Core i9-14900K + RTX 3080 10GB in Starfield

Every figure below is a measurement aggregated from published review charts — the CPU's frame-rate ceiling and the GPU's frame-rate ceiling in this game, combined. Settings: Ultra preset, native rendering, no upscaling, no frame generation. CPU ceiling measured at 1080p, Low preset (reviewers' CPU-isolation method), flagship GPU.

1080p

Strong GPU limit

Expected frame rate: 42–82 fps (measured range across sources).

CPU Core i9-14900Kceiling ~159 fps on its own

GPU RTX 3080 10GBceiling ~42–82 fps on its own

The GPU side is lower by about 61.1%: the pair runs at the lower ceiling, and upgrading the other part alone would not raise it.

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

Confidence: MEDIUM — based on 3 source measurements for these two parts.

1440p

Strong GPU limit

Expected frame rate: 35–68 fps (measured range across sources).

CPU Core i9-14900Kceiling ~159 fps on its own

GPU RTX 3080 10GBceiling ~35–68 fps on its own

The GPU side is lower by about 67.9%: the pair runs at the lower ceiling, and upgrading the other part alone would not raise it.

That range sits under a smooth 60 in this game at the tested preset — expect to trade settings for frame rate.

Confidence: MEDIUM — based on 3 source measurements for these two parts.

4K

Strong GPU limit

Expected frame rate: 46–46 fps (measured range across sources).

CPU Core i9-14900Kceiling ~159 fps on its own

GPU RTX 3080 10GBceiling ~46 fps on its own

The GPU side is lower by about 71.4%: the pair runs at the lower ceiling, and upgrading the other part alone would not raise it.

That range sits under a smooth 60 in this game at the tested preset — expect to trade settings for frame rate.

Confidence: MEDIUM — based on 2 source measurements for these two parts.

This pair in other measured games

Alan Wake 2 — Strong GPU limit, 65–65 fps at 1440p
Baldur's Gate 3 — Balanced, 123–123 fps at 1440p
Counter-Strike 2 — Strong GPU limit, 257–257 fps at 1440p
Cyberpunk 2077 — Strong GPU limit, 74–79 fps at 1440p
Elden Ring — this pair is not both measured there yet.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II — Strong GPU limit, 83–83 fps at 1440p
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 — Strong GPU limit, 77–77 fps at 1440p
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 — Strong GPU limit, 57–57 fps at 1440p

Sources for Starfield

Full data: Starfield benchmarks · how verdicts are computed.