Baldur's Gate 3FPS onCore i9-13900F&GeForce RTX 4090

Baldur's Gate 3

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.

Baldur's Gate 3 - FPS Estimates by Resolution

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

1080P
low265 FPS
medium265 FPS
high235 FPS
ultra207 FPS
1440P
low173 FPS
medium166 FPS
high152 FPS
ultra137 FPS
4K
low131 FPS
medium125 FPS
high116 FPS
ultra99 FPS

Performance Report

Baldur's Gate 3

GeForce RTX 4090 + Core i9-13900F
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 207 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 137 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 99 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 4090 is 131% above the recommended GPU (GeForce RTX 2060 Super) for Baldur's Gate 3. The Core i9-13900F is 177% above the recommended CPU (Core i7-8700K).

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4090 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the Core i9-13900F still has additional frame-generation headroom.

💰Value Analysis

Approximated average price on current market:

GeForce RTX 4090:$1649(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $1599
Core i9-13900F:$536(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $524

Combo price: $2185. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 207 FPS, equivalent to 0.09 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.121 fps/$0.121 fps/$0.108 fps/$0.095 fps/$
1440p0.079 fps/$0.076 fps/$0.070 fps/$0.063 fps/$
4k0.060 fps/$0.057 fps/$0.053 fps/$0.045 fps/$

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

Performance Limiter Analysis

Core i9-13900F|GeForce RTX 4090

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

📈Analysis

At 4k high, the GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 79 FPS, while the Core i9-13900F has headroom up to 119 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 34% (FPS gap: 40 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 12/12 cells, CPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.

Verdict

GPU Limits CPU

Your GeForce RTX 4090 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the Core i9-13900F frame-generation potential remains unused in those settings.

🧩Detailed Breakdown
1080p (Full HD)
LowGPU Limits CPU 6%
MediumGPU Limits CPU 15%
HighGPU Limits CPU 16%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 16%
1440p (2K QHD)
LowGPU Limits CPU 17%
MediumGPU Limits CPU 26%
HighGPU Limits CPU 26%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 23%
4K (Ultra HD)
LowGPU Limits CPU 23%
MediumGPU Limits CPU 30%
HighGPU Limits CPU 34%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 30%
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 i9-13900F and GeForce RTX 4090

1080p (Full HD)

Low
CPU55% - 55%
GPU40% - 93%
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Medium
CPU52% - 55%
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GPU40% - 91%
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High
CPU30% - 55%
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GPU41% - 96%
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Ultra
CPU29% - 55%
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GPU45% - 99%
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1440p (2K QHD)

Low
CPU52% - 55%
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GPU41% - 96%
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Medium
CPU50% - 55%
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GPU42% - 94%
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High
CPU27% - 55%
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GPU43% - 100%
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Ultra
CPU27% - 55%
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GPU46% - 100%
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4K (Ultra HD)

Low
CPU61% - 65%
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GPU47% - 95%
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Medium
CPU58% - 65%
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GPU49% - 93%
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High
CPU35% - 65%
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GPU50% - 99%
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Ultra
CPU35% - 65%
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GPU53% - 99%
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Performance Summary

The Core i9-13900F + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 27% and 65% and GPU utilization between 40% and 100%. Core i9-13900F stays in a controlled operating range, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 68% at 1080p to 73% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 48% to 56%.

Load Interpretation

The utilization pattern is relatively even. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 76% average at its highest-load preset, while the Core i9-13900F peaks at 63% average. This suggests a fairly controlled load distribution, but the actual FPS-limiting side should still be read from the limiter analysis above.

Resolution Scaling

At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 48% and GPU 68%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 47% and GPU 70%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 56% and GPU 73%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.

Optimal Settings Recommendation

4K (Ultra HD) Ultra is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 50% (35-65%) and GPU 76% (53-99%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i9-13900F remains stable for consistent frame delivery.

Upgrade Insight

Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Core i9-13900F 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.

Baldur's Gate 3 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 i9-13900F
cpu icon
48,934
Your Score
MinimumCore i5-4690
RecommendedCore i7-8700K
GPU - GeForce RTX 4090
gpu icon
38,112
Your Score
MinimumGeForce GTX 970
RecommendedGeForce RTX 2060 Super

Your CPU is 177% above and your GPU is 131% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.

CPU

+177%vsrecommended

GPU

+131%vsrecommended

CPU

+724%vsminimum

GPU

+295%vsminimum

Minimum Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTX 970
Processor: Core i5-4690
Memory: 8 GB
Disk Space: 150 GB (SSD)
System: Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended Requirements
Processor: Core i7-8700K
Memory: 16 GB
Disk Space: 150 GB (SSD)
System: Windows 10 64-bit

Frequently Asked Questions

1Can the Core i9-13900F and GeForce RTX 4090 run Baldur's Gate 3 well?

Yes, the Core i9-13900F paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Baldur's Gate 3 smoothly up to 4k achieving around 99 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 131% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 177% above the recommended requirements.

2Is there a more cost-effective setup to run Baldur's Gate 3?

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $2185 ($536 CPU (Rank #207 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Your GeForce RTX 4090 provides phenomenal top-tier performance but at a premium enthusiast price. Since you are essentially at the ceiling of current hardware capabilities, there are no meaningful performance upgrades available. However, if you wanted a more cost-effective build that still delivers a great experience, you could theoretically step down to a high-end card with a significantly better value rating.

3Which component should I upgrade first to improve Baldur's Gate 3 performance?

Your GeForce RTX 4090 is already a top-tier graphics card. While it's technically the limiting factor here (which means you are fully utilizing your GPU's visual horsepower exactly as intended), there is no meaningful upgrade path that would drastically improve your Baldur's Gate 3 performance right now. GPU fully utilized 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 Baldur's Gate 3?

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.

5What are the minimum and recommended specs for Baldur's Gate 3?

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 i9-13900F and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.

6How accurate are these Baldur's Gate 3 FPS estimates for the Core i9-13900F and GeForce RTX 4090?

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.