A Valve classic that depends heavily on single-thread clock speed. It runs well on older hardware but benefits from a fast CPU.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 446 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 450 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 383 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 13367% above the recommended GPU (GeForce 8600 GT) for Team Fortress 2. The Xeon E-2356G is 742% above the recommended CPU (Core 2 Duo).
The Xeon E-2356G sets the FPS ceiling at 1080p (low/medium/high), 1440p (low/medium/high), all 4k settings, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1080p ultra, 1440p ultra.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $2193. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 446 FPS, equivalent to 0.2 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.210 fps/$ | 0.210 fps/$ | 0.210 fps/$ | 0.203 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.210 fps/$ | 0.210 fps/$ | 0.210 fps/$ | 0.205 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.210 fps/$ | 0.210 fps/$ | 0.210 fps/$ | 0.175 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 low, the Xeon E-2356G sets the ceiling at about 461 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 700 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 34% (FPS gap: 239 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 10/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 2/12.
Your Xeon E-2356G 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 34% | CPU Limits GPU 23% | CPU Limits GPU 8% | Balanced |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 34% | CPU Limits GPU 23% | CPU Limits GPU 8% | Balanced |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 34% | CPU Limits GPU 23% | CPU Limits GPU 8% | CPU Limits GPU 13% |
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) | CPU43% - 44% <> GPU0% - 3% <> | CPU17% - 27% <> GPU0% - 13% <> | CPU16% - 34% <> GPU4% - 17% <> | CPU21% - 44% <> GPU11% - 26% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU39% - 40% <> GPU7% - 22% <> | CPU13% - 21% <> GPU20% - 32% <> | CPU12% - 23% <> GPU20% - 30% <> | CPU16% - 23% <> GPU25% - 38% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU39% - 40% <> GPU31% - 42% <> | CPU13% - 22% <> GPU39% - 49% <> | CPU12% - 21% <> GPU38% - 47% <> | CPU12% - 20% <> GPU42% - 50% <> |
The Xeon E-2356G + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 12% and 44% and GPU utilization between 0% and 50%. Xeon E-2356G keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 9% at 1080p to 42% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 31% to 23%.
Neither component is close to saturation: CPU tops out at 44% and GPU at 50%. This pattern suggests possible engine-side limits, an FPS cap, or workload constraints unrelated to raw hardware throughput. It also shows why low utilization does not automatically mean there is no FPS limiter.
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 31% and GPU 9%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 24% and GPU 24%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 23% and GPU 42%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
4K (Ultra HD) Ultra is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 16% (12-20%) and GPU 46% (42-50%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Xeon E-2356G remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Xeon E-2356G 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 742% above and your GPU is 13367% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+742%vsrecommended
+13367%vsrecommended
+515%vsminimum
+2422%vsminimum
Yes, the Xeon E-2356G paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Team Fortress 2 smoothly up to 4k achieving around 383 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 13367% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 742% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $2193 ($544 CPU (Rank #169 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Since the CPU is the main limiting factor, investing in a stronger processor will improve your framerates and overall value. For example, the Xeon Platinum 8454H is a great upgrade option for around $6540 (Rank #1 for value).
For Team Fortress 2, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Xeon E-2356G 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, 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p high, 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra.
Team Fortress 2 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.
Team Fortress 2 requires at minimum a Pentium 4 (3.0 GHz) (CPU) and GeForce 6 series (GPU) with 1 GB RAM and 15 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core 2 Duo and GeForce 8600 GT with 2 GB RAM. Your Xeon E-2356G and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Team Fortress 2 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.
