Best PCs for World of Warcraft in 2024

As a seasoned gamer who’s been through countless battles and raids in the vast world of Azeroth, I can confidently say that the Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-51) is an excellent choice for World of Warcraft enthusiasts on a budget. With its robust performance hardware and affordable price tag, this laptop delivers smooth gameplay without breaking the bank.

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World of Warcraft, which has been captivating players globally for about two decades, continues to thrive with fresh expansions like “The War Within,” offering outstanding narrative and visual direction. The fundamental gameplay experience remains as engrossing as before, and some might even say that the game is currently in its finest state in years.

“A significant aspect that draws people to WoW is its modest computer system needs, even for the latest expansion. You can enjoy smooth gameplay on an older computer without any issues. For those playing World of Warcraft Classic, the system requirements are reduced even further.

Consequently, a broad selection of Personal Computers (PCs), encompassing both desktops and laptops, cater well to World of Warcraft (WoW). Moreover, with native ARM64 compatibility, you can directly play WoW on Windows operating systems built for ARM devices, eliminating the need for emulation.

I’ve assembled a variety of desktop and laptop computers, ranging from economical options to high-performance models, all capable of providing an exceptional World of Warcraft gaming experience. These systems span from custom-built desktops to AI-enhanced Copilot+ PCs, ensuring you can conquer raids swiftly.

The quick list

Here’s a brief rundown of the PCs we highly recommend for World of Warcraft. These details should provide you with some helpful insights, however, it’s advisable to explore each option further for comprehensive information such as review summaries, advantages and disadvantages, and technical specifications.

Our favorite PCs for World of Warcraft in 2024

After presenting the brief overview, let’s delve deeper into our preferred PCs for World of Warcraft. We’ve put them through their paces and shared our thoughts on various models – ranging from laptops to pre-assembled desktops. I made an effort to include options suitable for diverse budgets and performance requirements.

Editor’s choice

1. Maingear MG-1

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X | Graphics Card: NVIDIA RTX 4060 | Memory: 16GB DDR5-6400 | Storage Drive: 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD | Power Supply Unit: MSI 650W (80+ Gold)

My preferred choice for pre-built gaming desktops is the Maingear MG-1. This machine is one I’ve had hands-on experience with, making it an excellent pick if you’re seeking a system that has the feel of a custom-built setup.

Maingear consists of computer enthusiasts who genuinely take pleasure in their work. The cable management on the MG-1 Silver model is exceptional, and they exclusively utilize common components that you can purchase independently. This absence of proprietary hardware or design allows for hassle-free upgrades whenever necessary.

Instead of paying a significant amount upfront, you’ll pay a slightly higher initial price, which is $1,199, to have the system assembled and enjoy lifetime support along with a one-year warranty. This starting cost gives you an AMD Ryzen 5 7600X processor (CPU), an NVIDIA RTX 4060 graphics card (GPU), 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid-state drive (SSD). This configuration offers more than enough power for a high-quality World of Warcraft gaming experience.

Maingear offers additional configuration options if you’d like to invest more funds, and you can even prolong your warranty protection for as long as three years.

Also great

2. iBuyPower Trace 7 Mesh

Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7700

If you’re in need of a powerful GPU and a robust Ryzen CPU, iBuyPower’s Trace 7 Mesh PC could be just what you’re looking for, priced around $1,600. Keep an eye out for discounts that can bring the price down to as low as $1,400.

I find myself observing a system that’s been equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 7700 CPU, an AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for storage. This setup seems tailor-made for gaming enthusiasts like myself, particularly World of Warcraft, but it’s also ready to handle a variety of other titles with ease.

This system features multiple RGB fans for air cooling, and its stylish mesh grille facilitates ample airflow throughout. The integrated RGB RAM adds a touch of color, while the spacious interior allows for additional cooling solutions, storage, and memory if desired.

