Capped at 60 FPS, Elden Ring doesn't need ultra-high-end hardware for high frame rates, but its seamless open world demands an efficient memory subsystem. While shader compilation issues have been improved, it still relies heavily on single-thread CPU performance.
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, frame rates range from 20 to 43 FPS depending on quality settings. At 1440p, frame rates range from 18 to 37 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 9 to 15 FPS.
The GeForce GTX 980 is 18% below recommended, but 10% above minimum for Elden Ring. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is 89% above the recommended CPU (Core i7-8700K).
The GeForce GTX 980 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D still has additional frame-generation headroom.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $434. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 20 FPS, equivalent to 0.05 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.099 fps/$ | 0.069 fps/$ | 0.060 fps/$ | 0.046 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.085 fps/$ | 0.062 fps/$ | 0.055 fps/$ | 0.041 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.035 fps/$ | 0.028 fps/$ | 0.025 fps/$ | 0.021 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 4k ultra, the GeForce GTX 980 sets the ceiling at about 9 FPS, while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has headroom up to 112 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 92% (FPS gap: 103 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 12/12 cells, CPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your GeForce GTX 980 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D frame-generation potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | GPU Limits CPU 66% | GPU Limits CPU 78% | GPU Limits CPU 79% | GPU Limits CPU 82% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | GPU Limits CPU 71% | GPU Limits CPU 80% | GPU Limits CPU 80% | GPU Limits CPU 83% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | GPU Limits CPU 89% | GPU Limits CPU 91% | GPU Limits CPU 91% | GPU Limits CPU 92% |
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) | CPU30% - 51% <> GPU81% - 99% <> | CPU27% - 46% <> GPU82% - 99% <> | CPU45% - 63% <> GPU82% - 99% <> | CPU34% - 40% <> GPU87% - 100% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU32% - 51% <> GPU84% - 100% <> | CPU28% - 46% <> GPU85% - 100% <> | CPU46% - 63% <> GPU85% - 100% <> | CPU32% - 40% <> GPU89% - 100% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU32% - 52% <> GPU95% - 100% <> | CPU28% - 47% <> GPU96% - 100% <> | CPU47% - 65% <> GPU96% - 100% <> | CPU33% - 42% <> GPU96% - 100% <> |
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D + GeForce GTX 980 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 27% and 65% and GPU utilization between 81% and 100%. Ryzen 7 7800X3D keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce GTX 980 carries most of the graphics load at heavier visual settings. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 91% at 1080p to 98% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 42% to 44%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 4K (Ultra HD) Low, the GeForce GTX 980 averages 98% usage (95-100%), while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D stays at 42% (32-52%). 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 42% and GPU 91%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 42% and GPU 93%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 44% and GPU 98%. 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 40% (30-51%) and GPU 90% (81-99%), which keeps GeForce GTX 980 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Ryzen 7 7800X3D remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the GPU. The GeForce GTX 980 reaches 98% average load at 4K (Ultra HD) Low while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D 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 89% below recommended and your GPU is 18% below recommended, but both meet minimum specs. Playable at Low/Medium settings, 1080p or below.
+89%vsrecommended
-18%vsrecommended
+155%vsminimum
+10%vsminimum
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D and GeForce GTX 980 will struggle to run Elden Ring at smooth framerates. At 1080p Ultra, you can expect around 20 FPS which is classified as "struggling". Consider lowering settings or upgrading your hardware.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $434 ($384 CPU (Rank #212 Value) + $50 GPU). Since the GPU is the main limiting factor, investing in a stronger GPU will improve your framerates and overall value. For example, upgrading to the GeForce RTX 5060 for around $299 (Rank #2 for value) could deliver noticeably better performance.
For Elden Ring, upgrading the GPU would give you the most noticeable improvement. The GeForce GTX 980 is the limiting factor here, while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D 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.
Elden Ring 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.
Elden Ring requires at minimum a Core i5-8400 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 1060 (GPU) with 12 GB RAM and 60 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i7-8700K and GeForce GTX 1070 with 16 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 Elden Ring 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.
