To experience Zwift at its highest visual quality and performance, a Windows PC is required. This article is not intended to provide a comparison between the pros and cons of the various available platforms but rather to offer advice on running Zwift at its very best, which means at the highest levels of detail, resolution, and frame rate. Whilst there are many people who happily run Zwift on their mobile phone, tablet, Apple TV or regular laptop, some may be considering ways to improve their experience. There are many misconceptions addressed here – primarily that Zwift is all about the graphics card (not the whole story), that the CPU doesn’t matter (inaccurate), that you need an ‘expensive high end gaming rig’ (incorrect), and that PCs inherently aren’t as stable as other platforms for running Zwift (codswallop). PCs certainly require additional effort to set up versus other platforms, but I firmly believe the results are worth it.
The information here is based on having personally put together over 100 dedicated Zwift PCs for members of the community, and hundreds of hours of testing and discussion with fellow nerds enthusiasts. At this point, my own PC has been rebuilt and changed at least ten times…
A warning: if you’re already happy or content with a lower level of detail and/or a low frame rate, this article is not intended for you! A better-looking, smoother Zwift will not make you faster or stronger (unless it gets you on the bike more often), it’s just nicer. We’re all paying to stare at Zwift, so why wouldn’t we want it at its best?
It’s important to note that almost all of what follows is NOT particularly good advice for PC gaming in general, because Zwift is different to most other modern games and there are diminishing returns beyond a certain point of investment. You don’t need the latest and most expensive parts. This guide is primarily aimed at those who want to use their PC solely or mainly for Zwift and want a great experience without wasting money unnecessarily. As a result, all of the CPU and GPU recommendations are based on desktop versions of the parts mentioned. I wouldn’t recommend buying a gaming laptop for Zwift, on the basis of poor value for money. If you absolutely must have portability then the same guidance applies, just be aware that mobile components are universally less powerful than their desktop counterparts with the same or similar model name – sometimes significantly so.
Changelog
This is the third major revision of the Ultimate Guide. For those already familiar with it, the main changes are:
- Updated specification guidance going into 2024.
- Further clarity on what causes the frame rate to drop in Zwift.
- Changes to the settings tweaks required for optimum performance.
- Details added for what’s needed to achieve specific targets at all times.
- Omitted references to the absurd graphics card pricing situation in previous years.
- Numerous edits and corrections to wording and grammar.
TL;DR – Key Components for Best Performance in Zwift
Processor: Ideally, use a CPU with strong raw (single thread) performance to combat the frame rate drops when it’s busy. Zwift doesn’t take advantage of high-end CPUs with many cores, so don’t waste your money on an expensive, top-tier model. Large performance improvements brought about by Intel’s 12th generation Alder Lake architecture mean the choice is simpler than you may expect: if you want 60fps as often as possible, then go for an i3-12100F. I own this quad core CPU and it’s superb at keeping frame rates high in Zwift, only ever dropping below 60fps in extreme circ*mstances. If you don’t mind the frame rate dropping as long as it stays over 30fps, then just save the brass and build with a 4th generation Haswell CPU. Whilst the dual-core i3-41X0 range represents by far the best outright value for money for Zwift, changes in 2023 mean that the game works better on a quad-core CPU, so a 4th gen i5 or Xeon is a better idea. Notwithstanding bargain deals, virtually every CPU in between ends up a poor value because they’re either not as good as 12th gen, or too expensive compared to 4th gen. Note that the 13th and 14th generation Intel CPUs are merely refreshes of 12th gen, so aren’t worth spending more money on.
