Please help me choose a new PC for Stellaris

[ZoSo]

Hi I'm about buy a new desktop pc after many years. I know building your own pc is best but I don't know much about it -so I'm gonna get a pre-built.

If I'd to run Stellaris smoothly on the maximum size galaxy setting with the maximum number of AI empires, what would be the minimum cpu & gpu needed? Would an intel core i7 processor make a difference over an i5? Would getting one with a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 card make a difference over getting one with a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 for playing Stellaris?

Thanks in advance

[ScreamCon]

Bruh, I run a $500 desktop with a $200 video card thats reaching 7 years old. This game you might have problems really far in year wise but if your okay ending at year 2500 a slightly upgraded economy desktop will do. I run hdd in this thing and it still runs good.

If you like feeling rich and having powerful performance nothing stopping you from buying more. I'm just saying you don't need to lose an arm and leg for the game.

The i7 cores are good, they bolster both more cores and multi threading in one.
Nvidea and GeForce video cards are customizable.
>>>BUY VIDEO CARD BASED ON VIDEO CARD DRIVER INTERFACE<<<
Look online what the interface looks like. Important!

Intel video cards at a certain era are locked down. Have no features you can customize. What I learnt is that you buy video cards based on desired features. For example.

Some amd video cards offer video scaling regardless what resolution your monitor takes. making it blurry but was fantastic ! Research what features you want from your video card and buy based on that, then... see whether the video card "could' slot into your computer.

[ZoSo]

Originally posted by ScreamCon:

Bruh, I run a $500 desktop with a $200 video card thats reaching 7 years old. This game you might have problems really far in year wise but if your okay ending at year 2500 a slightly upgraded economy desktop will do. I run hdd in this thing and it still runs good.

If you like feeling rich and having powerful performance nothing stopping you from buying more. I'm just saying you don't need to lose an arm and leg for the game.

The i7 cores are good, they bolster both more cores and multi threading in one.

Thanks. I also play other paradox titles (though not nearly as much as Stellaris) and Age of Wonders 4. also some other strategy, 4x and rts titles.

[ScreamCon]

Also be aware ZoSo that intel cpus can lock down the video card limiting what you can do. Chrome book laptops for example are the worst for being locked down for security features. Intel offers a large selection of security features in their bios I have found. Amd cpus are probably better for gaming but you run more security risks that like searching the internet.

[Cerodil]

I don't know much about intel's cpu but here's my process for building a pc for Stellaris, in general you want faster better cpu over gpu. Larger caches help a lot as well.

RAM is important as well, the more you have the better but speeds may suffer at higher amounts. For Stellaris I've heard 32gb is best but you should be able to get away with 16gb as long as you don't run too many other things at once. DDR4/DDR5 shouldn't make too much of a difference but DDR5 is better though more expensive.

Drives only main effect the load times but if you care about that sdds are way faster than hdds, very noticeable with Stellaris if you care about load times. It will effect gameplay a small amount but no where near the extent that the cpu will.

So for each part:

Cpu: you want the biggest baddest cpu you can afford with the fastest core speeds and preferably larger cache sizes. Some cpus have decent stock coolers and some don't but if you most likely will need to get a decent cooler if you want faster speed without overheating or if you want to overclock.

It's recommend picking your cpu first then building around that.

Motherboard: a decent board that can socket your monster cpu as well as having enough/correct Ram slots/timings and the right amount of ports for however many drives you want.

RAM: More is better but large ram is generally slightly slower just make sure your motherboard can slot the RAM you choose and it should be fine. Make sure your RAM is always paired, don't mix RAM. Also be aware that most RAM will only ever run at 2400~mhz no matter what it says on the box, to get more you have to overlock/change xmp profiles in motherboard bios. Also also motherboards have top speed limits for RAM so pick a motherboard that has the speed you want from your RAM.

GPU: For Stellaris gpu doesn't really matter at all, you mentioned the 4060 and 3060 and either of those are perfectly fine though you can get away with less if you need too. Only consider the 4060 if you want to play other games that may require a better gpu. Every game is different some work the gpu harder and others like Stellaris work the cpu harder, find what the games you want to play need and build off that knowledge.

Drive: Drive don't really matter but ssd is fastest.

PSU: Doesn't matter too much just make sure it has at least gold rating, just google it(don't put a bomb in your pc)

Case: Just need to make sure everything fits and it has the right amount of fan slots/sizes and usb ports and whatnot.

Everything else is optional you can go as crazy or as minimalistic as you want, it's up to you. Enjoy building your new pc.