Civilization VI FPS on Core i9-13900KF + GeForce RTX 5090

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
low421 FPS
medium367 FPS
high332 FPS
ultra280 FPS
1440P
low337 FPS
medium303 FPS
high273 FPS
ultra226 FPS
4K
low274 FPS
medium247 FPS
high220 FPS
ultra164 FPS

Performance Report

Civilization VI

GeForce RTX 5090 + Core i9-13900KF
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 280 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 226 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 164 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 5090 is 552% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The Core i9-13900KF is 873% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4xxx).

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

The Core i9-13900KF sets the FPS ceiling at 1440p (medium/ultra), 4k ultra, while the GeForce RTX 5090 still has headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at all 1080p settings, 1440p (low/high), 4k (low/medium/high).

💰Value Analysis

Approximated average price on current market:

GeForce RTX 5090:$2700
Official Launch Price: $1999
Core i9-13900KF:$480
Official Launch Price: $599

Combo price: $3180. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 280 FPS, equivalent to 0.09 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.132 fps/$0.115 fps/$0.104 fps/$0.088 fps/$
1440p0.106 fps/$0.095 fps/$0.086 fps/$0.071 fps/$
4k0.086 fps/$0.078 fps/$0.069 fps/$0.052 fps/$

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

Performance Limiter Analysis

Core i9-13900KF|GeForce RTX 5090

This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages. Adjacent heavier settings are lightly stabilized to remove prediction jitter that would otherwise create impossible reversals.

📈Analysis

This CPU/GPU pair is mostly balanced in Civilization VI. Across tested presets: GPU limits in 0/12, CPU limits in 0/12, and balanced in 12/12. Peak observed performance in the sampled cells is around 421 FPS.

Verdict

Well Balanced

The Core i9-13900KF and GeForce RTX 5090 stay close in effective frame-generation ceiling across most presets, so neither side consistently suppresses the other by a large margin.

🧩Detailed Breakdown
1080p (Full HD)
LowBalanced
MediumBalanced
HighBalanced
UltraBalanced
1440p (2K QHD)
LowBalanced
MediumBalanced
HighBalanced
UltraBalanced
4K (Ultra HD)
LowBalanced
MediumBalanced
HighBalanced
UltraBalanced
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 and then monotonic-smoothed across heavier presets and resolutions, not generic utilization heuristics.

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 i9-13900KF
cpu icon
57,743
Your Score
MinimumCore i3-2120
RecommendedCore i5-4xxx
GPU - GeForce RTX 5090
gpu icon
38,867
Your Score
MinimumGeForce GTS 450
RecommendedGeForce GTX 770

Your CPU is 873% above and your GPU is 552% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.

CPU

+873%vsrecommended

GPU

+552%vsrecommended

CPU

+2818%vsminimum

GPU

+2807%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 i9-13900KF and GeForce RTX 5090 run Civilization VI well?

Yes, the Core i9-13900KF paired with the GeForce RTX 5090 can run Civilization VI smoothly up to 4k achieving around 164 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 552% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 873% above the recommended requirements.

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

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $3180 ($480 CPU + $2700 GPU). Your Core i9-13900KF 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 Threadripper 9960X is a great upgrade option for around $1499 (Rank #642 for value).

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

Your Core i9-13900KF 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: 1440p medium, 1440p ultra, 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 i9-13900KF and GeForce RTX 5090 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 i9-13900KF and GeForce RTX 5090?

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.