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, all quality settings exceed 186 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 72 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 47 to 74 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 539% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The Core i3-12100F is 135% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4xxx).
The Core i3-12100F sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1739. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 186 FPS, equivalent to 0.11 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.172 fps/$ | 0.138 fps/$ | 0.124 fps/$ | 0.107 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.064 fps/$ | 0.051 fps/$ | 0.043 fps/$ | 0.041 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.043 fps/$ | 0.033 fps/$ | 0.028 fps/$ | 0.027 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 4k medium, the Core i3-12100F sets the ceiling at about 58 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 142 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 59% (FPS gap: 84 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your Core i3-12100F is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the GeForce RTX 4090 rendering potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU Limits GPU 13% | CPU Limits GPU 18% | CPU Limits GPU 16% | CPU Limits GPU 13% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 48% | CPU Limits GPU 53% | CPU Limits GPU 52% | CPU Limits GPU 46% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 56% | CPU Limits GPU 59% | CPU Limits GPU 58% | CPU Limits GPU 52% |
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) | CPU40% - 82% <> GPU26% - 51% <> | CPU40% - 82% <> GPU26% - 51% <> | CPU65% - 96% <> GPU54% - 68% <> | CPU65% - 96% <> GPU54% - 68% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU40% - 66% <> GPU39% - 77% <> | CPU40% - 66% <> GPU39% - 77% <> | CPU61% - 80% <> GPU67% - 94% <> | CPU61% - 80% <> GPU67% - 94% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU40% - 54% <> GPU77% - 96% <> | CPU40% - 54% <> GPU77% - 96% <> | CPU61% - 69% <> GPU100% - 100% | CPU61% - 69% <> GPU100% - 100% |
The Core i3-12100F + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 40% and 96% and GPU utilization between 26% and 100%. Core i3-12100F stays in a controlled operating range, while GeForce RTX 4090 carries most of the graphics load at heavier visual settings. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 50% at 1080p to 93% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 71% to 56%.
The utilization pattern is relatively even. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 100% average at its highest-load preset, while the Core i3-12100F peaks at 80% average. This suggests a fairly controlled load distribution, but the actual FPS-limiting side should still be read from the limiter analysis above.
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 71% and GPU 50%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 62% and GPU 69%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 56% and GPU 93%. 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 47% (40-54%) and GPU 86% (77-96%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i3-12100F remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Core i3-12100F 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.
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 135% above and your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+135%vsrecommended
+539%vsrecommended
+606%vsminimum
+2751%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i3-12100F paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Civilization VI smoothly up to 1440p achieving around 72 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 135% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1739 ($90 CPU (Rank #53 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Since the CPU is the main limiting factor, investing in a stronger processor will improve your framerates and overall value. For example, the Ryzen 9 9950X is a great upgrade option for around $649 (Rank #5 for value).
For Civilization VI, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i3-12100F is currently the limiting factor — the GeForce RTX 4090 has extra headroom that a faster processor could take advantage of. This is especially noticeable at 1080p where CPU performance matters more. CPU-limited at: 1080p low, 1080p medium, 1080p high, 1080p ultra, 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p high, 1440p ultra, 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra.
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 Core i3-12100F and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.
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.