Best budget desktop

3. Lenovo Legion Tower 5i (Gen 8)

This system features a 14th Generation Intel Core i9-14900F processor, an NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti SUPER graphics card, up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM clocked at 5600MHz, two M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs for storage, and a power supply unit (PSU) capable of delivering up to 850 watts of power.

The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i (Gen 8) is a suggested pre-assembled gaming desktop PC that might not be ideal for those who prefer systems with easy future upgrade options. This model from Lenovo features a non-modular power supply unit, which is often criticized as being less expensive but less flexible for upgrades, making it a potential drawback when considering this system.

In my review of the Legion Tower 5i (Gen 8), I pointed out that one disadvantage of purchasing a pre-built computer from a large company like Lenovo is that it may not receive as much customization compared to buying from a specialty builder or building your own system. However, despite this, the system offers impressive performance for approximately $900 on Lenovo’s website.

This 14th Gen Intel Core i5-14400F processor, together with an unlabeled OEM NVIDIA RTX 4060 graphics card, 16GB of DDR5 memory, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, can effortlessly handle all the challenges World of Warcraft presents. It’s also capable of smoothly running most other games you might be interested in.

Lenovo provides a wide array of customization possibilities, enabling you to tailor your system according to your specific requirements. The premium model features an Intel Core i7-14700F processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER graphics card, which offers significantly more power than necessary for a seamless World of Warcraft gaming experience.

Read our in-depth Lenovo Legion Tower 5i (Gen 8) review

Best ARM64 laptop

4. ASUS VivoBook S 15

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78) | Graphics: Integrated Qualcomm Adreno | Memory: 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM | Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD | Screen: 15.6 inches, 2880×1620 resolution, OLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz | Battery: 70Wh capacity

World of Warcraft picked up native ARM64 support a few years ago, and anyone who wants to play the game on a Copilot+ laptop should check out the ASUS VivoBook S 15.  

This device is equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite System-on-Chip (SoC), which incorporates an Adreno GPU and a Hexagon Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This powerful chipset allows it to handle games like World of Warcraft, and it also supports the additional AI features offered by Copilot+ in Windows 11.

Windows Central Senior Editor Zac Bowden, in his ASUS VivoBook S 15 review, said:

As a tech enthusiast, I can confidently say that the Snapdragon X Elite transforms this laptop from good to great. If it were an Intel-powered machine, it wouldn’t be much to write home about. However, Qualcomm’s latest chip is nothing short of impressive, enabling this sleek and portable device to handle tasks far beyond what one might expect. It’s not just a capable video editor and multitasker; it boasts exceptional AI capabilities that were previously unheard of in such a thin and light laptop. And to top it off, you can get all these features for an affordable $1,299!

This device might struggle to run modern AAA games that require high-end system specifications, however, it’s capable of smoothly handling World of Warcraft while providing long-lasting battery life for productivity tasks. The 15.6-inch OLED display boasts a 2.8K resolution and a fast refresh rate of 120Hz. Normally priced at approximately $1,300, it’s frequently available at a reduced price by several hundred dollars.

Read our in-depth ASUS VivoBook S 15 Copilot+ PC review

Best gaming laptop

5. Alienware m16 R2

This device boasts a powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor. For smooth and immersive visuals, it’s equipped with an NVIDIA RTX 4070 Laptop graphics card. It can handle large data sets with ease thanks to its expandable RAM of up to 64GB DDR5. The storage capacity is impressive, reaching up to 8TB using the faster M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD technology. The display offers a generous 16-inch screen with a resolution of 2560×1600 and a quick refresh rate of 240Hz, reducing input lag to just 3ms for smoother gameplay, enhanced by G-Sync technology. Lastly, it packs a substantial 90Wh battery for extended use on the go.

Currently, the Alienware m16 R2 stands as our top choice among gaming laptops, according to Windows Central Editor Rebecca Spear’s review of this model.

