Destiny 2: The Final Shapeis the greatest expansion yet forDestiny 2that has reinvigorated people’s interest in the game that originally came out back in 2017. It builds on the same universe and brings a host of new content, gameplay improvements, and visual improvements to the free-to-play online first-person shooter game. If you have been looking forward to getting into or getting back intoDestiny 2but feel like yourcurrent gaming PCis not up to par, this guide is for you.
Typically with gaming PCs, you can either buy individual parts from different retailers to find the best price and then go through the fairly complicated task of assembling everything and then pressing the power button, hoping everything works. The other way to go about it, and arguably the much easier way, is to buy a pre-built gaming PC. Besides the PC itself, you will need toinvest in a monitorand some gaming peripherals to get ready to bring yourDestiny 2Fireteam together.
Thermaltake Reactor i460T
Skytech Eclipse Lite
Here are the minimum and recommended settings shared by developer Bungie for PC users:
Minimum Requirements:
OS: Windows 10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)
Processor: Intel Core i3 3250 3.5 GHz or Intel Pentium G4560 3.5 GHz / AMD FX-4350 4.2 GHz
Memory: 6 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 2GB or GTX 1050 2GB / AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB
Storage: 105 GB available space
Recommended Requirements:
Processor: Processor Intel Core i5 2400 3.4 GHz or i5 7400 3.5 GHz / AMD Ryzen R5 1600X 3.6 GHz
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 4GB or GTX 1060 6GB / AMD R9 390 8GB Memory 8 GB RAM
Game Rant’s Picks for the Best Pre-built PCs for Destiny 2: The Final Shape
MSI Aegis RS2 Gaming Desktop
The MSI Aegis RS2 Gaming Desktop is a high performing gaming PC targeting 1440p and even 4K gaming. It is powered by the Intel Core i7-14700KF CPU, RTX 4070 Ti SUPER GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB PCIe SSD. For connectivity, it comes with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and a 2.5Gbps RJ45 port.
Even though the recommended requirements forDestiny 2: The Final Shapeare quite mediocre, depending on the resolution and FPS you are targeting, they might not be ideal for you. The MSI Gaming Desktop Aegis RS2 is an excellent pre-built gaming PC that can easily run the game at 1080p and even 1440p. Furthermore, you can also get a solid gaming experience at 4K, albeit with a relatively lower frame rate.
The MSI Gaming Desktop Aegis RS2 is powered by the Intel Core i7-14700KF CPU and the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER GPU with 16GB GDDR6X VRAM, sitting on top of a Z790 motherboard. You also get 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB PCIe SSD for storage. If need be, the RAM can be expanded later. Speaking of expansion, the pre-built gaming PC comes with four PCIe x16 slots, two PCIe x1 slots, two M.2 slots (1 free), and four SATA 6G slots. For connectivity, you get the latest Intel Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and a 2.5Gbps RJ45 port.
The configuration is quite over-kill just forDestiny 2, but the fact is that this performance is enough for even the more demanding titles, and productivity-focused workloads. MSI has gone with a360mm AIO to keep the CPU cool. There are three RGB fans at the front bringing in clean cool air and a single RGB exhaust fan to take the heat out. The 360mm AIO is mounted at the top and also has RGB fans.
Whether it is gaming or productivity, the MSI Gaming Desktop Aegis RS2 can handle anything you throw at it and deliver incredible performance without breaking a sweat.
Corsair Vengeance i7500 Series Gaming PC
The Corsair Vengeance i7500 PC is a solid contender in the high-end category, boasting powerful components such as the Intel Core i9-14900KF processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU and a large 64GB Vengeance DDR5 RAM plus RGB lighting.
If you are looking for a no-compromise extreme gaming PC that has excellent build quality, incredible performance, solid customer service, and a price to match, check out the Corsair Vengeance i7500 Series gaming desktop with the Core i9 14900KF and theRTX 4090 GPU. These are arguably the best specifications you’re able to ask for in a pre-built gaming desktop.
