Best Gaming PC for Apex Legends UK (2026) -High FPS Builds for Every Budget

Apex Legends is one of the most mechanically demanding battle royale games on PC. Fast movement, split-second gunfights, ziplines, and wall-climbing, every frame matters. Unlike League of Legends or Valorant, Apex isn't a game you can run on a potato and still compete. It asks more of your hardware, and your hardware needs to deliver.

Whether you're dropping into casual pubs or grinding ranked, this guide breaks down exactly what PC you need for Apex Legends in the UK in 2026 – with AWD-IT build recommendations for every budget.

Why Hardware Matters More in Apex Than Most Battle Royales

Apex Legends is built on a modified Source engine, the same foundation as older games like CS:GO, but Respawn have pushed it hard. The game scales well from budget to high-end hardware, but compared to titles like Valorant or CS2, Apex is significantly more demanding, especially when you're chasing high refresh-rate gameplay.

Here's the key thing: Apex rewards high frame rates more than almost any other shooter because of its movement system. Bunny hopping, slide-cancelling, and tracking fast-moving legends in chaotic fights all feel noticeably better at 144 FPS than 60 FPS. The smoother it runs, the better it feels and the more competitive you become.

One important note: Apex caps at 144 FPS by default. To unlock higher frame rates, you'll need to add +FPS_max unlimted to your launch options via the EA App or Steam. More on that below. 

Official Apex Legends PC Requirements

The minimum specs include an Nvidia GeForce GTX 950 or AMD Radeon HD 7790, an Intel Core i3 6300 or AMD FX 4350, 6GB RAM and 75GB storage. The recommended specs list a GTX 970 or R9 290, an Intel Core i5 3570K or AMD Ryzen 5, and 8GB RAM.

  Minimum (30 FPS)
Recommended
CPU
Intel Core i3-6300 / AMD FX-4350
Intel Core i5-3570K / AMD Ryzen 5
GPU
NVIDIA GTX 950 / AMD Radeon HD 7790
NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD R9 290
RAM
6GB
8GB
Storage
75GB HDD
SSD recommended

Honest as these are, they're outdated for competitive play in 2026. EA's recommended specs will get you to smooth 60 FPS — but for ranked Apex in 2026, you need to aim considerably higher than that.

What PC Do You Actually Need for Apex Legends?

Apex Is More GPU-Dependent Than You'd Expect

Unlike League of Legends, which is heavily CPU-bound, Apex Legends puts a meaningful load on both your CPU and GPU. At 1080p on lower settings, the CPU becomes the primary bottleneck. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU takes over as the main driver of performance. This means balance matters; you can't skimp heavily on either component and expect great results.

Unlike League of Legends, which is heavily CPU-bound, Apex Legends puts a meaningful load on both your CPU and GPU.

Best Sim Racing Setup for Beginners: Start With the Essentials

You don’t need a full cockpit immediately. A well‑chosen beginner setup helps you develop skills faster and keeps costs under control.

1. Steering Wheel and Pedals (Top Priority)

Your wheel and pedals are the most important part of any sim racing rig. Force feedback allows you to feel grip changes, kerbs, and steering resistance—crucial for learning car control.

Beginner tip: Focus on force feedback quality rather than raw power.

Your wheel and pedals are the most important part of any sim racing rig. Force feedback allows you to feel grip changes, kerbs, and steering resistance—crucial for learning car control.

The CPU: 6 Cores is the Minimum for Competitive Play

For casual play, a quad-core CPU will do the job. But for consistent high-FPS performance in end-game fights, where multiple squads, grenades, and abilities are firing simultaneously, a modern 6-core CPU is where you want to be. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and Intel Core i5-12400F are excellent starting points, offering strong single-core performance at an affordable price.

For the absolute best CPU performance in Apex, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the top pick; its large cache keeps frames stable during the most chaotic end-game fights.

RTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT is a great sweet spot

The GPU: Don't Overspend, But Don't Underspend

Apex isn't as GPU-hungry as modern AAA titles, but it's not as forgiving as Valorant either. For smooth 144 FPS at 1080p on competitive settings, an RTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT is a great sweet spot. For 1440p gaming, step up to an RTX 4070 or RX 7800 XT.

The RTX 5060 Ti is an excellent choice for 1080p competitive play in 2026, offering great performance without the premium price of higher-tier cards.

RAM: 16GB Is the Target

EA lists 8GB as recommended, but in 2026 that's tight. With Windows, Discord, and Apex all running together, 16GB in dual-channel configuration is the comfortable standard. It ensures the game never has to compete with background processes for memory during high-pressure moments.

