What are the best desktop pcs for Cities Skylines?
If you’re aiming to fully experience Cities: Skylines, with sprawling metropolises, heavy modding, and smooth time acceleration, you need a desktop that goes far beyond casual gaming specs.
This guide is tailored for city-builders, simulation enthusiasts, streamers, and modders who want fluid performance, zero stutter, and enough headroom to support massive cities.
Underneath the gridlines and population counters lies a simulation system that crunches pathfinding algorithms, runs procedural updates, and manages thousands of agents simultaneously.
We’ve spent hours evaluating desktop computers by how well they support complex simulation scenarios. We focus on systems that can render a 200,000-citizen metropolis with fluid simulation speed, quick autosaves, and mod-stable environments.
To help you choose, we assess desktops based on several critical criteria: processor power, memory capacity, graphics performance, storage type, cooling system, and upgradability. Every desktop we recommend includes at least an Intel i5 13th-gen or AMD Ryzen 5 7600 processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM, dedicated GPU with 8GB VRAM, and NVMe SSD storage. These are minimum thresholds, anything lower risks frustrating simulation slowdowns.
CPU Performance stands at the top of our list. The game’s simulation engine scales best with processors that offer high single-core speeds. A strong CPU (like the Intel i7-13700K or AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D) keeps the city running efficiently, even during high traffic congestion or simultaneous disasters. It helps mitigate simulation stutter and time-lag between building actions. For players using Traffic Manager or large mod packs, this directly translates into smoother gameplay.
Memory (RAM) plays a crucial role, especially for mod-heavy players. Having 32GB DDR5 RAM gives the game (and your operating system) enough breathing space to process simulation cycles, auto-saves, and UI updates simultaneously. Lower memory configurations often result in freezing during late-game stages. More RAM means better multi-tasking and faster transition between menus, maps, and overlays.
Graphics Card (GPU) impacts visual quality and responsiveness. While Cities: Skylines is CPU-bound, a strong GPU like the NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT enables sharper textures, better shadows, and real-time rendering of dense cityscapes. This is especially helpful for players using high-definition building packs or playing in ultra-widescreen resolutions.
Storage matters more than people assume. NVMe SSDs significantly reduce autosave time, game boot duration, and asset loading speed. For anyone running asset-heavy mod lists via Steam Workshop, this difference is noticeable. We recommend at least 1TB of Gen 4 NVMe SSD. SATA SSDs can still work, but with long load times in dense cities.
Thermal Design and Cooling affect long-term performance stability. Desktop units with liquid or dual-fan cooling systems help maintain clock speeds during peak simulation load. This is particularly important during extended gameplay sessions or when streaming.
We want you to know exactly what to expect. Our picks aren’t budget-first, they’re performance-focused, reliable, and future-ready. This guide doesn’t push ultra-luxury rigs, nor does it settle for entry-level compromises. Every recommendation supports complex simulation builds, active modding, and stable long-play sessions.
Each of these machines is built to handle Cities: Skylines at its most ambitious—from traffic AI to terrain deformation to Steam Workshop overload.
Also see the best desktop computers for World of Warcraft
These are the Best Desktop Computers for Cities Skyline:
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- Corsair Vengeance a7200 Series Gaming PC (Zen 3 AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Graphics, 16GB
- Corsair Vengeance i7500 Series Gaming PC - Liquid Cooled Intel Core i5 14600KF CPU - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super GPU - 32GB
- Thermaltake Reactor 380 Liquid-Cooled PC (AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, RTX 3080, 16GB 3600Mhz
- iBuyPower Pro Y60 Gaming PC Computer Desktop Y60BI9N4701 (Intel i9-13900KF 3.0 GHz, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 12GB, 32 GB
- Lenovo Legion T5 Gen 8 Gaming Tower Desktop, AMD Ryzen 7 7700, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 64GB DDR5 RAM, 2TB
- Skytech Gaming Archangel Gaming PC Desktop – AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 4.7 GHz, NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti, 1TB NVME SSD
- Skytech Gaming Shadow Gaming PC Desktop – Intel Core i7 13700F 2.1 GHz, NVIDIA RTX 4060, 1TB NVME SSD, 16GB DDR4
- Skytech Gaming Shadow Gaming PC, Intel i7 12700F 2.1 GHz, RTX 4060, 1TB NVME, 16GB DDR4
- Alienware Aurora R10 Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 7 5800, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, AMD Radeon RX 6600XT 8GB GDDR6
- HP Victus Gaming Desktop, AMD Ryzen 7-5700G Processor, Radeon RX 6600XT 8GB Graphics(Outperforms RTX 3060), 32GB RAM, 2TB PCIe SSD
- Alienware Aurora R10 Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 7 5800, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- SkyTech Supremacy PC Desktop - i7 - GTX 1080-2TB-32GB
- MSI MPG Trident 3 - 10SI-003US Small Form Factor Desktop
- iBUYPOWER Pro Element 900iRE Desktop Computer
- HP Z2 G4 Workstation - Core i9
- CyberpowerPC - Intel Core i7 - RTX 2070 Super - 1TB SSD
Corsair Vengeance a7200 Series Gaming PC (Zen 3 AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Graphics, 16GB |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU |
| Processor Speed | 3.7 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8 GB |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 1 TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 17.8 x 9.06 x 18.35 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Design, Performance |
| Disadvantages | Storage |
Corsair Vengeance i7500 Series Gaming PC - Liquid Cooled Intel Core i5 14600KF CPU - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super GPU - 32GB |
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| CPU | Intel Core i5 14600KF |
| Processor Speed | 3.5 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12 GB |
| RAM | 32 GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB M.2 SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 17.8 x 9.1 x 18.3 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance, design |
| Disadvantages | Storage |
Thermaltake Reactor 380 Liquid-Cooled PC (AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, RTX 3080, 16GB 3600Mhz |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
| Processor Speed | 3.8 Ghz |
| GPU | RTX 3080 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 10 GB |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 14 x 14 x 24 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance, Price |
