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 208 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 139 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 108 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 539% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The Core i9-12900KF is 588% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4xxx).
Civilization VI supports: AFMF. This game does not have native DLSS 3 or FSR 3 Frame Generation support. AFMF is AMD-exclusive and not compatible with GeForce RTX 4090.
The Core i9-12900KF sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, 4k (low/medium/high), while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 4k ultra.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1969. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 208 FPS, equivalent to 0.11 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.160 fps/$ | 0.135 fps/$ | 0.118 fps/$ | 0.106 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.105 fps/$ | 0.091 fps/$ | 0.078 fps/$ | 0.071 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.088 fps/$ | 0.077 fps/$ | 0.065 fps/$ | 0.055 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 1440p high, the Core i9-12900KF sets the ceiling at about 153 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 179 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 15% (FPS gap: 26 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 11/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 1/12.
Your Core i9-12900KF 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 7% | CPU Limits GPU 10% | CPU Limits GPU 12% | CPU Limits GPU 7% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 9% | CPU Limits GPU 13% | CPU Limits GPU 15% | CPU Limits GPU 11% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 7% | CPU Limits GPU 7% | CPU Limits GPU 7% | 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.
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 588% above and your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+588%vsrecommended
+539%vsrecommended
+1965%vsminimum
+2751%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i9-12900KF paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Civilization VI smoothly up to 4k achieving around 108 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 588% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1969 ($320 CPU (Rank #108 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Your Core i9-12900KF provides phenomenal top-tier performance but at a premium enthusiast price. Since you are essentially at the ceiling of current hardware capabilities, there are no meaningful performance upgrades available. However, if you wanted a more cost-effective build that still delivers a great experience, you could theoretically step down to a high-end processor with a significantly better value rating. For example, the Ryzen 9 9950X is a great upgrade option for around $649 (Rank #5 for value).
Your Core i9-12900KF is already an incredibly powerful processor. While it's technically the first component to hit its limit (which is completely normal in state-of-the-art builds), there is no meaningful upgrade path that would drastically improve your Civilization VI performance right now. CPU fully utilized at: 1080p high, 1080p low, 1080p medium, 1080p ultra, 1440p high, 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p ultra, 4k high, 4k low, 4k medium.
Civilization VI currently only supports AFMF (AMD Fluid Motion Frames) for frame generation, which is an AMD-exclusive technology. Because you are using an NVIDIA GPU, you cannot use Frame Generation for this specific game.
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 i9-12900KF 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.