- Performance/New: Intel Core i3-12100F
- Value/Used: Intel Core i5-4XX0, or equivalent 4th gen Xeon E3-12XX V3
- Ultimate: Intel Core i5-12600KF
Graphics card: For Ultra profile, look for a mid-range Nvidia graphics card of GTX 900 series or newer with at least 2GB of VRAM. Remember that without a strong CPU as mentioned above you’ll see the same frame rate drops no matter what graphics card you have, so don’t waste money on something really expensive if your CPU will just hold it back anyway. Don’t even bother with the 1080p Game Resolution setting, all the graphics cards listed here are capable of at least 1440p which looks better on a 1080p display. In fact, the 1440p Game Resolution setting is the sweet spot for Zwift. Running the game in 4K does look a tiny bit sharper but requires a far stronger graphics card to hold a consistent 60fps everywhere, and the return on investment isn’t worthwhile.
- Ultra profile, 1440p resolution: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960, 1050 Ti or 1650
- Ultra profile, 2160p (4K) resolution: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980, 1060, 1650 SUPER or higher
- Ultimate: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 or higher, including any GeForce RTX graphics card
Display: To ensure the smoothest experience in all circ*mstances, an adaptive sync display (with compatible graphics card) works best to iron out frame rate swings. Any big TV is immersive, but you’ll almost certainly encounter stuttering at some point unless your CPU and graphics card are both strong enough to keep the frame rate consistently high.
- Smoothest: Freesync, G-Sync Compatible or G-Sync monitor
- Most immersive: Huge TV or ultrawide monitor
- Ultimate: 120Hz 4K adaptive sync TV with HDMI 2.1 and RTX 3000 series graphics card
Memory: 8GB of DDR4 (or DDR3, depending on the CPU platform chosen) is the minimum requirement for system RAM in Zwift and more capacity than this doesn’t improve anything. In fact, the game typically uses less than 3GB during a ride. You absolutely do not need 16GB as other modern games demand, though it’s worth having 12GB or more if you plan to multitask or run something like Sauce alongside the game. RAM speed and latency don’t matter much to Zwift, so just grab the best value deal you can find. This may well be a 16GB kit if you are buying new.
Storage: A 120GB SSD is easily enough storage for a PC with Windows and Zwift, which together take up around 40GB of space. The game can take a while to apply updates and load worlds, so be sure your system is running entirely on an SSD rather than a mechanical HDD. In normal usage, starting the PC, loading Zwift and getting to the pairing screen should take a minute or less – even on budget hardware.
Operating system: Windows 10 is the easiest operating system to recommend for the foreseeable future, ideally clean installed onto the SSD from scratch. Installing as little extra software as possible ensures maximum stability. There is no performance or stability benefit to running the game on Windows 11.
Settings: For smoothest performance it’s important to enable triple buffering and threaded optimisation in the Nvidia Control Panel, and disable video screenshots in the Zwift settings menu, should they be available for you.
Note that whilst AMD graphics cards perform far better at OpenGL (which Zwift runs on) these days, it’s still much easier to recommend Nvidia. AMD or Intel graphics cards will certainly work, but Nvidia is a known and stable route. If AMD is the only choice, go with an RX 580 and above. You will be able to use adaptive sync with a Freesync monitor.
Further Reading – The Basics
Graphics in Zwift are determined by just two variables; the profile and the Game Resolution. Beyond manually tweaking some aspects of the configuration files which can introduce instability, only the Game Resolution is determined by the user, via the in-game settings menu.
The PROFILE is the level of detail determining polygon count – foliage, depth of field, texture resolution, reflections, lighting and shadows, and environmental elements such as water effects and wildlife seen – and the profile is assigned automatically by the game. What you see is based on your computer’s graphical ability and cannot be changed. For computers such as normal laptops using integrated graphics (without a dedicated/discrete GPU), you will almost always see the Basic detail profile. This is the lowest tier of graphics in Zwift and is the same as phones, most tablets and all Apple TV models. The profile any given piece of hardware receives is chosen by Zwift HQ.
These profiles increase through Medium and High (as assigned to Apple M laptops and Macs), up to Ultra for mid-range graphics cards and above. Zwift HQ assesses every graphics card and decides on a profile for it, hence the reason why some people with newly released graphics cards sometimes see less detail than they are expecting for a while. Almost all consumer graphics cards from 2015 onwards receive Ultra profile, so in this respect there’s literally no difference between a GTX 960 and an RTX 4090 costing many, many times as much. What’s actually on screen in terms of features and detail is exactly the same.
