A dense RPG where Act 3 becomes a CPU stress test due to the high number of NPCs. An SSD is vital for loading times. 16GB of RAM is recommended, and the game benefits greatly from upscaling tech like DLSS and FSR.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 125 FPS. At 1440p, all settings exceed 94 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 58 to 95 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 131% above the recommended GPU (GeForce RTX 2060 Super) for Baldur's Gate 3. The Core i9-11900KF is 39% above the recommended CPU (Core i7-8700K).
The Core i9-11900KF sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, 1440p ultra, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1440p (low/medium/high), all 4k settings.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1998. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 125 FPS, equivalent to 0.06 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.097 fps/$ | 0.087 fps/$ | 0.072 fps/$ | 0.063 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.070 fps/$ | 0.061 fps/$ | 0.052 fps/$ | 0.047 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.048 fps/$ | 0.041 fps/$ | 0.035 fps/$ | 0.029 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 1080p ultra, the Core i9-11900KF sets the ceiling at about 126 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 174 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 28% (FPS gap: 48 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 5/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 7/12.
The Core i9-11900KF 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) | CPU Limits GPU 25% | CPU Limits GPU 22% | CPU Limits GPU 26% | CPU Limits GPU 28% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | CPU Limits GPU 10% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced |
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) | CPU73% - 100% <> GPU40% - 90% <> | CPU68% - 100% <> GPU46% - 89% <> | CPU49% - 100% <> GPU51% - 94% <> | CPU48% - 100% <> GPU62% - 96% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU71% - 100% <> GPU40% - 93% <> | CPU67% - 100% <> GPU45% - 92% <> | CPU47% - 100% <> GPU50% - 97% <> | CPU46% - 100% <> GPU61% - 96% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU72% - 100% <> GPU41% - 95% <> | CPU68% - 100% <> GPU45% - 93% <> | CPU49% - 100% <> GPU50% - 98% <> | CPU49% - 100% <> GPU59% - 97% <> |
The Core i9-11900KF + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 46% and 100% and GPU utilization between 40% and 98%. Core i9-11900KF reaches high load in heavier scenarios, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 71% at 1080p to 72% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 80% to 80%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a CPU-heavy load profile. At 1080p (Full HD) Low, the Core i9-11900KF reaches 86% average load (73-100%), while the GeForce RTX 4090 remains comparatively lower at 65% (40-90%). This points to heavier CPU-side frame preparation work, but utilization alone does not define the FPS limiter.
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 80% and GPU 71%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 79% and GPU 72%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 80% and GPU 72%. This shows that workload scaling is limited, which can indicate engine-side constraints.
1080p (Full HD) Ultra is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 74% (48-100%) and GPU 79% (62-96%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i9-11900KF remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the CPU. The Core i9-11900KF reaches 86% average load at 1080p (Full HD) Low while the GeForce RTX 4090 remains comparatively underutilized, so a faster processor would improve frame-time consistency and top-end FPS.
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 39% above and your GPU is 131% above the recommended specs. High/Ultra at 1080p. Lower settings for higher resolutions.
+39%vsrecommended
+131%vsrecommended
+314%vsminimum
+295%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i9-11900KF paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Baldur's Gate 3 smoothly up to 1440p achieving around 94 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 131% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 39% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1998 ($349 CPU (Rank #279 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 Baldur's Gate 3, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i9-11900KF 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 ultra.
Baldur's Gate 3 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.
Baldur's Gate 3 requires at minimum a Core i5-4690 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 970 (GPU) with 8 GB RAM and 150 GB (SSD) storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i7-8700K and GeForce RTX 2060 Super with 16 GB RAM. Your Core i9-11900KF and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Baldur's Gate 3 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.
