bld4me Grade
10
Score/10
The Verdict

Top-tier CPU and GPU are non-negotiable. Pushing 100k+ pop requires blowing past the official specs.

Dump the bulk of your budget into the CPU and GPU. The official specs downplay RAM and storage, but don't cheap out on them if you want a smooth experience.
It starts as a GPU bottleneck, but as your population scales, it shifts to a brutal CPU bottleneck that leaves your GPU starved. High-end power for both is the baseline.
The devs explicitly stated the recommended specs aren't targeting 60fps. Expect a 30fps baseline if you just meet those requirements.
Recommendation
Core Ultra 7 265K
Radeon RX 9070
16GB
512GB SSD
Ryzen 9 7950X
Radeon RX 7900 XTX
16GB
512GB SSD

A latest-gen, high-core-count CPU and a high-end GPU are mandatory. Pair them with 32GB+ of RAM and a fast NVMe SSD to eliminate any remaining bottlenecks.If you're buying used, aim for former flagships or you'll regret it. Honestly, for a game this demanding, you really want current-gen parts for at least your CPU and GPU.

bld4me
Writing & Verification

bld4me PC Technical Team

How We Validate

Verifier Comment

Hands-on testing proves the official specs are a joke. The hardware demands are so crushing that "what rig can actually defeat CS2?" has become a legitimate benchmark question.It's easily the most punishing title I've ever tested. Unless the devs drop a miracle optimization patch, we're looking at a "hardware finally caught up to the game" scenario a few years down the line.This game will ruthlessly expose weak systems. Do not hit the buy button unless you are absolutely certain your rig has the raw horsepower to actually run it.

Changelog

Article published.
On the Go

UMPC, Handheld & Laptop Performance

No compatible devices found in our database.
No compatible devices found in our database.
Videos are already circulating joking that 'you can run CS2 on a potato... via cloud gaming.' Native portable play is essentially dead on arrival. Forget handhelds—even high-end gaming laptops will struggle to provide a playable experience. If you need it on the go, your only real options are cloud streaming or praying for a massive optimization patch down the line (by which point laptop hardware might actually catch up).

The verdict is estimated based on hardware specifications, assuming a game resolution of 720p and settings at Medium or lower. A 'PLAYABLE' status does not guarantee actual gameplay performance.

PC Parts Selection Guide

Cities: Skylines II PC Component Selection & Build Strategy

The official specs are steep enough, but a genuinely smooth experience demands absolute top-tier silicon. When picking parts, you're forced into a brutal ultimatum: either nuke your budget to secure stable 1080p gameplay at a 100k+ population, or drastically tank your visual settings to save your wallet.
Pro Advice

BUILD
BALANCE

This game has zero tolerance for bottlenecks. The smartest build strategy is to aim for a GPU roughly 1.5x more powerful than the official recommended specs, and then scale up your CPU depending on the population size you want to achieve.
Technical Specifications

Specs: Official System Requirements

Source: Steam Store Official
While the official page omits performance targets, the devs have explicitly stated that 60fps is *not* the goal. It's widely accepted that the recommended specs are aiming for 1080p / Medium settings / 30fps. Even for a 30fps baseline, the hardware tax is remarkably high.

The number of ● dots quantifies the performance level required from PC components on a scale of 1 to 10.

Minimum

Recommended

CPU
Core i7-6700K
Ryzen 5 2600X
CPU
Core i5-12600K
Ryzen 7 5800X
GPU
GeForce GTX 970
Radeon RX 480 8GB
GPU
Radeon RX 6800 XT
GeForce RTX 3080 10GB
RAM
8 GB
RAM
16 GB
Storage
60 GB HDD
Storage
60 GB HDD
Supported Tech (Upscaling & Frame Gen)
Upscaler:DLSSFSR
GPU Selection & FPS Analysis

Cities: Skylines II GPU Benchmark & FPS Guide

Overshooting the recommended GPU is non-negotiable. Even targeting 30fps, the GPU demands are so brutal that native 4K is basically a pipe dream at launch. It's heavy enough that even flagship laptop GPUs hit a wall at 1080p/30fps. The pool of graphics cards that can actually run this game properly is frustratingly shallow.

