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.
Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors
Performance Report
At 1080p, frame rates range from 33 to 65 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.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 539% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The Core 2 Duo P8600 is 56% below recommended, but 32% above minimum.
At lower resolutions (1080p low), the Core 2 Duo P8600 sets the FPS ceiling. As graphical load increases at (1080p (medium/high/ultra), 1440p (medium/high)), the GeForce RTX 4090 becomes the FPS-limiting side. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1440p (low/ultra), all 4k settings.
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 1080p ultra, the GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 34 FPS, while the Core 2 Duo P8600 has headroom up to 65 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 48% (FPS gap: 31 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 5/12 cells, CPU limits 1/12, balanced 6/12.
Your GeForce RTX 4090 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the Core 2 Duo P8600 frame-generation potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU Limits GPU 17% | GPU Limits CPU 12% | GPU Limits CPU 37% | GPU Limits CPU 48% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | Balanced | GPU Limits CPU 18% | GPU Limits CPU 31% | Balanced |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced |
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) | CPU94% - 95% <> GPU35% - 58% <> | CPU94% - 95% <> GPU35% - 58% <> | CPU70% - 100% <> GPU51% - 77% <> | CPU70% - 100% <> GPU51% - 77% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU78% - 86% <> GPU39% - 70% <> | CPU78% - 86% <> GPU39% - 70% <> | CPU63% - 91% <> GPU65% - 96% <> | CPU63% - 91% <> GPU65% - 96% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU71% - 80% <> GPU72% - 88% <> | CPU71% - 80% <> GPU72% - 88% <> | CPU57% - 84% <> GPU97% - 100% <> | CPU57% - 84% <> GPU97% - 100% <> |
The Core 2 Duo P8600 + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 57% and 100% and GPU utilization between 35% and 100%. Core 2 Duo P8600 reaches high load in heavier scenarios, while GeForce RTX 4090 carries most of the graphics load at heavier visual settings. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 55% at 1080p to 89% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 90% to 73%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a CPU-heavy load profile. At 1080p (Full HD) Low, the Core 2 Duo P8600 reaches 94% average load (94-95%), while the GeForce RTX 4090 remains comparatively lower at 46% (35-58%). This points to heavier CPU-side frame preparation work, but utilization alone does not define the FPS limiter.
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 90% and GPU 55%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 80% and GPU 67%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 73% and GPU 89%. 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 76% (71-80%) and GPU 80% (72-88%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core 2 Duo P8600 remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Both components are stressed near their limits in the heaviest presets (Core 2 Duo P8600: 94% avg, GeForce RTX 4090: 98% avg). A targeted upgrade should follow your target resolution: GPU first for higher image quality, CPU first for higher minimum FPS.
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 56% below recommended and your GPU is 539% below recommended, but both meet minimum specs. Playable at Low/Medium settings, 1080p or below.
-56%vsrecommended
+539%vsrecommended
+32%vsminimum
+2751%vsminimum
The Core 2 Duo P8600 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.
Price data is not currently available for this combination. In general, look for setups where the CPU and GPU are balanced — this ensures you're not overspending on one component that the other can't keep up with.
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 medium, 1080p high, 1080p ultra, 1440p medium, 1440p high. CPU-limited at: 1080p low.
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.
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 setup meets the minimum requirements but falls short of the recommended specs. You may need to lower some settings for smooth performance.
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.