The GAME RESOLUTION determines how sharp the game appears on screen, and is accessed via the in-game settings menu. It’s not affected by your physical output resolution, it’s the internal render resolution within the game itself. This ranges from 576p through to 2160p (4K). Rather unhelpfully, these options use the same naming scheme so it’s understandable why some people get confused between the two, for example when considering the capabilities of the Apple M devices which have been assigned High profile, not Ultra. Selecting the higher resolution options and hoping to maintain 60fps+ in the most demanding areas will require a stronger graphics card, but it won’t change the graphics you see – that’s based on the profile which is automatically determined.
Higher resolutions are increasingly sharper and cleaner in terms of reduced jaggies. Note that you’re not limited to the physical resolution of your display – for example with a 1080p TV or monitor, the 1440p in-game setting is ideal because it looks better with negligible impact on performance – just be aware that going up to 2160p (4K) has significantly higher demands to hold high frame rates. This is most notable in areas of dense foliage such as the Watopia jungle, Titans Grove, New York and the Yumezi section of Makuri Islands. Dust clouds when following a large group are particularly taxing, and can bring even the highest end graphics cards to their knees.
To recap, profile and resolution in Zwift are two separate things. To see the Ultra PROFILE you will simply need any mid-range Nvidia graphics card from 2015 or newer in your PC. To be able to select the highest RESOLUTIONS in the game’s settings menu and maintain 60fps as often as possible, the demands on the graphics card increase, particularly in areas of dense foliage.
Which Graphics Card?
Choosing a graphics card is easier to determine than it may appear, given that the profile is automatically selected and all mid-range graphics cards and above get the highest amount of detail with Ultra profile. All you really need to consider – aside from your budget of course – is the resolution you want to use, and whether you want to use adaptive sync (more on that later). The resolution you choose from the in-game settings menu doesn’t change what you see on screen, in terms of features and visual effects. It just looks sharper, that’s literally it.
Assuming Ultra profile at 60fps is the target, then for the 1440p Game Resolution setting an Nvidia GeForce GTX 960, 1050 Ti or 1650 is typically fine. These graphics cards are from three different generations but all are good for 1440p which looks great on a 1080p TV or monitor. If you want to hold 60fps at all times in 1440p, you will need to step up to a GTX 980, 1060 or 1650 SUPER to cope with the most demanding spots in the game.
For the 2160p (4K) Game Resolution setting you’ll want at least an Nvidia GeForce GTX 980, 1060 or 1650 SUPER. Again, these are all different generations, and are broadly similar in terms of Zwift performance at 4K. Anything higher, including any RTX model, just provides more headroom. The higher up each range you go, the more likely it is that your frame rate will stay at 60fps in the most graphically demanding areas. For example a GTX 1070 would stay at 60fps more often than a GTX 1060, and an RTX 2060 even more often. There are diminishing returns of course, so be sensible. Spending more and more on the graphics card doesn’t make sense if your CPU is going to hold it back regularly – say if big group events are your favourite thing to do on Zwift. Don’t worry about VRAM capacity, there’s no noticeable benefit in Zwift to having more. If you want to hold 60fps at all times in 4K, you will need at least a GTX 1080 Ti, or RTX 2070, 3060 or 4060 to cope with the most demanding spots in the game. Most of the time this tier of graphics card won’t even be trying so I would strongly recommend you DON’T buy any of them purely for Zwift, but it typifies the absurd variances in demand throughout the game’s many worlds and areas.
Bear in mind that the GTX series cards mentioned above (GTX 1050 Ti excluded) are out of production, so you’ll need to trawl the used market. Keep your eyes peeled and try to grab something to suit your needs at a reasonable price; there’s really no need to buy any brand new graphics card for Zwift. Despite the supply situation being back to normal after recent years of crazy pricing, the market for decent low and mid-range graphics cards has essentially disappeared. New and current cards are either overpowered, overpriced, or both. Buy used for Zwift.
