At the heart of most modern simulation rigs is a powerful PC running the simulation software along with the complex racing gear. Today, thousands of pro sim racers invest in stunning rigs and learn how to build a sim racing PC by combining the best hardware components in the market.
However, when buying or building a gaming PC for simulation racing, most gamers new to the trending e-sport don’t know how to get started. If you feel the same way, we understand. After all, we’re living in a multifaceted and complex world of graphic cards, processors, motherboards, and so on.
As a result, choosing the right parts can be quite challenging for anyone. Plus, you have to ensure your system is scalable as sim racing equipment and games typically become obsolete within a couple of years.
Therefore, in this post, we’ll share a quick guide on building a gaming PC for simulation racing.
A Simple Guide to Building a Gaming PC for Simulation Racing
Before we get into it, you need to understand the importance of building a powerful gaming PC for sim racing. Rendering a realistic simulated environment requires top-notch hardware. Ideally, you want to play games like iRacing or Dirt Rally 2.0 on max settings.
However, this would require a hefty initial investment. So, what you can do initially is invest in upgradable components (motherboard and PSU) and prioritize the GPU. You can also opt for pre-built PCs but taking the DIY route can help save you some money. Here’s a look at the minimum specs you should consider for each component:
| Component | Minimum Specifications |
| CPU | 2.5 GHz to 3.5 GHz |
| GPU | 2GB to 4GB RAM1400 MHz to 1550 MHz boost clock speed |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Cooling | Air cooling or liquid cooling (recommended) |
| Storage | 512GB SSD |
| Ports | USB, HDMI, VGA, and power ports |
Now that you have an overview of everything you need, let’s dive deeper into each of these components:
1. GPU
The Graphics Processing Unit or GPU is arguably the most important component of a sim racing PC. It dictates every aspect of the overall gaming performance. Although sim racing games aren’t the most power-intensive games in the market, they can still put an immense load on other supporting components.
When choosing a GPU, the first thing you need to consider is the frame rate (no of images per second or FPS). Ideally, you should opt for one providing at least 60 FPS to prevent lagging images. Secondly, you need to pay attention to other technical aspects such as ray tracing, which can improve object interactions in the virtual track.
Options
- If you’re a beginner looking to get started with sim racing, you should opt for the Nvidia GTX 1050 graphics card. Of course, there are older and cheaper options in the series like the 970 and 980, but their frame rate is limited to 50 fps.
- If you’re looking for an intermediate upgrade with a decent budget, look no further than the RX Vega 56/64 or Nvidia RTX 2060.70. These are two excellent choices, especially if you have a triple monitor setup.
- Finally, if you’re looking to go all out, popular high-end options include the GTX Titan, the Radeon VII, and the Nvidia RTX 2080/2080Ti. These options offer ray tracing and a refresh rate of 90 FPS.
2. CPU
Now that you’ve got the heart of your sim racing PC (GPU), you need an equally powerful brain or Central Processing Unit (CPU). The CPU handles every aspect of the simulation and displays the images through the GPU. When it comes to choosing, the general rule of thumb is the more the number of cores, the more powerful the performance.
For decent performance, you need at least 4 cores. However, if you’re looking for a better experience, you should opt for 8 or even 16 cores. As far as the clock speed is concerned, 3.5GHz to 4GHz should easily suffice.
Finally, you need to consider the CPU’s make and generation – Intel or AMD. In terms of options, Intel offers more variety. You can opt for different generations of i3, i5, and i7. However, you should opt for at least the 6th generation for a decent performance. If you prefer AMD, pick one from the Ryzen 3 and 7 series.
Options
- If you’re on a budget, opt for the Intel i3 8100 or the Ryzen R3 3300X.
- For triple monitor setups and VR capabilities, opt for Intel i5 8400 or the Ryzen 5 2600
- For the most powerful performance, opt for Intel i7 or i9 9700k or the Ryzen 7 2700X.
3. RAM
The next important aspect you need to consider is how much RAM you need since the more you have, the faster and better the overall performance. While 4 gigs of RAM should easily suffice, it’s highly not recommended for intermediate or pro racers.
Ideally, you should opt for 8GB or 16GB if your budget allows it. Secondly, you have to consider the type of ram. While there’s nothing wrong with DDR3, you should consider Video RAM or VRAM for better performance.
4. Storage
Storage is an essential component of any PC. For sim racers, it is where all their racing games, software, and other files are saved. While most games usually range between 10GB to 100GB, ideally, you should opt for as much storage as possible. This is because the amount of storage can affect your booting and game loading times.
When it comes to choosing one, you have two options – HHDs or SSDs. HHDs are cheaper by much slower than SSDs. Moreover, SSDs are smaller in size, meaning there’s more room for additional storage. As far as the size is concerned, you should opt for at least 512GB. However, if you’re a heavy gamer, you can buy up to 4TB SSDs or 8TB HHDs.
5. Cooling System
Sim racing PCs require a cooling system to prevent overheating due to the strain caused to the components by the electricity used. Overheating can lead to declining performance or, worse – damage. When it comes to choosing a method, you can either opt for air or liquid cooling.
Air cooling simply involves using multiple fans and metal plates (fins) to cool the processor and GPU. However, they can be loud, power-intensive, and bulky. Liquid cooling involves using water through pipes or tubes to effectively drive heat from inner components. They’re more efficient than their counterpart but more expensive too.
6. Ports
Finally, you need to consider the number and type of ports you need starting with the USB. Ideally, you should opt for 4 to 5 USB 3.0 ports for your peripherals (mouse, keyboard, headphones, etc.) as well as your racing gear. Sure, you can opt for an external hub, but that usually leads to clutter.
Secondly, you should consider opting for HDMI or mini HDMI ports to connect a single monitor or TV. For a double or triple monitor setup, you need multiple VGA ports. You can opt for DisplayPorts as well as a budget-friendly alternative.
Conclusion
And there you have it – how to build a sim racing PC for sim racing. With this information, you have everything you need to build a powerful simulation racing platform with any budget. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do some research from your end. There are hundreds of component options in the market today, so be patient and find the right combination before splashing your cash.
