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02Best budget gaming PC for playing Cities Skylines 2
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03Best gaming PC for playing Cities Skylines 2 heavily modded
Looking for the best gaming PC for Cities Skylines 2? You’ve come to the right place.
The minimum system requirements for Cities Skylines 2 suggest at least an i7-6700K or Ryzen 5 2600X, 8GB RAM, and a GTX 970 for smooth gameplay at low settings. However, we all know how quickly the game becomes hardware intensive as we build our city. Plus, since Skylines 2 has support for far more complex and big cities than Skylines 1, and there is an improved AI-based impact on the city’s economy based on our strategies, you should have a better gaming PC than this for the best gaming experience.
This is where we come in. We have consulted our in-house prebuilt PC expert, Shaun Conroy, about the best gaming PC for Cities Skylines 2. On top of that, we have also done our own research to figure out which gaming PCs have the right specifications and price to play Cities Skylines 2 without any performance issues. Our recommendation even includes a budget option, so if you don’t want to drop those big bucks, we have got you covered.
Best gaming PC for Cities Skylines 2 at a glance
iBuyPower Pro Y60
GPU
Nvidia RTX 4070
CPU
Intel Core i9-13900KF
RAM
32GB 5200MHz DDR5
Skytech Shadow 3.0
GPU
Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
RAM
16GB 3200MHz DDR4
PSU
600W GOLD
Skytech Gaming Azure
GPU
Nvidia RTX 4090
CPU
Intel Core i9 13900K
RAM
64GB DDR5 RGB
PSU
1000W Gold PCIE 5.0
When it comes to building the perfect set-up, it can either be a lot of fun or a bit overwhelming with all the choices. That’s where we’ve come in to make it easier. We’ve rounded up these brilliant choices into different sections so you can decide what you want. If you’re prioritising affordability then we’ve included a budget-friendly option. If you are after a cheaper choice then we’d recommend checking out the best gaming PCs under $800.
We’re also here to make sure you’re as equipped as you can be for Cities Skylines 2. Make sure you’ve checked out the best gaming laptop for Cities Skylines 2 and if you prefer a monitor, then take a look at the best gaming monitor.
Best overall gaming PC for Cities Skylines 2
iBuyPower Pro Y60
GPU
Nvidia RTX 4070
CPU
Intel Core i9-13900KF
RAM
32GB 5200MHz DDR5
- Panoramic chassis
- Excellent performance
- Powerful CPU with plenty of RAM
- Big size
The best gaming PC overall for Cities Skylines 2 has to be this iBuyPower Pro Y60. One of the main reasons why we have picked this PC is because Cities Skylines 2 relies more on the CPU relative to the GPU, and this PC packs an i9-13900KF paired with an RTX 4070. The Intel Core i9-13900KF is the most powerful CPU currently available. It has 24 cores, and its performance cores can clock at up to 5.80GHz. It’s no surprise that it’s listed as one of WePC’s best pre-built PCs.
As a result, you can expect some groundbreaking performance from this beast with no performance hiccups in Cities Skylines 2. For the GPU, you get an RTX 4070. It is not an i9-13900KF equivalent, but it is still a very solid GPU that is a great option for 1440p gaming. It has all the performance Skylines 2 needs to display the new signature buildings with great detail. Take a look at the RTX 4070 review to get a clearer breakdown of what this GPU offers.
You also get 32GB of DDR5 RAM with 1TB SSD, but all of these features get pale when you go over the chassis. That’s because it is a panoramic case with three-sided tempered glass that simply looks too beautiful. You get a complete look inside your rig, and combined with RGB, you’ve got yourself a true gaming PC. Overall, the iBuyPower Pro Y60 is an excellent choice to play Cities Skylines 2 at high FPS.
Best budget gaming PC for Cities Skylines 2
Skytech Shadow 3.0
GPU
Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 3600
RAM
16GB 3200MHz DDR4
PSU
600W GOLD
- Solid gaming performance
- Fast SSD with 1TB capacity
- RGB
- Not the most future-proof
When it comes to the best budget gaming PC for playing Cities Skylines 2, this Skytech Shadow 3.0 takes the crown. The PC not only carries a pocket-friendly price tag, but it does an excellent job at running Cities Skylines 2 at 1080p without breaking a sweat.
First up, you get an RTX 3060 Ti combined with a Ryzen 5 3600. Even though this duo is from the previous gen, its low pricing is one of the main reasons why this PC is so affordable, and as far as performance is concerned, both the Ryzen 5 3600 and the RTX 3060 Ti are very capable for Cities Skylines 2. Take a look at the comparison between the RTX 3060 and the RTX 3060 Ti to get a more detailed understanding of what this brilliant GPU offers.
For snappy performance, there is 1TB of SSD, which is very impressive for a budget build. Going over the looks, there is a sleek RGB strip at the front panel, and the side tempered glass gives a beautiful look inside the PC with RGB fans. In short, if you’re running low on cash but want to bring your dream city to life with Cities Skylines 2 and have no worries about performance, the Skytech Shadow 3.0 is the best bet.
Best gaming PC for playing Cities Skylines heavily modded
Skytech Gaming Azure
GPU
Nvidia RTX 4090
CPU
Intel Core i9 13900K
RAM
64GB DDR5 RGB
PSU
1000W Gold PCIE 5.0
- Jaw-dropping performance
- 360mm AIO cooling
- Plenty of RAM
- Expensive
If you want the best gaming PC for playing Cities Skylines 2 heavily modded, this Skytech Gaming Azure Gaming PC Desktop is for you. Packing an i9-13900K with an RTX 4090, the PC has the most powerful CPU+GPU combo you can get.
The Intel Core i9-13900K is a 24-core monster that can clock its Performance cores to up to 5.80GHz, resulting in unparalleled gaming and productivity benchmarks. Similarly, the RTX 4090 has 16,384 CUDA cores, a whopping 24GB VRAM, and 128 RT cores for dedicated Ray Tracing.
Keeping up with the over-the-top impressive specs, you also get 64GB of DDR5 RAM, which can handle any Cities Skylines 2 mod you throw its way, and a 2 TB NVMe Gen 4 to quickly load your city and save all of the game’s DLSs without running out of space. All in all, if you can afford it, then there is no other gaming PC more capable for Cities Skylines 2 than this Skytech Gaming Azure.
Is Cities Skylines 2 playable on lower-end gaming PCs?
While Cities Skylines 2 is playable on lower-end gaming PCs with at least an i7-6700K or Ryzen 5 2600X, 8GB RAM, and a GTX 970, it is recommended to go for a high-end PC if you plan to build a massive city and buy the DLCs.
Is Cities Skylines 2 better on PC or console?
Cities Skylines 2 is available for both PC and console, but it is better to play the game on PC as you get more performance, and the camera controls are better with a mouse/keyboard. Plus, mod support on Cities Skylines 2 also makes PC a better option.
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