RAM: 16GB Is the Target

EA lists 8GB as recommended, but in 2026 that's tight. With Windows, Discord, and Apex all running together, 16GB in dual-channel configuration is the comfortable standard. It ensures the game never has to compete with background processes for memory during high-pressure moments.

Storage: SSD Is Essential

Apex's download size sits at around 75GB, and an SSD makes a meaningful difference, particularly during the drop phase. Faster storage means faster map loading, so you're in the game and moving before squads on slower drives have even landed. An NVMe SSD is the ideal choice.

16GB in dual-channel configuration is the comfortable standard

Best AWD-IT Gaming PCs for Apex Legends

Budget: Best PC for Apex Under £600 — Casual & Early Ranked Play

For players new to Apex or playing casually, this tier gets you smooth 1080p gameplay at 144 FPS on medium settings — more than enough to enjoy the game and start climbing ranked.

What to look for:

  • AMD Ryzen 5 5600 or Intel Core i5-12400F
  • NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD RX 6600 XT
  • 16GB DDR4 dual-channel RAM
  • 500GB NVMe SSD

This build handles Apex comfortably and also covers every other popular title – Warzone, Fortnite, and Valorant – without breaking a sweat.

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At this level, you'll never be hardware-limited in Apex

Mid-Range: Best PC for Apex — Competitive 144–240 FPS (£700–£1,000)

For serious ranked players, this is the sweet spot. Consistent 144–240 FPS at 1080p on competitive settings, with headroom for 1440p if you want sharper visuals without sacrificing performance.

What to look for:

  • AMD Ryzen 5 7600X or Intel Core i5-13600K
  • NVIDIA RTX 5060 or AMD RX 7800 XT
  • 16GB DDR5 dual-channel RAM
  • 1TB NVMe SSD

At this level, you'll never be hardware-limited in Apex. The RTX 4070 in particular is a superb card for Apex — it delivers smooth high-FPS performance without the premium cost of top-tier cards.

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High-End: Best PC for Apex — Maximum FPS & Future-Proofing (£1,000+)

For players chasing every possible competitive edge, or those who stream their Apex gameplay and play other demanding titles alongside it, this tier leaves nothing on the table.

What to look for:

  • AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D or Intel Core i7-14700K
  • NVIDIA RTX 5070 or AMD RX 9070 XT
  • 32GB DDR5 dual-channel RAM
  • 1TB NVMe SSD

With a Ryzen 7 9800X3D and RTX 5070, you're looking at well over 200 FPS at 1080p even on ultra settings and significantly more on competitive low settings. This build also handles 4K gaming, content creation, and streaming without compromise.

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For players chasing every possible competitive edge

What Monitor Should You Pair With Your Apex PC?

Apex rewards high frame rates more than most shooters — so your monitor choice matters just as much as your PC.

  • 144Hz at 1080p — The competitive baseline. A massive step up from 60Hz, and well matched with a budget AWD-IT build. Great for most players.
  • 240Hz at 1080p — The standard for serious Apex players. Tracking fast legends and landing shots on the move feels noticeably cleaner at 240Hz.
  • 1440p at 144Hz — A good middle ground if you play other visually rich games alongside Apex and want a sharper image without needing 240+ FPS.
  • 360Hz at 1080p — For the most competitive players chasing every millisecond of responsiveness. Requires a high-end PC to feed it consistently.

Most competitive Apex players prioritise refresh rate over resolution — the extra frames make movement tracking and gunfights noticeably more responsive.

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How to Unlock FPS Above 144 in Apex Legends

By default, Apex caps at 144 FPS. To remove this cap:

  1. Open the EA App or Steam
  2. Right-click Apex Legends and go to Game Properties (EA App) or Properties (Steam)
  3. In the Advanced Launch Options or Launch Options field, type: +FPS_max unlimted
  4. Save and launch the game

You can also set a specific cap – for example – to match your monitor's refresh rate without going fully uncapped.

Our Pick at AWD-IT

AWD-IT stocks a range of gaming chairs from trusted brands including Corsair. Whether you're looking for an entry-level seat or a premium setup, you can browse our full gaming chair range here.

• Shape: This is personal. Some players prefer ambidextrous shapes; others, ergonomic right-handed designs. Your grip style (palm, claw, fingertip) should influence which shape you choose.

