What GPU do I need to run Sid Meier's Civilization III?

The minimum GPU requirement for Sid Meier's Civilization III is DirectX 9.0c compatible video card. For smoother performance at higher settings, a more powerful graphics card is recommended.

What are the system requirements for Sid Meier's Civilization III?

The minimum system requirements for Sid Meier's Civilization III are: CPU: Intel Pentium II 400 MHz, GPU: DirectX 9.0c compatible video card.

Can I play Sid Meier's Civilization III at 60 FPS?

To achieve 60 FPS in Sid Meier's Civilization III at medium-to-high settings, you typically need at least an entry-level GPU (e.g. GTX 1650 or RX 6500 XT). Use the FPS estimator on this page to check your specific GPU.

Sid Meier's Civilization III

80/100

177 ratings2001Easy to run

Can your GPU run this game?

Estimated FPS across quality settings and resolutions

Search for your GPU above to see a full FPS breakdown at every quality and resolution.

Sid Meier's Civilization III FPS by GPU

Estimated framerates for 14 reference GPUs · pick a resolution and quality

60+ fps30–59 fps<30 fpsClick any row to load the full benchmark

Full benchmark grid · 14 GPUs × 4 qualities × 3 resolutions

1080p performance

Sid Meier's Civilization III estimated FPS at 1080p across 14 GPUs and 4 quality presets
GPU	low	medium	high	ultra
RTX 5090	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps
RTX 4090	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps
RX 7900 XTX	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps
RTX 5080	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps
RTX 4080 Super	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps
RTX 4070 Ti	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps	937 fps
RTX 4070	999 fps	999 fps	988 fps	803 fps
RX 7800 XT	999 fps	999 fps	871 fps	707 fps
RTX 3080	999 fps	999 fps	847 fps	688 fps
RTX 4060 Ti	999 fps	999 fps	800 fps	650 fps
RTX 3070	999 fps	912 fps	729 fps	593 fps
RTX 4060	999 fps	824 fps	659 fps	535 fps
RTX 3060	882 fps	706 fps	565 fps	459 fps
GTX 1660 Super	640 fps	512 fps	409 fps	333 fps

1440p performance

Sid Meier's Civilization III estimated FPS at 1440p across 14 GPUs and 4 quality presets
GPU	low	medium	high	ultra
RTX 5090	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps
RTX 4090	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps
RX 7900 XTX	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps
RTX 5080	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps	946 fps
RTX 4080 Super	999 fps	999 fps	999 fps	889 fps
RTX 4070 Ti	999 fps	999 fps	865 fps	703 fps
RTX 4070	999 fps	926 fps	741 fps	602 fps
RX 7800 XT	999 fps	816 fps	653 fps	531 fps
RTX 3080	993 fps	794 fps	635 fps	516 fps
RTX 4060 Ti	938 fps	750 fps	600 fps	488 fps
RTX 3070	855 fps	684 fps	547 fps	444 fps
RTX 4060	772 fps	618 fps	494 fps	401 fps
RTX 3060	662 fps	529 fps	424 fps	344 fps
GTX 1660 Super	480 fps	384 fps	307 fps	249 fps

4K performance

Sid Meier's Civilization III estimated FPS at 4K across 14 GPUs and 4 quality presets
GPU	low	medium	high	ultra
RTX 5090	999 fps	988 fps	791 fps	642 fps
RTX 4090	999 fps	918 fps	734 fps	596 fps
RX 7900 XTX	999 fps	824 fps	659 fps	535 fps
RTX 5080	971 fps	776 fps	621 fps	505 fps
RTX 4080 Super	912 fps	729 fps	584 fps	474 fps
RTX 4070 Ti	721 fps	576 fps	461 fps	375 fps
RTX 4070	618 fps	494 fps	395 fps	321 fps
RX 7800 XT	544 fps	435 fps	348 fps	283 fps
RTX 3080	529 fps	424 fps	339 fps	275 fps
RTX 4060 Ti	500 fps	400 fps	320 fps	260 fps
RTX 3070	456 fps	365 fps	292 fps	237 fps
RTX 4060	412 fps	329 fps	264 fps	214 fps
RTX 3060	353 fps	282 fps	226 fps	184 fps
GTX 1660 Super	256 fps	205 fps	164 fps	133 fps

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Minimum Hardware

Graphics Card

Minimum required

DirectX 9.0c compatible video card

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Processor

Minimum required

Intel Pentium II 400 MHz

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About

Sid Meier's Civilization III, released in 2001, is a turn-based strategy game that allows players to build and manage an empire from the dawn of recorded history onward. This installment in the renowned Civilization series stands out for its deep gameplay mechanics that revolve around city management, technological advancement, and diplomatic strategies. Players must carefully balance resource allocation and city development to achieve world domination or global peace.

When it comes to PC performance, Civilization III is quite accessible, making it a great choice for gamers with entry-level hardware. The game runs smoothly even on lower-tier systems, requiring only an entry-level GPU with a minimum score of around 300. Players can expect solid FPS with moderate graphics settings, allowing for an enjoyable experience without the need for high-end components.

Given its 80/100 rating, Sid Meier's Civilization III is definitely worth playing, especially for fans of strategy games. Its engaging gameplay and historical depth make it a classic that continues to captivate players, offering a rewarding experience regardless of your gaming background.

Performance profile

Released in October 2001, Sid Meier's Civilization III comes from the DirectX 9 era. Even the cheapest modern discrete GPU crushes it at maxed-out settings; the only real bottleneck today is CPU single-thread speed on older titles that were never multi-threaded.

Extremely light — Sid Meier's Civilization III runs at 60 FPS 1080p on any integrated GPU (Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon Graphics) or a decade-old discrete card like the GTX 1050. A current-gen RTX 4060 pushes 4K Ultra without effort.