This configuration comes with Corsair’s own 64GB Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM and a 2TB M.2 SSD for storage. You will not need to invest in any more RAM or storage anytime soon. You also get a Z790 motherboard, which means you can overclock the Core i9 14900KF to squeeze more performance out of it. That extra power requirement will be comfortably covered with the included1000W 80+ Gold fully modular PSU.
The CPU is kept cool thanks to the company’s iCUE H100i AIO mounted at the top, three RGB fans acting as intakes and an additional RGB fan for exhaust. All this performance is packed inside the Vengeance 4000D case with a tempered glass side panel and a mesh front panel.
One advantage of having the Corsair Vengeance i7500 Series pre-built PC is that all RGB components are from Corsair and compatible with the iCUE software, meaning one software to control all the lights and profiles on your PC.
MSI Codex R2 Gaming Desktop
The MSI Codex R2 PC has a Core i5-14400F processor, which is one of the best in the series, thanks to its 10 cores and DDR5 memory support. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti graphics card has a unique architecture that makes it possible to ray trace at full potential to create realistic graphics while the 1TB SSD storage, the PC can store large files while enabling fast booting and file loading.
You don’t necessarily have to invest upwards of $2000 or even $1500 to get a great experience inDestiny 2: The Final Shapeand the MSI Gaming Desktop Codex R2 is the best example of that. Looking at what the developers suggest, you can get an excellent1080p gaming experiencewith this configuration, which includes an Intel Core i5-14400F CPU, the RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB PCIe SSD for storage. With some settings turned down, you can even play the game at 1440p.
The components are held together by the PRO B760-VC Wi-Fi motherboard, which gives you a 2.5Gbps RJ45 port, Wi-Fi 7, five PCI-E x16 slots, two M.2 slots, and four SATA 6G ports. Backing all this performance is a 650W 80+ Gold PSU which is sufficient power for the components at stock settings. One thing to note is that overclocking the CPU will not be possible because of the combination of the B-series motherboard and F-series CPU, which also helps keep the price down. You may still be able to push the GPU further.
The CPU is cooled with the help of an air cooler, so no fancy water cooling here. There are three RGB intake fans at the front and a single exhaust fan, along with a fan for the CPU cooler. There is also a mesh front panel for unrestricted air flow and a tempered glass panel on the side.
Cooler Master HAF 5 Pro (RTX 4070 Super)
The Cooler Master HAF 5 Pro is a gaming computer designed for high-performance gaming. It houses an Intel Core i7-14700F processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super graphics card, which makes this machine ready for virtual reality gaming.Cooler Master components are used throughout the system. These include a high-air-flow HAF 500 Case, a Hyper 212 Halo Tower CPU Cooler, and a 650W 80+ Gold Efficiency Power Supply Unit.
The Cooler Master HAF 5 Pro pre-built gaming desktop is a great mid-range offering forDestiny 2: The Final Shape. With its powerful CPU and GPU combo, ample connectivity options,included RGB fans, and a solid cooling system, the Cooler Master HAF 5 Pro can deliver excellent gaming performance at 1080p and even 1440p. You get the Intel Core i7-14700F CPU, an RTX 4070 Super GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD for storage.
This configuration is backed by a 650W 80+ Gold PSU and an air-cooling solution that includes two large 200mm RGB intake fans, a 120mm RGB fan for exhaust, and the Cooler Master Hyper 212 CPU air cooler with another 120mm RGB fan. While you cannot overclock the CPU, even at stock settings, it is powerful enough to not only run the game but deliver an enjoyable experience at high resolution. you’re able to even try out4K gamingby turning down some visual settings and using the many software technologies from AMD or Nvidia.
There is a mesh front panel for unrestricted airflow and a tempered glass panel to show off the internals. The Cooler Master HAF 5 Pro becomes even better value when on sale (which it is at the time of writing) but even at stock price, it is a great performer.
The Thermaltake Reactor i460T is a white prebuilt gaming PC based on the TT Tower 200 Snow Edition PC case. It comes with the Intel Core i7-13700F CPU, RTX 4060 Ti GPU, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD storage. The components are backed by a 750W 80+ Gold PSU.
