Cities: Skyline 2 takes world or city-building to the next level with its improved graphics and features. So, we weren’t surprised that the recommended CPU and GPU to run this game were Core i5-12600K/Ryzen 7 5800X and the RTX 3080.
We’ve reviewed the 12600K and the RTX 3080 in-house, so we know that these components are more capable of handling much more than what Cities: Skyline 2 can throw at them, but when it comes to a laptop, it’s a whole other topic.
Laptop components are smaller, so their performance isn’t directly comparable to desktop counterparts. So, to ensure we recommend only the best laptop, we’ve reviewed a number of options and thoroughly tested them in-house. For Cities: Skylines 2, we think the MSI Stealth 17 Studio would be an excellent option as you could max out the graphics in this title and any other titles you want to play besides this.
If you’re interested in checking out how we select and review products, we’ve got you covered. With that said, let’s get right into it.
MSI Stealth 17 Studio
- CPU: Intel Core i9-13900H
- GPU: GeForce RTX 4080 12GB
- RAM: 32GB (2×16) DDR5
- Storage: 2TB NVMe SSD
- Max Refresh Rate: 144Hz
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- Screen Size: 17.3″
- Panel Type: Mini LED
Cities: Skyline 2 has decent recommended specifications, so we can’t say that any mid-range laptop should be able to deliver the best results. That is why we’ve recommended this gaming beast, the MSI Stealth 17 Studio. When we tested it for its review, it had amazing performance and was able to deliver it quietly.
For starters, it features the Intel Core i9-13900H processor and the RTX 4080 12 GB graphics card. Just looking at these components, you should rest easy knowing that it has everything it needs to tackle this title, even at the highest settings possible. The recommended GPU is the RTX 3080; the 4080 is an entire generation above that.
In addition, the 13900H is a gaming and productive powerhouse with numerous cores and threads backing it up. We’ve reviewed the 13900K, which again can’t be compared to the laptop processor but should give you an idea of how powerful these chips are.
The best part about this laptop is its screen, which complements the processing power of these components. It has a 17.3” mini LED screen with a 3840 x 2160 resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. The 4K display is a definite plus, but you might have to leverage DLSS3 to achieve the full 144 FPS at that resolution. That said, even getting a stable 60 FPS at 4K should be more than enough for a title like Cities: Skyline 2.
The MSI Stealth 17 Studio A13V combines power and compactness, to give a powerful machine that’s that bit easier to lug around and use wherever you are. But with a 17″ size it’s still quite the sight to behold making it a strong multitasking machine.
PC Guide
It has 32 GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2 TB NVMe SSD to complete the package. This means that you shouldn’t run into memory issues anytime soon, whether for storage or running multiple instances of Chrome.
This laptop also has a good design. It isn’t very “gamer-like,” something you’d see in a Strix laptop, which means it’s an excellent option to take to work. It is a large laptop, and its 2.8 kg weight shows that. As for the hinges, you can open the lid with one finger without holding the base down, so it’s 10/10 for smoothness.
It features a robust design with minimal bend, which is great as too much bending could potentially damage internal components.
Overall, the MSI Stealth 17 laptop checks a lot of boxes for a gaming laptop, and we’re pleased with its performance, design, build quality, and features. For Cities: Skyline 2, it does cross the overkill territory, but that means it’s worth the investment, as you can easily run other demanding titles and use it for professional workloads as well.
Cities: Skyline 2 requirements
We’ll look at the full minimum and recommended system requirements for this title to see which alternatives you could work with.
Minimum requirements
- Processor: Intel Core i7-6700K | AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 (4 GB) | AMD Radeon RX 480 (8 GB)
- Storage: 60 GB available space
Recommended requirements
- Processor: Intel Core i5-12600K | AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 (10 GB) | AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (16 GB)
- Storage: 60 GB available space
The MSI Stealth 17 has much better specifications than the minimum and recommended requirements for this game, so all that is left to say is good luck building your metropolis or Type I civilization.
Alternatives to the MSI Stealth 17 Studio
There are plenty of alternatives to the MSI Stealth 17 Studio laptop, such as the best Razer laptops, which are renowned for their gaming performance, or even the best budget laptops, for those who don’t want to spend a fortune on a laptop to play this title.
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MSI Titan 18 HX A14VIG
- Panel Type: MiniLED
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MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio A1V
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 4080 Laptop
- RAM: 32GB (16*2) DDR5-5600
- Storage: 2TB NVMe SSD Gen4
- Max Refresh Rate: 120Hz
- Resolution: 3840×2400
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Final word
The MSI Stealth 17 is a well-rounded package that should be a worthy companion for traveling, whether for work or pleasure. Its powerful hardware enables it to handle resource-intensive work and gaming sessions without breaking a sweat. So, this is definitely worth the investment, as it should last you a couple of years before you feel the need to upgrade.
