Known to slow down in the late game due to the exponential number of unit calculations. Single-core CPU speed is the most important factor for performance.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 66 FPS. At 1440p, frame rates range from 57 to 64 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 51 to 64 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 3060 is 332% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 570) for Hearts of Iron IV. The Ryzen 5 5600X is 758% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-750).
The GeForce RTX 3060 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the Ryzen 5 5600X still has additional frame-generation headroom.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $424. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 67 FPS, equivalent to 0.16 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.156 fps/$ | 0.165 fps/$ | 0.165 fps/$ | 0.158 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.134 fps/$ | 0.139 fps/$ | 0.151 fps/$ | 0.142 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.151 fps/$ | 0.134 fps/$ | 0.137 fps/$ | 0.120 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 medium, the GeForce RTX 3060 sets the ceiling at about 51 FPS, while the Ryzen 5 5600X has headroom up to 238 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 79% (FPS gap: 187 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 12/12 cells, CPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your GeForce RTX 3060 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the Ryzen 5 5600X frame-generation potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | GPU Limits CPU 70% | GPU Limits CPU 71% | GPU Limits CPU 62% | GPU Limits CPU 59% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | GPU Limits CPU 78% | GPU Limits CPU 79% | GPU Limits CPU 71% | GPU Limits CPU 66% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | GPU Limits CPU 70% | GPU Limits CPU 72% | GPU Limits CPU 62% | GPU Limits CPU 57% |
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) | CPU24% - 73% <> GPU14% - 36% <> | CPU24% - 73% <> GPU14% - 36% <> | CPU24% - 73% <> GPU14% - 36% <> | CPU24% - 73% <> GPU14% - 36% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU21% - 67% <> GPU26% - 59% <> | CPU21% - 67% <> GPU26% - 59% <> | CPU21% - 67% <> GPU26% - 59% <> | CPU21% - 67% <> GPU26% - 59% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU21% - 63% <> GPU30% - 66% <> | CPU21% - 63% <> GPU30% - 66% <> | CPU21% - 63% <> GPU30% - 66% <> | CPU21% - 63% <> GPU30% - 66% <> |
The Ryzen 5 5600X + GeForce RTX 3060 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 21% and 73% and GPU utilization between 14% and 66%. Ryzen 5 5600X keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce RTX 3060 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 25% at 1080p to 48% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 48% to 42%.
The utilization pattern is relatively even. The GeForce RTX 3060 reaches 48% average at its highest-load preset, while the Ryzen 5 5600X peaks at 48% 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 48% and GPU 25%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 44% and GPU 42%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 42% and GPU 48%. This shows that GPU demand scales sharply with resolution while CPU load remains comparatively stable.
4K (Ultra HD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 42% (21-63%) and GPU 48% (30-66%), which keeps GeForce RTX 3060 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Ryzen 5 5600X remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Ryzen 5 5600X and GeForce RTX 3060 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 758% above and your GPU is 332% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+758%vsrecommended
+332%vsrecommended
+510%vsminimum
+440%vsminimum
Yes, the Ryzen 5 5600X paired with the GeForce RTX 3060 can run Hearts of Iron IV smoothly up to 1440p achieving around 60 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 332% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 758% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $424 ($135 CPU (Rank #39 Value) + $289 GPU (Rank #30 Value)). Your build is already very cost-efficient, but if you want even more FPS, the next good option is upgrading the GPU. For example, upgrading to the GeForce RTX 5060 for around $299 (Rank #2 for value) could deliver noticeably better performance.
For Hearts of Iron IV, upgrading the GPU would give you the most noticeable improvement. The GeForce RTX 3060 is the limiting factor here, while the Ryzen 5 5600X still has spare capacity. A more powerful GPU would unlock higher FPS, especially at higher resolutions and quality presets. GPU-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.
Hearts of Iron IV 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.
Hearts of Iron IV requires at minimum a Core 2 Quad Q9400 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 470 (GPU) with 4 GB RAM and 2 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-750 and GeForce GTX 570 with 4 GB RAM. Your Ryzen 5 5600X and GeForce RTX 3060 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Hearts of Iron IV 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.