If you wish to use adaptive sync for the smoothest experience, you can get the best from an affordable Freesync or G-Sync Compatible monitor with a GTX 1000 series or newer graphics card, with DisplayPort. Using adaptive sync on older generations of Nvidia graphics cards such as the GTX 900 series requires an expensive dedicated G-Sync monitor. If you want to utilise adaptive sync (VRR) on a modern 4K TV with HDMI 2.1, then you’ll need an RTX 3000 series card onwards.
It’s worth noting at this point that whilst AMD graphics cards offer really good value for regular gaming and Intel cards are now available, they don’t perform any better at Zwift than the Nvidia equivalents. If you only have AMD graphics cards to choose from, then an RX 580 and above should be okay and you will be able to utilise adaptive sync with a Freesync monitor. But it’s easier to stick to Nvidia for known, stable results in Zwift.
The CPU Bottleneck
Here’s where it gets a bit more complicated. In a solo ride, in a relatively quiet area of say Watopia or London, virtually any decent graphics card will be able to hold 60fps in Ultra profile without much bother at all. However in a big group ride, following a popular RoboPacer or around busy spawn points, you will find that the frame rate tanks below 60fps and for most setups this means the experience starts to stutter. This is irrespective of the graphics profile assigned, and resolution selected. The impact can vary in significance, from being barely noticeable right down to making Zwift an expensive slideshow. The unfortunate truth is that this behaviour happens to everyone and it’s not the graphics card which is struggling. It happens because Zwift is very limited in how effectively it utilises the CPU in a system. Constantly redrawing lots of riders with all their combinations of bike, avatar and jerseys etc is inefficient and very many calculations are performed constantly on the CPU. This process doesn’t take advantage of modern CPUs with multiple cores and hyperthreading. It all relies on raw processing power; how much work the CPU can do in the shortest time possible.
What helps to prevent the frame rate dropping in these circ*mstances is not a stronger graphics card as many believe, but a CPU that can process the rider data and send it to the graphics card more quickly. This is almost always an Intel CPU; whilst AMD’s Ryzen series of CPUs are often good value and provide a great upgrade path because most Zen generations can normally be installed in the same motherboard, up until the the 5000 series CPUs, their single thread performance has trailed behind the Intel equivalents. In addition, because Zwift doesn’t benefit in any way from high core and thread counts, there’s no benefit to buying more than a quad core CPU.
This unique combination of requirements means the 12th generation Alder Lake Intel Core i3-12100F is the standout option for anyone looking to build with new parts. It’s relatively cheap and runs Zwift brilliantly, keeping the frame rate at 60fps in all but the most extreme of circ*mstances, such as the start of huge group events. It works perfectly well on a lowest tier H610 chipset motherboard, and there’s no need to spend more. Ryzen CPUs have been excellent for value over the last few years and a lot of what you’ll see online will recommend them for gaming PC builds, but for Zwift in particular, the 12th gen Intel CPUs are outstanding. The i3-12100F beats even flagship i7 and i9 CPUs from previous Intel generations and many of the very best Ryzen models when it comes to single thread performance, making it the obvious choice if you’re looking to build or upgrade a PC for Zwift without wasting money unnecessarily.
As the game gets more popular with more riders online at once, and popular features such as RoboPacers meaning there are large groups active in the worlds at all times, the benefit of a strong CPU increases. This is irrespective of the graphics card you use, whereas even the best graphics card will always be held back in Zwift by a weaker CPU when it’s busy. If you’re wanting to go down the AMD route, a Ryzen 5 5600 with B550 chipset motherboard is a good value option.
