K + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 20% and 68% and GPU utilization between 68% and 100%. Core i5-13600K stays in a controlled operating range, while GeForce RTX 4090 carries most of the graphics load at heavier visual settings. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 91% at 1080p to 92% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 57% to 31%.
Load Interpretation
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 1080p (Full HD) Ultra, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 98% usage (96-99%), while the Core i5-13600K stays at 52% (38-65%). This shows the graphics pipeline is carrying most of the workload, but utilization alone does not define the FPS limiter.
Resolution Scaling
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 57% and GPU 91%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 44% and GPU 92%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 31% and GPU 92%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
Optimal Settings Recommendation
1440p (2K QHD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 49% (46-52%) and GPU 74% (68-79%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i5-13600K remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade Insight
Upgrade priority should be the GPU. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 98% average load at 1080p (Full HD) Ultra while the Core i5-13600K 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.
- 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.
Path of Exile 2 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 i5-13600K
37,655
Your Score
MinimumCore i7-7700
RecommendedCore i5-10500
GPU - GeForce RTX 4090
38,112
Your Score
MinimumGeForce GTX 960
RecommendedGeForce RTX 2060
Your CPU is 68% above and your GPU is 170% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+68%vsrecommended
+170%vsrecommended
+301%vsminimum
+380%vsminimum
Minimum Requirements
Recommended Requirements
Video Card: GeForce RTX 2060
Processor: Core i5-10500
Memory: 16 GB
Disk Space: 100 GB (SSD)
System: Windows 10
Frequently Asked Questions
2Is there a more cost-effective setup to run Path of Exile 2?
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1968 ($319 CPU (Rank #135 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). This is a well-balanced setup, meaning you're getting good value from both components without significant waste.
3Which component should I upgrade first to improve Path of Exile 2 performance?
This setup is already well-balanced for Path of Exile 2. No significant bottleneck - CPU and GPU are well matched across all settings. Both the Core i5-13600K and GeForce RTX 4090 complement each other effectively, so upgrading either component individually would yield diminishing returns. If you want more FPS, you'd benefit most from upgrading both CPU and GPU together.
4Does this setup support Frame Generation for Path of Exile 2?
Path of Exile 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.
5What are the minimum and recommended specs for Path of Exile 2?
Path of Exile 2 requires at minimum a Core i7-7700 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 960 (GPU) with 8 GB RAM and 100 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-10500 and GeForce RTX 2060 with 16 GB RAM. Your Core i5-13600K and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
6How accurate are these Path of Exile 2 FPS estimates for the Core i5-13600K and GeForce RTX 4090?
These Path of Exile 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.