The Sims 4FPS onXeon w5-3435X&GeForce RTX 4090

The Sims 4

Optimized to run on laptops, it is largely CPU-limited by the simulation. Installing many DLCs and expansions significantly increases RAM and storage load.

The Sims 4 - FPS Estimates by Resolution

Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors

1080P
low294 FPS
medium284 FPS
high258 FPS
ultra237 FPS
1440P
low333 FPS
medium365 FPS
high351 FPS
ultra297 FPS
4K
low281 FPS
medium310 FPS
high295 FPS
ultra215 FPS

Performance Report

The Sims 4

GeForce RTX 4090 + Xeon w5-3435X
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 237 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 297 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 215 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 4090 is 2070% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 650) for The Sims 4. The Xeon w5-3435X is 268% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4460).

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4090 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1440p settings, 4k (low/medium/high), while the Xeon w5-3435X still has additional frame-generation headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at all 1080p settings, 4k ultra.

💰Value Analysis

Approximated average price on current market:

GeForce RTX 4090:$1649(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $1599
Xeon w5-3435X:$163(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $1589

Combo price: $1812. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 237 FPS, equivalent to 0.13 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.162 fps/$0.157 fps/$0.142 fps/$0.131 fps/$
1440p0.184 fps/$0.201 fps/$0.194 fps/$0.164 fps/$
4k0.155 fps/$0.171 fps/$0.163 fps/$0.119 fps/$

* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)

Performance Limiter Analysis

Xeon w5-3435X|GeForce RTX 4090

This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.

📈Analysis

At 4k medium, the GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 264 FPS, while the Xeon w5-3435X has headroom up to 303 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 13% (FPS gap: 39 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 7/12 cells, CPU limits 0/12, balanced 5/12.

Verdict

Well Balanced

The Xeon w5-3435X 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.

🧩Detailed Breakdown
1080p (Full HD)
LowBalanced
MediumBalanced
HighBalanced
UltraBalanced
1440p (2K QHD)
LowGPU Limits CPU 7%
MediumGPU Limits CPU 11%
HighGPU Limits CPU 12%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 8%
4K (Ultra HD)
LowGPU Limits CPU 9%
MediumGPU Limits CPU 13%
HighGPU Limits CPU 11%
UltraBalanced
Percentages show how much potential FPS of the stronger component is lost because the other component has a lower FPS ceiling.
🧠Methodology

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.

📊Predicted Hardware Utilization for Xeon w5-3435X and GeForce RTX 4090

1080p (Full HD)

Low
CPU17% - 27%
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GPU0% - 22%
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Medium
CPU17% - 27%
<>
GPU0% - 22%
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High
CPU17% - 27%
<>
GPU0% - 22%
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Ultra
CPU17% - 27%
<>
GPU0% - 22%
<>

1440p (2K QHD)

Low
CPU15% - 24%
<>
GPU0% - 22%
<>
Medium
CPU15% - 24%
<>
GPU0% - 22%
<>
High
CPU15% - 24%
<>
GPU0% - 22%
<>
Ultra
CPU15% - 24%
<>
GPU0% - 22%
<>

4K (Ultra HD)

Low
CPU15% - 24%
<>
GPU0% - 22%
<>
Medium
CPU15% - 24%
<>
GPU0% - 22%
<>
High
CPU15% - 24%
<>
GPU0% - 22%
<>
Ultra
CPU15% - 24%
<>
GPU0% - 22%
<>

Performance Summary

The Xeon w5-3435X + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 15% and 27% and GPU utilization between 0% and 22%. Xeon w5-3435X keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 11% at 1080p to 11% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 22% to 20%.

Load Interpretation

Neither component is close to saturation: CPU tops out at 27% 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.

Resolution Scaling

At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 22% and GPU 11%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 20% and GPU 11%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 20% and GPU 11%. This shows that workload scaling is limited, which can indicate engine-side constraints.

Optimal Settings Recommendation

1080p (Full HD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 22% (17-27%) and GPU 11% (0-22%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Xeon w5-3435X remains stable for consistent frame delivery.

Upgrade Insight

Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Xeon w5-3435X 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.

  • High GPU Load: You typically want to see High GPU Utilization (90%+) and moderate CPU usage when visual settings are heavy. This indicates the graphics pipeline is under strong load, but the exact FPS limiter should still be confirmed by the FPS ceiling analysis.
  • High CPU Load: If you see High CPU Utilization (85%+) paired with lower GPU utilization, the processor is handling a disproportionate share of frame preparation and game logic. That can point to CPU-side pressure, but it should not be treated as a direct replacement for FPS ceiling analysis.
  • Low CPU and GPU Load: If both CPU and GPU utilization are relatively low, it means the hardware is waiting on something else. This could be a game engine limitation, poorly optimized code, or an artificial framerate cap like VSync holding performance back. It does not mean both parts are equally fast in FPS terms.

Data generated by our Machine Learning engine trained on real-world benchmarks. Shows the approximate average utilization at each setting.

The Sims 4 Requirements Comparison

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.

CPU - Xeon w5-3435X
cpu icon
45,086
Your Score
MinimumCore i3-3220
RecommendedCore i5-4460
GPU - GeForce RTX 4090
gpu icon
38,112
Your Score
MinimumGeForce 6600
RecommendedGeForce GTX 650

Your CPU is 268% above and your GPU is 2070% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.

CPU

+268%vsrecommended

GPU

+2070%vsrecommended

CPU

+604%vsminimum

GPU

+81%vsminimum

Minimum Requirements
Video Card: GeForce 6600
Processor: Core i3-3220
Memory: 4 GB
Disk Space: 25 GB
System: Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTX 650
Processor: Core i5-4460
Memory: 8 GB
Disk Space: 50 GB
System: Windows 10 64-bit

Frequently Asked Questions

1Can the Xeon w5-3435X and GeForce RTX 4090 run The Sims 4 well?

Yes, the Xeon w5-3435X paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run The Sims 4 smoothly up to 4k achieving around 215 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 2070% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 268% above the recommended requirements.

2Is there a more cost-effective setup to run The Sims 4?

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1812 ($163 CPU (Rank #313 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Your GeForce RTX 4090 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.

3Which component should I upgrade first to improve The Sims 4 performance?

Your GeForce RTX 4090 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 The Sims 4 performance right now. GPU fully utilized at: 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p high, 1440p ultra, 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high.

4Does this setup support Frame Generation for The Sims 4?

The Sims 4 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.

5What are the minimum and recommended specs for The Sims 4?

The Sims 4 requires at minimum a Core i3-3220 (CPU) and GeForce 6600 (GPU) with 4 GB RAM and 25 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-4460 and GeForce GTX 650 with 8 GB RAM. Your Xeon w5-3435X and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.

6How accurate are these The Sims 4 FPS estimates for the Xeon w5-3435X and GeForce RTX 4090?

These The Sims 4 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.