• Click latency: How fast the mouse registers a click input. High-end optical switches (like those in Razer mice) have virtually zero debounce delay, which matters in fast-paced competitive play.

• Wireless vs. wired: Modern wireless gaming mice (Razer HyperSpeed, Corsair Slipstream) have zero meaningful latency disadvantage over wired mice. Wireless is now a perfectly legitimate competitive choice.

GTA 6 GPU Comparison Table (RTX 50 Series)

GPU Model
Performance Tier
Best Resolution
VRAM (Expected)
GTA 6 Settings
Ideal User Type
RTX 5060
Entry-Level
1080p
8–12GB
Medium–High
Budget gamers looking for smooth GTA 6 gameplay
RTX 5070
Mid-Range
1440p
12–16GB
High–Ultra
Best value for most UK gamers
RTX 5070 Ti
Upper Mid-Range
1440p / 4K
16GB
Ultra
High FPS + future-proofing
RTX 5080
High-End
4K
16–20GB
Ultra + Ray Tracing
Enthusiasts & high-performance gaming builds
RTX 5090
Ultra Enthusiast
4K+ / 8K
24GB+
Max Settings + Full Ray Tracing
No-compromise, ultimate GTA 6 experience

Does a More Expensive Mouse Make You Better?

Honestly? At a basic level, no. A well-made £40 mouse with a decent sensor will not put you at a measurable disadvantage against someone with a £150 flagship. The fundamentals of aim, consistency, muscle memory, and practice, dwarf any hardware differences at the consumer level.

That said, there are genuine benefits to higher-end mice: better sensor accuracy, lighter weight, improved wireless performance, more comfortable shapes, and longer build quality. If you game seriously and spend hours at your desk, the ergonomics and build quality alone can justify the price.

The point is don't buy a £150 mouse expecting it to fix your aim. Buy it because the weight, shape, and quality will make long gaming sessions more comfortable.

AWD-IT stocks gaming mice from Razer, Corsair, and ASUS at a range of price points. If you're unsure where to start, a mid-range wireless mouse from any of these brands will give you everything you need for competitive gaming.

Getting the most out of your hardware in Apex comes down to a few key settings

Tips to Maximise FPS in Apex Legends

Getting the most out of your hardware in Apex comes down to a few key settings:

  • Drop Shadows to Low or Off — The single biggest GPU saving in Apex with minimal visual impact
  • Set Texture Streaming Budget to match your VRAM — Mismatched settings can cause stuttering
  • Disable V-Sync — Adds input lag and caps your frame rate unnecessarily
  • Use Adaptive Resolution wisely — Setting this to 0 (off) gives you a consistent image; setting it higher lets the game dynamically reduce resolution to maintain FPS
  • Keep GPU drivers updated — Particularly important for NVIDIA users via GeForce Experience
  • Install on an NVMe SSD — Faster loading into matches, especially during the frantic drop phase
  • Close background apps — Discord video, browser tabs, and streaming software all compete with Apex for CPU resources

High-End 4K Powerhouse

  • RTX 5080 / 5090
  • Intel i7-14700K
  • 32GB DDR5 RAM

Built for 4K ultra gaming with zero compromises

Who Should Buy in the UK (Clear Advice)

✅ Buy an RTX 5060 if you:

  • Game at 1080p
  • Want a quiet, efficient PC
  • Have a £800–£1,000 budget
  • Prefer a brand‑new UK‑built PC

✅ Buy an RTX 5060 Ti if you:

  • Use or plan to move to 1440p
  • Want longer lifespan
  • Play larger AAA titles

❌ Skip both if you:

  • Only care about 4K gaming
  • Already own a strong RTX 4070‑class GPU

Tips for Getting the Most Out of MSFS 2024 on PC

•      Enable DLSS 4 (RTX cards) or FSR 4 (AMD cards) — these upscaling technologies make a massive difference to frame rate with minimal visual cost

•      Set your LOD (Level of Detail) sliders carefully — these have the biggest individual impact on performance

Final Verdict

Apex Legends is one of the most rewarding games on PC — but it asks more of your hardware than most battle royales. For smooth competitive play, aim for a modern 6-core CPU, 16GB of dual-channel RAM, and a mid-range GPU as your baseline. Add a 144Hz monitor as a minimum, and you'll have a setup that lets your skill do the talking.

At AWD-IT, every gaming PC is pre-built, fully tested, and ready to drop straight into the arena. Whether you're a fresh Rookie or a Masters-ranked veteran, we have a build that matches your game.

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