A deceptively heavy isometric survival game. Its Java-based engine relies heavily on CPU and RAM for zombie AI and simulation. 8GB of RAM is the minimum for late-game scenarios or multiplayer.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 140 FPS. At 1440p, all settings exceed 145 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 96 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 1051% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 750) for Project Zomboid. The Xeon E5-2690 v4 is 201% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4460).
The Xeon E5-2690 v4 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, 4k (medium/high), while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 4k (low/ultra).
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $2038. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 140 FPS, equivalent to 0.07 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.125 fps/$ | 0.108 fps/$ | 0.079 fps/$ | 0.069 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.145 fps/$ | 0.129 fps/$ | 0.088 fps/$ | 0.071 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.119 fps/$ | 0.093 fps/$ | 0.064 fps/$ | 0.047 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 high, the Xeon E5-2690 v4 sets the ceiling at about 175 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 210 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 17% (FPS gap: 35 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 10/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 2/12.
Your Xeon E5-2690 v4 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 12% | CPU Limits GPU 13% | CPU Limits GPU 14% | CPU Limits GPU 11% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 15% | CPU Limits GPU 16% | CPU Limits GPU 17% | CPU Limits GPU 10% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | Balanced | CPU Limits GPU 9% | CPU Limits GPU 12% | 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) | CPU67% - 75% <> GPU14% - 34% <> | CPU67% - 75% <> GPU14% - 34% <> | CPU47% - 75% <> GPU7% - 23% <> | CPU49% - 73% <> GPU11% - 38% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU67% - 77% <> GPU15% - 35% <> | CPU67% - 77% <> GPU15% - 35% <> | CPU45% - 76% <> GPU10% - 26% <> | CPU52% - 78% <> GPU12% - 39% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU47% - 60% <> GPU25% - 56% <> | CPU47% - 60% <> GPU25% - 56% <> | CPU26% - 47% <> GPU21% - 51% <> | CPU37% - 56% <> GPU20% - 52% <> |
The Xeon E5-2690 v4 + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 26% and 78% and GPU utilization between 7% and 56%. Xeon E5-2690 v4 stays in a controlled operating range, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 22% at 1080p to 38% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 66% to 48%.
The utilization pattern is relatively even. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 40% average at its highest-load preset, while the Xeon E5-2690 v4 peaks at 72% 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 66% and GPU 22%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 67% and GPU 24%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 48% and GPU 38%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
4K (Ultra HD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 54% (47-60%) and GPU 40% (25-56%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Xeon E5-2690 v4 remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Xeon E5-2690 v4 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 201% above and your GPU is 1051% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+201%vsrecommended
+1051%vsrecommended
+750%vsminimum
+2422%vsminimum
Yes, the Xeon E5-2690 v4 paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Project Zomboid smoothly up to 4k achieving around 96 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 1051% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 201% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $2038 ($389 CPU (Rank #501 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 Project Zomboid, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Xeon E5-2690 v4 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, 1080p ultra, 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p high, 1440p ultra, 4k medium, 4k high.
Project Zomboid 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.
Project Zomboid requires at minimum a Core 2 Quad Q6600 (CPU) and GeForce 6600 (GPU) with 8 GB RAM and 5 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-4460 and GeForce GTX 750 with 8 GB RAM. Your Xeon E5-2690 v4 and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Project Zomboid 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.
