Best PCs for sim racing 2024: Pre-built desktops for Forza, iRacing, Assetto Corsa, and more

Realistic simulation racing games enjoy an enormous community on Windows PC, thanks to the additional layer of customization in-game and the increased flexibility for spending budgets.

Not everyone has the knowledge or patience to build their own PC gaming rig from scratch, though, and a pre-built gaming PC can massively cut down the effort needed to enter the sim racing scene.

Skip the component shopping list, forget worrying about compatibility, and don't fret about risky installations. The best pre-built gaming PCs for sim racing can make your life a whole lot easier, and any one of the best pre-built gaming PCs should be capable enough to play your favorite sim racing games at varying levels of quality. I'm going go one step further than that list, though. Let's get specific with it.

Some of my favorite ready-made PC vendors like Lenovo, iBuyPower, and Dell will get you onto the virtual racetrack as fast as possible, so here are my top picks for the best PCs for sim racing, which you can pair with the best racing wheels and get racing with our guide on how to set racing wheels up on PC.

Recent updates

December 4, 2024: Black Friday and Cyber Monday are in the rearview, and I removed some of the extra shopping advice I offered for the events. — Ben Wilson

The quick list

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Zachary Boddy

Zachary Boddy is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, and has provided years of expertise on all things Microsoft, with a special focus on Xbox, Minecraft, and the Forza series of racing games.

The best pre-built gaming PCs for sim racing

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The best overall PC for sim racing

The Legion Tower 7i is big and imposing, but it can also play any PC sim racing game with utter ease. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)
Best overall pre-built PC for sim racing

Specifications

CPU: Up to Intel Core i9-14900KF
GPU: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (24GB)
RAM: Up to 64GB DDR5-5,600MHz
Storage: Up to 2TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4x4 SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Plenty of configuration options, with a new Intel 14th Gen version
+
Easy to upgrade
+
Lots of front and rear-facing USB ports
+
Stylish design with excellent performance and thermal management

Reasons to avoid

-
Can be expensive
-
RAM speed is lowered by default

Lenovo is a surprisingly excellent source for fantastic, balanced gaming hardware, and the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i sits at the top of the company's pre-built desktop lineup. It's unapologetically large, but that sizeable chassis means plenty of room for the latest and greatest internals from Intel and NVIDIA, as well as plenty of fans and cooling solutions to keep things running smoothly. It also makes the PC extremely easy to access and upgrade, a boon for any PC gamer.

The eighth generation of the Legion Tower 7i was first available with Intel 13th Gen, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40-series GPUs, and plenty of the fastest RAM and SSD storage inside. Now, you can also equip this desktop with Intel 14th Gen CPUs. There's a respectable number of ports on the front and rear of the desktop, including lots of USB ports for all your accessories and peripherals. Performance is top-notch, and the Legion Tower 7i does an excellent job keeping itself cool for long, intense gaming sessions.

In my Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) review, I praised this pre-built gaming desktop for its design, performance, and features. Just make sure you raise the RAM speed in BIOS when you're setting up the computer, as it's lowered by default for some reason. Also, while there is plenty of RGB lighting to make your gaming PC stand out, the RGB lighting on the GPU isn't customizable through Lenovo's built-in Vantage software. Small complaints about an otherwise amazing computer.

Further separation between the Legion Tower 7i and the much more affordable Legion Tower 5i means pricing for this premium machine begins (without sales) at around $2,750.

Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (i9-14900KF, RTX 4080, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — Buy at Lenovo
Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti in-stock

Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (i9-14900KF, RTX 4080, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — Buy at Lenovo

Lenovo is gearing up to upgrade the Legion Tower with Intel 14th Gen, but the current gen is still an excellent gaming desktop. This is my personal configuration with well-balanced, powerful components that run like a dream.

The best style PC for sim racing

The XPS Desktop looks like it'd belong in any executive office, but it's certainly no slouch. (Image credit: Windows Central)
Stylish performance for sim racing

Specifications

CPU: Up to Intel Core i9-13900K
GPU: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (24GB)
RAM: Up to 64GB DDR5-4,800MHz
Storage: Up to 4TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Wide array of different configuration options
+
Compact chassis with impeccable build quality
+
Top-notch performance and solid thermal management
+
Lots of ports

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Not as upgradeable as other pre-built PCs

The Dell XPS Desktop isn't like most other gaming PCs, because it's not actually designed to be a gaming PC. This is Dell's most premium pre-built desktop for enterprise environments, with a compact, high-quality chassis. However, you can configure it with some truly beastly components from Intel and NVIDIA, including up to a Core i9 and RTX 4090. It's just as powerful as some of the best gaming PCs, but takes up less space and is a whole lot more subtle.

