1 A Quick Overview of the Best Desktop Computers for iRacing1.1 Introduction1.2 Minimum System Requirements for iRacing2 Top 3 Computers for iRacing2.1 MSI Aegis High-End Full Tower Desktop2.2 CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC2.3 Skytech Shiva Gaming PC 3 Final Words
Introduction
iRacing is a racing simulation video game that has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. If you’re someone that wants to get in the game as of right now, you’re going to need a decent enough system! When it comes to buying a gaming pc there are two options. You could either go out, spend time looking for individual components, buy them, and assemble a custom-built system yourself. However, for someone that’s inexperienced with computer hardware, it’s going to be a daunting task. Therefore, we recommend buying a prebuilt pc that is going to you save time, money, and effort. If you’re looking for the best computer for iRacing, that is capable of running the game smoothly and at stable framerates, you’ve come to the right place! Unlike other desktop games such as the Sims or RuneScape, iRacing is hosted and runs on the publisher’s servers, therefore having a good and stable internet connection is paramount. While pretty much any gaming system with a quad core processor will be able to run it, having a decent and powerful graphics card is a must if you want to run the game at higher resolutions and stable framerates. As the game itself is pretty graphically intensive, you should steer clear of any card having less than 6 Gigs of video memory, unless you want to experience frequent framerate dips of course. The game itself runs in a browser so having a decent amount of RAM is crucial as it would not only ensure a smooth gaming experience but also allow you to stream your gaming sessions on Twitch simultaneously if you choose to do so. Another area that quite a lot of people overlook is the operating system. The game runs exclusively on Windows, therefore rendering Macs irrelevant (for the most part) you can run iRacing on a Mac with the bootcamp utility, but that’s just a hassle! It’s better to stick to a Windows PC for this one. With so many gaming systems out there, boasting tons of features, it might be daunting as a consumer to choose from them all, therefore we’ve combined a list of prebuilt gaming systems that would ensure that you have the best possible experience during your iRacing sessions. All of the systems covered in the article are at the very least capable of running the game itself. Within the review, we will be referring to the requirements provided by iRacing on their website itself that dictate the minimum specifications required to play the game at mid range (1080p @ 60 fps) or High End (4K @ 60fps)
Minimum System Requirements for iRacing
Source: iRacing System Requirements Page MAC Computers: iRacing can be run with Apple’s Boot Camp utility. For more information on installing Windows on an Apple Computer, for more information you can see the MAC user guide on the official requirements page. Controller: Steering wheel, analog gamepad, joystick, mouse, or any version of Windows supporting touch screen driving.
Top 3 Computers for iRacing
MSI Aegis High-End Full Tower Desktop
Starting off our list from the high-end segment of the market, we have the MSI Aegis R5 that is designed specially with enthusiasts in mind. Compared to the other systems covered in the article, this machine is anything but modest. With a design that appears bold but not too different from the chassis’ we are used to seeing, the Aegis R5 offers a unique look that is reminiscent of the hardware inside. The system comes packed with a 10 core Intel Core i9-10900KF, clocked at a base frequency of 3.7 GHz. The processor exceeds therequirements set forth by iRacing’s website for high end configuration which translates to a much smoother gameplay experience. Tricky areas like the pits at Nurburgring GP which, quite taxing on other systems, are going to be a breeze for this processor to render. Using the added thermal kit along with an after-market cooler also ensures that the processor runs cool and quietly even under heavy loads. For graphics, the system opts for an RTX 2080 Super. The behemoth of a graphics card sports 8 GB of onboard video memory which exceeds the high-end specifications and is adequate to run the game at even resolutions upto 4k at 60fps. Overall, the system configuration far exceeds the recommended specs provided by iRacing for high end and would be able to plough through the highest settings with ease. Rendering high resolutions tracks like Tsukuba are going to be a breeze using the 3,072 CUDA cores that this card has. The system opts for a whopping 32 GBs of RAM, that not only ensures a swift racing experience but is also a great deal for enthusiasts looking to stream their next racing session with the world. The RAM is rated at 3000 MHz that perfectly complements the needs of the power-hungry processor ensuring that your gaming sessions aren’t interrupted. The tremendous amount not only allows you to play the game more smoothly but also opens up the opportunity for multitasking, thereby allowing you to simultaneously stream your racing sessions while editing the clips of your timed lapse for example. For storage, the system utilizes a 1 TB M.2 NVME SSD, which is going to