A true test for system memory. Procedural maps can exhaust RAM quickly; 16GB is the minimum, and 32GB is recommended. CPUs with 3D V-Cache (AMD X3D) offer massive performance gains here.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 166 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 134 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 82 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 244% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 980) for Rust. The Core i9-9900KS is 58% above the recommended CPU (Core i7-4790K).
The GeForce RTX 4090 sets the FPS ceiling at 1440p (low/medium), while the Core i9-9900KS still has additional frame-generation headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at all 1080p settings, 1440p (high/ultra), all 4k settings.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1999. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 166 FPS, equivalent to 0.08 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.143 fps/$ | 0.123 fps/$ | 0.099 fps/$ | 0.083 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.131 fps/$ | 0.116 fps/$ | 0.084 fps/$ | 0.067 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.081 fps/$ | 0.071 fps/$ | 0.057 fps/$ | 0.041 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 1440p low, the GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 244 FPS, while the Core i9-9900KS has headroom up to 262 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 7% (FPS gap: 18 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 3/12 cells, CPU limits 0/12, balanced 9/12. Confidence is low because both ceilings are very close in this cell.
The Core i9-9900KS 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 | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | GPU Limits CPU 7% | GPU Limits CPU 6% | GPU Limits CPU 6% | Balanced |
| 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) | CPU34% - 56% <> GPU65% - 84% <> | CPU38% - 57% <> GPU62% - 83% <> | CPU35% - 56% <> GPU76% - 98% <> | CPU29% - 53% <> GPU75% - 97% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU33% - 56% <> GPU66% - 83% <> | CPU37% - 57% <> GPU64% - 83% <> | CPU34% - 57% <> GPU78% - 97% <> | CPU28% - 54% <> GPU77% - 96% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU31% - 56% <> GPU83% - 91% <> | CPU34% - 56% <> GPU80% - 90% <> | CPU32% - 57% <> GPU97% - 100% <> | CPU26% - 53% <> GPU97% - 100% <> |
The Core i9-9900KS + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 26% and 57% and GPU utilization between 62% and 100%. Core i9-9900KS keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce RTX 4090 carries most of the graphics load at heavier visual settings. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 80% at 1080p to 92% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 45% to 43%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 4K (Ultra HD) High, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 98% usage (97-100%), while the Core i9-9900KS stays at 44% (32-57%). 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 45% and GPU 80%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 45% and GPU 81%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 43% and GPU 92%. This shows that GPU demand scales sharply with resolution while CPU load remains comparatively stable.
1440p (2K QHD) High is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 46% (34-57%) and GPU 88% (78-97%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i9-9900KS remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the GPU. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 98% average load at 4K (Ultra HD) High while the Core i9-9900KS 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 58% above and your GPU is 244% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+58%vsrecommended
+244%vsrecommended
+90%vsminimum
+589%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i9-9900KS paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Rust smoothly up to 4k achieving around 82 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 244% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 58% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1999 ($350 CPU (Rank #328 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.
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 Rust performance right now. GPU fully utilized at: 1440p low, 1440p medium.
Rust 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.
Rust requires at minimum a Core i7-3770 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 670 (GPU) with 10 GB RAM and 25 GB (SSD) storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i7-4790K and GeForce GTX 980 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.
These Rust 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.
