Most Cost Effective 4K/Ultra/60 FPS Setup?

Longtime TrainerRoad user who just made the switch to Zwift (recently got a coach and the TrainingPeaks workout integration is a  game changer). Currently running 1080p/Basic at around 40 FPS on a 2017 MacBook Pro (2.3 GHz Intel Core i5/16 GB 2133 MHz LPDDR3). Interested in building something that will run Zwift in 4K/Ultra at around 60 FPS. Seems like I have two options: (1) external GPU/enclosure/power source or (2) dedicated Zwift PC. Wondering if anyone has any suggestions as far as cheapest route? I’d be outputting via HDMI to a Samsung KS8000. Running 2018 Kickr via Bluetooth, with Power2Max paired with Ant+ and Wahoo Tickr Fit paired via BT. Literally would only be running Zwift. Thanks!

Welcome Keith. Dedicated PC. Start with an EVGA GeForce GTX 1070, and work backwards to within your budget. A 7th gen or higher Core i5 @ 3.0 Ghz or higher, like an i5 7400. No need to go higher on the CPU. Lower would work too, depending on what other apps you intend to run at the same time. If the answer is none more, then you could use a 2 core 4 thread G series Kabby Lake Pentium like the G4560 @ 3.5 Ghz and save yourself a grip of cash. 

External GPU enclosure on the MacBook would indeed work, but cost about the same and would be a bit hobbled by the 2.3 Ghz clock speed of the laptop class i5.

Checkout  https://zwiftalizer.com/benchmarks

Do some searches for 1070, 1060, 1050 and G4560

Have fun!

Mike

 

 

 

Thanks Mike… I think this would fit the bill? 

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-desktop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1060-1tb-hard-drive-recon-blue/6189100.p?skuId=6189100

Looks like that combo on Zwiftalizer is getting a 53 FPS average in 4K Ultra which sounds pretty good to me (my TV will cap it at 60).

What do you think?

Yes, that looks good - well balanced CPU+GPU, but personally I would prefer an SSD boot drive for fast startup times and if it was at all possible - the GTX 1070 with a lower spec CPU - but that combo is hard to find off the shelf, and really, several hundred dollars more for 7 fps just isn’t worth it. Here’s a similar spec HP with a 256GB SSD. 

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-pavilion-gaming-desktop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1060-256gb-solid-state-drive-shadow-black-with-a-brushed-hairline-pattern/6253612.p?skuId=6253612

https://www.amazon.com/HP-Pavilion-Desktop-Computer-790-0020/dp/B07BV43DTM

 

Awesome! Thanks for your help! Gonna snag the HP from BestBuy. If it doesn’t blow me away can always return it.