While the base game is older and lighter, GTA V remains relevant due to FiveM RP servers, which drastically increase RAM and CPU consumption due to mods and scripts. The official 'Enhanced' version also recommends modern hardware to handle increased traffic density.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 80 FPS. At 1440p, frame rates range from 58 to 116 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 43 to 90 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 734% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 660) for Grand Theft Auto V. The Microsoft SQ1 is 2% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-3470).
The Microsoft SQ1 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1829. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 80 FPS, equivalent to 0.04 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.077 fps/$ | 0.066 fps/$ | 0.052 fps/$ | 0.044 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.063 fps/$ | 0.052 fps/$ | 0.040 fps/$ | 0.032 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.049 fps/$ | 0.040 fps/$ | 0.029 fps/$ | 0.024 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 ultra, the Microsoft SQ1 sets the ceiling at about 58 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 147 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 61% (FPS gap: 89 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your Microsoft SQ1 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the GeForce RTX 4090 rendering potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU Limits GPU 26% | CPU Limits GPU 38% | CPU Limits GPU 49% | CPU Limits GPU 53% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 37% | CPU Limits GPU 49% | CPU Limits GPU 58% | CPU Limits GPU 61% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 41% | CPU Limits GPU 49% | CPU Limits GPU 61% | CPU Limits GPU 59% |
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) | CPU44% - 61% <> GPU83% - 99% <> | CPU44% - 61% <> GPU85% - 97% <> | CPU44% - 61% <> GPU85% - 97% <> | CPU40% - 63% <> GPU91% - 98% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU27% - 58% <> GPU83% - 100% <> | CPU28% - 58% <> GPU86% - 98% <> | CPU28% - 58% <> GPU86% - 98% <> | CPU27% - 60% <> GPU90% - 99% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU25% - 56% <> GPU84% - 100% <> | CPU25% - 56% <> GPU86% - 97% <> | CPU25% - 56% <> GPU86% - 97% <> | CPU24% - 56% <> GPU91% - 99% <> |
The Microsoft SQ1 + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 24% and 63% and GPU utilization between 83% and 100%. Microsoft SQ1 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 92% at 1080p to 93% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 52% to 40%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 4K (Ultra HD) Ultra, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 95% usage (91-99%), while the Microsoft SQ1 stays at 40% (24-56%). 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 52% and GPU 92%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 43% and GPU 93%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 40% and GPU 93%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
1080p (Full HD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 52% (44-61%) and GPU 91% (83-99%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Microsoft SQ1 remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the GPU. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 95% average load at 4K (Ultra HD) Ultra while the Microsoft SQ1 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 2% above and your GPU is 734% above the recommended specs. High/Ultra at 1080p. Lower settings for higher resolutions.
+2%vsrecommended
+734%vsrecommended
+189%vsminimum
+2650%vsminimum
Yes, the Microsoft SQ1 paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Grand Theft Auto V smoothly up to 1080p achieving around 80 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 734% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 2% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1829 ($180 CPU + $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 7845HX is a great upgrade option (Rank #1 for value).
For Grand Theft Auto V, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Microsoft SQ1 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.
Grand Theft Auto V 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.
Grand Theft Auto V requires at minimum a Core 2 Quad Q6600 (CPU) and GeForce 9800 GT (GPU) with 4 GB RAM and 72 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-3470 and GeForce GTX 660 with 8 GB RAM. Your Microsoft SQ1 and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Grand Theft Auto V 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.
