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 209 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 152 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 118 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 539% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The Core i5-1250P is 223% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4xxx).
The Core i5-1250P sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at all 1440p settings, all 4k settings.
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 1080p medium, the Core i5-1250P sets the ceiling at about 261 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 295 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 12% (FPS gap: 34 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 5/12 cells, GPU limits 1/12, balanced 6/12.
The Core i5-1250P and GeForce RTX 4090 stay close in effective frame-generation ceiling across most presets, so neither side consistently suppresses the other by a large margin.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU Limits GPU 6% | CPU Limits GPU 12% | CPU Limits GPU 11% | CPU Limits GPU 6% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | Balanced | Balanced | CPU Limits GPU 6% | Balanced |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | GPU Limits CPU 7% |
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) | CPU13% - 39% <> GPU28% - 50% <> | CPU13% - 39% <> GPU28% - 50% <> | CPU34% - 39% <> GPU56% - 67% <> | CPU34% - 39% <> GPU56% - 67% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU5% - 39% <> GPU41% - 77% <> | CPU5% - 39% <> GPU41% - 77% <> | CPU23% - 39% <> GPU69% - 95% <> | CPU23% - 39% <> GPU69% - 95% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU3% - 39% <> GPU79% - 96% <> | CPU3% - 39% <> GPU79% - 96% <> | CPU21% - 39% <> GPU100% - 100% | CPU21% - 39% <> GPU100% - 100% |
The Core i5-1250P + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 3% and 39% and GPU utilization between 28% and 100%. Core i5-1250P 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 31% to 26%.
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 i5-1250P stays at 30% (21-39%). This shows the graphics pipeline is carrying most of the workload, but utilization alone does not define the FPS limiter.
At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 31% and GPU 51%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 27% and GPU 71%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 26% and GPU 94%. This shows that GPU demand scales sharply with resolution while CPU load remains comparatively stable.
4K (Ultra HD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 21% (3-39%) and GPU 88% (79-96%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i5-1250P remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the GPU. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 100% average load at 4K (Ultra HD) High while the Core i5-1250P 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.
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 223% above and your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+223%vsrecommended
+539%vsrecommended
+869%vsminimum
+2751%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i5-1250P paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Civilization VI smoothly up to 4k achieving around 118 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 223% above the recommended requirements.
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.
For Civilization VI, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i5-1250P 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.
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 i5-1250P 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.
