1Can the Core i5-6600K and GeForce RTX 4090 run Euro Truck Simulator 2 well?
The Core i5-6600K and GeForce RTX 4090 will struggle to run Euro Truck Simulator 2 at smooth framerates.
Euro Truck Simulator 2FPS onCore i5-6600K&GeForce RTX 4090
Euro Truck Simulator 2
The lighting engine has been updated over the years. It scales well, but running at 'Ultra' settings with high scaling can challenge even modern GPUs.
Performance Report
Euro Truck Simulator 2
GeForce RTX 4090 + Core i5-6600K
🎮Visual Experience
✅Official Requirements
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 227% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 1660) for Euro Truck Simulator 2. The Core i5-6600K is 2% below minimum CPU requirement.
✅FPS Ceiling Analysis
No major FPS-ceiling mismatch detected. The GeForce RTX 4090 and Core i5-6600K stay close in effective frame-generation ceiling across the tested resolutions and quality settings.
💰Value Analysis
📊Predicted Hardware Utilization for Core i5-6600K and GeForce RTX 4090
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU31% - 56% <> GPU94% - 98% <> | CPU31% - 56% <> GPU94% - 98% <> | CPU31% - 56% <> GPU96% - 97% <> | CPU31% - 56% <> GPU96% - 97% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU32% - 59% <> GPU79% - 92% <> | CPU32% - 59% <> GPU79% - 92% <> | CPU33% - 60% <> GPU81% - 92% <> | CPU33% - 60% <> GPU81% - 92% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU32% - 59% <> GPU79% - 92% <> | CPU32% - 59% <> GPU79% - 92% <> | CPU33% - 60% <> GPU81% - 92% <> | CPU33% - 60% <> GPU81% - 92% <> |
1080p (Full HD)
Low
CPU31% - 56%
<>
GPU94% - 98%
<>
Medium
CPU31% - 56%
<>
GPU94% - 98%
<>
High
CPU31% - 56%
<>
GPU96% - 97%
<>
Ultra
CPU31% - 56%
<>
GPU96% - 97%
<>
1440p (2K QHD)
Low
CPU32% - 59%
<>
GPU79% - 92%
<>
Medium
CPU32% - 59%
<>
GPU79% - 92%
<>
High
CPU33% - 60%
<>
GPU81% - 92%
<>
Ultra
CPU33% - 60%
<>
GPU81% - 92%
<>
4K (Ultra HD)
Low
CPU32% - 59%
<>
GPU79% - 92%
<>
Medium
CPU32% - 59%
<>
GPU79% - 92%
<>
High
CPU33% - 60%
<>
GPU81% - 92%
<>
Ultra
CPU33% - 60%
<>
GPU81% - 92%
<>
Performance Summary
The Core i5-6600K + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 31% and 60% and GPU utilization between 79% and 98%. Core i5-6600K keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce RTX 4090 carries most of the graphics load at heavier visual settings. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 96% at 1080p to 86% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 44% to 46%.
Load Interpretation
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 1080p (Full HD) Low, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 96% usage (94-98%), while the Core i5-6600K stays at 44% (31-56%). 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 44% and GPU 96%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 46% and GPU 86%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 46% and GPU 86%. 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 46% (32-59%) and GPU 86% (79-92%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i5-6600K remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade Insight
Upgrade priority should be the GPU. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 96% average load at 1080p (Full HD) Low while the Core i5-6600K 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.
Euro Truck Simulator 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 i5-6600K
6,301
Your Score
MinimumCore i5-6400
RecommendedCore i5-9600
GPU - GeForce RTX 4090
38,112
Your Score
MinimumGeForce GTX 660
RecommendedGeForce GTX 1660
Your hardware is below minimum requirements. CPU is the limiting factor (2% below minimum). Expect performance issues. Low settings recommended.
-64%vsrecommended
+227%vsrecommended
-2%vsminimum
+830%vsminimum
Minimum Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTX 660
Processor: Core i5-6400
Memory: 8 GB
Disk Space: 25 GB
System: Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTX 1660
Processor: Core i5-9600
Memory: 12 GB
Disk Space: 25 GB
System: Windows 10 64-bit
Frequently Asked Questions
2Is there a more cost-effective setup to run Euro Truck Simulator 2?
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1754 ($105 CPU + $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 Euro Truck Simulator 2 performance?
This setup is already well-balanced for Euro Truck Simulator 2. No significant bottleneck - CPU and GPU are well matched across all settings. Both the Core i5-6600K 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 Euro Truck Simulator 2?
Euro Truck Simulator 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 Euro Truck Simulator 2?
Euro Truck Simulator 2 requires at minimum a Core i5-6400 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 660 (GPU) with 8 GB RAM and 25 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-9600 and GeForce GTX 1660 with 12 GB RAM. Your hardware falls below the minimum requirements for this game, which may result in poor performance.
6How accurate are these Euro Truck Simulator 2 FPS estimates for the Core i5-6600K and GeForce RTX 4090?
These Euro Truck Simulator 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.