Bethesda's Creation Engine 2 is CPU-dependent, especially in cities, and requires an SSD for asset streaming. Optimization tends to favor AMD slightly, but generally requires powerful hardware to run smoothly.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 76 FPS. At 1440p, all settings exceed 61 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 41 to 81 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 52% above the recommended GPU (GeForce RTX 2080) for Starfield. The Core i5-14600K is 113% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-10600K).
The GeForce RTX 4090 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, while the Core i5-14600K still has additional frame-generation headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at all 4k settings.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1924. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 76 FPS, equivalent to 0.04 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.081 fps/$ | 0.063 fps/$ | 0.052 fps/$ | 0.040 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.064 fps/$ | 0.049 fps/$ | 0.042 fps/$ | 0.032 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.042 fps/$ | 0.033 fps/$ | 0.028 fps/$ | 0.021 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 GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 145 FPS, while the Core i5-14600K has headroom up to 188 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 23% (FPS gap: 43 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 8/12 cells, CPU limits 1/12, balanced 3/12.
Your GeForce RTX 4090 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the Core i5-14600K frame-generation potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | GPU Limits CPU 23% | GPU Limits CPU 23% | GPU Limits CPU 23% | GPU Limits CPU 15% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | GPU Limits CPU 14% | GPU Limits CPU 12% | GPU Limits CPU 14% | GPU Limits CPU 10% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | CPU Limits GPU 15% |
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) | CPU50% - 74% <> GPU57% - 85% <> | CPU50% - 73% <> GPU78% - 96% <> | CPU46% - 69% <> GPU79% - 97% <> | CPU45% - 70% <> GPU82% - 98% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU38% - 57% <> GPU86% - 92% <> | CPU38% - 56% <> GPU93% - 98% <> | CPU36% - 52% <> GPU94% - 99% <> | CPU33% - 56% <> GPU95% - 100% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU29% - 50% <> GPU86% - 94% <> | CPU29% - 48% <> GPU97% - 99% <> | CPU26% - 45% <> GPU98% - 100% <> | CPU24% - 44% <> GPU98% - 100% <> |
The Core i5-14600K + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 24% and 74% and GPU utilization between 57% and 100%. Core i5-14600K 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 84% at 1080p to 97% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 60% to 37%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 4K (Ultra HD) High, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 99% usage (98-100%), while the Core i5-14600K stays at 36% (26-45%). 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 60% and GPU 84%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 46% and GPU 95%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 37% and GPU 97%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
1080p (Full HD) High is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 58% (46-69%) and GPU 88% (79-97%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i5-14600K remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the GPU. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 99% average load at 4K (Ultra HD) High while the Core i5-14600K 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 CPU is 113% above and your GPU is 52% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+113%vsrecommended
+52%vsrecommended
+178%vsminimum
+160%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i5-14600K paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Starfield smoothly up to 1440p achieving around 61 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 52% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 113% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1924 ($275 CPU (Rank #79 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 Starfield performance right now. GPU fully utilized at: 1080p low, 1080p medium, 1080p high, 1080p ultra, 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p high, 1440p ultra.
Starfield 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.
Starfield requires at minimum a Core i7-6800K (CPU) and GeForce GTX 1070 Ti (GPU) with 16 GB RAM and 125 GB (SSD Obrigatório) storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-10600K and GeForce RTX 2080 with 16 GB RAM. Your Core i5-14600K and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Starfield 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.