If you want to ensure higher frame rates all the time, consider an i5-12600KF. Though getting the very best from this CPU typically involves using an expensive enthusiast-tier motherboard and adequate cooling (as well as needing the patience to find stable overclock settings), even in standard trim without any overclocking it is a beast. Paired with a B660 chipset motherboard, the frame rate will always stay high in Zwift when CPU would usually be the limiting factor. For most people however, there’s simply no need to go down this route over an i3-12100F for Zwift. Higher tier 12th gen models exist but the returns diminish rapidly. 13th and 14th gen CPUs are the same underlying architecture so aren’t worth spending more money on.
Note that both the i3-12100F and i5-12600KF need to be used with a dedicated graphics card (denoted by the ‘F’ suffix); they do not have integrated graphics which makes them cheaper to buy. If the 12th gen CPUs are too expensive, more budget-friendly options are detailed later in the guide. To help demonstrate the impact of being CPU limited, and with analysis courtesy of the excellent Zwiftalizer.com, here are two examples from popular Tour de Zwift group events. It can be clearly seen that as the number of riders nearby (and therefore data transferred, represented in yellow) increases, the frame rate in blue decreases.
In both examples the frame rate drops down from the desired 60fps as the pen populates and the event begins, before recovering back to 60fps once the field becomes suitably stretched. Despite the frame rate becoming lower than desired, the GPU utilisation during this period is much lower than expected, because it’s being limited by the CPU. Only 100 of the nearest rider avatars are ever rendered on screen in Zwift, doubly confirming that the low frame rate is not caused by too much load on the GPU.
Note that there are two distinct differences between these PC configurations – in the second screenshot a substantially weaker graphics card is used and the resolution setting has been dropped from the very highest (4K) to the very lowest (576p). Despite these changes, the behaviour is exactly the same on both examples, because the CPU used for the tests is the same and so the limiting factor is unchanged.
The game needs to visualise the constantly changing live positions, speeds and drafting physics of potentially thousands of other riders at the same time, and most of these calculations are done at the client end – on our systems. The graphics card’s GPU becomes severely under-utilised whilst this is going on because it’s waiting for instructions from the CPU, and so the frame rate drops. It may seem counterintuitive but it’s preferable for a GPU to be working at a high utilisation in games, that way you’re getting the maximum out of it. Utilisation being low means it’s being stopped from working its hardest by some other aspect of the system – a bottleneck. Or to put it the other way around, if GPU utilisation was at 100% (the graphics card trying its best) and the resultant frames rates were lower than desired then it would be clear that upgrading to a stronger graphics card would improve performance, but that’s often not the case in Zwift. Likewise, reducing the Game Resolution setting does not help when the CPU is the limiting factor. So you should be careful not to spend too much money on a graphics card, because that’s not necessarily where the bottleneck is in a given situation in Zwift.
It’s worth noting here that since its launch and to date, the whole of Makuri Islands and particularly Neokyo is inexplicably CPU limited at all times, even when there are no other riders around. This behaviour is different to every other world on Zwift. So if the frame rate is much lower than you are expecting on Neokyo, it’s almost certainly because your CPU isn’t strong enough, not your graphics card.
Also worth mentioning is the video screenshots feature, which has been rolled out to many systems (based on their age) and adds a lot of extra CPU load at all times. To ensure best frame rate performance, I highly recommend you disable video screenshots in the game settings menu. The clips produced by this feature are of questionable quality anyway, and specialist screen capturing software such as OBS is far superior for this purpose.
Mitigation with Adaptive Sync
Whilst there have been promising comments made suggesting this fundamental behaviour of Zwift performance may improve in future, all we can do is mitigate it for now. The only ways to retain a smooth performance are to have a CPU and graphics card that are both strong enough to prevent the frame rate dropping too far, or to accept that the performance will always suffer in certain circ*mstances and use your display to address it with adaptive sync technology. For several years, Freesync support has been available on Nvidia graphics cards for its GTX 1000 series graphics cards onwards, when using a DisplayPort cable (it won’t work over HDMI). Previously you needed to buy a high end dedicated G-Sync monitor but this is no longer the case with more recent graphics cards. Likewise, if you want to run Zwift on a big screen and always have the smoothest experience, HDMI 2.1 TVs are becoming more affordable and can usually utilise adaptive sync technology (often referred to as VRR). This requires an RTX 3000 series graphics card onwards.
