• Guide

Building a PC For Destiny 2: A Guide

Enter the Crucible in style with a new build optimized for the Destiny 2 PC release.

Chris Jarrard

August 29, 2017 9:15 AM

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While it failed to make an appearance on the PC in 2014, the original Destiny was a certified shooter sensation. Despite its lack of content and other minor issues at launch, the game went on to monopolize the free time of millions of players with its strong shooting mechanics and co-op gameplay. The impending sequel, Destiny 2, promises to bring new content and polish to the hit franchise when it releases on consoles next week. Among the many improvements and promises that Destiny 2 brings, none are more significant than the PC release.

Why the PC Version of Destiny 2 is Important

The PC version of Destiny 2 is being developed by Bungie and Vicarious Visions. It will launch later this fall on October 24. In addition to the core gameplay and beloved shooting mechanics, the PC version packs some serious enhancements in the form of increased resolution, uncapped framerates, and fully-customizable controls. The improved framerates will be the big change for Destiny 1 veterans, as the original game ran at 30fps on Xbox One and PS4 while the older generation consoles often struggled to reach that mark.

Despite the recent launch of Sony’s upgraded PS4 Pro and the forthcoming release of Microsoft’s more powerful Xbox One X, Destiny 2 players on consoles will still be capped at 30fps. While the game is certainly enjoyable at 30fps, the experience is much smoother at 60fps and above and the increased speed also brings significant decreases in input lag, which is helpful for all players.

The PC version of Destiny 2 is full of the latest visual effects and filters.

Thanks to some solid optimization from the boys at Bungie, achieving 60fps with the PC version will not require an enthusiast-class gaming PC. PC gamers who have mid-range or better PCs from the last several years will be able to enjoy Destiny 2 at high settings with great framerates. Players coming from consoles without PCs or those looking to upgrade into the upper echelon of the Destiny 2 experience will likely want to build new PCs for the looming Destiny 2 PC release.

A Tale of Two Destiny 2 PC Builds

This guide will focus on two different types of builds for playing Destiny 2 (or any number of other great PC games) - a low-priced budget build that will give you everything you need for a smooth 1080p/60fps experience and a high-end PC that allows for 100fps+ at the highest settings, all in a hand-picked Destiny 2-themed build.

The budget build will focus only on the desktop tower itself. The high-end build will include a matching monitor and some peripherals to compliment white Destiny 2 theme of the build. The peripherals will also work perfectly with the budget build if you find yourself jonesing for them.

With all settings maxed out, the PC version visuals could pass for pre-rendered cutscenes.

The Bare Essentials 1080p Destiny 2 PC Build

Full Part List on PCPartpicker

CPU: Intel Pentium G4560
Motherboard: MSI B250M PRO-VD MicroATX
Ram: Patriot Viper Elite 2x4GB DDR4-2400
SSD: SK Hynix SL308 250GB
GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
Case: Corsair 270R
PSU: Corsair CX 450 (2017)

The Corsair 270R Windowed Version with a completed build

Coming in around $500, this build has everything needed to run Destiny 2 at 1080p with a smooth 60fps framerate on all the highest settings, save for Depth of Field, Ambient Occlusion, and Anti-Aliasing. Those settings must be on a level lower than the maximum, but thankfully do not need to be disabled entirely. The G4560 CPU is a budget workhorse and was also used in my August Themed Build Guide. Destiny 2 is not very demanding on the CPU, so this hyper-threaded dual core chip is a great fit for anyone not planning on playing PC games at refresh rates in excess of 100Hz.

The GTX 1050 Ti GPU is another bang for your buck monster. It is only slightly slower than the super popular GTX 970 GPU that released in 2014 for just under $400. The 1050 Ti is much more power efficient than the older, bigger card and does not need an external power cable to run, making it the optimal choice for Destiny 2 fans who might want to add a GPU to their pre-built PC. The ram, SSD, PSU, and motherboard all all standard parts that fit this build for a good price.

