Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs for Stalker 2
We weighed five gaming PCs on VRAM and memory, and the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Stalker 2 is demanding on both CPU and memory. Every pick has 12GB or more of video memory and 32GB of RAM and cost $2,400 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
Rankings weigh graphics card, VRAM and processor as the makers state them; we did not test these gaming PCs ourselves, and any figure a maker omits is noted as missing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
HOENGAGER Panorama (Ryzen 7 5700X, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB)
The cheapest way into this group, below the MSI Codex R2.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Our take Check price for HOENGAGER Panorama (Ryzen 7 5700X, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB) (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
MSI Codex R2 (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5070 12GB)
Air cooling and Wi-Fi 6E.
Best for: Buyers who want air cooling and Wi-Fi 6E.
Our take Check price for MSI Codex R2 (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5070 12GB) (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
HELLOLAND Gaming PC (Ryzen 7 5700X, RTX 5070 12GB, White)
A white case with software-controlled ARGB fans.
Best for: Buyers who want white case with software-controlled ARGB fans.
Our take Check price for HELLOLAND Gaming PC (Ryzen 7 5700X, RTX 5070 12GB, White) (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
STORMCRAFT Viper AI (Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Radeon RX 9070 16GB)
A 16GB Radeon RX 9070.
Best for: Buyers who want 16GB Radeon RX 9070.
Our take Check price for STORMCRAFT Viper AI (Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Radeon RX 9070 16GB) (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
iBUYPOWER Y40 (Core Ultra 7 265F, RTX 5070 12GB)
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with the Y40 dual-chamber glass case.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for iBUYPOWER Y40 (Core Ultra 7 265F, RTX 5070 12GB) (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
HOENGAGER Panorama (Ryzen 7 5700X, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Inside the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT are a Ryzen 7 5700X and an RX 9060 XT with 16GB of VRAM, backed by 32GB of DDR4 and 1TB of SSD storage.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
It also comes with a 16GB RX 9060 XT under $1,500 at the time of writing. Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. It matches the STORMCRAFT Viper on VRAM (16GB).
No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9060 XT graphics card; compare the STORMCRAFT Viper, which has an RX 9070 graphics card. Like the HELLOLAND RTX 5070, it has a ryzen 7 5700X processor, while the STORMCRAFT Viper uses a ryzen 7 7800X3D processor. Like the HELLOLAND RTX 5070, it has a DDR4 memory type, while the Y40 265F uses a DDR5-5200 memory type.
Check the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. It undercut the MSI Codex R2 and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RX 9060 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Processor: Ryzen 7 5700X
- Memory: 32GB
- Memory type: DDR4
- SSD: 1TB
Pros
- A RX 9060 XT graphics card
- 16GB of VRAM for high texture settings
- 32GB of RAM
- 16GB RX 9060 XT under $1,500 at the time of writing
Also Consider2 of 5
MSI Codex R2 (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5070 12GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
MSI's Codex R2 pairs a Core i5-14400F with an RTX 5070 12GB and 32GB of DDR5.
Best for
- Buyers who want air cooling and Wi-Fi 6E.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is air cooled and offers Wi-Fi 6E. On VRAM it ties with the HELLOLAND RTX 5070 and the Y40 265F at 12GB. It shares an RTX 5070 graphics card with the HELLOLAND RTX 5070 and Y40 265F; the STORMCRAFT Viper goes with an RX 9070 graphics card.
A core i5-14400F processor is unique to it among these picks, while the HELLOLAND RTX 5070 uses a ryzen 7 5700X processor. You get a DDR5 memory type here, which sets it apart from the Y40 265F and its a DDR5-5200 memory type. Check the MSI Codex R2's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want.
The MSI Codex R2's PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before planning a GPU upgrade. When we checked, only the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT cost less, and the HELLOLAND RTX 5070 cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RTX 5070
- VRAM: 12GB
- Processor: Core i5-14400F
- Memory: 32GB
- Memory type: DDR5
- SSD: 1TB
Pros
- A RTX 5070 graphics card
- 12GB of VRAM for high texture settings
- 32GB of RAM
- Air cooling and Wi-Fi 6E
Cons
- Costs more than the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
HELLOLAND Gaming PC (Ryzen 7 5700X, RTX 5070 12GB, White) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Inside the HELLOLAND RTX 5070 are a Ryzen 7 5700X and an RTX 5070 with 12GB of VRAM, backed by 32GB of DDR4 and 1TB of SSD storage.