Adaptive sync allows you to smooth out frame rate drops at the other end of your system, by ironing out the stuttering associated with mismatched frame rates and refresh rates. When adaptive sync is operating, a display automatically adjusts its refresh rate in real time to match your frame rate – smoothing out all the fluctuations. On a typical TV or fixed refresh rate monitor, a drop in frame rate results in a mismatch which introduces stuttering.
This makes adaptive sync a great solution for a game ‘on rails’ like Zwift, where the frame rate can change by a large amount purely due to the circ*mstances of the ride. It removes the stutter, and there’s no tearing. Ideally you want a wide enough adaptive sync range to allow for every eventuality you will encounter, so check the specifications of any monitor you are considering using. On 144Hz gaming monitors you’re basically covered no matter what, because even below the adaptive sync range, Low Framerate Compensation (LFC) kicks in to avoid stuttering.
Whilst Freesync now works with Nvidia graphics cards in addition to those from AMD, unless a Freesync monitor is officially certified as ‘G-Sync Compatible’, then you won’t know if adaptive sync will work correctly with an Nvidia graphics card until you try it. So be sure to check online reviews or Reddit and the likes to see how other people got on; you’ll normally find someone somewhere has tried the particular monitor model and reported back.
Most of them work just fine even without certification, but it’s worth checking before spending your money. High end dedicated G-Sync monitors will always work perfectly, even with older graphics card models such as the GTX 900 series.
Overall Summary
- The frame rate your system is capable of always suffers when it’s busy with other riders around you, and how severely this impacts the experience depends on the strength of the CPU, not the GPU.
- A 12th generation Intel i3-12100F is good enough to maintain 60fps in all but the most extreme of circ*mstances.
- It’s not necessary to buy the latest and greatest graphics card, and there are hugely diminishing returns.
- You DO NOT need to spend mega money on a gaming PC to get a great experience in Zwift, so don’t!
- Spend your money in the right places if you want to mitigate stuttering issues caused by frame rate drops.
- This is easily done with an adaptive sync monitor, but is also possible with modern TVs and the right GPU.
Nvidia Driver Settings
There are very few options in the Nvidia Control Panel which improve the Zwift experience, and the most important one is to enable triple buffering which is disabled by default. This setting allows the frame rate in Zwift to be truly variable, rather than dropping hard to 50% refresh rate – usually 30fps on a typical TV or monitor – and sometimes being stuck there. This hard drop behaviour is caused by Vsync, which Zwift uses as standard. Disabling Vsync introduces tearing, so keep it enabled in tandem with triple buffering for the best results. The other thing to change from default is to enable threaded optimisation, which is vital on dual core CPUs for ensuring best performance. It’s worth noting that I have seen no evidence whatsoever that the Nvidia driver version used has any bearing on stability or performance when it comes to Zwift. So just let Windows manage updates and don’t worry about it.
System RAM and Storage
Zwift requires 8GB of system RAM, and typically uses less than 3GB when you’re riding. If you’re streaming and/or heavily multitasking then 16GB may be more suitable, but it’s absolutely not necessary for Zwift alone, and adding more RAM doesn’t help performance. Likewise, RAM generation, speed and latency doesn’t affect much in Zwift so just go for the best value deal you can find. You will need DDR3 for a 4th gen system, and DDR4 for anything newer. Don’t bother with DDR5, save the money.
Nobody likes waiting for updates or the game to load, so be sure to install both Windows and Zwift on an SSD. These are extremely good value because they absolutely transform the general performance of any computer. If your system will only be used for Zwift, a 120GB SSD is plenty of space. With an SSD, Windows typically starts up in around 15 seconds, Zwift updates take a few minutes at most and the game loads to the pairing screen in under a minute even on the lowest end hardware mentioned in this guide. If you’re usually waiting longer than this and don’t already have an SSD, I strongly recommend buying one to replace your HDD.
