Best PC build for emulation 2024 (N64, PS1, PS2, Switch, Wii, Xbox 360)
Built & Tested By Our Team
WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Table of Contents
Best PC For Emulation
Building a gaming PC specifically for emulators has become much more popular than you may think. Well, not you specifically – you’re the one searching that exact term. But in general, it’s something that has slipped under the radar when it comes to custom PC building.
Despite that being the case, there are still a tonne of individuals who are looking to create the best gaming PC for emulators. Well, look no further, the following build has been tailored for the best gaming experience for emulators. Whether you’re looking to emulate N64, PS1/2/3, XBOX360, Wii, or Switch, you name it, this thing will be capable of handling whatever emulations you throw at it.
PC hardware deals
If you are planning on building out your next gaming PC, then finding deals on some components is the best way to get something better for cheaper. In that case, you can find deals on GPUs, CPUs, coolers, motherboards, power supplies, and cases. There are always some discounts to be found even if it’s not any special sales time so you can save a few bucks here and there.
What You Get For Your Money
Let’s be honest, we could have probably built a gaming PC for emulators at a slightly cheaper price point. However, it wouldn’t have showcased anywhere near as much ‘bang for your buck’ as this particular build. That being said, we still tried to keep it as cheap as possible for this particular usage.
Performance
From a performance standpoint, this PC will handle pretty much every emulator you can throw at it. Most emulations require good single-core performance, so most people opt for an Intel CPU. However, the CPU we’ve opted for still has more than enough power to handle the most demanding emulator scenarios.
Furthermore, as we’ll discuss shortly, we’ve opted for a standalone GPU for this build – even though it doesn’t really require one. That being said, having a standalone GPU allows you to play both emulations and PC games – something other PC builds for emulations can’t boast.
The WePC experts that worked on this build
Seb is a Mechanical Engineering Graduate who has always been passionate and involved in gaming and computers. Ever since tinkering with the family computer and being the tech wizard in the family, he’s had an interest in PCs and all things tech. So while at University build his own computer, became tech support for others and finally found a career working with them daily.
Shaun is a gaming enthusiast and computer science graduate who has been working with computers for the last 15 years. He took a shine to competitive FPS back in the mid-2000s and hasn’t looked back since.
Our Best Prebuilt PC Recommendations
Skytech Blaze 3.0 Gaming PC (RTX 3060 Ti)
CPU
Intel Core i7 11700F
GPU
RTX 3060 Ti
RAM
16G
Storage
1TB NVME SSD
Skytech Blaze 3.0 Gaming PC (RTX 3060 Ti)
CPU
Intel Core i7 11700F
GPU
RTX 3060 Ti
RAM
16G
Storage
1TB NVME SSD
By now, you probably have a pretty good idea of whether or not this build suits your needs and requirements. You will also have decided whether or not you feel you can tackle a custom built PC as well.
For many, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue – especially if they follow one of our handy build guides. However, for some, the job of building their own PC is probably a little too daunting.
For those individuals, we’ll be recommending some prebuilt gaming PCs that take the stress of building your own PC away. Whilst they might not offer the same value for money as our custom build, they’ll certainly run emulations at a very good standard.
Our Recommended Custom Build Details
- Last Updated - Jan 2, 2024
This performance-tailored gaming PC caters to gamers that want to get the best possible experience out of their emulations. That said, this PC also has all the performance power required to play lesser-intensive PC games and do some moderate multitasking too.
Our Best Custom PC Build for Emulations
Our best custom built PC for emulation is a well-balanced mix of hardware tailored to handle the most demanding (said half ironically) emulated titles.
This PC is a well-balanced mix of gaming performance and affordability, all wrapped up in one of the best PC cases on the market.
Whilst this PC won’t be suitable for high-end PC gaming, it’ll definitely handle all the emulated titles you can throw at it – along with some lesser intensive AAA PC titles.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Cores:
8
Thread:
16
Boost speed:
5.0GHz
Cache:
96MB
TDP:
120W
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Cores:
8
Thread:
16
Boost speed:
5.0GHz
Cache:
96MB
TDP:
120W
Upgrading to the new gen gives you the benefits and features of it, and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the way forward. The choice is the top gaming CPU that brings you a great choice of processor. With 8 cores and 16 threads running at 4.2GHz and boosting to 5.0, you get plenty of power to make use of. Along with the 3D-cache that can boost its performance to reach the top level and get through any workload with ease.
ASUS Prime B650-PLUS
Form factor
ATX
Connectivity
USB 3.2, 2.5Gb ethernet, DDR5
PCIe Gen 5
M.2
DDR5
Yes
ASUS Prime B650-PLUS
Form factor
ATX
Connectivity
USB 3.2, 2.5Gb ethernet, DDR5
PCIe Gen 5
M.2
DDR5
Yes
For the new processor range, you need to have a good AM5 motherboard for the job. Which is the ASUS Prime B650-Plus, which brings you the new features of the latest gen without the extra cost of features you might not use in the likes of the X670 range. It has to offer a Gen 5 NVMe slot still, along with DDR5 RAM, type C IO, and 2.5GB ethernet, so you’re not losing out on too much.
Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Dual Tower CPU Cooler
Item Dimensions LxWxH
5.31 x 5.91 x 6.5 inches
Brand
Noctua
Cooling Method
Air
Compatible Devices
Desktop
Noise Level
24 dB
Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Dual Tower CPU Cooler
Item Dimensions LxWxH
5.31 x 5.91 x 6.5 inches
Brand
Noctua
Cooling Method
Air
Compatible Devices
Desktop
Noise Level
24 dB
One of the best coolers for the 7800X3D is the Noctua NH-D15 brings with it enough cooling capacity to get the most out of your CPU and ensure the best performance. Considering the cooler is an upgrade over stock it does provide a good ability to keep your CPU cool.
CORSAIR VENGEANCE DDR5 RAM 16GB
Capacity
16GB (2x8GB)
Memory Technology
DDR5
Memory Speed
5200 MHz
CAS Latency
CL40
CORSAIR VENGEANCE DDR5 RAM 16GB
Capacity
16GB (2x8GB)
Memory Technology
DDR5
Memory Speed
5200 MHz
CAS Latency
CL40
With the new platform, you also need new DDR5 RAM, the Corsair Vengeance 16GB is a good start. We’ve seen capacities reach high numbers, with speeds blasting high, but you don’t need all of that. Where 16GB 5200MHz gets you a great start to the platform without having to spend so much on it.
MSI Ventus 2X Black RTX 4060 8GB
Clock Speed
2,505MHz (MSI center), 2,490MHz without
VRAM
8GB GDDR6
Thermal Design
Twin Fan
Power Input
1x 8 pin EPS
Size
199 x 120 x 41 mm
MSI Ventus 2X Black RTX 4060 8GB
Clock Speed
2,505MHz (MSI center), 2,490MHz without
VRAM
8GB GDDR6
Thermal Design
Twin Fan
Power Input
1x 8 pin EPS
Size
199 x 120 x 41 mm
Let’s be honest, most emulated game titles won’t physically require a GPU of this pedigree. However, with the assumption you would like to play the occasional modern gaming title too, we have included a mid-range GPU.
The RTX 4060 does have its own problems but as the latest gen of graphics card available, it does bring plenty of features to the table. The efficiency, power, and frame generation ability for DLSS 3 provides plenty more performance and capabilities to push of your more entry-level GPU.
Corsair 4000D Airflow Black
Type
Mid-tower
Motherboard Support
ATX, mATX, Mini-ITX
Dimensions
17.83 x 9.06 x 18.35 inches
Included Fans
2 x 120mm AirGuide fans
Corsair 4000D Airflow Black
Type
Mid-tower
Motherboard Support
ATX, mATX, Mini-ITX
Dimensions
17.83 x 9.06 x 18.35 inches
Included Fans
2 x 120mm AirGuide fans
The Corsair 4000D Airflow is a hugely popular case here at WePC, mainly thanks to the superb value for money it displays in today’s market.
As you’ve probably recognized, there is a running theme with the hardware we’ve chosen for this custom build for emulators – value. That being said, this might be the best value for money product in the parts list.
It comes equipped with 2 x 120mm fans, plenty of internal room for large hardware, and the easy build process that comes with Corsair’s cases. A fantastic addition to this excellent custom build.
This 600W 80+ Gold PSU gets the spot in this custom build and for good reason. This affordable PSU offers up excellent levels of power efficiency, meaning nothing is wasted from socket to PC. At 600W, you’ll have more than enough power to run the components used in this build. You’ll even have the power for some pretty hefty upgrades if you wish to do so sometime down the road.
Our Best Custom PC Build for Emulations
- Last Updated - Jan 2, 2024
Upgrade Options
For those that really like the look of this build but some areas just aren’t powerful enough to run some of the tasks they require, we’ve decided to include an upgrade list that will give you an additional power boost without spending a great deal of cash.
As versatility is one of the priorities of this build, you’ll be able to simply swap out each individual part without having to worry about accompanying hardware.
Remember, the upgrades will increase the base price of your custom build.
For those that really like the look of this build but some areas just aren’t powerful enough to run some of the tasks they require, we’ve decided to include an upgrade list that will give you an additional power boost without spending a great deal of cash.
As versatility is one of the priorities of this build, you’ll be able to simply swap out each individual part without having to worry about accompanying hardware.
Remember, the upgrades will increase the base price of your custom build.
No items found.
Operating System & Peripherals
Note: These will raise the price of your build!
No items found.
Building Tips
That’s pretty much everything you need to know about the custom build and the hardware it comes with. One thing we haven’t really discussed, however, is the physical building of this PC. If you’re new to the PC building game, then we would recommend checking out our 12 Mistakes that Every Newbie PC Builder Makes article. Furthermore, our 15 Common Questions About Building a PC should answer the most frequently asked questions first-time builds have.
Below are some of our best building tips for new and old builders alike.
Closing Thoughts
So, there you have it, our comprehensive guide to the best gaming PC for emulations. We’ve done our best to try and get the absolute best bang for your buck out of the hardware we’ve chosen. Remember, this build isn’t going to blow anyone away with incredible graphics. It will, however, provide individuals looking to play emulations with the perfect PC for the job.
Related Custom PC Builds
Best gaming PC build under $3000 in 2024
Best streaming PC build in 2024
Best gaming PC build under $300 of 2024
Best gaming PC build under $700 in 2024
Best gaming PC build under $600 in 2024
