Bethesda's Creation Engine 2 is CPU-dependent, especially in cities, and requires an SSD for asset streaming. Optimization tends to favor AMD slightly, but generally requires powerful hardware to run smoothly.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 66 FPS. At 1440p, frame rates range from 59 to 107 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 36 to 51 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 52% above the recommended GPU (GeForce RTX 2080) for Starfield. The Xeon E7-8857 v2 is 100% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-10600K).
At lower resolutions (all 4k settings), the Xeon E7-8857 v2 sets the FPS ceiling. As graphical load increases at (1440p high), the GeForce RTX 4090 becomes the FPS-limiting side. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at all 1080p settings, 1440p (low/medium/ultra).
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $4644. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 66 FPS, equivalent to 0.01 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.025 fps/$ | 0.020 fps/$ | 0.018 fps/$ | 0.014 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.023 fps/$ | 0.019 fps/$ | 0.017 fps/$ | 0.013 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.011 fps/$ | 0.009 fps/$ | 0.009 fps/$ | 0.008 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 Xeon E7-8857 v2 sets the ceiling at about 47 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 82 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 43% (FPS gap: 35 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 4/12 cells, GPU limits 1/12, balanced 7/12.
The Xeon E7-8857 v2 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) | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | Balanced | Balanced | GPU Limits CPU 8% | Balanced |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 40% | CPU Limits GPU 43% | CPU Limits GPU 34% | CPU Limits GPU 29% |
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) | CPU57% - 87% <> GPU56% - 83% <> | CPU57% - 72% <> GPU78% - 95% <> | CPU55% - 68% <> GPU81% - 95% <> | CPU54% - 69% <> GPU82% - 96% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU44% - 61% <> GPU86% - 90% <> | CPU44% - 61% <> GPU90% - 98% <> | CPU41% - 59% <> GPU94% - 99% <> | CPU36% - 58% <> GPU95% - 100% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU35% - 52% <> GPU86% - 93% <> | CPU34% - 52% <> GPU96% - 99% <> | CPU32% - 50% <> GPU98% - 100% <> | CPU31% - 49% <> GPU98% - 100% <> |
The Xeon E7-8857 v2 + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 31% and 87% and GPU utilization between 56% and 100%. Xeon E7-8857 v2 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 83% at 1080p to 97% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 65% to 42%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 4K (Ultra HD) High, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 99% usage (98-100%), while the Xeon E7-8857 v2 stays at 41% (32-50%). 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 65% and GPU 83%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 50% and GPU 94%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 42% and GPU 97%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
1080p (Full HD) High is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 62% (55-68%) and GPU 88% (81-95%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Xeon E7-8857 v2 remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Xeon E7-8857 v2 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 100% above and your GPU is 52% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+100%vsrecommended
+52%vsrecommended
+162%vsminimum
+160%vsminimum
Yes, the Xeon E7-8857 v2 paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Starfield smoothly up to 1080p achieving around 66 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 52% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 100% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $4644 ($2995 CPU (Rank #496 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Your Xeon E7-8857 v2 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 Xeon Platinum 8571N is a great upgrade option for around $599 (Rank #60 for value) while costing less than your current CPU.
Your Xeon E7-8857 v2 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 Starfield performance right now. CPU fully utilized at: 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra. GPU fully utilized at: 1440p high.
Starfield 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.
Starfield requires at minimum a Core i7-6800K (CPU) and GeForce GTX 1070 Ti (GPU) with 16 GB RAM and 125 GB (SSD Obrigatório) storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-10600K and GeForce RTX 2080 with 16 GB RAM. Your Xeon E7-8857 v2 and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Starfield 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.
