Need help building/buying PC for Civ 6

[obrien.dan82]

Hello everybody, I have been playing Civ for years and want to get a good PC to run the new CIV 6 coming out next month. Unfortunately I am not extremely savvy with computers as far as requirements. I need to keep the price as low as possible but want to get a PC that meets the recommended requirements and not just the minimum. I would prefer a laptop but am open to a desktop if it save me enough money. Please help guys, I only have a couple weeks so I can get it by the time the new game comes out!!!

 

[metalhawk]

I posted this laptop deal this morning:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod..._6700hq_16gb_1tb_gtx960m_windows_10_15_6.html

But it's sold out now . The dell inspiron 7559 is a good lower cost gaming laptop that's pretty good WRT recommended (I'm not sure if the 960m actually matches up or not, but unless you go 1200+, I think that's the best you'll get in a laptop).

You can buy it from dell for a little more right now. Sometimes refurbished ones come in for less (when available) in the dell outlet. I picked up the 256GB SSD version from Amazon last year and have been using it for Civ V (and fallout) and am quite happy with it (don't like the trackpad a lot, never got used to it, but use a mouse so it doesn't really matter..).

That version is $50 more at amazon right now:
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-15-6-In...c&ie=UTF8&qid=1475177063&sr=1-1&keywords=7559

 

[Louis XXIV]

I was about to start a thread for this. I figured I'd get a desktop. Does anyone know how easy it is to customize a desktop these days?

 

[Selereth]

It is super easy to customize and build your own PC these days, especially with the help of a nifty little website here:

www.pcpartpicker.com

The site allows to you to view the prices and online retailers of pretty much every computer part out there, and shows you any potential compatibility issues as well as the total power draw of all the parts. I built my PC this past summer using this website and found the process to be really streamlined thanks to the site allowing me to see what parts worked well together.

You could easily build a computer for about 600-700 dollars that can run Civ VI on max settings at 1080p/60 fps. A GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 480/470 paired with a core i5 would probably be your best bet for that type of performance.

Also, if this is your first time building a PC, don't be worried, it's not difficult at all really. The build consists of knowing where to plug in parts ala Lego style, and the only tool you really need is a magnetized screwdriver. Plus there are Youtubers out there who will post an hour long video showing the build process so you can follow along with them as they build.

PC parts are made according to universal specifications so it's not hard at all. I would even venture to say that it's less building and more setting up. I mean it's not like you have to solder parts together or anything like that.

 

[leif erikson]

I was about to start a thread for this. I figured I'd get a desktop. Does anyone know how easy it is to customize a desktop these days?

This site might help you as well.

 

[TheJokker]

I've been building PC's since the early 1990's. It is relatively easy and you will gain a greater understanding of your computer. The best part is that you literally can always have the latest machine as you can upgrade your system piece by piece as new technology is released. Spend a little extra and get quality components (don't buy cheap power supplies; get an ASUS motherboard) and your system will last years...

 

[Dark_Jedi06]

It is super easy to customize and build your own PC these days, especially with the help of a nifty little website here:

www.pcpartpicker.com

The site allows to you to view the prices and online retailers of pretty much every computer part out there, and shows you any potential compatibility issues as well as the total power draw of all the parts. I built my PC this past summer using this website and found the process to be really streamlined thanks to the site allowing me to see what parts worked well together.

You could easily build a computer for about 600-700 dollars that can run Civ VI on max settings at 1080p/60 fps. A GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 480/470 paired with a core i5 would probably be your best bet for that type of performance.

Also, if this is your first time building a PC, don't be worried, it's not difficult at all really. The build consists of knowing where to plug in parts ala Lego style, and the only tool you really need is a magnetized screwdriver. Plus there are Youtubers out there who will post an hour long video showing the build process so you can follow along with them as they build.

PC parts are made according to universal specifications so it's not hard at all. I would even venture to say that it's less building and more setting up. I mean it's not like you have to solder parts together or anything like that.

Just want to second everything in this post...I built myself a PC for the first time this summer and this website was extremely helpful. Other then a bad stick of RAM, it all came together flawlessly.

 

[dexters]

I'd eschew laptops entirely unless you have very specific needs. Desktop + large LCD monitor or HDMI/display port into your big screen tv is hard to beat.