Best for
- Buyers who want white case with software-controlled ARGB fans.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also comes with a white case with software-controlled ARGB fans. Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. It matches the MSI Codex R2 and the Y40 265F on VRAM (12GB).
Like the MSI Codex R2 and Y40 265F, it has an RTX 5070 graphics card, while the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT uses an RX 9060 XT graphics card. Like the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, it has a ryzen 7 5700X processor, while the STORMCRAFT Viper uses a ryzen 7 7800X3D processor. Like the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, it has a DDR4 memory type, while the STORMCRAFT Viper uses a DDR5-6000 memory type.
Check the HELLOLAND RTX 5070's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. Its price falls between the MSI Codex R2 and the STORMCRAFT Viper, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RTX 5070
- VRAM: 12GB
- Processor: Ryzen 7 5700X
- Memory: 32GB
- Memory type: DDR4
- SSD: 1TB
- Case colour: White
Pros
- A RTX 5070 graphics card
- 12GB of VRAM for high texture settings
- 32GB of RAM
- White case with software-controlled ARGB fans
Cons
- Costs more than the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
STORMCRAFT Viper AI (Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Radeon RX 9070 16GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
STORMCRAFT Viper pairs a Ryzen 7 7800X3D with an RX 9070 with 16GB of VRAM, plus 32GB of DDR5-6000 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- Buyers who want 16GB Radeon RX 9070.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. It matches the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT on VRAM (16GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9070 graphics card; compare the HELLOLAND RTX 5070, which has an RTX 5070 graphics card.
No other pick in this guide offers a ryzen 7 7800X3D processor; compare the HELLOLAND RTX 5070, which has a ryzen 7 5700X processor. It is the only pick here with a DDR5-6000 memory type; the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT has a DDR4 memory type instead. Check the STORMCRAFT Viper's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper HELLOLAND RTX 5070 and the pricier Y40 265F, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RX 9070
- VRAM: 16GB
- Processor: Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Memory: 32GB
- Memory type: DDR5-6000
- SSD: 1TB
Pros
- A RX 9070 graphics card
- 16GB of VRAM for high texture settings
- An Ryzen 7 7800X3D with 3D V-Cache
- 32GB of RAM
Cons
- Costs more than the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
iBUYPOWER Y40 (Core Ultra 7 265F, RTX 5070 12GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Y40 265F pairs a Core Ultra 7 265F with an RTX 5070 with 12GB of VRAM, plus 32GB of DDR5-5200 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
Skip if
- Skip it if VRAM matters most to you; the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT offers 16GB.
Why we like it
It also comes with the Y40 dual-chamber glass case. Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. It matches the MSI Codex R2 and the HELLOLAND RTX 5070 on VRAM (12GB).
Like the MSI Codex R2 and HELLOLAND RTX 5070, it has an RTX 5070 graphics card, while the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT uses an RX 9060 XT graphics card. No other pick in this guide offers a core Ultra 7 265F processor; compare the HELLOLAND RTX 5070, which has a ryzen 7 5700X processor. It is the only pick here with a DDR5-5200 memory type; the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT has a DDR4 memory type instead.
It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the STORMCRAFT Viper and the rest. The trade-off is VRAM; for more, the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT offers 16GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RTX 5070
- VRAM: 12GB
- Processor: Core Ultra 7 265F
- Memory: 32GB
- Memory type: DDR5-5200
- SSD: 1TB
Pros
- A RTX 5070 graphics card
- 12GB of VRAM for high texture settings
- 32GB of RAM
- The Y40 dual-chamber glass case
Cons
- VRAM trails the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT (16GB)
- Costs more than the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT at the time of writing
How We Chose These Gaming PCs for Stalker 2
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We set side by side five prebuilt PCs on graphics card, VRAM, processor and memory, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT to the Y40 265F, state graphics card, VRAM and processor.
