Best Gaming Laptop for Civilization VI
Civilisation 6 laptop compatibility: can you play Civilisation 6 on your laptop?
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- 01Best gaming laptop for Civilization VI @ 1080p
- 02Best gaming laptop for Civilization VI @ 1440p
- 03Best gaming laptop for Civilization VI @ 4K
This brief guide is dedicated to helping you find the best gaming laptop for Civilization VI (or the best gaming laptop for Civilization 6, if Roman numerals offend your sensibilities), as well as answering the question can my laptop run Civilization 6?
In the guide, we will discuss laptop requirements for Civilization VI while listing different gaming laptops capable of running Civilization VI at various settings and resolutions. The laptops we have picked will fit your need and are budget-oriented. Hopefully, after reading our guide, you will know whether playing Civilization VI on a laptop is worth it.
Ultimately, you have to realize a strategy title like Civilization VI isn’t a very graphically advanced game, so you don’t need to opt for top-performing laptops with the highest price tags, although gaming at 4K native resolution will never be that cheap, should you wish to do so.
Can my laptop run Civilization 6?
The developers of Civilization VI have officially revealed the system requirements, and we have listed them below.
The main aspect to be aware of with system requirements is that they are for desktop hardware. There’s a significant difference between desktop and laptop hardware, even if the components have the same name. Specifically, a laptop’s components, such as GPU and CPU, are inferior compared to desktops. Laptops have a smaller chassis and limited cooling equipment, so manufacturers use low-powered components. If you are going by the recommended system requirements, go up another SKU to get the desktop equivalent performance on the laptop.
We’d always go with the recommended system requirements for enjoyable entry-level performance instead of the minimum requirements, which will only just run the game for low FPS on the lowest settings.
After consideration, we added a few different models of various power levels, resolutions, and price points below for you to pick from.
Civilization VI recommended requirements (desktop)
- OS: Windows 7×64 / Windows 8.1×64 / Windows 10×64
- Processor: Fourth Generation Intel Core i5 2.5 Ghz or AMD FX8350 4.0 Ghz or greater
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: 2GB & AMD 7970 or Nvidia 770 or greater
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 12 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX Compatible Sound Device
Best gaming laptop for Civilization 6 @ 1080p
MSI GF65 Thin (15.6″, 144Hz)
CPU
Intel i7-9750H / i7-10750H
Graphics Card
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 / RTX 3060
RAM
8GB
Max Refresh Rate
144Hz
Resolution
1920 x 1080
Screen Size
15.6”
A good number of well-performing budget gaming laptops are available in the market. But if you want a seamless experience of playing Civilization VI at 1080P with the highest resolution, we recommend getting the MSI GF65 Thin.
The GF65 Thin has solid performance and comes in two variants: RTX 3060 and RTX 2060. Both variants are great, thin-built, and well-performing. Hence, we kept the GF65 Thin in our best gaming laptop under $1,000 guide for quite a while. However, we recommend getting the Intel Core i7-equipped gaming laptops if possible.
The only drawback of this machine is the amount of memory: 8GB is enough for a strategy title, such as Civilization VI, not for more demanding games. So, it is best to upgrade the RAM to 16GB. However, if you want to avoid the hassle of a RAM upgrade, consider purchasing the ASUS TUF DASH.
Best gaming laptop for Civilization 6 @ 1440p
ASUS ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition (165Hz 1440p)
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX
GPU
AMD Radeon RX 6800M
RAM
16GB
Storage
512GB SSD
Screen Size
15.6″
Max Refresh Rate
165Hz
Playing Civilization VI at 1440p with the highest settings will be easy with the ASUS ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition. The ROG Strix G15 is one of the top-performing laptops, and deals are available almost all the time. The laptop also has AMD CPU and GPU. Having both AMD components helps to enhance the harmony between the two main components.
The G15 has an RTX 3070 equivalent performance and is available at a lower price, but the laptop’s Ray-Tracing performance is not on par with an Nvidia GPU-powered machine. Ultimately, you have to understand this is a mighty machine, more than a game like Civilization VI requires. However, if you are getting a good deal for this laptop, don’t think; just grab it.
The Strix G15’s absence of a webcam can be a deal breaker for some, but getting a third-party webcam would be easy. If you are still not convinced, you can check our best gaming laptop under $1,500 list, but you won’t find a better performer. There’s also a Strix G15 variant available with a 300 Hz refresh rate display, don’t fall for it. The refresh rate is high, but you only get 1080p resolution.
Best gaming laptop for Civilization 6 @ 4K
MSI Creator 17 (120Hz UHD, i7-11800H, RTX 3060)
CPU
Intel Core i7-11800H
Graphics Card
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
RAM
16GB RAM
Storage
512GB NVME SSD
Max Refresh Rate
120Hz
Resolution
4K (UHD)
Gaming at 4K is fascinating, but the problem with most 4K laptops is that they are locked at a 60Hz refresh rate. This is all to get a stable performance, and a higher refresh is not even necessary for a slow-paced title such as Civilization VI. However, if a higher resolution option is accessible, go for it. Hence, our recommendation is MSI Creator 17. It is an RTX 3060 laptop with a 4K 120Hz refresh rate. However, don’t set your eyes on the Creator 15: it is cheaper, but getting a 4K laptop with a 15-inch screen is a waste. Just remember, these laptops won’t be able to handle anything more than a strategy game at 4K. You must set your eyes on more powerful laptops to play the latest shooters alongside Civilization VI. So, you need something more powerful, such as the ASUS Zephyrus S17, MSI Raider GE76, or the Razer Blade 17, which comes with a 144Hz 4K screen. But these recommendations are way more expensive.
Best gaming laptop for Civilization VI : Final Word
Unless you read this half cut, you should now know the answer to the question can my laptop run Civilization VI? for you, and given you plenty of options for the best gaming laptop for Civilization 6 if your current one doesn’t measure up. Whilst you’re here, do take a look at our myriad other gaming laptop guides in the mega menu above, organised by price point and brand.
