I originally planned to spend around $2,500, but I can now sell some items and comfortably raise the budget to about $4,000. I want a high-end gaming PC focused on heavily modded Arma servers with up to 128 players, online DCS in VR, and Assetto Corsa in VR. I already own a Quest 3 and currently have a 1080p 165Hz monitor, but I'll need a new display as part of the upgrade. I'm also interested in flight and racing simulation equipment, although that can be handled separately. I'm based in the United States and definitely want 64GB of RAM for demanding multiplayer servers. With the extra budget, should I prioritize a stronger GPU, more storage, or other upgrades?
2 Answers
For this kind of gaming, I’d build around a Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Arma and DCS benefit heavily from strong CPU performance and extra cache, especially with large multiplayer sessions. Pair it with a quality B850 motherboard, a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE or similar cooler, and 64GB of DDR5-6000 CL30 memory.
A Radeon RX 9070 XT is a strong value choice for 1440p and Quest 3 PCVR, with 16GB of VRAM for demanding simulator titles. A 2TB NVMe SSD would work, but 4TB makes more sense because DCS and modded games can consume storage quickly. Add an 850W ATX 3.1 Gold power supply, an airflow-focused mid-tower case, and a 27-inch 1440p 165–180Hz IPS monitor. That setup should land around $2,800–$3,000, leaving plenty of room in the budget for upgrades or simulator gear. If you specifically want maximum performance and don’t mind paying for it, an RTX 5080 would be the more excessive high-end option for 1440p and VR, though its value may be weaker.
Thanks for putting this together. Since I can now spend closer to $4,000, I’d like to move up to a 4TB drive and see what else is worth improving.