StarfieldFPS onEPYC 9684X&GeForce RTX 4090

Starfield

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.

Starfield - FPS Estimates by Resolution

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

1080P
low136 FPS
medium123 FPS
high108 FPS
ultra83 FPS
1440P
low131 FPS
medium118 FPS
high107 FPS
ultra80 FPS
4K
low60 FPS
medium58 FPS
high54 FPS
ultra47 FPS

Performance Report

Starfield

GeForce RTX 4090 + EPYC 9684X
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 83 FPS. At 1440p, all settings exceed 80 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 47 to 60 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 4090 is 52% above the recommended GPU (GeForce RTX 2080) for Starfield. The EPYC 9684X is 573% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-10600K).

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

At lower resolutions (4k (low/medium/high)), the EPYC 9684X sets the FPS ceiling. As graphical load increases at (1080p (medium/high/ultra), all 1440p settings), the GeForce RTX 4090 becomes the FPS-limiting side. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1080p low, 4k ultra.

💰Value Analysis

Approximated average price on current market:

GeForce RTX 4090:$1649(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $1599
EPYC 9684X:$14756(updated 2/11/2026)
Official Launch Price: $14756

Combo price: $16405. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 83 FPS, equivalent to 0.01 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.008 fps/$0.007 fps/$0.007 fps/$0.005 fps/$
1440p0.008 fps/$0.007 fps/$0.007 fps/$0.005 fps/$
4k0.004 fps/$0.004 fps/$0.003 fps/$0.003 fps/$

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

Performance Limiter Analysis

EPYC 9684X|GeForce RTX 4090

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

📈Analysis

At 4k low, the EPYC 9684X sets the ceiling at about 62 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 89 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 30% (FPS gap: 27 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 3/12 cells, GPU limits 7/12, balanced 2/12.

Verdict

CPU Limits GPU

Your EPYC 9684X 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)
LowBalanced
MediumGPU Limits CPU 12%
HighGPU Limits CPU 17%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 13%
1440p (2K QHD)
LowGPU Limits CPU 12%
MediumGPU Limits CPU 19%
HighGPU Limits CPU 27%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 24%
4K (Ultra HD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 30%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 27%
HighCPU Limits GPU 17%
UltraBalanced
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 EPYC 9684X and GeForce RTX 4090

1080p (Full HD)

Low
CPU59% - 88%
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GPU56% - 83%
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Medium
CPU58% - 73%
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GPU77% - 95%
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High
CPU56% - 69%
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GPU80% - 97%
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Ultra
CPU55% - 70%
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GPU81% - 97%
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1440p (2K QHD)

Low
CPU47% - 60%
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GPU85% - 90%
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Medium
CPU46% - 60%
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GPU89% - 97%
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High
CPU45% - 58%
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GPU91% - 99%
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Ultra
CPU45% - 58%
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GPU93% - 99%
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4K (Ultra HD)

Low
CPU46% - 53%
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GPU84% - 92%
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Medium
CPU46% - 53%
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GPU94% - 98%
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High
CPU46% - 52%
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GPU96% - 100%
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Ultra
CPU45% - 52%
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GPU97% - 99%
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Performance Summary

The EPYC 9684X + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 45% and 88% and GPU utilization between 56% and 100%. EPYC 9684X 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 83% at 1080p to 95% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 66% to 49%.

Load Interpretation

From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 4K (Ultra HD) High, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 98% usage (96-100%), while the EPYC 9684X stays at 49% (46-52%). This shows the graphics pipeline is carrying most of the workload, but utilization alone does not define the FPS limiter.

Resolution Scaling

At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 66% and GPU 83%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 53% and GPU 93%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 49% and GPU 95%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.

Optimal Settings Recommendation

1080p (Full HD) High is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 62% (56-69%) and GPU 88% (80-97%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while EPYC 9684X remains stable for consistent frame delivery.

Upgrade Insight

Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the EPYC 9684X 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.

Starfield 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 - EPYC 9684X
cpu icon
122,017
Your Score
MinimumCore i7-6800K
RecommendedCore i5-10600K
GPU - GeForce RTX 4090
gpu icon
38,112
Your Score
MinimumGeForce GTX 1070 Ti
RecommendedGeForce RTX 2080

Your CPU is 573% above and your GPU is 52% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.

CPU

+573%vsrecommended

GPU

+52%vsrecommended

CPU

+779%vsminimum

GPU

+160%vsminimum

Minimum Requirements
Processor: Core i7-6800K
Memory: 16 GB
Disk Space: 125 GB (SSD Obrigatório)
System: Windows 10
Recommended Requirements
Video Card: GeForce RTX 2080
Processor: Core i5-10600K
Memory: 16 GB
Disk Space: 125 GB (SSD Obrigatório)
System: Windows 10

Frequently Asked Questions

1Can the EPYC 9684X and GeForce RTX 4090 run Starfield well?

Yes, the EPYC 9684X paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Starfield smoothly up to 1440p achieving around 80 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 52% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 573% above the recommended requirements.

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

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $16405 ($14756 CPU (Rank #509 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 Starfield 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 Starfield performance right now. GPU fully utilized at: 1080p medium, 1080p high, 1080p ultra, 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p high, 1440p ultra. CPU fully utilized at: 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high.

4Does this setup support Frame Generation for Starfield?

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.

5What are the minimum and recommended specs for Starfield?

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 EPYC 9684X and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.

6How accurate are these Starfield FPS estimates for the EPYC 9684X and GeForce RTX 4090?

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.