With laptops you are paying extra for miniaturized parts. CPU/GPU are often confusingly branded to sound like the equivalent of their desktop counterparts but actually perform several tiers below their desktop counterparts. For example Gtx 980m is not equivalent to a real gtx 980. More like a 960 desktop equivalent

Actual laptops using desktop chips are expensive, bulky and a huge battery drain.
Most laptops are also hard to retrofit and upgrade later.

As for specs go with an i7 gen 5 or 6 and any recently released gpu released in 2015 and this year will run it.

How powerful you want it depends on your budget but avoid laptops.

 

[mnf]

A GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 480/470 paired with a core i5 would probably be your best bet for that type of performance.

Second this. No need to go up to an expensive i7, it's for heavy gamers and enthusiasts or people who simply have the money to spend. The GTX 1060 grade of graphics cards are also going to run a lot of new games fine for the next two or three years. Maybe some will have to run at medium settings, but more than adequate for the leisure gamer. ASUS also has the B150 PRO budget motherboard made specifically for gamers, at a very competitive price.

 

[Abraxis]

Hello everybody, I have been playing Civ for years and want to get a good PC to run the new CIV 6 coming out next month. Unfortunately I am not extremely savvy with computers as far as requirements. I need to keep the price as low as possible but want to get a PC that meets the recommended requirements and not just the minimum. I would prefer a laptop but am open to a desktop if it save me enough money. Please help guys, I only have a couple weeks so I can get it by the time the new game comes out!!!

Are you Canadian by any chance? I made a build for $800.00 CAD (after shpping and tax) with absolutely everything you need (except an OS) to go from nothing to working gaming PC that should be capable of running Xcom2 and Fallout 4 at 40 frames with medium settings, as well as running Civ6 slightly above recommended specs. It's about $550.00 CAD (after shipping and tax) for the unit itself if you have monitor mouse/kb and all that. It's all from Newegg.ca using current deals that will expire any day now though, some is price matched stuff so it's unclear when those deals end. You'll need to search the refurb parts section to find the PSU, Monitor and HDD. (yes the PSU is way more than needed, but also the cheapest one available which wouldn't cost additional shipping, and they don't draw much more than is required)

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/dphvRG

If you have the patience, you could also wait till "cyber monday", just after Black Friday. There aught to be a lot of good deals on pre-built desktops (and gaming laptops if you hate money).

 

[King Rad]

If you're going to have a discreet graphics card, then you really don't need the i-5 or i-7 CPU. You can get an Intel Xeon, which doesn't have built-in graphics for much less than a similarly performing I-7. If you want to compare performance of specific chips, graphics cards, etc. you can do so at this site:

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php

Just check the mother board to ensure you get the correct version for the specific chip (e.g. I have an LGA 1150 mobo with a xeon e3-1230V3, which was about $100-150 less than an equivalent i-7 at the time I bought it when I built my current system in January 2014). And like some said, it's easy to upgrade when you build your own. I've upgraded the video card to Nvidea GTX 960 (which cinludes DX12 support), upgraded memory to 16 gigs of RAM, etc. I would go to the cpubenchmark and compare the prices on i-5 or i-7 to xeon since they use same mobo, and then go to pcpartpicker to make sure I matched everything.

EDIT: For comparison purposes, an i-7 4790K is ranked 89th on cpu benchmark (i.e. 89th highest ranked chip) and at a price of $335 while a Xeon E5-2660 is ranked 85 at a price of $143 (but uses an LGA 2011 mobo).

 

[Birdjaguar]

I bought a new desktop in August.

• Asus z170M+ mother board
• Nvidia 970 GTX graphics card
• I5 6600 processor
• 750 W power supply
• 16 GB ram
• Windows 7 64 bit
• Samsung 850 SSD, 512 GB
• 2 TB HDD
• LG 27" 4K monitor $450 (well worth it)

 

[mnf]

Is there a reason to go for the 970 instead of the 1060 (similar price)? I've heard that the 1060 performs similarly to the 980, so surely it could also push 4K without the unnecessary anti-aliasing?

I got myself a GTX 1070 in September and a new 1440p display (with great colors for CAD/CAM work, and 60Hz refresh is more than enough for RPGs and strategy games I play). The biggest reason I didn't go 4K was because I would want a real HDR 4K display, the second biggest reason is people are still saying GTX 1080 can "just" push 4K, and I didn't have the budget for a GTX 1080.

