Quick Answer

For strategy and sim games at R20,000 in SA, 180Hz is generally wasted — most titles run at 60–120fps regardless of GPU. The practical choice is a 1440p 144Hz or 165Hz IPS monitor (~R5,500–R6,000 at Evetech) paired with strong single-core CPU performance (Ryzen 5 9600X, ~R3,800) and 32GB DDR5 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

Strategy and Sim FPS Realities at 1440p

With Ryzen 5 9600X and RTX 4070 at 1440p:

  • Civilization VII (High): 80–120fps — 144Hz sufficient, 180Hz wasted
  • Age of Empires IV (Ultra): 90–130fps — same conclusion
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (Ultra): 40–65fps — CPU-bound, no GPU/Hz helps
  • Total War: Warhammer III (battle, Ultra): 60–100fps — 144Hz is the ceiling you reach
  • Euro Truck Simulator 2 (Ultra): 90–120fps — 144Hz appropriate

The only strategy-adjacent genre that pushes above 144fps is esports-flavour RTS (StarCraft II, Warcraft III) — and those barely qualify as sim titles.

Where the R20,000 Should Go Instead

At R20,000 for a strategy/sim rig, redirect the 180Hz premium (R2,000–R4,000 over 144Hz) toward:

  • 32GB DDR5: Mandatory for MSFS 2024 (uses 20–28GB actively)
  • Second NVMe drive: MSFS 2024 benefits from a dedicated scenery cache drive
  • Better CPU cooler: Long sim sessions need thermal headroom — a Noctua or Deepcool tower at R1,200–R1,800 keeps the Ryzen 9600X cool

Sim Racing Exception

Assetto Corsa Competizione and iRacing benefit from smoother refresh beyond 120Hz. ACC at 1440p Ultra targets 60fps, but at Medium-High settings an RTX 4070 hits 130–160fps — where a 165Hz or 180Hz panel is meaningful. Sim racers who also play strategy games: buy 165Hz IPS and split the difference.

FAQ

Does Microsoft Flight Simulator benefit from 180Hz at 1440p?

No — MSFS 2024 at Ultra targets 40–65fps even on high-end hardware. The monitor's Hz is irrelevant when the GPU cannot output above 65fps. Invest in a 32GB RAM upgrade and a fast NVMe scratch drive instead.

What CPU is best for strategy and sim gaming at R20,000 in SA?

The Ryzen 5 9600X (R3,800 at Evetech) gives excellent single-thread performance for AI calculation in strategy games and MSFS ground pathfinding. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D (R9,500) leads in MSFS 2024 fps thanks to 3D V-Cache, but at significant cost premium.

Is 32GB RAM necessary for strategy gaming in SA?

For Civilization VII and AoE IV, 16GB is sufficient. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 actively uses 20–28GB during complex city approaches — 32GB is strongly recommended for smooth MSFS operation and prevents Windows paging slowdowns during extended sessions.

TIP

VII, set the frame cap to 120fps in Radeon Software or NVIDIA App — strategy games have no benefit from uncapped rendering, and capping frames reduces GPU heat and fan noise dramatically during multi-hour campaign sessions.