- Who each pick suits
- The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT for the cheapest way into this group, below the MSI Codex R2; the MSI Codex R2 for air cooling and Wi-Fi 6E; the HELLOLAND RTX 5070 for a white case with software-controlled ARGB fans.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT ($1000 to $1500) to the Y40 265F (over $1500).
What to Look for in a Gaming PC for Stalker 2
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
VRAM
Here VRAM runs from 12GB on the Y40 265F to 16GB on the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT. Start with the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT if VRAM decides it.
Processor
The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT and the HELLOLAND RTX 5070 list Ryzen 7 5700X; the MSI Codex R2 lists Core i5-14400F; the STORMCRAFT Viper lists Ryzen 7 7800X3D; the Y40 265F lists Core Ultra 7 265F. Settle this first, then compare prices.
Memory type
The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT and the HELLOLAND RTX 5070 list DDR4; the MSI Codex R2 lists DDR5; the STORMCRAFT Viper lists DDR5-6000; the Y40 265F lists DDR5-5200.
Setup checks
Check the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want.
Extras that separate them
The HELLOLAND RTX 5070: a white case with software-controlled ARGB fans. The STORMCRAFT Viper: a 16GB Radeon RX 9070. The Y40 265F: the Y40 dual-chamber glass case.
How to Choose a Gaming PC for Stalker 2
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the budget tight | HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT | The cheapest way into this group, below the MSI Codex R2 |
| Buyers who want air cooling and Wi-Fi 6E | MSI Codex R2 | Air cooling and Wi-Fi 6E |
| Buyers who want white case with software-controlled ARGB fans | HELLOLAND RTX 5070 | A white case with software-controlled ARGB fans |
| Buyers who want 16GB Radeon RX 9070 | STORMCRAFT Viper | A 16GB Radeon RX 9070 |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | Y40 265F | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with the Y40 dual-chamber glass case |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT leads on VRAM at 16GB, ahead of the STORMCRAFT Viper at 16GB.
| Prebuilt PC | Graphics card | VRAM | Processor | Memory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | Ryzen 7 5700X | 32GB |
| MSI Codex R2 | RTX 5070 | 12GB | Core i5-14400F | 32GB |
| HELLOLAND RTX 5070 | RTX 5070 | 12GB | Ryzen 7 5700X | 32GB |
| STORMCRAFT Viper | RX 9070 | 16GB | Ryzen 7 7800X3D | 32GB |
| Y40 265F | RTX 5070 | 12GB | Core Ultra 7 265F | 32GB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT was the lowest-priced pick and the Y40 265F the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Prebuilt PCs |
|---|---|
| About $1000 to $1500 | HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT |
| Over $1500 | MSI Codex R2, HELLOLAND RTX 5070, STORMCRAFT Viper, Y40 265F |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Y40 265F add over the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT?
On the figures both makers state, it adds little. It does not win everywhere: the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT still leads on VRAM (16GB). The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if a feature outside the spec sheet matters to you.
Why is the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT our Lowest Price Here pick?
It earns the label for the cheapest way into this group, below the MSI Codex R2. It suits keeping the budget tight.
Do the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT and the MSI Codex R2 differ on graphics card?
The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT uses RX 9060 XT; the MSI Codex R2, the HELLOLAND RTX 5070 and the Y40 265F use RTX 5070; the STORMCRAFT Viper uses RX 9070.
Will the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT work with my setup?
Check the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT's PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before planning a GPU upgrade. In this guide it ranks first of 5, as our Lowest Price Here pick.
What extras do the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT and the MSI Codex R2 include?
The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT: a 16GB RX 9060 XT under $1,500 at the time of writing. The MSI Codex R2: air cooling and Wi-Fi 6E. The HELLOLAND RTX 5070: a white case with software-controlled ARGB fans.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, chosen for the cheapest way into this group, below the MSI Codex R2. Look at the MSI Codex R2 for air cooling and Wi-Fi 6E, the HELLOLAND RTX 5070 for a white case with software-controlled ARGB fans and the STORMCRAFT Viper for a 16GB Radeon RX 9070 if those matter more to you.
Use an SSD and upscaling; the game stutters on slow storage.