Best GPU for Cities: Skylines II (2026)
To run Cities: Skylines II well, aim for a graphics card at or above its recommended GPU. Below are our picks by resolution, chosen from real benchmark data — a budget option for smooth 1080p, a value pick for 1440p, and a high-end card for 4K.
Recommended graphics cards by resolution
| Resolution | Our pick | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p High | AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT Best budget pick · 16GB · ~$549.00 |
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| 1440p High | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Best value pick · 16GB · ~$999.00 |
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These picks target a smooth experience at each resolution. For native 4K at max settings — especially with ray tracing or path tracing — aim higher than the high-end pick and use DLSS/FSR upscaling, which can effectively move a card up a tier.
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Cities: Skylines II system requirements
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| GPU | Nvidia® GeForce™ GTX 970 (4 GB) | AMD® Radeon™ RX 480 (8 GB) | Nvidia® GeForce™ RTX 3080 (10 GB) | AMD® Radeon™ RX 6800 XT (16 GB) |
| CPU | Intel® Core™ i7-6700K | AMD® Ryzen™ 5 2600X | Intel® Core™ i5-12600K | AMD® Ryzen™ 7 5800X |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
Want to confirm a specific card? Test it against Cities: Skylines II with our free Can I Run It tool, estimate frames with the FPS Estimator, or compare cards on the GPU tier list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPU do I need for Cities: Skylines II?
For smooth 1080p, a AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT-class card meets the recommended bar. For 1440p, step up to around a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080. You can verify any card with our free Can I Run It checker.
Can I run Cities: Skylines II on a cheaper GPU?
Often yes, at lower settings or with upscaling (DLSS/FSR). Anything at or above the game's minimum GPU will launch it; the picks above target a smooth, recommended-level experience.
Do I need a new CPU too?
For most games the GPU matters most, but a badly paired CPU can bottleneck a strong card. Check the balance with our bottleneck calculator before buying.