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 96 FPS. At 1440p, frame rates range from 30 to 64 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 14 to 33 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 539% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The FX-8370E is 10% below recommended, but 169% above minimum.
The FX-8370E 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: $1729. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 96 FPS, equivalent to 0.06 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.077 fps/$ | 0.076 fps/$ | 0.061 fps/$ | 0.056 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.037 fps/$ | 0.031 fps/$ | 0.025 fps/$ | 0.017 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.019 fps/$ | 0.016 fps/$ | 0.011 fps/$ | 0.008 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 FX-8370E sets the ceiling at about 14 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 98 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 86% (FPS gap: 84 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
Your FX-8370E 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 62% | CPU Limits GPU 56% | CPU Limits GPU 59% | CPU Limits GPU 56% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 71% | CPU Limits GPU 72% | CPU Limits GPU 73% | CPU Limits GPU 79% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 80% | CPU Limits GPU 81% | CPU Limits GPU 84% | CPU Limits GPU 86% |
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) | CPU41% - 50% <> GPU30% - 55% <> | CPU41% - 50% <> GPU30% - 55% <> | CPU51% - 67% <> GPU44% - 67% <> | CPU51% - 67% <> GPU44% - 67% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU40% - 50% <> GPU38% - 75% <> | CPU40% - 50% <> GPU38% - 75% <> | CPU51% - 61% <> GPU63% - 93% <> | CPU51% - 61% <> GPU63% - 93% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU40% - 56% <> GPU75% - 95% <> | CPU40% - 56% <> GPU75% - 95% <> | CPU57% - 61% <> GPU97% - 100% <> | CPU57% - 61% <> GPU97% - 100% <> |
The FX-8370E + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 40% and 67% and GPU utilization between 30% and 100%. FX-8370E 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 49% at 1080p to 92% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 53% to 54%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 4K (Ultra HD) High, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 98% usage (97-100%), while the FX-8370E stays at 59% (57-61%). 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 53% and GPU 49%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 51% and GPU 67%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 54% and GPU 92%. 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 48% (40-56%) and GPU 85% (75-95%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while FX-8370E remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Upgrade priority should be the GPU. The GeForce RTX 4090 reaches 98% average load at 4K (Ultra HD) High while the FX-8370E 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 10% below recommended and your GPU is 539% below recommended, but both meet minimum specs. Playable at Low/Medium settings, 1080p or below.
-10%vsrecommended
+539%vsrecommended
+169%vsminimum
+2751%vsminimum
Yes, the FX-8370E paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Civilization VI smoothly up to 1080p achieving around 96 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 10% below the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1729 ($80 CPU + $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 FX-8370E 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 setup meets the minimum requirements but falls short of the recommended specs. You may need to lower some settings for smooth performance.
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.
