Dota 2
Dota 2 moved to the Source 2 engine well before CS2. The 'New Frontiers' update expanded the map by 40%, increasing the load on CPU and memory. Unlike LoL, Dota 2 uses more complex models and lighting. It benefits significantly from the Vulkan API, which distributes load better across CPU cores, though it still relies heavily on main core performance. For stable performance in chaotic 5v5 fights, 16GB of RAM is highly recommended.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, performance runs at around 37 FPS. At 1440p, performance is around 37 FPS. At 4K, performance is around 37 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 521% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 960) for Dota 2. The Pentium 987 is 77% below recommended, but 43% above minimum.
The Pentium 987 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: $1669. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 37 FPS, equivalent to 0.02 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.022 fps/$ | 0.022 fps/$ | 0.022 fps/$ | 0.022 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.022 fps/$ | 0.022 fps/$ | 0.022 fps/$ | 0.022 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.022 fps/$ | 0.022 fps/$ | 0.022 fps/$ | 0.022 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
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This chart answers a simple question: which upgrade is more likely to increase FPS first? In this case, the answer is clearly the CPU.
The largest gap appears at 1080p Low, where the Pentium 987 reaches about 37 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom up to roughly 494 FPS.
That means the Pentium 987 is hitting its performance ceiling first, leaving a 93% gap versus the GeForce RTX 4090's available headroom in the most unbalanced scenario. Across all tested settings, this pairing is CPU-limited in 12 out of 12 cases, with 0 GPU-limited and 0 balanced results.
Overall, this is a clearly CPU-bound combination in this game.
The Pentium 987 is consistently the limiting part in this game, so upgrading the CPU is more likely to deliver a larger FPS gain than upgrading the GPU.
This chart shows which upgrade is more likely to unlock more FPS in each tested setting. The lower line represents the part that reaches its limit first. When the CPU and GPU lines stay close together, the system is more balanced. When the gap widens, one component is more clearly holding the other back. Hover any setting to inspect it.
The lower line is the current limiter. The closer the two lines are, the more balanced the CPU and GPU are for this game.
Each line represents an estimated FPS ceiling for one component, rather than live usage alone.
To estimate the CPU ceiling, we pair the Pentium 987 with GeForce RTX 5090, our current GPU anchor. To estimate the GPU ceiling, we pair the GeForce RTX 4090 with Ryzen 9 9950X3D, our current CPU anchor.
The lower line indicates the current limiter, since that component reaches its FPS ceiling first. In most scenarios, that is also the part most likely to deliver the bigger performance uplift if upgraded first.
The percentage shown represents the gap between the two ceilings. In practical terms, it shows how much of the stronger component's potential is left unused because the weaker one becomes the bottleneck first.
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 77% below recommended and your GPU is 521% below recommended, but both meet minimum specs. Playable at Low/Medium settings, 1080p or below.
-77%vsrecommended
+521%vsrecommended
+43%vsminimum
+13367%vsminimum
The Pentium 987 and GeForce RTX 4090 will struggle to run Dota 2 at smooth framerates. At 1080p Ultra, you can expect around 37 FPS which is classified as "playable". Consider lowering settings or upgrading your hardware.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1,669 ($20 CPU + $1,649 GPU). Since the CPU is the main limiting factor, investing in a stronger processor will improve your framerates and overall value. For example, the Pentium Dual Core T3200 is a great upgrade option for around $64 (Rank #1 for value).
For Dota 2, upgrading the CPU would usually improve performance first. In the Performance Limiter Analysis, the Pentium 987 is the side that most often caps the frame rate, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has additional headroom in the tested presets. The main bottleneck appears on the CPU side. The largest gap shows up at 1080p Low, where the CPU reaches about 37 FPS while the GPU still has headroom up to roughly 494 FPS. Across all tested settings, the distribution is 0/12 GPU-limited, 12/12 CPU-limited, and 0/12 balanced.
Dota 2 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.
Dota 2 requires at minimum a Core 2 Duo E7400 (CPU) and GeForce 8600 GT (GPU) with 4 GB RAM and 60 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-2500K and GeForce GTX 960 with 8 GB RAM. Your setup meets the minimum requirements but falls short of the recommended specs. You may need to lower some settings for smooth performance.
These Dota 2 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.