Whichever storage type you use, ideally you should clean install Windows 10 from scratch before downloading Zwift. All in this should take less than an hour, depending on your internet connection speed. I would also recommend allowing Windows to install and manage the Nvidia driver and Control Panel, because there’s no benefit to doing so manually. Uninstall OneDrive and don’t be tempted to add extra antivirus software, which will only slow the PC down and provide no advantage over the built in security features which are excellent and free. The less software you can have on your Zwift PC, the more likely it is to be stable, and it makes troubleshooting easier.
Building on a Budget
If you’re not willing or able to stretch to a modern 12th generation CPU for Zwift, then the next best option is to drop down to 4th generation Haswell architecture. This isn’t to say that the CPU generations in between the two don’t show any improvement, it’s just that the incremental steps up in performance are nowhere near enough to justify the extra cost versus just going straight to 12th gen. Even flagship CPUs from previous generations aren’t as good at Zwift as the i3-12100F, despite often costing many times as much and normally requiring expensive motherboards and enhanced cooling solutions to get the most from them through overclocking. So if 12th gen is too expensive then you’re better off accepting the frame rates will drop when it’s busy and go for something older at the best price to performance ratio. If you’re using an adaptive sync display then the impact is far less obtrusive anyway.
With this in mind, by far and away the best value option remains the 4th gen platform. Whilst dual core CPUs with hyperthreading such as the i3-41X0 range are still good enough to keep frame rates above 30fps at worst, changes to the game in 2023 mean it does benefit from having a quad core CPU. Look to buy (or upgrade to) an Intel Core i5-4XX0, or 4th gen Xeon E3-12XX V3 which fit in the same motherboards without issue and are usually cheaper than their equivalent consumer counterparts whilst performing just as well. With any of these 4th gen CPUs, the frame rate will drop to 30fps at worst when there are a lot of other riders around. When you consider how cheap and readily available the 4th gen platform parts are, this is outstanding value for money and being prudent on the CPU may allow you to buy a better graphics card.
To save even more money, look for an ex-office desktop PC with any of the aforementioned CPUs already installed and ready to go, or upgrade one accordingly. There are loads of these systems available cheaply on the likes of eBay. Ideally get one without proprietary power connectors inside, which makes upgrading the power supply much easier if required. Good examples are the HP ProDesk 400 G1 MT, Dell Inspiron 3847 and Acer Veriton M2631G. Bring it up to spec in accordance with the rest of this guide – 8GB+ of system RAM, 120GB SSD and clean install Windows 10 – then add a suitable graphics card based on the resolution and frame rate targets you’re looking for. I find repurposing cheap old PCs like this for Zwift particularly satisfying; PCs that may have been otherwise destined for landfill. Helping to reduce e-waste whilst getting fantastic results on this platform at low cost feels like a win for everyone.
Whatever you decide to go for, I hope this guide has helped in some way and you manage to put together a PC which makes your Zwift experience more enjoyable. Cheers, and Ride On!
Acknowledgments
Huge thanks to J.Levie, M.Hanney, S.Louvet, M.Wozniak, S.Norman, S.Clogg, C.Peerman, and many others on the ZPCMR Facebook group for their input and help when compiling this guide.
Appendix
- zwiftalizer.com – to check PC performance from your rides and troubleshoot device dropouts
- cpubenchmark.net/singleThread.html – to compare CPU single thread performance – higher is better
- browser.geekbench.com/processor-benchmarks – an alternative way of comparing CPUs
- techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?mfgr=NVIDIA&sort=generation – to compare Nvidia graphics cards
- videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html – an alternative way of comparing graphics cards
- amd.com/en/products/freesync-monitors – to find a monitor’s adaptive sync range and filter by size etc
- pcpartpicker.com – for putting together proposed PC builds, checking compatibility and comparing prices
