Civilization VIFPS onCore i3-N300&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
low207 FPS
medium207 FPS
high207 FPS
ultra174 FPS
1440P
low140 FPS
medium114 FPS
high96 FPS
ultra90 FPS
4K
low90 FPS
medium71 FPS
high57 FPS
ultra54 FPS

Performance Report

Civilization VI

GeForce RTX 4090 + Core i3-N300
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 174 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 90 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 54 to 90 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 4090 is 539% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The Core i3-N300 is 40% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4xxx).

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

The Core i3-N300 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom.

💰Value Analysis

Approximated average price on current market:

GeForce RTX 4090:$1649(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $1599
Core i3-N300:$309(updated 2/9/2026)
Official Launch Price: $309

Combo price: $1958. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 174 FPS, equivalent to 0.09 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.106 fps/$0.106 fps/$0.106 fps/$0.089 fps/$
1440p0.072 fps/$0.058 fps/$0.049 fps/$0.046 fps/$
4k0.046 fps/$0.036 fps/$0.029 fps/$0.028 fps/$

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

Performance Limiter Analysis

Core i3-N300|GeForce RTX 4090

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

📈Analysis

At 4k high, the Core i3-N300 sets the ceiling at about 57 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 117 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 51% (FPS gap: 60 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.

Verdict

CPU Limits GPU

Your Core i3-N300 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 40%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 30%
HighCPU Limits GPU 19%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 19%
1440p (2K QHD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 34%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 39%
HighCPU Limits GPU 38%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 31%
4K (Ultra HD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 46%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 50%
HighCPU Limits GPU 51%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 44%
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.

📊Predicted Hardware Utilization for Core i3-N300 and GeForce RTX 4090

1080p (Full HD)

Low
CPU39% - 66%
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GPU28% - 52%
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Medium
CPU39% - 66%
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GPU28% - 52%
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High
CPU40% - 64%
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GPU56% - 69%
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Ultra
CPU40% - 64%
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GPU56% - 69%
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1440p (2K QHD)

Low
CPU39% - 66%
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GPU41% - 78%
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Medium
CPU39% - 66%
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GPU41% - 78%
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High
CPU40% - 64%
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GPU69% - 96%
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Ultra
CPU40% - 64%
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GPU69% - 96%
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4K (Ultra HD)

Low
CPU39% - 60%
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GPU78% - 96%
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Medium
CPU39% - 60%
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GPU78% - 96%
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High
CPU39% - 59%
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GPU100% - 100%
Ultra
CPU39% - 59%
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GPU100% - 100%

Performance Summary

The Core i3-N300 + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 39% and 66% and GPU utilization between 28% and 100%. Core i3-N300 keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce RTX 4090 carries most of the graphics load at heavier visual settings. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 51% at 1080p to 94% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 52% to 50%.

Load Interpretation

From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 4K (Ultra HD) High, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 100% usage (100-100%), while the Core i3-N300 stays at 49% (39-59%). This shows the graphics pipeline is carrying most of the workload, but utilization alone does not define the FPS limiter.

Resolution Scaling

At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 52% and GPU 51%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 52% and GPU 71%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 50% and GPU 94%. This shows that GPU demand scales sharply with resolution while CPU load remains comparatively stable.

Optimal Settings Recommendation

4K (Ultra HD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 50% (39-60%) and GPU 87% (78-96%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i3-N300 remains stable for consistent frame delivery.

Upgrade Insight

Upgrade priority should be the GPU. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 100% average load at 4K (Ultra HD) High while the Core i3-N300 still has headroom, so a faster graphics card would deliver the largest uplift.

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.

  • High GPU Load: You typically want to see High GPU Utilization (90%+) and moderate CPU usage when visual settings are heavy. This indicates the graphics pipeline is under strong load, but the exact FPS limiter should still be confirmed by the FPS ceiling analysis.
  • High CPU Load: If you see High CPU Utilization (85%+) paired with lower GPU utilization, the processor is handling a disproportionate share of frame preparation and game logic. That can point to CPU-side pressure, but it should not be treated as a direct replacement for FPS ceiling analysis.
  • Low CPU and GPU Load: If both CPU and GPU utilization are relatively low, it means the hardware is waiting on something else. This could be a game engine limitation, poorly optimized code, or an artificial framerate cap like VSync holding performance back. It does not mean both parts are equally fast in FPS terms.

Data generated by our Machine Learning engine trained on real-world benchmarks. Shows the approximate average utilization at each setting.

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 - Core i3-N300
cpu icon
8,283
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 CPU is 40% above and your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs. High/Ultra at 1080p. Lower settings for higher resolutions.

CPU

+40%vsrecommended

GPU

+539%vsrecommended

CPU

+319%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 Core i3-N300 and GeForce RTX 4090 run Civilization VI well?

Yes, the Core i3-N300 paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Civilization VI smoothly up to 1440p achieving around 90 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 40% above the recommended requirements.

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

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1958 ($309 CPU + $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 7845HX is a great upgrade option (Rank #1 for value).

3Which component should I upgrade first to improve Civilization VI performance?

For Civilization VI, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i3-N300 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.

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 Core i3-N300 and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.

6How accurate are these Civilization VI FPS estimates for the Core i3-N300 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.