Civilization VIFPS onRyzen Threadripper 3960X&GeForce RTX 4090

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
low433 FPS
medium393 FPS
high374 FPS
ultra312 FPS
1440P
low293 FPS
medium279 FPS
high255 FPS
ultra207 FPS
4K
low235 FPS
medium210 FPS
high187 FPS
ultra140 FPS

Performance Report

Civilization VI

GeForce RTX 4090 + Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 312 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 207 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 140 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 4090 is 539% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is 823% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4xxx).

AI Acceleration

Civilization VI supports: AFMF. This game does not have native DLSS 3 or FSR 3 Frame Generation support. AFMF is AMD-exclusive and not compatible with GeForce RTX 4090.

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

The Ryzen Threadripper 3960X sets the FPS ceiling at all 4k settings, while the GeForce RTX 4090 still has headroom. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings.

💰Value Analysis

Approximated average price on current market:

GeForce RTX 4090:$1649(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $1599
Ryzen Threadripper 3960X:$85(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $1399

Combo price: $1734. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 312 FPS, equivalent to 0.18 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.250 fps/$0.227 fps/$0.216 fps/$0.180 fps/$
1440p0.169 fps/$0.161 fps/$0.147 fps/$0.119 fps/$
4k0.136 fps/$0.121 fps/$0.108 fps/$0.081 fps/$

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

Performance Limiter Analysis

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X|GeForce RTX 4090

This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.

📈Analysis

At 4k medium, the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X sets the ceiling at about 210 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 234 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 10% (FPS gap: 24 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 4/12 cells, GPU limits 0/12, balanced 8/12.

Verdict

Well Balanced

The Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 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.

🧩Detailed Breakdown
1080p (Full HD)
LowBalanced
MediumBalanced
HighBalanced
UltraBalanced
1440p (2K QHD)
LowBalanced
MediumBalanced
HighBalanced
UltraBalanced
4K (Ultra HD)
LowCPU Limits GPU 7%
MediumCPU Limits GPU 10%
HighCPU Limits GPU 8%
UltraCPU Limits GPU 8%
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, 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 - Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
cpu icon
54,763
Your Score
MinimumCore i3-2120
RecommendedCore i5-4xxx
GPU - GeForce RTX 4090
gpu icon
38,112
Your Score
MinimumGeForce GTS 450
RecommendedGeForce GTX 770

Your CPU is 823% above and your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.

CPU

+823%vsrecommended

GPU

+539%vsrecommended

CPU

+2667%vsminimum

GPU

+2751%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 Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and GeForce RTX 4090 run Civilization VI well?

Yes, the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Civilization VI smoothly up to 4k achieving around 140 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 823% above the recommended requirements.

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

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1734 ($85 CPU (Rank #4 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Your Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 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 #297 for value).

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

Your Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 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: 4k high, 4k low, 4k medium, 4k ultra.

4Does this setup support Frame Generation for Civilization VI?

Civilization VI currently only supports AFMF (AMD Fluid Motion Frames) for frame generation, which is an AMD-exclusive technology. Because you are using an NVIDIA GPU, you cannot use Frame Generation for this specific game.

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 Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.

6How accurate are these Civilization VI FPS estimates for the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and GeForce RTX 4090?

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.