Known to slow down in the late game due to the exponential number of unit calculations. Single-core CPU speed is the most important factor for performance.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 110 FPS. At 1440p, all settings exceed 101 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 90 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 5090 is 889% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 570) for Hearts of Iron IV. The Core i5-14500 is 1126% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-750).
The Core i5-14500 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, 4k (low/medium/high), while the GeForce RTX 5090 still has headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 4k ultra.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $2951. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 110 FPS, equivalent to 0.04 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.080 fps/$ | 0.058 fps/$ | 0.046 fps/$ | 0.037 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.062 fps/$ | 0.050 fps/$ | 0.041 fps/$ | 0.034 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.053 fps/$ | 0.043 fps/$ | 0.037 fps/$ | 0.030 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages. Adjacent heavier settings are lightly stabilized to remove prediction jitter that would otherwise create impossible reversals.
At 1080p low, the Core i5-14500 sets the ceiling at about 240 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 5090 could reach 274 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 12% (FPS gap: 34 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 11/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 1/12.
The Core i5-14500 and GeForce RTX 5090 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) | CPU Limits GPU 12% | CPU Limits GPU 12% | CPU Limits GPU 11% | CPU Limits GPU 8% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 12% | CPU Limits GPU 11% | CPU Limits GPU 10% | CPU Limits GPU 8% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 10% | CPU Limits GPU 8% | CPU Limits GPU 8% | Balanced |
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 and then monotonic-smoothed across heavier presets and resolutions, not generic utilization heuristics.
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 1126% above and your GPU is 889% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+1126%vsrecommended
+889%vsrecommended
+771%vsminimum
+1136%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i5-14500 paired with the GeForce RTX 5090 can run Hearts of Iron IV smoothly up to 4k achieving around 90 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 889% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 1126% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $2951 ($251 CPU + $2700 GPU). 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 #4 for value).
For Hearts of Iron IV, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i5-14500 is currently the limiting factor — the GeForce RTX 5090 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.
Hearts of Iron IV 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.
Hearts of Iron IV requires at minimum a Core 2 Quad Q9400 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 470 (GPU) with 4 GB RAM and 2 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-750 and GeForce GTX 570 with 4 GB RAM. Your Core i5-14500 and GeForce RTX 5090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Hearts of Iron IV 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.
