I'm looking to build or buy a PC that I can use from the couch to play World of Warcraft on my 65-inch LG C3. I haven't played PC games in about 10 years and haven't built a computer since before that, so I'm out of touch with current hardware. I want the game to look sharp and run smoothly, ideally taking advantage of the TV's 4K resolution and high refresh rate, but I don't want to spend money on an unnecessarily extravagant gaming PC. What would offer the best balance of price and performance?
3 Answers
WoW isn’t especially demanding compared with newer games, so you don’t need an ultra-high-end graphics card. A modern midrange CPU and GPU should handle it well. Since WoW can become CPU-limited in busy cities and raids, prioritize a strong processor, while something with around 8GB of VRAM should be plenty for 4K with sensible settings.
The TV supports 4K at 120Hz, but matching 120 FPS at maximum settings all the time would require extremely expensive hardware and isn’t necessary for a good WoW experience. A more practical target is high settings with a stable 60–100 FPS, depending on the area and raid activity. Spend the extra money on a good CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a solid midrange GPU rather than jumping straight to a flagship card.
Upscaling and frame generation can help in some situations, but WoW’s CPU limits still matter in crowded areas, so they shouldn’t be used as a reason to overspend on the graphics card.
A current Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 system would be a good starting point, and an X3D chip is particularly strong for games like WoW. You could pair it with a midrange Radeon or GeForce card and get smooth performance without building a luxury-tier machine. Integrated graphics may run the game, but a dedicated GPU would be a better choice for 4K on a large TV.
Exactly. A top-end card like a 5090 or 4090 would be massive overkill for WoW, especially considering the price. Almost any modern dedicated GPU will run the game well.