Civilization VIFPS onAthlon II X4 605e&GeForce RTX 4090

Civilization VI

The standard for turn-time benchmarks. Late-game turns require huge CPU throughput to process AI moves. High-resolution textures also demand a fair amount of VRAM.

Civilization VI - FPS Estimates by Resolution

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

1080P
low49 FPS
medium49 FPS
high42 FPS
ultra33 FPS
1440P
low40 FPS
medium28 FPS
high21 FPS
ultra13 FPS
4K
low18 FPS
medium14 FPS
high9 FPS
ultra6 FPS

Performance Report

Civilization VI

GeForce RTX 4090 + Athlon II X4 605e
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, frame rates range from 33 to 49 FPS depending on quality settings. At 1440p, frame rates range from 13 to 40 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 6 to 18 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 4090 is 539% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The Athlon II X4 605e is 1% below minimum CPU requirement.

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

At lower resolutions (1080p (low/medium), 1440p low), the Athlon II X4 605e sets the FPS ceiling. As graphical load increases at (1080p (high/ultra), 1440p high), the GeForce RTX 4090 becomes the FPS-limiting side. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1440p (medium/ultra), all 4k settings.

💰Value Analysis

Approximated average price on current market:

GeForce RTX 4090:$1649
Official Launch Price: $1599
Athlon II X4 605e:$25
Official Launch Price: $143

Combo price: $1674. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 33 FPS, equivalent to 0.02 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.029 fps/$0.029 fps/$0.025 fps/$0.020 fps/$
1440p0.024 fps/$0.017 fps/$0.013 fps/$0.008 fps/$
4k0.011 fps/$0.008 fps/$0.005 fps/$0.004 fps/$

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

Performance Limiter Analysis

Athlon II X4 605e|GeForce RTX 4090

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

📈Analysis

At 1080p low, the Athlon II X4 605e sets the ceiling at about 49 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 78 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 37% (FPS gap: 29 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 3/12 cells, GPU limits 3/12, balanced 6/12.

Verdict

CPU Limits GPU

Your Athlon II X4 605e is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the GeForce RTX 4090 rendering potential remains unused in those settings.

🧩Detailed Breakdown
1080p (Full HD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 37%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 14%
HighGPU Limits CPU 16%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 31%
1440p (2K QHD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 28%
MediumBalanced
HighGPU Limits CPU 27%
UltraBalanced
4K (Ultra HD)
LowBalanced
MediumBalanced
HighBalanced
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.

Civilization VI 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 - Athlon II X4 605e
cpu icon
1,964
Your Score
MinimumCore i3-2120
RecommendedCore i5-4xxx
GPU - GeForce RTX 4090
gpu icon
38,112
Your Score
MinimumGeForce GTS 450
RecommendedGeForce GTX 770

Your hardware is below minimum requirements. CPU is the limiting factor (1% below minimum). Expect performance issues. Low settings recommended.

CPU

-67%vsrecommended

GPU

+539%vsrecommended

CPU

-1%vsminimum

GPU

+2751%vsminimum

Minimum Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTS 450
Processor: Core i3-2120
Memory: 4 GB
Disk Space: 12 GB
System: Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTX 770
Processor: Core i5-4xxx
Memory: 8 GB
Disk Space: 16 GB
System: Windows 10 64-bit

Frequently Asked Questions

1Can the Athlon II X4 605e and GeForce RTX 4090 run Civilization VI well?

The Athlon II X4 605e and GeForce RTX 4090 will struggle to run Civilization VI at smooth framerates. At 1080p Ultra, you can expect around 33 FPS which is classified as "playable". Consider lowering settings or upgrading your hardware.

2Is there a more cost-effective setup to run Civilization VI?

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1674 ($25 CPU + $1649 GPU). 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 Civilization VI 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 Civilization VI performance right now. GPU fully utilized at: 1080p high, 1080p ultra, 1440p high. CPU-limited at: 1080p low, 1080p medium, 1440p low.

4Does this setup support Frame Generation for Civilization VI?

Civilization VI 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 Civilization VI?

Civilization VI requires at minimum a Core i3-2120 (CPU) and GeForce GTS 450 (GPU) with 4 GB RAM and 12 GB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i5-4xxx and GeForce GTX 770 with 8 GB RAM. Your hardware falls below the minimum requirements for this game, which may result in poor performance.

6How accurate are these Civilization VI FPS estimates for the Athlon II X4 605e and GeForce RTX 4090?

These Civilization VI 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.