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 194 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 135 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 104 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 539% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The Ryzen 9 5950X is 664% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4xxx).
The Ryzen 9 5950X sets the FPS ceiling at 1080p (medium/high/ultra), all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1080p low.
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $1999. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 194 FPS, equivalent to 0.1 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.156 fps/$ | 0.127 fps/$ | 0.114 fps/$ | 0.097 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.107 fps/$ | 0.091 fps/$ | 0.079 fps/$ | 0.068 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.085 fps/$ | 0.075 fps/$ | 0.064 fps/$ | 0.052 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 ultra, the Ryzen 9 5950X sets the ceiling at about 134 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 156 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 14% (FPS gap: 22 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 12/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.
The Ryzen 9 5950X and GeForce RTX 4090 stay close in effective frame-generation ceiling across most presets, so neither side consistently suppresses the other by a large margin.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p (Full HD) | CPU Limits GPU 6% | CPU Limits GPU 11% | CPU Limits GPU 11% | CPU Limits GPU 11% |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 7% | CPU Limits GPU 12% | CPU Limits GPU 12% | CPU Limits GPU 14% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 12% | CPU Limits GPU 11% | CPU Limits GPU 10% | CPU Limits GPU 9% |
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) | CPU0% - 25% <> GPU20% - 49% <> | CPU0% - 25% <> GPU20% - 49% <> | CPU8% - 25% <> GPU21% - 47% <> | CPU8% - 25% <> GPU21% - 47% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU0% - 26% <> GPU31% - 73% <> | CPU0% - 26% <> GPU31% - 73% <> | CPU10% - 26% <> GPU37% - 81% <> | CPU10% - 26% <> GPU37% - 81% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU0% - 43% <> GPU67% - 89% <> | CPU0% - 43% <> GPU67% - 89% <> | CPU11% - 44% <> GPU88% - 96% <> | CPU11% - 44% <> GPU88% - 96% <> |
The Ryzen 9 5950X + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 0% and 44% and GPU utilization between 20% and 96%. Ryzen 9 5950X 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 34% at 1080p to 85% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 14% to 25%.
From a utilization perspective, this is a GPU-heavy load profile. At 4K (Ultra HD) High, the GeForce RTX 4090 averages 92% usage (88-96%), while the Ryzen 9 5950X stays at 28% (11-44%). 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 14% and GPU 34%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 16% and GPU 56%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 25% and GPU 85%. This shows that both CPU and GPU workloads increase as pixel count and render complexity rise.
4K (Ultra HD) High is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 28% (11-44%) and GPU 92% (88-96%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Ryzen 9 5950X remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Ryzen 9 5950X and GeForce RTX 4090 remain reasonably matched for this title.
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 664% above and your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+664%vsrecommended
+539%vsrecommended
+2192%vsminimum
+2751%vsminimum
Yes, the Ryzen 9 5950X paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Civilization VI smoothly up to 4k achieving around 104 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 664% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1999 ($350 CPU (Rank #97 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Your Ryzen 9 5950X 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 Ryzen 9 5950X 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 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 Ryzen 9 5950X 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.
