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 67 FPS. At 1440p, frame rates range from 56 to 103 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 38 to 67 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 52% above the recommended GPU (GeForce RTX 2080) for Starfield. The Core i9-10910 is 18% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-10600K).
At lower resolutions (all 4k settings), the Core i9-10910 sets the FPS ceiling. As graphical load increases at (1080p medium), the GeForce RTX 4090 becomes the FPS-limiting side. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1080p (low/high/ultra), all 1440p settings.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1849. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 67 FPS, equivalent to 0.04 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.066 fps/$ | 0.055 fps/$ | 0.045 fps/$ | 0.036 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.056 fps/$ | 0.046 fps/$ | 0.038 fps/$ | 0.030 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.036 fps/$ | 0.031 fps/$ | 0.026 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 4k medium, the Core i9-10910 sets the ceiling at about 62 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 78 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 21% (FPS gap: 16 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 4/12 cells, GPU limits 1/12, balanced 7/12.
The Core i9-10910 and GeForce RTX 4090 stay close in effective frame-generation ceiling across most presets, so neither side consistently suppresses the other by a large margin.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | Balanced | GPU Limits CPU 6% | Balanced | Balanced |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 18% | CPU Limits GPU 21% | CPU Limits GPU 21% | CPU Limits GPU 21% |
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) | CPU48% - 74% <> GPU54% - 74% <> | CPU48% - 73% <> GPU84% - 96% <> | CPU49% - 74% <> GPU85% - 98% <> | CPU49% - 75% <> GPU88% - 99% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU39% - 71% <> GPU75% - 87% <> | CPU39% - 70% <> GPU91% - 97% <> | CPU37% - 69% <> GPU93% - 99% <> | CPU33% - 63% <> GPU95% - 100% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU32% - 72% <> GPU75% - 91% <> | CPU32% - 71% <> GPU97% - 98% <> | CPU29% - 71% <> GPU98% - 100% <> | CPU28% - 61% <> GPU98% - 100% <> |
The Core i9-10910 + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 28% and 75% and GPU utilization between 54% and 100%. Core i9-10910 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 85% at 1080p to 95% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 61% to 50%.
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 i9-10910 stays at 50% (29-71%). 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 61% and GPU 85%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 53% and GPU 92%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 50% and GPU 95%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
1080p (Full HD) Medium is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 60% (48-73%) and GPU 90% (84-96%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i9-10910 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 i9-10910 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 18% above and your GPU is 52% above the recommended specs. High/Ultra at 1080p. Lower settings for higher resolutions.
+18%vsrecommended
+52%vsrecommended
+54%vsminimum
+160%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i9-10910 paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Starfield smoothly up to 1080p achieving around 67 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 52% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 18% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1849 ($200 CPU (Rank #163 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).
For Starfield, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i9-10910 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: 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra. GPU fully utilized at: 1080p medium.
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 i9-10910 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.