 

[Haggbart]

Hello everybody, I have been playing Civ for years and want to get a good PC to run the new CIV 6 coming out next month. Unfortunately I am not extremely savvy with computers as far as requirements. I need to keep the price as low as possible but want to get a PC that meets the recommended requirements and not just the minimum. I would prefer a laptop but am open to a desktop if it save me enough money. Please help guys, I only have a couple weeks so I can get it by the time the new game comes out!!!

For sure you would get better value for money with a desktop, however if you want a decent laptop it won't be THAT expensive to get one that will run cVI. My Asus ROG is pushing 2,5 years and still well above recommended specs. But how much extra is it worth for you to have a laptop? Also would help a lot to know which country and max price.

 

[chazzycat]

This site might help you as well.

That site is so awesome. You just pick a tier based on your budget and then buy the parts, they are guaranteed to fit together. Worked like a charm for me on my very first build knowing nothing about PC components.

 

[leif erikson]

Congrats on your first build, glad to hear it worked out for you. Enjoy playing Civ6 on it!

 

[Birdjaguar]

Is there a reason to go for the 970 instead of the 1060 (similar price)? I've heard that the 1060 performs similarly to the 980, so surely it could also push 4K without the unnecessary anti-aliasing?

I got myself a GTX 1070 in September and a new 1440p display (with great colors for CAD/CAM work, and 60Hz refresh is more than enough for RPGs and strategy games I play). The biggest reason I didn't go 4K was because I would want a real HDR 4K display, the second biggest reason is people are still saying GTX 1080 can "just" push 4K, and I didn't have the budget for a GTX 1080.

I already had the 970 in the computer I was dumping, so I just moved it over. It drives my 3840 x 2160 resolution really well even on high action intense games like PoE when running everything the highest resolution settings in the game.

 

[CivSteph]

So I'm stuck in spec hell trying to come up with a laptop that is around $1000 CDN ($800 US) that will perform well enough. I plan to buy this for nothing else other than Civ6 since I've been limping along on Civ 5 on my work PC. What do you guys think of this MSI model if it is in the price range? Any concerns about the i5? Is the 960 good enough? I like this one because if has a little extra RAM and the SSD.

MSI 15.6" GL62 6QF-1226 Intel Core i5 6300HQ (2.30 GHz) NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M 12 GB Memory 128 GB SSD 1 TB HDD Windows 10 Home 64-Bit

 

[Acken]

I don't think you can go wrong with MSI. Their stuff is usually good quality and fairly priced. The component choice are also consistent (contrary to some other more public brands who will sell you a super CPU surrounded by crap).
It's rare I don't have a MSI component in my desktop builds.

i5s are very good gaming CPUs usually. I don't really know about the CPU version of it though (2.3/3.2 Ghz when my desktop currently runs at 4.6Ghz make my eyes bleed ;P). i7 usually only have the hyperthreading over it which is mostly useless in gaming. From what I see on intel website the best laptop i5 is at 3.5Ghz turbo so yours is fine at 3.2Ghz I guess and you don't need a better integrated graphics since you have a real card in it.

The 960M seems like a good entry level for gaming laptop. Although I wonder if 1060M cards are coming ? The difference with a 970M is really high but a 970M must be 500$ more. A 960M should be enough for civ6.
12GB is enough.

The SSD is a bit small but if you plan to only put windows and Civ6 on it it will be enough. Make sure you manage space carefully on it, windows will require extra free space.

 

[Selereth]

I don't think you can go wrong with MSI. Their stuff is usually good quality and fairly priced.

i5s are very good gaming CPUs usually. I don't really know about the CPU version of it though (2.3/3.2 Ghz when my desktop currently runs at 4.6Ghz make my eyes bleed ;P). i7 usually only have the hyperthreading over it which is mostly useless in gaming. From what I see on intel website the best laptop i5 is at 3.5Ghz turbo so yours is fine at 3.2Ghz I guess and you don't need a better integrated graphics since you have a real card in it.

The 960M seems like a good entry level for gaming laptop. Although I wonder if 1060M cards are coming ?
12GB is enough.

The SSD is a bit small but if you plan to only put windows and Civ6 on it it will be enough. Make sure you manage space carefully on it, windows will require extra free space.

i5s in laptops are dual core with HT only, not quad cores unfortunately, so I'm guessing in the later eras turn times will be longer. I'm sure it will still be quite playable.

Oh and the 1060s/1070s/1080 video cards are actually out already. What's even greater is that the laptop versions are practically the same cards as the desktop versions, so now you can buy desktop class performance with the form factor of a laptop.