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 103 FPS. At 1440p, all settings exceed 83 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 64 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 870% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 570) for Hearts of Iron IV. The Xeon Platinum 8380 is 2348% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-750).
At lower resolutions (1080p ultra, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings), the Xeon Platinum 8380 sets the FPS ceiling. As graphical load increases at (1080p high), the GeForce RTX 4090 becomes the FPS-limiting side. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1080p (low/medium).
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $2614. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 103 FPS, equivalent to 0.04 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.088 fps/$ | 0.076 fps/$ | 0.056 fps/$ | 0.039 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.070 fps/$ | 0.059 fps/$ | 0.044 fps/$ | 0.032 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.059 fps/$ | 0.048 fps/$ | 0.034 fps/$ | 0.024 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 ultra, the Xeon Platinum 8380 sets the ceiling at about 82 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 122 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 33% (FPS gap: 40 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 9/12 cells, GPU limits 1/12, balanced 2/12.
Your Xeon Platinum 8380 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) | Balanced | Balanced | GPU Limits CPU 8% | CPU Limits GPU 14% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 25% | CPU Limits GPU 29% | CPU Limits GPU 24% | CPU Limits GPU 33% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 30% | CPU Limits GPU 33% | CPU Limits GPU 24% | CPU Limits GPU 32% |
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) | CPU32% - 58% <> GPU3% - 12% <> | CPU32% - 58% <> GPU3% - 12% <> | CPU32% - 58% <> GPU3% - 12% <> | CPU32% - 58% <> GPU3% - 12% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU29% - 58% <> GPU1% - 12% <> | CPU29% - 58% <> GPU1% - 12% <> | CPU29% - 58% <> GPU1% - 12% <> | CPU29% - 58% <> GPU1% - 12% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU26% - 55% <> GPU9% - 22% <> | CPU26% - 55% <> GPU9% - 22% <> | CPU26% - 55% <> GPU9% - 22% <> | CPU26% - 55% <> GPU9% - 22% <> |
The Xeon Platinum 8380 + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 26% and 58% and GPU utilization between 1% and 22%. Xeon Platinum 8380 keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 8% at 1080p to 16% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 45% to 40%.
Neither component is close to saturation: CPU tops out at 58% and GPU at 22%. 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 45% and GPU 8%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 44% and GPU 6%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 40% and GPU 16%. 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 40% (26-55%) and GPU 16% (9-22%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Xeon Platinum 8380 remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Xeon Platinum 8380 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 2348% above and your GPU is 870% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+2348%vsrecommended
+870%vsrecommended
+1639%vsminimum
+1112%vsminimum
Yes, the Xeon Platinum 8380 paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Hearts of Iron IV smoothly up to 4k achieving around 64 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 870% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 2348% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $2614 ($965 CPU (Rank #296 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Your Xeon Platinum 8380 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 EPYC 9355P is a great upgrade option for around $2998 (Rank #287 for value).
Your Xeon Platinum 8380 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 Hearts of Iron IV performance right now. CPU fully utilized at: 1080p ultra, 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p high, 1440p ultra, 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra. GPU fully utilized at: 1080p high.
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 Platinum 8380 and GeForce RTX 4090 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.