help immensely in loading the game faster, despite the heavy texture packs. The SSD comes with a combination of a 2 TB mechanical hard drive, ensuring that you have an adequate amount of space to store the base game as well as the additional plethora of racing tracks and car packs that you are definitely going to download. Powering the whole system is a 750-Watt power supply that is pretty sufficient to power this behemoth of a system and the bronze power rating ensures that your system won’t fail on you during your most-heftiest racing sessions. One aspect that is often overlooked is the operating system which if bought separately can cost quite a fair bit of money. This system however comes preloaded with a genuine copy of Windows 10 pro which is a nice addition to have. The system comes with a pre-included proprietary Thermal Kit including a free tube of thermal paste. Some freebies that are thrown in as part of the bundle include the MSI Gaming Vigor GK30 Keyboard and Gaming Clutch GM11 Mouse which compliment the aesthetic of the system quite well. The RGB controllable fans look quite stunning paired with the tempered glass side panel. Overall, the system is an absolute beast that plows through the highest settings without breaking a sweat and if you’re someone that wants nothing less than the best, this system is definitely the best choice for you
CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC
CyberPower PC is known for making compact prebuilt gaming pcs at competitive prices and the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR is no exception. The sleek looking chassis houses a modest but nonetheless power machine that is capable of running the game smoothly at a stable framerate. While it might not be the beefiest system on the market, it certainly provides a bang for your buck that is unparalleled. The system packs a less than modest Intel Core i9-10850K clocked at 3.6 GHz. The processor has 10 cores, based on a 10nm process and is clocked at a base frequency of 3.6 GHz, that not only exceeds the mid-range recommended specification provided by iRacing’s own website but would also be a safe bet for future proof usage. The processor itself is more than sufficient for running iRacing and would outperform AMD variants as this game benefits from single core processor performance. On the graphics side, the system boasts an RTX 2070 Super with a whopping 8 GBs of Video Memory that exceeds even the high-end requirements and would easily run the game at a stable framerate, and is perfect if you’re looking to run the game at 1080p (or even 1440p if you’re willing to compromise on the framerate a bit). The graphics are adequate enough for the additional high texture packs that the game offers though it might struggle a little on the high-resolution tracks like Tsukuba or Charlotte Roval (which are proven to be quite taxing on the system) The high speed 16GB DDR4 RAM is in line with the bare minimum memory required for the game however it still manages to hold up as long as you’re willing to make a few tradeoffs here. While the onboard memory is sufficient for running the game itself, multitasking on this system would not be viable and is not advised. For storage the system opts for a whopping 1 TB SSD that isn’t based on the old SATA interface but rather the newer M.2 NVME one which means loading iRacing is going to be much faster allowing you to jump into your racing sessions in a flash. The perfect balance of high speed storage and a large space means that you won’t have to worry about running out of space, even if you have additional track and car packs installed. As a bonus the CPU is cooled using a proprietary AIO cooler that keeps the temps low allowing you to enjoy a hassle-free gaming experience. The beautiful tempered glass panel on the side allows a sneak peek into the gorgeous interior that is well lit by the high speed PWM-controllable LED FANS along with the light strips which, combined with the sleek look of the chassis offer a beautiful and elegant view. You even get a free CyberPower themed mouse and keyboard thrown in as part of the bundle which is a nice touch and go well with the aesthetic For Connectivity you get 6x USB 3.1 ports and 2x USB 2.0 ports meaning that you can connect your external gear such as racing wheels and pedal shifters with ease without worrying about running out of ports. The lack of a USB Type-C port is certainly felt and would make an excellent addition for those looking to attach their virtual reality headsets for a more immersive racing as many VR headsets nowadays opt for Type-C connectivity, although it’s not a dealbreaker. The RJ-45 Network Ethernet and 802.11AC Onboard WiFi allow blazing fast internet connections meaning your online racing sessions won’t be interrupted due to latency, provided you have a stable internet connection. Though it is marketed as a VR system, it might not be the best bet for those interested in virtual reality. As mentioned above, the lack of a USB Type-C port severely limits the VR headsets compatible with the system. Moreover 16 GB Memory while enough for running the game, might not be the best for VR usage. Overall though, the system packs quiet a lot of features and for the price, we’ve yet to see a better system with similar specifications. You also get a copy of Window 10 Home thrown in for free.
