A dense RPG where Act 3 becomes a CPU stress test due to the high number of NPCs. An SSD is vital for loading times. 16GB of RAM is recommended, and the game benefits greatly from upscaling tech like DLSS and FSR.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 157 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 100 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 61 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 131% above the recommended GPU (GeForce RTX 2060 Super) for Baldur's Gate 3. The Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is 256% above the recommended CPU (Core i7-8700K).
At lower resolutions (all 1080p settings), the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X sets the FPS ceiling. As graphical load increases at (4k (low/medium)), the GeForce RTX 4090 becomes the FPS-limiting side. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at all 1440p settings, 4k (high/ultra).
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $6140. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 157 FPS, equivalent to 0.03 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.038 fps/$ | 0.033 fps/$ | 0.028 fps/$ | 0.026 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.024 fps/$ | 0.021 fps/$ | 0.018 fps/$ | 0.016 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.017 fps/$ | 0.014 fps/$ | 0.012 fps/$ | 0.010 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 medium, the GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 80 FPS, while the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X has headroom up to 91 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 12% (FPS gap: 11 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 2/12 cells, CPU limits 4/12, balanced 6/12.
The Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and GeForce RTX 4090 stay close in effective frame-generation ceiling across most presets, so neither side consistently suppresses the other by a large margin.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU Limits GPU 6% | CPU Limits GPU 6% | CPU Limits GPU 7% | CPU Limits GPU 8% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | GPU Limits CPU 10% | GPU Limits CPU 12% | Balanced | Balanced |
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) | CPU54% - 54% GPU52% - 87% <> | CPU50% - 54% <> GPU64% - 87% <> | CPU30% - 54% <> GPU73% - 93% <> | CPU29% - 54% <> GPU85% - 96% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU50% - 51% <> GPU58% - 89% <> | CPU46% - 51% <> GPU70% - 89% <> | CPU26% - 51% <> GPU80% - 96% <> | CPU25% - 51% <> GPU91% - 96% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU61% - 79% <> GPU57% - 90% <> | CPU57% - 79% <> GPU68% - 89% <> | CPU38% - 79% <> GPU77% - 96% <> | CPU38% - 79% <> GPU87% - 96% <> |
The Ryzen Threadripper 3970X + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 25% and 79% and GPU utilization between 52% and 96%. Ryzen Threadripper 3970X stays in a controlled operating range, while GeForce RTX 4090 carries most of the graphics load at heavier visual settings. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 80% at 1080p to 83% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 48% to 64%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 1440p (2K QHD) Ultra, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 94% usage (91-96%), while the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X stays at 38% (25-51%). 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 48% and GPU 80%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 44% and GPU 84%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 64% and GPU 83%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
1440p (2K QHD) High is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 38% (26-51%) and GPU 88% (80-96%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Ryzen Threadripper 3970X remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 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 256% above and your GPU is 131% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+256%vsrecommended
+131%vsrecommended
+960%vsminimum
+295%vsminimum
Yes, the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Baldur's Gate 3 smoothly up to 4k achieving around 61 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 131% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 256% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $6140 ($4491 CPU (Rank #395 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Your Ryzen Threadripper 3970X 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 processor with a significantly better value rating. For example, the Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is a great upgrade option for around $4999 (Rank #383 for value).
Your Ryzen Threadripper 3970X is already an incredibly powerful processor. While it's technically the first component to hit its limit (which is completely normal in state-of-the-art builds), there is no meaningful upgrade path that would drastically improve your Baldur's Gate 3 performance right now. CPU fully utilized at: 1080p low, 1080p medium, 1080p high, 1080p ultra. GPU fully utilized at: 4k low, 4k medium.
Baldur's Gate 3 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.
Baldur's Gate 3 requires at minimum a Core i5-4690 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 970 (GPU) with 8 GB RAM and 150 GB (SSD) storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i7-8700K and GeForce RTX 2060 Super with 16 GB RAM. Your Ryzen Threadripper 3970X and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Baldur's Gate 3 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.