Target Mapping

With real-world demands this punishing, it's tempting to compromise and build for just 1080p/30fps. Don't fall into that trap—population scaling will create bottlenecks that crush your rig. You need a GPU that clears 30fps with headroom to spare, while still allocating a massive chunk of your budget to a high-end CPU.
GeForce GTX 970 OFFICIAL
Radeon RX 480 8GB OFFICIAL
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti USED
GeForce RTX 3070 Ti USED
Radeon RX 6800 XT OFFICIAL
GeForce RTX 3080 10GB OFFICIAL
Radeon RX 9070 NEW
Radeon RX 9070 GRE NEW
GeForce RTX 5090 NEW
No matching candidates found in database
No matching candidates found in database
Radeon RX 7800M NEW
Radeon RX 7900M USED
No matching candidates found in database
No matching candidates found in database
No matching candidates found in database

Technical Evidence

Flagship-tier CPUs and GPUs are essentially mandatory. Even if you're a casual player with zero interest in pushing for a mega-city, consider the official recommended specs as your absolute hard cutoff for an entry-level build.

GPU Benchmarks

Official Minimum
Official Recommended
bld4me Choice
Radeon RX 7900 XTX bld4me USED
Radeon RX 9070 bld4me NEW
Radeon RX 6800 XT Official Recommended
GeForce GTX 970 Official Minimum

CPU Benchmarks

Official Minimum
Official Recommended
bld4me Choice
Core Ultra 7 265K bld4me NEW
Ryzen 9 7950X bld4me USED
Core i5-12600K Official Recommended
Core i7-6700K Official Minimum

This is a comparison graph of the manufacturer's minimum required specs, recommended specs, and bld4me-recommended parts (new and used). Higher values indicate smoother performance. bld4me's recommended parts are selected based on independent research, balancing comfortable gameplay with cost-performance for the game title.

GPU Matrix

Looking at the numbers, it makes total sense why the devs admitted to a 30fps target. Based on our data, the official minimum requirement—the GTX 970—is straight-up unplayable. Don't even try it.
GPU720p1080p1440p4K
bld4me USED
Radeon RX 7900 XTX
bld4me NEW
Radeon RX 9070
Official Recommended
Radeon RX 6800 XT
Official Minimum
GeForce GTX 970

The FPS values above are estimated based purely on the GPU's native performance without any upscaler. These are merely estimates and do not guarantee actual performance.

Estimated FPS Database

Cities: Skylines IIseo_benchmark_table_suffix

Estimated FPS on this site is calculated based on the official recommended requirements of each game, assuming only the GPU is changed. Actual frame rates may vary depending on the environment, such as the combined CPU, memory, and storage.

Cities: Skylines II

40 SKUS
Share Cities: Skylines II benchmarks for
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Non-Recommended Models (Grade E)

Performance Insufficient / Risk of Crash

Ranking Criteria Explained

S
SUPREME"For those who refuse to compromise"

The ultimate GPU. Delivers premium 4K gaming at max settings.

A
ADVANCED"If you crave that next level of smoothness"

A step-up GPU for chasing high refresh rates and stunning visuals.

B
BALANCED"bld4me's recommendation. The smart, well-balanced choice"

The smart pick—perfect balance of power and efficiency.

C
COMPETENT"Play at 1080p/Medium"

Ensures standard playability, delivering 30 to just under 60 FPS at 1080p/Medium settings.

E
EXCLUDED"Not recommended. Time to upgrade"

GPU below official supported performance.

The Bottom Line

The Game's Verdict: Recommended Specs & Grade

Expectations were sky-high for this beloved sequel, but it ended up making headlines for all the wrong reasons—its shockingly brutal performance demands.

The baseline hardware tax is punishing enough on its own. But because the devs cranked the underlying engine and graphics to true "next-gen" extremes, the hardware requirements swing wildly the moment your population starts to scale.

Just surviving at 1080p demands a high-end rig. At this point, you are forced into a binary choice: either commit to brute-forcing it by building a top-tier, future-proof PC right now, or keep your wallet shut and wait for optimization patches to make the game actually playable on mortal hardware.