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, frame rates range from 57 to 109 FPS depending on quality settings. At 1440p, frame rates range from 45 to 88 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 28 to 51 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 52% above the recommended GPU (GeForce RTX 2080) for Starfield. The Core i7-8700 is 8% below minimum CPU requirement.
The Core i7-8700 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1759. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 57 FPS, equivalent to 0.03 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.062 fps/$ | 0.053 fps/$ | 0.045 fps/$ | 0.032 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.050 fps/$ | 0.042 fps/$ | 0.035 fps/$ | 0.026 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.029 fps/$ | 0.024 fps/$ | 0.022 fps/$ | 0.016 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 4k medium, the Core i7-8700 sets the ceiling at about 46 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 81 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 43% (FPS gap: 35 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your Core i7-8700 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the GeForce RTX 4090 rendering potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU Limits GPU 24% | CPU Limits GPU 22% | CPU Limits GPU 20% | CPU Limits GPU 28% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 33% | CPU Limits GPU 30% | CPU Limits GPU 28% | CPU Limits GPU 35% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 40% | CPU Limits GPU 43% | CPU Limits GPU 39% | CPU Limits GPU 41% |
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) | CPU51% - 85% <> GPU61% - 87% <> | CPU55% - 83% <> GPU83% - 96% <> | CPU56% - 79% <> GPU84% - 97% <> | CPU55% - 77% <> GPU87% - 99% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU52% - 71% <> GPU87% - 89% <> | CPU52% - 70% <> GPU90% - 98% <> | CPU47% - 69% <> GPU93% - 99% <> | CPU44% - 61% <> GPU95% - 100% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU43% - 71% <> GPU87% - 93% <> | CPU44% - 70% <> GPU96% - 99% <> | CPU36% - 68% <> GPU97% - 100% <> | CPU33% - 57% <> GPU98% - 100% <> |
The Core i7-8700 + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 33% and 85% and GPU utilization between 61% and 100%. Core i7-8700 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 87% at 1080p to 96% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 68% to 53%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 4K (Ultra HD) Ultra, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 99% usage (98-100%), while the Core i7-8700 stays at 45% (33-57%). 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 68% and GPU 87%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 58% and GPU 94%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 53% and GPU 96%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
1440p (2K QHD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 62% (52-71%) and GPU 88% (87-89%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i7-8700 remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the GPU. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 99% average load at 4K (Ultra HD) Ultra while the Core i7-8700 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 hardware is below minimum requirements. CPU is the limiting factor (8% below minimum). Expect performance issues. Low settings recommended.
-30%vsrecommended
+52%vsrecommended
-8%vsminimum
+160%vsminimum
The Core i7-8700 and GeForce RTX 4090 will struggle to run Starfield at smooth framerates. At 1080p Ultra, you can expect around 57 FPS which is classified as "playable". Consider lowering settings or upgrading your hardware.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1759 ($110 CPU + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). 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 #5 for value).
For Starfield, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i7-8700 is currently the limiting factor — the GeForce RTX 4090 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, 4k 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 hardware falls below the minimum requirements for this game, which may result in poor performance.
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.