I chose the Corsair 270R case due to its smart design and excellent value. It has all the comforts you would expect from a $100+ PC case in 2017, but at an easier to swallow price. The 270R support almost all air coolers and even large AIO liquid coolers up to 280mm. It also features a PSU shroud that makes cable management a breeze and really cleans up the interior of your build. For those that would like to show off the build, you can get the windowed version of the 270R for only a few dollars more.

The 144Hz Stylin’ White Destiny 2 Build

Full Part List on PCPartpicker

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1600X 
CPU Cooler: Cryorig C7
Motherboard: MSI B350 Tomahawk Arctic ATX
Ram: G.Skill Trident Z Gunmetal/White DDR4-3200
SSD: Samsung 850 EVO m.2 SSD
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200rpm
GPU: MSI Armor Geforce GTX 1080
Case: In Win 303 White
PSU: Corsair RMx 750W White
Monitor: Dell S2716DG 144Hz G-Sync
Keyboard: Qisan 68-Key White with Cherry MX Red Switches
Mouse: Razer DeathAdder Elite Destiny 2 Edition
Headset: Kingston HyperX Cloud White

The In Win 303 ATX White case has a clean, futuristic look with a stunning tempered glass panel.

The high-end Destiny 2 PC build comes in a little over $2000, but includes top quality parts and enthusiast-class accessories, including the 144Hz G-Sync monitor. The AMD Ryzen 5 1600X is clocked at 3.6 Ghz over its 6 cores and is overclockable with the striking white MSI Arctic motherboard. This combo can handle any game you throw at it and deliver the fps needed to feed your high refresh rate display. The Cryorig cooler is another returning part from the August build guide, once again chosen for its easy installation and good looks.

Ryzen builds perform their best with very fast memory. The G.Skill Trident Z kit chosen runs at 3200Mhz and the metal heat sink with white accents fits in perfectly with the style of Destiny 2 and the other pearly tones featured throughout the build. The same goes for the Corsair RMx series PSU. Its white shroud will be right at home with the rest of the build. A Samsung 850 EVO m2 SSD gives you plenty of space for your OS and games and can be installed with no need to worry about power or SATA cables. The Seagate platter drive can hold your extra games and data.

The MSI Armor GTX 1080's white accents fit in with any type of build.

The MSI Armor GTX 1080 was chosen for its sharp-looking black and white shroud and for its incredible efficiency. The GTX 1080 is more than capable of driving Destiny 2 at 1440p with the highest settings at refresh rates in excess of 100Hz. It is the perfect match for the 27” Dell G-Sync monitor. The Dell is currently on sale for under $430 and is one of the fastest G-Sync panels you can buy at any price. It is unmatched in smoothness and features virtually zero input lag. The white Qisan mechanical keyboard has premium Cherry MX Red switches for fast response and low noise and the HyperX Cloud headset sounds great with an aesthetic that falls in line with the build.

The In Win 303 ATX case is the centerpiece of the build. An ivory white frame around a solid metal interior and a beautiful tempered glass window will make this chassis a head-turner. It is loaded with unique fan mounting options and an interior layout unlike anything else on the market. Add in a small amount in LED illumination to the case to really set it off. Finally, the Destiny 2-themed Razer DeathAdder Elite mouse seals the deal on the build. It is a perfect visual match for the rest of the parts and is nice enough to include the Destiny 2 logo right on top. The mousewheel is also RGB illuminated and can be programmed to any color or style you choose.

The Destiny 2 Razer DeathAdder Elite mouse has chapmionship internals and performance with looks to match. 

Wrapping Up

Enjoy this week’s Destiny 2 open beta on PC and you can use the time until launch to get the build you need ready. The builds above are suggestions and can easily be altered with similar or cheaper parts if looks are of no concern. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments and I’ll see you on the Inverted Spire!

Chris Jarrard

Contributing Tech Editor

Chris Jarrard likes playing games, crankin' tunes, and looking for fights on obscure online message boards. He understands that breakfast food is the only true food. Don't @ him.