Peak performance isn't quite at the very top and the fans can get loud, but the XPS Desktop is still a very strong performer that stays cool during long sessions. It has all the features and ports you need in a gaming PC, and there are practically endless configuration options to make sure you get exactly what you need. The XPS Desktop isn't as upgradeable as other pre-built PCs, though, thanks to the compact chassis and Dell's use of non-standard parts. You're also paying a premium for that stylish design.

Fortunately, there are lots of different configurations. The Dell XPS Desktop technically starts at around $800, but that's without a discrete GPU, so I don't recommend opting for that. Expect to add hundreds more just to get a discrete GPU, let alone upgrading other components. If you want a PC that can handle work and play without standing out, the Dell XPS Desktop is an excellent desktop that's sure to stand the test of time (and help you dominate in your races). You can read my Dell XPS Desktop (8960) review for more information.

Dell XPS Desktop (i9-14900K, RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — Buy at Dell
Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti in-stock

Dell XPS Desktop (i9-14900K, RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — Buy at Dell

You're paying extra for the premium and compact design, but you're also getting a huge amount of power with the cooling solution to keep things running smoothly. No sim racing game will give this configuration trouble.

The best compact PC for sim racing

This compact gaming tower is still a very capable machine. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
The perfect gaming PC for the space conscious

Specifications

CPU: Up to Intel Core i9-1490KF
GPU: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (12GB GDDR6)
RAM: Up to 32GB DDR5
Storage: Up to 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Surprisingly fantastic performance
+
Solid thermal management
+
Compact stature with quality design
+
Good entry level pricing

Reasons to avoid

-
Not a lot of configuration options
-
Difficult to upgrade

If you're looking for something unique, a little niche, a little different, ASUS is often a good company to turn to. That's true with gaming PCs, too, as ASUS is one of the only major brands investing in making truly powerful, compact gaming PCs. The ASUS ROG G22CH isn't quite a mini-PC, but it's much smaller than basically any other gaming desktop you might consider, coming with just 10L of internal volume.

You don't have to be concerned about power, though. The ASUS ROG G22CH comes equipped with the latest Intel and NVIDIA hardware, and can go toe-to-toe with some of the most powerful computers out there. This is a fast machine, and its thermal management is impressive enough that the G22CH can keep up with you no matter your task. Size constraints means you are limited to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, but that's more than powerful enough for all the best sim racing games.

Of course, that size does come with some downsides. For one, there are limited configuration options out there. The G22CH is surprisingly well priced to start with, but you might have to search a little to find the exact sub-model that boasts the hardware you need. It's also more important to get the exact desktop you want first, as the G22CH is rather difficult to upgrade. You can read our ASUS ROG G22CH review for more information.

ASUS ROG G22CH (i9-14900KF, RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — Buy at Best Buy

ASUS ROG G22CH (i9-14900KF, RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — Buy at Best Buy

The ROG G22CH is a very impressive gaming PC for its size, and this model is capable of handling every game you throw at it with ease. It's worth spending a little extra now, as it'll be difficult to upgrade individual parts given how cramped the internals are.

The best mid-range PC for sim racing

It looks very similar to the Legion Tower 7i, but with some smart cuts to save money. (Image credit: Lenovo)

4. Lenovo Legion Tower 5i

The best mid-range PC for sim racing

Specifications

CPU: Up to Intel Core i7-14700F
GPU: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (16GB)
RAM: Up to 32GB DDR5-5,600MHz
Storage: Up to 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Great price-to-performance ratio
+
Fantastic design with awesome air flow
+
Easy to access and upgrade

Reasons to avoid

-
Port selection is a little limited

Lenovo makes another appearance on this list with its Legion Tower 5i. It looks very similar to the more expensive Legion Tower 7i above, but trades some features and a fair bit of power to save you as much money as possible. This desktop caps out where the Legion Tower 7i begins, but that doesn't mean it's a slouch. Modern Intel and NVIDIA hardware means you're getting a very capable PC that can scale with your needs.

You're still getting a premium, well-designed chassis with attractive RGB lighting and easy, toolless access. That means it's easy to upgrade the Legion Tower 5i after you buy it, although you'll be a little more limited out-of-the-box than the Legion Tower 7i. Thermal management is also great, ensuring that even hours-long gaming sessions go off without a hitch. This desktop ranges from around $1,000 to $2,000, with plenty of options to get the perfect desktop for you.

One of its only real cons is the relatively limited ports selection, so you'll want to consider if you'll have enough USB ports for all your accessories and peripherals. Other than that, the Legion Tower 5i ticks every box without breaking the bank. It's solidly a 1080-1440p gaming machine, perfect for the best sim racing games you can play. It also helps that you're saving a lot of cash over the more expensive desktops on this list.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i (i7-14700F, RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i (i7-14700F, RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

Lenovo has been knocking it out of the park with its Legion lineup, and the Tower 5i is a perfect example. It cuts all the right corners over the Tower 7i to deliver a more affordable gaming desktop that's still capable and upgradeable.

