The Sims 4FPS onCore i7-9700KF&GeForce RTX 4090

The Sims 4

Optimized to run on laptops, it is largely CPU-limited by the simulation. Installing many DLCs and expansions significantly increases RAM and storage load.

The Sims 4 - FPS Estimates by Resolution

Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors

1080P
low300 FPS
medium260 FPS
high227 FPS
ultra218 FPS
1440P
low292 FPS
medium270 FPS
high220 FPS
ultra198 FPS
4K
low242 FPS
medium221 FPS
high186 FPS
ultra159 FPS

Performance Report

The Sims 4

GeForce RTX 4090 + Core i7-9700KF
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 218 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 198 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 159 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 4090 is 2070% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 650) for The Sims 4. The Core i7-9700KF is 16% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4460).

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

The Core i7-9700KF sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom.

💰Value Analysis

Approximated average price on current market:

GeForce RTX 4090:$1649(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $1599
Core i7-9700KF:$333(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $374

Combo price: $1982. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 218 FPS, equivalent to 0.11 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.151 fps/$0.131 fps/$0.115 fps/$0.110 fps/$
1440p0.147 fps/$0.136 fps/$0.111 fps/$0.100 fps/$
4k0.122 fps/$0.112 fps/$0.094 fps/$0.080 fps/$

* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)

Performance Limiter Analysis

Core i7-9700KF|GeForce RTX 4090

This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.

📈Analysis

At 1440p high, the Core i7-9700KF sets the ceiling at about 224 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 291 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 23% (FPS gap: 67 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.

Verdict

CPU Limits GPU

Your Core i7-9700KF is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the GeForce RTX 4090 rendering potential remains unused in those settings.

🧩Detailed Breakdown
1080p (Full HD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 13%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 14%
HighCPU Limits GPU 16%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 11%
1440p (2K QHD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 18%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 20%
HighCPU Limits GPU 23%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 20%
4K (Ultra HD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 10%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 14%
HighCPU Limits GPU 18%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 17%
Percentages show how much potential FPS of the stronger component is lost because the other component has a lower FPS ceiling.
🧠Methodology

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.

📊Predicted Hardware Utilization for Core i7-9700KF and GeForce RTX 4090

1080p (Full HD)

Low
CPU15% - 20%
<>
GPU3% - 20%
<>
Medium
CPU15% - 20%
<>
GPU3% - 20%
<>
High
CPU15% - 20%
<>
GPU3% - 20%
<>
Ultra
CPU15% - 20%
<>
GPU3% - 20%
<>

1440p (2K QHD)

Low
CPU13% - 19%
<>
GPU4% - 23%
<>
Medium
CPU13% - 19%
<>
GPU4% - 23%
<>
High
CPU13% - 19%
<>
GPU4% - 23%
<>
Ultra
CPU13% - 19%
<>
GPU4% - 23%
<>

4K (Ultra HD)

Low
CPU13% - 19%
<>
GPU4% - 23%
<>
Medium
CPU13% - 19%
<>
GPU4% - 23%
<>
High
CPU13% - 19%
<>
GPU4% - 23%
<>
Ultra
CPU13% - 19%
<>
GPU4% - 23%
<>

Performance Summary

The Core i7-9700KF + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 13% and 20% and GPU utilization between 3% and 23%. Core i7-9700KF keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 12% at 1080p to 14% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 18% to 16%.

Load Interpretation

Neither component is close to saturation: CPU tops out at 20% and GPU at 23%. This pattern suggests possible engine-side limits, an FPS cap, or workload constraints unrelated to raw hardware throughput. It also shows why low utilization does not automatically mean there is no FPS limiter.

Resolution Scaling

At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 18% and GPU 12%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 16% and GPU 14%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 16% and GPU 14%. This shows that workload scaling is limited, which can indicate engine-side constraints.

Optimal Settings Recommendation

1440p (2K QHD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 16% (13-19%) and GPU 14% (4-23%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i7-9700KF remains stable for consistent frame delivery.

Upgrade Insight

Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Core i7-9700KF and GeForce RTX 4090 remain reasonably matched for this title.

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.

The Sims 4 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 i7-9700KF
cpu icon
14,250
Your Score
MinimumCore i3-3220
RecommendedCore i5-4460
GPU - GeForce RTX 4090
gpu icon
38,112
Your Score
MinimumGeForce 6600
RecommendedGeForce GTX 650

Your CPU is 16% above and your GPU is 2070% above the recommended specs. High/Ultra at 1080p. Lower settings for higher resolutions.

CPU

+16%vsrecommended

GPU

+2070%vsrecommended

CPU

+122%vsminimum

GPU

+81%vsminimum

Minimum Requirements
Video Card: GeForce 6600
Processor: Core i3-3220
Memory: 4 GB
Disk Space: 25 GB
System: Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTX 650
Processor: Core i5-4460
Memory: 8 GB
Disk Space: 50 GB
System: Windows 10 64-bit

Frequently Asked Questions

1Can the Core i7-9700KF and GeForce RTX 4090 run The Sims 4 well?

Yes, the Core i7-9700KF paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run The Sims 4 smoothly up to 4k achieving around 159 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 2070% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 16% above the recommended requirements.

2Is there a more cost-effective setup to run The Sims 4?

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1982 ($333 CPU (Rank #368 Value) + $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).

3Which component should I upgrade first to improve The Sims 4 performance?

For The Sims 4, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i7-9700KF 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.

4Does this setup support Frame Generation for The Sims 4?

The Sims 4 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 The Sims 4?

The Sims 4 requires at minimum a Core i3-3220 (CPU) and GeForce 6600 (GPU) with 4 GB RAM and 25 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-4460 and GeForce GTX 650 with 8 GB RAM. Your Core i7-9700KF and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.

6How accurate are these The Sims 4 FPS estimates for the Core i7-9700KF and GeForce RTX 4090?

These The Sims 4 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.