DeadlockFPS onCore i9-9900KS&GeForce RTX 4090

Deadlock

Valve's new MOBA/Shooter hybrid. It has higher requirements than Dota 2, with 16GB of RAM recommended for a smooth experience.

Deadlock - FPS Estimates by Resolution

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

1080P
low223 FPS
medium168 FPS
high147 FPS
ultra116 FPS
1440P
low226 FPS
medium179 FPS
high158 FPS
ultra124 FPS
4K
low123 FPS
medium94 FPS
high86 FPS
ultra65 FPS

Performance Report

Deadlock

GeForce RTX 4090 + Core i9-9900KS
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 116 FPS. At 1440p, all settings exceed 124 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 65 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 4090 is 279% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 1060) for Deadlock. The Core i9-9900KS is 48% above the recommended CPU (Core i7-6700K).

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

The Core i9-9900KS 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 i9-9900KS:$350(updated 2/9/2026)
Official Launch Price: $513

Combo price: $1999. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 116 FPS, equivalent to 0.06 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.112 fps/$0.084 fps/$0.074 fps/$0.058 fps/$
1440p0.113 fps/$0.090 fps/$0.079 fps/$0.062 fps/$
4k0.062 fps/$0.047 fps/$0.043 fps/$0.033 fps/$

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

Performance Limiter Analysis

Core i9-9900KS|GeForce RTX 4090

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

📈Analysis

At 1080p ultra, the Core i9-9900KS sets the ceiling at about 113 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 184 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 39% (FPS gap: 71 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.

Verdict

CPU Limits GPU

Your Core i9-9900KS 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 23%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 32%
HighCPU Limits GPU 29%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 39%
1440p (2K QHD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 16%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 27%
HighCPU Limits GPU 23%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 33%
4K (Ultra HD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 16%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 25%
HighCPU Limits GPU 23%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 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 i9-9900KS and GeForce RTX 4090

1080p (Full HD)

Low
CPU83% - 100%
<>
GPU42% - 69%
<>
Medium
CPU81% - 93%
<>
GPU42% - 70%
<>
High
CPU55% - 83%
<>
GPU42% - 70%
<>
Ultra
CPU56% - 84%
<>
GPU41% - 70%
<>

1440p (2K QHD)

Low
CPU67% - 83%
<>
GPU48% - 81%
<>
Medium
CPU66% - 80%
<>
GPU48% - 82%
<>
High
CPU47% - 73%
<>
GPU48% - 82%
<>
Ultra
CPU47% - 73%
<>
GPU48% - 82%
<>

4K (Ultra HD)

Low
CPU64% - 72%
<>
GPU61% - 90%
<>
Medium
CPU63% - 70%
<>
GPU61% - 90%
<>
High
CPU44% - 65%
<>
GPU61% - 91%
<>
Ultra
CPU44% - 65%
<>
GPU62% - 91%
<>

Performance Summary

The Core i9-9900KS + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 44% and 100% and GPU utilization between 41% and 91%. Core i9-9900KS reaches high load in heavier scenarios, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 56% at 1080p to 76% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 80% to 61%.

Load Interpretation

From a utilization perspective, this is a CPU-heavy load profile. At 1080p (Full HD) Low, the Core i9-9900KS reaches 92% average load (83-100%), while the GeForce RTX 4090 remains comparatively lower at 56% (42-69%). This points to heavier CPU-side frame preparation work, but utilization alone does not define the FPS limiter.

Resolution Scaling

At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 80% and GPU 56%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 67% and GPU 65%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 61% and GPU 76%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.

Optimal Settings Recommendation

4K (Ultra HD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 68% (64-72%) and GPU 76% (61-90%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i9-9900KS remains stable for consistent frame delivery.

Upgrade Insight

Upgrade priority should be the CPU. The Core i9-9900KS reaches 92% 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.

  • 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.

Deadlock 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 i9-9900KS
cpu icon
19,397
Your Score
MinimumCore i5-2500K
RecommendedCore i7-6700K
GPU - GeForce RTX 4090
gpu icon
38,112
Your Score
MinimumGeForce GTX 660
RecommendedGeForce GTX 1060

Your CPU is 48% above and your GPU is 279% above the recommended specs. High/Ultra at 1080p. Lower settings for higher resolutions.

CPU

+48%vsrecommended

GPU

+279%vsrecommended

CPU

+203%vsminimum

GPU

+843%vsminimum

Minimum Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTX 660
Processor: Core i5-2500K
Memory: 8 GB
Disk Space: 20 GB
System: Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTX 1060
Processor: Core i7-6700K
Memory: 16 GB
Disk Space: 20 GB (SSD)
System: Windows 10 64-bit

Frequently Asked Questions

1Can the Core i9-9900KS and GeForce RTX 4090 run Deadlock well?

Yes, the Core i9-9900KS paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Deadlock smoothly up to 4k achieving around 65 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 279% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 48% above the recommended requirements.

2Is there a more cost-effective setup to run Deadlock?

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1999 ($350 CPU (Rank #328 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 Deadlock performance?

For Deadlock, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i9-9900KS 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 Deadlock?

Deadlock 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 Deadlock?

Deadlock requires at minimum a Core i5-2500K (CPU) and GeForce GTX 660 (GPU) with 8 GB RAM and 20 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i7-6700K and GeForce GTX 1060 with 16 GB RAM. Your Core i9-9900KS and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.

6How accurate are these Deadlock FPS estimates for the Core i9-9900KS and GeForce RTX 4090?

These Deadlock 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.