Garry's ModFPS onPhenom II X4 B97&GeForce RTX 4090

Garry's Mod

A Source engine sandbox where performance depends entirely on the mods and contraptions you spawn. RAM errors are common on systems with only 4GB.

Garry's Mod - FPS Estimates by Resolution

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

1080P
low64 FPS
medium64 FPS
high64 FPS
ultra54 FPS
1440P
low64 FPS
medium64 FPS
high62 FPS
ultra42 FPS
4K
low56 FPS
medium50 FPS
high34 FPS
ultra23 FPS

Performance Report

Garry's Mod

GeForce RTX 4090 + Phenom II X4 B97
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, frame rates range from 54 to 64 FPS depending on quality settings. At 1440p, frame rates range from 42 to 64 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 23 to 56 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 4090 is 1051% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 750) for Garry's Mod. The Phenom II X4 B97 is 15% below minimum CPU requirement.

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

At lower resolutions (1080p (low/medium), 1440p (low/medium)), the Phenom II X4 B97 sets the FPS ceiling. As graphical load increases at (1080p ultra, 1440p ultra, 4k (high/ultra)), the GeForce RTX 4090 becomes the FPS-limiting side. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1080p high, 1440p high, 4k (low/medium).

💰Value Analysis

Approximated average price on current market:

GeForce RTX 4090:$1649
Official Launch Price: $1599
Phenom II X4 B97:$11
Official Launch Price: $100

Combo price: $1660. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 54 FPS, equivalent to 0.03 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.039 fps/$0.039 fps/$0.039 fps/$0.033 fps/$
1440p0.039 fps/$0.039 fps/$0.037 fps/$0.025 fps/$
4k0.034 fps/$0.030 fps/$0.020 fps/$0.014 fps/$

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

Performance Limiter Analysis

Phenom II X4 B97|GeForce RTX 4090

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

📈Analysis

At 4k ultra, the GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 29 FPS, while the Phenom II X4 B97 has headroom up to 64 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 55% (FPS gap: 35 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 4/12 cells, CPU limits 4/12, balanced 4/12.

Verdict

GPU Limits CPU

Your GeForce RTX 4090 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the Phenom II X4 B97 frame-generation potential remains unused in those settings.

🧩Detailed Breakdown
1080p (Full HD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 51%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 36%
HighBalanced
UltraGPU Limits CPU 17%
1440p (2K QHD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 34%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 17%
HighBalanced
UltraGPU Limits CPU 19%
4K (Ultra HD)
LowBalanced
MediumBalanced
HighGPU Limits CPU 39%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 55%
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.

Garry's Mod 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 - Phenom II X4 B97
cpu icon
2,540
Your Score
MinimumPentium 4
RecommendedCore i5
GPU - GeForce RTX 4090
gpu icon
38,112
Your Score
MinimumGeForce 6 series
RecommendedGeForce GTX 750

Your hardware is below minimum requirements. CPU is the limiting factor (15% below minimum). Expect performance issues. Low settings recommended.

CPU

-81%vsrecommended

GPU

+1051%vsrecommended

CPU

-15%vsminimum

GPU

+11449%vsminimum

Minimum Requirements
Video Card: GeForce 6 series
Processor: Pentium 4
Memory: 4 GB
Disk Space: 5 GB
System: Windows 7
Recommended Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTX 750
Processor: Core i5
Memory: 8 GB
Disk Space: 20 GB
System: Windows 10

Frequently Asked Questions

1Can the Phenom II X4 B97 and GeForce RTX 4090 run Garry's Mod well?

The Phenom II X4 B97 and GeForce RTX 4090 will struggle to run Garry's Mod at smooth framerates. At 1080p Ultra, you can expect around 54 FPS which is classified as "playable". Consider lowering settings or upgrading your hardware.

2Is there a more cost-effective setup to run Garry's Mod?

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1660 ($11 CPU + $1649 GPU). 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 Garry's Mod 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 Garry's Mod performance right now. GPU fully utilized at: 1080p ultra, 1440p ultra, 4k high, 4k ultra. CPU-limited at: 1080p low, 1080p medium, 1440p low, 1440p medium.

4Does this setup support Frame Generation for Garry's Mod?

Garry's Mod 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 Garry's Mod?

Garry's Mod requires at minimum a Pentium 4 (CPU) and GeForce 6 series (GPU) with 4 GB RAM and 5 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5 and GeForce GTX 750 with 8 GB RAM. Your hardware falls below the minimum requirements for this game, which may result in poor performance.

6How accurate are these Garry's Mod FPS estimates for the Phenom II X4 B97 and GeForce RTX 4090?

These Garry's Mod 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.