Performance Summary
The Core i5-6600K + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 72% and 100% and GPU utilization between 58% and 100%. Core i5-6600K reaches high load in heavier scenarios, while GeForce RTX 4090 carries most of the graphics load at heavier visual settings. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 72% at 1080p to 91% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 94% to 85%.
Load Interpretation
From a utilization perspective, this is a CPU-heavy load profile. At 1440p (2K QHD) Low, the Core i5-6600K reaches 98% average load (95-100%), while the GeForce RTX 4090 remains comparatively lower at 74% (71-76%). This points to heavier CPU-side frame preparation work, but utilization alone does not define the FPS limiter.
Resolution Scaling
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 94% and GPU 72%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 97% and GPU 80%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 85% and GPU 91%. 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 76% (72-79%) and GPU 98% (95-100%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i5-6600K remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade Insight
Both components are stressed near their limits in the heaviest presets (Core i5-6600K: 98% avg, GeForce RTX 4090: 98% avg). A targeted upgrade should follow your target resolution: GPU first for higher image quality, CPU first for higher minimum FPS.