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 130 FPS. At 1440p, frame rates range from 51 to 111 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 28 to 64 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 539% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The Core i9-9980XE is 391% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4xxx).
The Core i9-9980XE sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $2242. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 130 FPS, equivalent to 0.06 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.095 fps/$ | 0.082 fps/$ | 0.065 fps/$ | 0.058 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.050 fps/$ | 0.041 fps/$ | 0.033 fps/$ | 0.023 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.029 fps/$ | 0.025 fps/$ | 0.018 fps/$ | 0.012 fps/$ |
* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)
This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.
At 4k ultra, the Core i9-9980XE sets the ceiling at about 28 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 98 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 71% (FPS gap: 70 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your Core i9-9980XE 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 38% | CPU Limits GPU 38% | CPU Limits GPU 44% | CPU Limits GPU 40% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 49% | CPU Limits GPU 52% | CPU Limits GPU 54% | CPU Limits GPU 64% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 62% | CPU Limits GPU 61% | CPU Limits GPU 66% | CPU Limits GPU 71% |
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) | CPU1% - 42% <> GPU21% - 49% <> | CPU1% - 42% <> GPU21% - 49% <> | CPU14% - 42% <> GPU22% - 48% <> | CPU14% - 42% <> GPU22% - 48% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU2% - 43% <> GPU33% - 75% <> | CPU2% - 43% <> GPU33% - 75% <> | CPU20% - 43% <> GPU40% - 83% <> | CPU20% - 43% <> GPU40% - 83% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU2% - 60% <> GPU76% - 97% <> | CPU2% - 60% <> GPU76% - 97% <> | CPU22% - 61% <> GPU99% - 100% <> | CPU22% - 61% <> GPU99% - 100% <> |
The Core i9-9980XE + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 1% and 61% and GPU utilization between 21% and 100%. Core i9-9980XE 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 35% at 1080p to 93% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 25% to 37%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 4K (Ultra HD) High, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 100% usage (99-100%), while the Core i9-9980XE stays at 42% (22-61%). 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 25% and GPU 35%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 27% and GPU 58%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 37% and GPU 93%. This shows that both CPU and GPU workloads increase as pixel count and render complexity rise.
4K (Ultra HD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 31% (2-60%) and GPU 86% (76-97%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i9-9980XE 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 i9-9980XE 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 391% above and your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+391%vsrecommended
+539%vsrecommended
+1372%vsminimum
+2751%vsminimum
Yes, the Core i9-9980XE paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Civilization VI smoothly up to 1080p achieving around 130 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 391% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $2242 ($593 CPU (Rank #345 Value) + $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 9950X is a great upgrade option for around $649 (Rank #5 for value).
For Civilization VI, upgrading the CPU would have the biggest impact on performance. The Core i9-9980XE 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.
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 i9-9980XE 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.
