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 338 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 240 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 170 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 539% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The Core Ultra 9 285T is 522% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4xxx).
The GeForce RTX 4090 sets the FPS ceiling at 1080p (low/ultra), all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the Core Ultra 9 285T still has additional frame-generation headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1080p (medium/high).
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $2198. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 338 FPS, equivalent to 0.15 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.225 fps/$ | 0.197 fps/$ | 0.175 fps/$ | 0.154 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.158 fps/$ | 0.147 fps/$ | 0.127 fps/$ | 0.109 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.129 fps/$ | 0.112 fps/$ | 0.096 fps/$ | 0.077 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 low, the GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 224 FPS, while the Core Ultra 9 285T has headroom up to 283 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 21% (FPS gap: 59 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 11/12 cells, CPU limits 0/12, balanced 1/12.
Your GeForce RTX 4090 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the Core Ultra 9 285T frame-generation potential remains unused in those settings.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | GPU Limits CPU 9% | GPU Limits CPU 6% | Balanced | GPU Limits CPU 8% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | GPU Limits CPU 16% | GPU Limits CPU 14% | GPU Limits CPU 13% | GPU Limits CPU 15% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | GPU Limits CPU 21% | GPU Limits CPU 19% | GPU Limits CPU 18% | GPU Limits CPU 19% |
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 Ultra 9 285T + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 1% and 61% and GPU utilization between 21% and 100%. Core Ultra 9 285T 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 Ultra 9 285T 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 Ultra 9 285T 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 Ultra 9 285T 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 522% above and your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+522%vsrecommended
+539%vsrecommended
+1765%vsminimum
+2751%vsminimum
Yes, the Core Ultra 9 285T paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Civilization VI smoothly up to 4k achieving around 170 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 522% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $2198 ($549 CPU (Rank #287 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Your GeForce RTX 4090 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 card with a significantly better value rating.
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: 1080p low, 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 Ultra 9 285T 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.
