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 217 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 169 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 134 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 539% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The Core i7-12650HX is 291% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4xxx).
At lower resolutions (1080p (medium/high)), the Core i7-12650HX sets the FPS ceiling. As graphical load increases at (1440p (low/ultra), all 4k settings), the GeForce RTX 4090 becomes the FPS-limiting side. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1080p (low/ultra), 1440p (medium/high).
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 4k ultra, the GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 110 FPS, while the Core i7-12650HX has headroom up to 133 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 17% (FPS gap: 23 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 7/12 cells, CPU limits 2/12, balanced 3/12.
Your GeForce RTX 4090 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the Core i7-12650HX frame-generation potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | Balanced | CPU Limits GPU 7% | CPU Limits GPU 8% | Balanced |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | GPU Limits CPU 11% | GPU Limits CPU 6% | Balanced | GPU Limits CPU 8% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | GPU Limits CPU 11% | GPU Limits CPU 11% | GPU Limits CPU 13% | GPU Limits CPU 17% |
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) | CPU0% - 38% <> GPU20% - 46% <> | CPU0% - 38% <> GPU20% - 46% <> | CPU10% - 39% <> GPU22% - 46% <> | CPU10% - 39% <> GPU22% - 46% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU1% - 38% <> GPU37% - 76% <> | CPU1% - 38% <> GPU37% - 76% <> | CPU16% - 39% <> GPU45% - 84% <> | CPU16% - 39% <> GPU45% - 84% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU2% - 38% <> GPU79% - 98% <> | CPU2% - 38% <> GPU79% - 98% <> | CPU16% - 38% <> GPU100% - 100% | CPU16% - 38% <> GPU100% - 100% |
The Core i7-12650HX + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 0% and 39% and GPU utilization between 20% and 100%. Core i7-12650HX 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 34% at 1080p to 94% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 22% to 24%.
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 i7-12650HX stays at 27% (16-38%). 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 22% and GPU 34%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 24% and GPU 60%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 24% 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 20% (2-38%) and GPU 88% (79-98%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i7-12650HX 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 i7-12650HX 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 291% above and your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+291%vsrecommended
+539%vsrecommended
+1073%vsminimum
+2751%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i7-12650HX paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Civilization VI smoothly up to 4k achieving around 134 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 291% 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.
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: 1440p low, 1440p ultra, 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra. CPU-limited at: 1080p medium, 1080p high.
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 i7-12650HX 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.
