A classic 2D sandbox. While generally light, heavy boss fights and fluid physics can slow down older CPUs. It requires Shader Model 2.0 support.
This game has a built-in FPS cap of 60 FPS
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 62 FPS. At 1440p, all settings exceed 63 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 58 to 59 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 6804% above the recommended GPU (GeForce 9600 GT) for Terraria. The Ryzen 5 4500 is 632% above the recommended CPU (Core 2 Duo).
The Ryzen 5 4500 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: $1734. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 62 FPS, equivalent to 0.04 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.036 fps/$ | 0.036 fps/$ | 0.036 fps/$ | 0.036 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.036 fps/$ | 0.037 fps/$ | 0.037 fps/$ | 0.037 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.033 fps/$ | 0.033 fps/$ | 0.034 fps/$ | 0.033 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 1080p high, the Ryzen 5 4500 sets the ceiling at about 102 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 143 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 29% (FPS gap: 41 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your Ryzen 5 4500 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 27% | CPU Limits GPU 29% | CPU Limits GPU 28% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 23% | CPU Limits GPU 23% | CPU Limits GPU 24% | CPU Limits GPU 23% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 24% | CPU Limits GPU 23% | CPU Limits GPU 25% | CPU Limits GPU 25% |
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) | CPU15% - 45% <> GPU2% - 8% <> | CPU15% - 45% <> GPU2% - 8% <> | CPU15% - 45% <> GPU2% - 8% <> | CPU20% - 55% <> GPU2% - 10% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU24% - 58% <> GPU4% - 17% <> | CPU24% - 58% <> GPU4% - 17% <> | CPU24% - 58% <> GPU4% - 17% <> | CPU25% - 65% <> GPU5% - 20% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU23% - 57% <> GPU11% - 25% <> | CPU23% - 57% <> GPU11% - 25% <> | CPU23% - 57% <> GPU11% - 25% <> | CPU21% - 61% <> GPU12% - 27% <> |
The Ryzen 5 4500 + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 15% and 65% and GPU utilization between 2% and 27%. Ryzen 5 4500 keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 5% at 1080p to 19% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 32% to 40%.
The utilization pattern is relatively even. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 20% average at its highest-load preset, while the Ryzen 5 4500 peaks at 45% average. This suggests a fairly controlled load distribution, but the actual FPS-limiting side should still be read from the limiter analysis above.
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 32% and GPU 5%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 42% and GPU 11%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 40% and GPU 19%. This shows that both CPU and GPU workloads increase as pixel count and render complexity rise.
4K (Ultra HD) Ultra is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 41% (21-61%) and GPU 20% (12-27%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Ryzen 5 4500 remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Ryzen 5 4500 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.
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 632% above and your GPU is 6804% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+632%vsrecommended
+6804%vsrecommended
+435%vsminimum
+2422%vsminimum
Yes, the Ryzen 5 4500 paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Terraria smoothly up to 1440p achieving around 65 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 6804% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 632% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1734 ($85 CPU (Rank #22 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Your build is already very cost-efficient, but if you want even more FPS, the next good option is upgrading the CPU. For example, the Ryzen 9 9950X is a great upgrade option for around $649 (Rank #5 for value).
For Terraria, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Ryzen 5 4500 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.
Terraria 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.
Terraria requires at minimum a Pentium 4 (CPU) and GeForce FX 5900 (GPU) with 2.5 GB RAM and 200 MB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core 2 Duo and GeForce 9600 GT with 4 GB RAM. Your Ryzen 5 4500 and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Terraria 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.