The best budget PC for sim racing

This is the Gen 8 version, but you're honestly fine going with either this or the Gen 9. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)
Entry-level racing

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i5-14400F
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (8GB GDDR6)
RAM: 8GB DDR5-4800MHz
Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Effortless 1080p gaming out of the box
+
Sub-$1,000 entry level
+
Can be upgraded a little

Reasons to avoid

-
Upgrades are limited by motherboard
-
Not enough ports

When it comes to gaming desktops, it's often worth spending more at first to have more space to grow in the future. If you really need a great all-around pre-built PC for under $1,000, though, you still have some reliable options. The best right now is the Lenovo LOQ Tower, which starts at $900 with modern Intel and NVIDIA hardware, an attractive design, and actually some limited room to grow (within the capabilities of the motherboard, that is).

The LOQ Tower isn't going to blow anyone away with its performance, but it's a reliable 1080p gaming machine still capable of playing the best PC racing games without much issue. It's a fantastic option for when you're on a budget, with Lenovo not obviously cutting any corner too aggressively. It's well-built, it stays cool, it boasts fast RAM and storage, and the Intel CPU punches above its weight.

You can read my Lenovo LOQ Tower review for more information. I technically reviewed Gen 8, but not much has changed with Gen 9 except a sleeker chassis design and Intel 14th Gen. You'd be absolutely fine going with either, especially if you can find Gen 8 significantly discounted. Just be aware of the limited ports available on the LOQ Tower, which is likely its biggest weakness.

Lenovo LOQ Tower (i5-14400F, RTX 3050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — Buy at Best Buy

Lenovo LOQ Tower (i5-14400F, RTX 3050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — Buy at Best Buy

The LOQ Tower isn't going to compete with any of the big dogs in terms of performance or upgradeability, but it's a clean and dependable entry-level gaming PC for playing any modern game at 1080p. This configuration starts at well below $1,000.

The best laptop for sim racing

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is one of my favorite laptops of all time. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)
Gorgeous, sleek, and powerful

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS (8 cores)
GPU: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (8GB GDDR6)
RAM: Up to 32GB DDR5-6400MHz
Storage: Up to 1TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Incredible, high-quality design
+
Gorgeous OLED display
+
Excellent performance despite compact size
+
Top-tier experience in every category

Reasons to avoid

-
Can run very hot

No, this is not a desktop PC, but sometimes the best gaming PC for you needs to be portable. If that's what you need, the best gaming laptop right now is hands-down the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14. You'd be forgiven for not recognizing it as a gaming laptop at first, because this device has an incredibly premium, slim, and high-quality design that puts it alongside the most expensive Windows laptops.

Open the lid, and you'll be greeted by the gorgeous 120Hz OLED display, the fantastic RGB-lit keyboard and glass touchpad, and some of the best speakers I've ever heard in a laptop. Under the hood, you get the powerful AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS and up to an NVIDIA RTX 4070, a potent combination that means you can play all the latest and greatest PC games you want.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 can run a little hot because of all the power squeezed into its slim chassis, but it's never enough to get in your way. Honestly, this gaming laptop excels in practically every category. You can read my ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) review for more information, but just know that for $1,600 you're getting one incredible laptop with this one.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (Ryzen 8945HS, RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — Buy at Best Buy

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (Ryzen 8945HS, RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — Buy at Best Buy

You can grab more RAM and an RTX 4070 with this laptop, but the entry-level model is extremely well priced and is more than powerful enough to play all the best PC racing games. This isn't just one of the best gaming laptops, it's one of the greatest Windows laptops of the year in general.

How to choose PCs and laptops for sim racing

Lenovo's Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) has plenty of front-facing ports for racing wheels and other peripherals. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

Getting started in sim racing is pretty straightforward, and though you can't engage without a decent PC and racing setup, it's easy enough to get going.

You need a solid PC at the heart of your setup, and all of the PCs here can handle all the virtual racing you can throw at them with multiple monitors or even VR for high-spec models.

As a sim racing enthusiast, I can attest that the demands of each title can vary wildly depending on your tastes.

For enthusiasts, more focus will be on accurate simulation, which generally requires a stronger CPU, as in the best overall and enthusiast picks. Anyone craving realistic visuals will want a more powerful graphics card, like in the enthusiast Lenovo Legion Tower 7i.

Windows Central has extensive experience with building custom PCs and testing pre-built desktops or gaming laptops, and we often use titles like Forza Horizon 5 and iRacing to test these machines.

Given that, this is our list of the very best options we've tested so far. As with all PC gaming, you should check the required specifications for your favorite game and compare it against a choice in this that fits your budget.

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Zachary Boddy
Staff Writer

Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter @BoddyZachary.

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