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 152 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 97 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 81 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 131% above the recommended GPU (GeForce RTX 2060 Super) for Baldur's Gate 3. The Xeon E5-2686 V3 is 3% above the recommended CPU (Core i7-8700K).
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 sets the FPS ceiling at 1080p (low/high/ultra), 1440p ultra, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1080p medium, 1440p (low/medium/high), all 4k settings.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1809. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 152 FPS, equivalent to 0.08 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.151 fps/$ | 0.134 fps/$ | 0.105 fps/$ | 0.084 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.087 fps/$ | 0.078 fps/$ | 0.070 fps/$ | 0.054 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.061 fps/$ | 0.056 fps/$ | 0.054 fps/$ | 0.045 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages. Adjacent heavier settings are lightly stabilized to remove prediction jitter that would otherwise create impossible reversals.
At 1080p low, the Xeon E5-2686 V3 sets the ceiling at about 320 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 346 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 8% (FPS gap: 26 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 4/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 8/12. Confidence is low because both ceilings are very close in this cell.
The Xeon E5-2686 V3 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 8% | CPU Limits GPU 6% | CPU Limits GPU 6% | CPU Limits GPU 6% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | Balanced | Balanced | 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 and then monotonic-smoothed across heavier presets and resolutions, not generic utilization heuristics.
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 3% above and your GPU is 131% above the recommended specs. High/Ultra at 1080p. Lower settings for higher resolutions.
+3%vsrecommended
+131%vsrecommended
+206%vsminimum
+295%vsminimum
Yes, the Xeon E5-2686 V3 paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Baldur's Gate 3 smoothly up to 4k achieving around 81 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 131% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 3% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1809 ($160 CPU + $1649 GPU). Since the CPU is the main limiting factor, investing in a stronger processor will improve your framerates and overall value. For example, the EPYC 9375F is a great upgrade option for around $5306 (Rank #5 for value).
For Baldur's Gate 3, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Xeon E5-2686 V3 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 high, 1080p ultra, 1440p ultra.
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 Xeon E5-2686 V3 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.
