Core i9 12900K + RTX 4090 in Baldur's Gate 3

Neither a measured verdict nor a direct benchmark covers every figure on this page, so the pair figures below are labelled estimates: calculated from this game's measured results (the measured CPU ceilings and GPU results on the Baldur's Gate 3 benchmarks page), each with its confidence level and the measured parts it is interpolated between. Estimates are badged and styled differently from measured verdicts, and are never presented as measurements. Settings: Ultra preset, DX11, native rendering, no upscaling, no frame generation. CPU ceiling measured at 1080p, Medium preset (reviewers' CPU-isolation method), flagship GPU, Act III.

1080p~68–151 fps · estimate1440p~68–151 fps · estimate4K~68–151 fps · estimate

1080p Estimate — not a measurement

Estimated: Strong CPU limit

Estimated frame rate: ~68–151 fps (calculated range, not a measured one).

CPU Core i9 12900Kestimated ceiling ~68–151 fps
GPU RTX 4090delivers ~217 fps in this game at 1080p (measured)

On the estimated figures, the CPU side is lower by about 49.6% in this game at 1080p. The math, from the two figures above: the pair runs at the lower one (~110 fps), and the gap to the faster side is (217 − 110) ÷ 217 ≈ 49.6% of the faster side's output. That percentage belongs to this game, this resolution and these settings only — no universal bottleneck percentage exists for a pair of parts.

That range suits a 60 Hz monitor; a high-refresh panel would be underused in this game.

Estimate — calculated from 22 measured results in this game, not a direct measurement. Confidence: LOW. The CPU figure is interpolated between Core i5-14600K and Core Ultra 5 245K — the nearest measured CPUs in this game. If reviewers publish a benchmark for the estimated part, a measured verdict replaces this estimate. How estimates work.

1440p Estimate — not a measurement

Estimated: Strong CPU limit

Estimated frame rate: ~68–151 fps (calculated range, not a measured one).

CPU Core i9 12900Kestimated ceiling ~68–151 fps
GPU RTX 4090delivers ~216 fps in this game at 1440p (measured)

On the estimated figures, the CPU side is lower by about 49.3% in this game at 1440p. The math, from the two figures above: the pair runs at the lower one (~110 fps), and the gap to the faster side is (216 − 110) ÷ 216 ≈ 49.3% of the faster side's output. That percentage belongs to this game, this resolution and these settings only — no universal bottleneck percentage exists for a pair of parts.

That range suits a 60 Hz monitor; a high-refresh panel would be underused in this game.

Estimate — calculated from 22 measured results in this game, not a direct measurement. Confidence: LOW. The CPU figure is interpolated between Core i5-14600K and Core Ultra 5 245K — the nearest measured CPUs in this game. If reviewers publish a benchmark for the estimated part, a measured verdict replaces this estimate. How estimates work.

4K Estimate — not a measurement

Estimated: Mild CPU limit

Estimated frame rate: ~68–151 fps (calculated range, not a measured one).

CPU Core i9 12900Kestimated ceiling ~68–151 fps
GPU RTX 4090delivers ~151–160 fps in this game at 4K (measured)

On the estimated figures, the CPU side is lower by about 29.5% in this game at 4K. The math, from the two figures above: the pair runs at the lower one (~110 fps), and the gap to the faster side is (155 − 110) ÷ 155 ≈ 29.5% of the faster side's output. That percentage belongs to this game, this resolution and these settings only — no universal bottleneck percentage exists for a pair of parts.

That range suits a 60 Hz monitor; a high-refresh panel would be underused in this game.

Estimate — calculated from 22 measured results in this game, not a direct measurement. Confidence: LOW. The CPU figure is interpolated between Core i5-14600K and Core Ultra 5 245K — the nearest measured CPUs in this game. If reviewers publish a benchmark for the estimated part, a measured verdict replaces this estimate. How estimates work.

No CPU measured in this game fully clears this GPU - the strongest measured option:

The pairing figure these options are compared against is the estimate in the card above; every option listed is a measured part.

This pair in other games

Sources for Baldur's Gate 3

Full data: Baldur's Gate 3 benchmarks · how verdicts are computed.