Skytech Shiva Gaming PC
Another addition to our mid-range segment is the SkyTech Shiva Gaming Computer. This system comes packed in a white ceramic chassis that offers a quite distinctive look compared to the other two systems featured before. Unlike the two systems featured before, the Shiva opts for a Ryzen processor instead of an Intel one. The Shiva is powered by a six-core AMD Ryzen 5 2600 clocked at 3.4 GHz. The processor barely meets the midrange requirements provided by iRacing’s website and although it should be sufficient to run the game itself, single-core performance of Ryzen processors does seem to lack in games such as iRacing which are known to CPU-intensive along with the GPU For Graphics the system opts for an RTX 2060 2060 with 6 GB of video memory, which is the bare minimum for running the game at mid-range settings. The card is sufficient enough to run the game at 1080p, albeit with lower settings if you want to achieve stable framerates, ensuring that you don’t have to experience unnecessary lag during racing sessions. Playing at higher settings and using high quality texture packs are not recommended as the less amount of tensor cores might put quite a lot of stress on the card The system comes loaded with 16 GB DDR4 RAM at 3000 MHz, which is great considering that it is a Ryzen based system and tends to perform well with high speed memory. However, the lesser amount of memory does mean that multitasking on this system would be less than ideal and any type of streaming is not advised. The Shiva only has a 500 GB SATA SSD which in addition to being very little in storage space, is also quite slow compared to the SSDs on the market nowadays. For the price, nonetheless it is a pretty good deal, though having an NVME drive would’ve made the system a lot more faster and responsive. We feel like the 500 GB size isn’t enough for iRacing as being a game that requires quite a lot of disk space, it is going to fill up rather quickly. The system is powered by a 500 Watts Power supply that is 80 plus certified meaning that it can certainly take the heat during strenuous racing sessions. The PSU is also neatly tucked inside a PSU shroud located at the top of the case which ensures that the heat from the PSU does not dissipate into the system. The system utilizes 3 x Thermaltake RGB Ring Fans which are controllable using RGB software, which is a nice addition. In terms of connectivity the system has onboard PCIE AC Wi-Fi with antenna ensuring high speed connections for your racing sessions, 1 x HDMI port, 4 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Ports along with 2 x USB 2.0 ports and HD Audio and Mic. It is also bundled with a free RGB Keyboard & Mouse, though compared to the previous two systems is of quite inferior quality Overall, the system is a good deal for those who are looking into a great entry level system that allows them to play iRacing (albeit with a few tradeoffs) while not breaking the bank. While it may not have the most attractive looks or the best hardware on the market, what it does have is a modest system that does the job without costing a fortune. Enthusiasts however, would be better off with the other picks in our review as this is most certainly a budget friendly option
Final Words
All three of these systems are extremely competent and more than capable of running the game itself. However, your specific needs are going to be the ultimate factor in deciding which system would be the best choice for you. We’re going to narrow down the choices and make it easier for you to make a decision based on your requirements. iRacing being a very graphically intensive game requires quite a lot of horsepower, therefore all systems in the review contain at least semi decent processors and graphics cards that will surely last you a long time while simultaneously running the game at decent framerates. The question is though, how much further are you willing to push your gaming experience? If you’re someone that wants the top of the line high end gaming experience, running the game at the highest resolution possible at high framerates in order to experience the game in its full glory, the MSI Aegis R5 is my personal recommendation to you. With its top of the line specs and the ability to upgrade components easily down the line, its certainly the beefiest system on our list that will be able to handle anything you throw at it with ease. Streaming, video editing and simultaneously sharing your racing sessions’ clips are something that this powerhouse can handle with ease as well. Although a bit on the more expensive side, its certainly the go to choice for enthusiasts who want nothing less than the best and definitely justifies its hefty price tag. Next up we have the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR. It is an all-round amazing system that is priced pretty competitively and provides the best bang for your buck that is just unparalleled. It is an amazing system with decent hardware that should be able to run the game at medium settings with ease, while allowing you to do some level of multitasking. The chassis is solid and the design is beautiful, not to mention the free peripherals included with it. It’s just an amazing system that would for most people last a considerable time while being able to run other AAA games as well. Lastly, we have the SkyTech Shiva Gaming Computer, which for the price tag, is a decent enough system as well. Though not quite having the beefiest specifications or the most unique looking chassis, it offers pretty much what you’d expect and delivers on the promises it makes. If you’re someone that wants to get into the game but can’t seem to justify spending a hefty amount on a gaming system, then the Shiva is certainly the best choice for you. You get what you pay for and the included free peripherals, though not of the best quality, are an added bonus too. That’s not to say that the system itself is underwhelming though. While making compromises to cut corners, the Skytech Shiva still ensures a smooth gaming experience for you which at this price tag is still unrivalled. The Skytech Shiva is a fantastic entry level system, though is only meant for light gaming Overall, We’d recommend the CyberPower PC Gamer Xtreme VR. It’s a decent enough system that would serve the needs of most people while not compromising on much stuff. For the average user, I’d say it’s the best bet as it doesn’t cost a fortune like the MSI Aegis R5 or make compromises to cut corners like the Skytech Shiva. Therefore, CyberPower is the one that I choose as my champion, although if you’re on a budget or are willing to shell out some extra cash, you’re free to pick your poison. If you’re on a budget but still want a decent system to game on, the Shiva is your best bet. Want the best possible gaming experience on a system that is nothing less than the best and spending away a hefty amount of money ain’t a problem? Well then the Aegis R5 is the perfect choice for you.
