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 316 FPS, suitable for 144Hz+ monitors. At 1440p, all settings exceed 189 FPS. At 4K, all settings exceed 120 FPS.
The GeForce RTX 4090 is 539% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 770) for Civilization VI. The Xeon 6521P is 991% above the recommended CPU (Core i5-4xxx).
At lower resolutions (all 1440p settings, all 4k settings), the Xeon 6521P sets the FPS ceiling. As graphical load increases at (1080p low), the GeForce RTX 4090 becomes the FPS-limiting side. The FPS ceiling is closely matched at 1080p (medium/high/ultra).
Approximated average price on current market:
Combo price: $2899. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 316 FPS, equivalent to 0.11 FPS per dollar.
| Resolution | Low | Medium | High | Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 0.167 fps/$ | 0.146 fps/$ | 0.131 fps/$ | 0.109 fps/$ |
| 1440p | 0.093 fps/$ | 0.083 fps/$ | 0.073 fps/$ | 0.065 fps/$ |
| 4k | 0.063 fps/$ | 0.053 fps/$ | 0.047 fps/$ | 0.041 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 medium, the Xeon 6521P sets the ceiling at about 154 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 4090 could reach 200 FPS. In this scenario, the CPU limits the GPU potential by 23% (FPS gap: 46 FPS). Overall distribution: CPU limits 8/12 cells, GPU limits 1/12, balanced 3/12.
Your Xeon 6521P 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) | GPU Limits CPU 7% | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU Limits GPU 8% | CPU Limits GPU 13% | CPU Limits GPU 13% | CPU Limits GPU 8% |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU Limits GPU 18% | CPU Limits GPU 23% | CPU Limits GPU 22% | CPU Limits GPU 12% |
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) | CPU20% - 25% <> GPU20% - 49% <> | CPU20% - 25% <> GPU20% - 49% <> | CPU16% - 25% <> GPU22% - 48% <> | CPU16% - 25% <> GPU22% - 48% <> |
| 1440p (2K QHD) | CPU19% - 26% <> GPU31% - 73% <> | CPU19% - 26% <> GPU31% - 73% <> | CPU15% - 26% <> GPU38% - 82% <> | CPU15% - 26% <> GPU38% - 82% <> |
| 4K (Ultra HD) | CPU14% - 43% <> GPU66% - 89% <> | CPU14% - 43% <> GPU66% - 89% <> | CPU10% - 44% <> GPU88% - 96% <> | CPU10% - 44% <> GPU88% - 96% <> |
The Xeon 6521P + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 10% and 44% and GPU utilization between 20% and 96%. Xeon 6521P 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 85% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 21% to 28%.
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 Xeon 6521P stays at 27% (10-44%). 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 21% and GPU 35%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 21% and GPU 56%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 28% and GPU 85%. This shows that workload scaling is present on both components, with stronger pressure on the GPU.
4K (Ultra HD) High is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 27% (10-44%) and GPU 92% (88-96%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Xeon 6521P remains stable for consistent frame delivery.
Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Xeon 6521P 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 991% above and your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.
+991%vsrecommended
+539%vsrecommended
+3172%vsminimum
+2751%vsminimum
Yes, the Xeon 6521P paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Civilization VI smoothly up to 4k achieving around 120 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 539% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 991% above the recommended requirements.
This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $2899 ($1250 CPU (Rank #214 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Your Xeon 6521P 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 EPYC 9355P is a great upgrade option for around $2998 (Rank #287 for value).
Your Xeon 6521P 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: 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p high, 1440p ultra, 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra. GPU fully utilized at: 1080p low.
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 Xeon 6521P 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.
