Known to slow down in the late game due to the exponential number of unit calculations. Single-core CPU speed is the most important factor for performance.
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 136 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 124 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 5090 is 889% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 570) for Hearts of Iron IV. The Xeon Gold 5420+ is 2186% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-750).
The GeForce RTX 5090 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, 1440p (low/medium), 4k (low/medium), while the Xeon Gold 5420+ still has additional frame-generation headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1440p (high/ultra), 4k (high/ultra).
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $4548. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 157 FPS, equivalent to 0.03 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.096 fps/$ | 0.066 fps/$ | 0.049 fps/$ | 0.035 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.073 fps/$ | 0.051 fps/$ | 0.039 fps/$ | 0.030 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.057 fps/$ | 0.042 fps/$ | 0.034 fps/$ | 0.027 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 medium, the GeForce RTX 5090 sets the ceiling at about 248 FPS, while the Xeon Gold 5420+ has headroom up to 301 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 18% (FPS gap: 53 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 12/12 cells, CPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your GeForce RTX 5090 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the Xeon Gold 5420+ frame-generation potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | GPU Limits CPU 11% | GPU Limits CPU 18% | GPU Limits CPU 18% | GPU Limits CPU 18% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | GPU Limits CPU 11% | GPU Limits CPU 18% | GPU Limits CPU 18% | GPU Limits CPU 18% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | GPU Limits CPU 11% | GPU Limits CPU 18% | GPU Limits CPU 18% | GPU Limits CPU 18% |
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 2186% above and your GPU is 889% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+2186%vsrecommended
+889%vsrecommended
+1524%vsminimum
+1136%vsminimum
Yes, the Xeon Gold 5420+ paired with the GeForce RTX 5090 can run Hearts of Iron IV smoothly up to 4k achieving around 124 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 889% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 2186% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $4548 ($1848 CPU + $2700 GPU). Your GeForce RTX 5090 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 card with a significantly better value rating.
Your GeForce RTX 5090 is already a top-tier graphics card. While it's technically the limiting factor here (which means you are fully utilizing your GPU's visual horsepower exactly as intended), there is no meaningful upgrade path that would drastically improve your Hearts of Iron IV performance right now. GPU fully utilized at: 1080p low, 1080p medium, 1080p high, 1080p ultra, 1440p low, 1440p medium, 4k low, 4k medium.
Hearts of Iron IV 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.
Hearts of Iron IV requires at minimum a Core 2 Quad Q9400 (CPU) and GeForce GTX 470 (GPU) with 4 GB RAM and 2 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-750 and GeForce GTX 570 with 4 GB RAM. Your Xeon Gold 5420+ and GeForce RTX 5090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
These Hearts of Iron IV 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.