If you’re a gamer who enjoys graphically demanding titles, the Alienware m16 R2 could be an excellent choice due to its impressive performance. Not only does it excel in gaming sessions, but it also performs admirably when used for typical office tasks like work or school, with a battery life that’s more than capable. This versatility makes it a great companion whether you’re working, studying, or immersed in your favorite games.

World of Warcraft is unlikely to strain the system’s hardware excessively, making it an ideal pick for gamers who appreciate diverse high-performance titles. Moreover, due to the Core Ultra CPUs it houses, it can technically be referred to as an AI-optimized PC.

Prices start at about $1,600 for a model with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H chip, NVIDIA RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, and a 16-inch display with 2560×1600 resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, NVIDIA G-Sync, and 100% sRGB color.

There’s ample room for customization in this setup, as Dell provides options ranging from a Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, a powerful NVIDIA RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, an impressive 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and a substantial 2TB SSD.

Read our in-depth Alienware m16 R2 review

Best budget laptop

6. Acer Nitro V 15

Processor: Intel Core i5-13420H | Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 3050 Laptop Version | Memory: 8GB DDR5 RAM | Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD | Screen: 15.6 inches, 1920 x 1080 pixels, IPS, with a refresh rate of 144Hz | Battery Capacity: 57Wh (Watt-hours)

The Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-51) may not boast an exceptional build or top-tier performance hardware, but for approximately $655, it’s an excellent choice if you’re looking to enjoy World of Warcraft on the move.

This computer has an Intel Core i5-13420H processor from the 13th generation, an NVIDIA RTX 3050 laptop graphics card, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. This system exceeds the recommended specifications for World of Warcraft (WoW), ensuring you’ll experience smooth gameplay. Additionally, it boasts a 15.6-inch screen with a refresh rate of 144Hz and a resolution of 1080p.

This laptop allows for RAM upgrading post-purchase due to an available DDR5 slot, and it’s possible to expand storage by accessing the SSD. It offers a variety of ports such as Thunderbolt 4, ensuring portability with a starting weight of approximately 4.66 pounds.

How to choose the best PC for World of Warcraft

If you’re seeking a ready-to-use gaming desktop PC without the hassle of self-assembly, Maingear’s MG-1 could be an ideal choice. This company takes pride in crafting their PCs with meticulous care, giving it a personalized feel as if you had built it yourself. The cable management is impressive, and upgrades are simplified since compatible components can be easily swapped out. Plus, you’ll have reliable customer support on hand should any issues arise.

For beginners, the MG-1 model is capable of running World of Warcraft smoothly, yet it offers multiple customization choices if you desire additional computing power.

Regarding gaming laptops, our top pick right now is the Alienware m16 R2, appreciated for its superior performance, excellent display, and stylish design. However, it’s not budget-friendly, so you might want to explore the Acer Nitro V as an alternative. If you need a device that can manage productivity tasks during the day and gaming at night, the ASUS VivoBook S 15 Copilot+ PC could be a smart choice due to its native ARM64 compatibility with World of Warcraft.

You don’t need a powerhouse gaming PC to run World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft isn’t particularly resource-intensive; it can consume a significant amount of your time, but it generally won’t strain most computers, especially the classic version, often referred to humorously as being able to run on a potato.

To run the standard version of World of Warcraft (WoW) and its expansions smoothly, it’s advisable to have a CPU with at least six cores, a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) that boasts 8GB of Video Random Access Memory (VRAM), 16GB of system memory or RAM, and an Solid State Drive (SSD) storage space of minimum 128GB.

If you’re playing WoW Classic, the recommended system hardware drops even further. You need just 1GB of VRAM for the GPU, as well as 4GB of system RAM and 15GB of available storage space. 

Every computer I’ve featured in this collection meets the threshold for the basic World of Warcraft (WoW) specifications, and it is assured that neither WoW Classic nor any of the machines suggested here will encounter issues in meeting their requirements.

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2024-09-18 13:40