If space is a concern, and you don’t want to invest time and effort into searching for small form factor components, the Thermaltake Reactor i460T is for you. It is a verticalcompact pre-built PCthat can house powerful components despite its small size. What’s unique about this particular case is that the motherboard mounts sideways, which means the GPU is mounted vertically. The layout of the inside of this case is such that the CPU and GPU get cool air from either side of the case.
Built around the TT Tower 200 Snow Edition PC case, this configuration includes the Intel Core i7-13700F CPU, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RGB RAM, and a 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD, on top of the B760 mATX motherboard. To keep the CPU cool, there is a 240mm ARGB AIO Snow Edition cooler that is mounted on one side of the case. With the motherboard mounted at 90 degrees, the other side of the case allows for the GPU to get fresh cool air. The front of the case has tempered glass, and the entire case is lifted off the base thanks to the included feet.
Thermaltake has included a 750W 80+ Gold PSU which is ample power for these components. The CPU cannot be overclocked, so keep that in mind. Another thing to note is that this is a mostly white pre-built gaming PC but with a black motherboard, so if you already have a white gaming setup, the Thermaltake Reactor i460T will fit right in.
The Skytech Eclipse Lite prebuilt gaming PC is an all-AMD machine that boasts impressive performance with its Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU and the AMD Radeon RX 7800XT 16GB GPU. It comes with 1TB of SSD storage, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 750W Gold PSU. The CPU is cooled by a 360mm AIO which is great at this price.
Fans of Team Red will appreciate the value that the Skytech Eclipse Lite offers. This white gaming PC is powered by theRyzen 7 7800X3D CPUand the Radeon RX 7800XT 16GB GPU. In terms of CPU, you can’t get a better gaming CPU than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D in terms of value, and the Radeon RX 7800XT offers 16GB VRAM which is incredible for gaming and productivity. There is 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for storage.
There are three RGB intake fans at the front, an exhaust fan, and a 360mm AIO on top to keep the CPU cool. Powering all this is a 750W 80+ Gold PSU, which is plenty for these components. The front panel of this case is fine mesh and there is a tempered glass window on the side. Furthermore, all the RGB components can be controlled through one app (SignalRGB) and it brings effects like audio visualizer, game integrations, and macros. There are also two buttons alongside the front I/O to easily control the RGB lights.
The Skytech Eclipse Lite has an AMD CPU and GPU, which means you can use Smart Access Memory to get optimal performance. It is also an efficient system and, thanks to all the software assistance from AMD, you can get excellent 1440p gaming performance and even enjoyDestiny 2: The Final Shapein 4K.
Factors to Consider When Looking for the Best Pre-built Gaming PC
CPU and GPU: The CPU and GPU are the most important components in a gaming PC. Depending on the resolution and FPS you are targeting, there is a wide selection of configurations that you may go with. The RTX 4070 or the AMD 7800XT should deliverexcellent 1440p performanceand even decent 4K performance, if paired with the right CPU.
RAM and Storage: Make sure you have at least 16GB of RAM and at least 1TB of storage when getting a pre-built gaming PC. These days, games have become quite heavy in terms of both RAM usage and storage size, and 8GB of RAM is just not sufficient in 2024. Some pre-built gaming PCs also allow for RAM and storage expansion after purchase, so if you are going with a lower configuration, make sure there is expandability.
Form Factor: Pre-built gaming PCs come in many sizes, ranging from small form factor builds to full-tower PCs. The mid and full-tower PCs are, of course, easier to work on and for airflow, while the compact cases may struggle with keeping high-performing components cool.
Budget: You can find excellent gaming PCs at a wide range of price points. This means there is something for every gamer and depending on the games you play and the resolution and FPS you want to hit, you may need to invest more than some casual gamers may need.
FAQ
Q: Is $500 good for a gaming PC?
You can build a fairly capable gaming PC for $500, but it will require a lot of research and opting for marketplace options rather than buying new hardware.
Q: What is the best brand for pre-built gaming PCs?
There is no one brand that stands as the best for pre-built gaming PCs. Top-tier brands like ASUS, MSI, CyberPower, Origin, Thermaltake, Corsair, and Cooler Master, all make great pre-built gaming PCs.