| Disadvantages | Storage |
iBuyPower Pro Y60 Gaming PC Computer Desktop Y60BI9N4701 (Intel i9-13900KF 3.0 GHz, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 12GB, 32 GB |
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| CPU | Intel i9-13900KF |
| Processor Speed | 3.0 GHz |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12GB |
| RAM | 32 GB |
| Storage Space | 1TB NVMe SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 18 x 11.2 x 18.2 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance |
| Disadvantages | Storage |
Lenovo Legion T5 Gen 8 Gaming Tower Desktop, AMD Ryzen 7 7700, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 64GB DDR5 RAM, 2TB |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 7700 |
| Processor Speed | 5.3 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 12GB |
| RAM | 64GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 2TB WD_Black SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 16.77 x 15.62 x 8.07 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Very good performance, Great price |
| Disadvantages | None |
Skytech Gaming Archangel Gaming PC Desktop – AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 4.7 GHz, NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti, 1TB NVME SSD |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 7600X |
| Processor Speed | 4.7 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8 GB |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage Space | 1TB NVME SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 22.6 x 21.2 x 13.2 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Design |
| Disadvantages | Storage |
Skytech Gaming Shadow Gaming PC Desktop – Intel Core i7 13700F 2.1 GHz, NVIDIA RTX 4060, 1TB NVME SSD, 16GB DDR4 |
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| CPU | Intel Core i7 13700F |
| Processor Speed | 2.1 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX 4060 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8 GB |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 1TB NVME SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 21 x 18.6 x 12 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance, Storage, Design and Build |
| Disadvantages | None |
Skytech Gaming Shadow Gaming PC, Intel i7 12700F 2.1 GHz, RTX 4060, 1TB NVME, 16GB DDR4 |
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| CPU | Intel i7 12700F |
| Processor Speed | 2.1 GHz |
| GPU | RTX 4060 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8 GB |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 1 TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 20.14 x 18.12 x 11.12 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Very good performance, Value, Design |
| Disadvantages | N/a |
Alienware Aurora R10 Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 7 5800, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, AMD Radeon RX 6600XT 8GB GDDR6 |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 5800 |
| Processor Speed | 4.6 GHz |
| GPU | AMD Radeon RX 6600XT |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8GB GDDR6 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 17 x 8.77 x 18.9 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Design, Build Quality, Performance |
| Disadvantages | Na |
HP Victus Gaming Desktop, AMD Ryzen 7-5700G Processor, Radeon RX 6600XT 8GB Graphics(Outperforms RTX 3060), 32GB RAM, 2TB PCIe SSD |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7-5700G |
| Processor Speed | up to 4.6 GHz max boost clock, 16 MB L3 cache, 8 cores, 16 threads |
| GPU | Radeon RX 6600XT 8GB Graphics |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8GB |
| RAM | 32GB RAM |
| Storage Space | 2TB PCIe SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 19 x 15.5 x 12 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Good performance, Value for money |
| Disadvantages | None |
Alienware Aurora R10 Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 7 5800, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 |
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| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 5800 |
| Processor Speed | 4.6 GHz |
| GPU | RTX 3080 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 10 GB |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Dimensions | 17 x 8.77 x 18.9 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Sold Separately |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance, Design |
| Disadvantages | None |
SkyTech Supremacy PC Desktop - i7 - GTX 1080-2TB-32GB |
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| CPU | i7-7700K |
| Processor Speed | 3.7 GHz |
| GPU | GTX 1080 |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8GB |
| RAM | 32GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 2TB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Dimensions | 18.5 x 13.1 x 20.2 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | 16.4 x 8.3 x 17.9 inches |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance |
| Disadvantages | |
MSI MPG Trident 3 - 10SI-003US Small Form Factor Desktop |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-10700F |
| Processor Speed | 3.4 Ghz |
| GPU | GTX 1660 Super |
| Graphics Card Memory | 6GB |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 1TB HDD 512GB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Dimensions | 9.9 x 13.93 x 3.84 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance |
| Disadvantages | NA |
iBUYPOWER Pro Element 900iRE Desktop Computer |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | Intel i7-9700F |
| Processor Speed | 3.0GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8GB |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 480GB SSD, 2TB HDD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Dimensions | 22 x 20.5 x 13 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance, Storage |
| Disadvantages | Quite Expensive |
HP Z2 G4 Workstation - Core i9 |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | Intel Core i9-9900K |
| Processor Speed | 3.5Ghz |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| Graphics Card Memory | NA |
| RAM | 32 GB |
| Storage Space | 512 GB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Dimensions | 23.3 x 19.5 x 11.3 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Not Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance |
| Disadvantages | Storage |
CyberpowerPC - Intel Core i7 - RTX 2070 Super - 1TB SSD |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | Intel Core i7-9700K |
| Processor Speed | 3.6GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super |
| Graphics Card Memory | 8GB |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage Space | 1TB PCI-E NVMe SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Dimensions | 18.5 x 8.2 x 18.7 inches |
| Keyboard & Mouse | Included |
| Computer Monitor | Sold Separately |
| Advantages | Performance, Large Storage |
| Disadvantages | NA |
