A racing machine is judged differently from a general gaming desktop. Nobody notices a peak frame rate on a rig, but everyone feels a stutter at turn-in, because the correlation between what the wheel does and what the eyes see is the whole point. That pushes the requirements towards steady frame times, enough graphics output for the display layout you have chosen, and enough connectivity for the hardware bolted to the frame.

Three questions settle the build. Are you driving one screen, three, or a headset? How many USB devices will the rig carry once pedals, a handbrake, a shifter and a button box are in place? And do you race full grids online, which loads the processor in a way a hotlap never will? The sections below work through each.