Guide · Hardware

Reading PC game system requirements

Every PC game publishes a list of the hardware it needs. Those lists are short, but they are written in a compressed shorthand that assumes you already know your own computer. This guide shows how to find your figures on Windows, macOS and Linux, how to read the publisher's list, and how to decide whether a borderline result is good enough.

Minimum and recommended are different promises

Most publishers give two specifications. The minimum is the lowest configuration on which the game is expected to start and be playable, usually at reduced resolution and the lowest graphics settings. The recommended specification is the publisher's suggestion for a smoother experience at moderate settings. Neither is a guarantee, and neither tells you how the game will behave in its busiest moments, which in online games are often large battles with many players on screen.

For a multiplayer game, aim to meet the recommended specification. In a single-player game, an occasional stutter is an annoyance. In an online match, it can mean losing a fight you would otherwise have won, which quickly makes the game feel unfair.

The parts that matter, in plain terms

Operating system (OS)

Windows, macOS or a Linux distribution, plus the version. Publishers usually name the oldest version they support. If your OS is older than that, the game may refuse to install or may stop receiving updates.

Processor (CPU)

Listed as a model name, such as a particular generation of Intel Core or AMD Ryzen chip, or Apple silicon on recent Macs. Comparing processors across brands is not straightforward; the generation and the number of cores matter more than the headline clock speed.

Graphics (GPU)

Either a separate graphics card or graphics built into the processor. For most games this is the single most important line. Laptops often have a lower-power version of a card with the same name as a desktop card, which performs differently.

Memory (RAM)

Given in gigabytes. Too little memory tends to cause stalls and long loading times rather than low frame rates. Remember that your browser, chat software and other background programs share the same memory while you play.

Graphics memory (VRAM)

Memory on the graphics card itself. Higher texture settings and higher screen resolutions use more of it.

Storage

The space the game needs on disk. Online games are patched regularly and tend to grow over time, so leave a generous margin. Many games also load noticeably faster from a solid-state drive (SSD) than from a hard disk.

Graphics API

Names such as DirectX, Vulkan or Metal describe the way a game talks to the graphics hardware. If a list names a specific version, your graphics driver needs to support it.

Network

Usually just "broadband internet connection". Stability and latency matter more than raw speed once the game is installed.

Finding your own specification

You do not need extra software to find any of these figures. The built-in tools below are enough. Write the results down once and keep the note; you will use it every time you consider a new game.

On Windows

1. Open Settings, choose System, then About. This shows your Windows edition and version, your processor and the installed RAM.
2. Press the Windows key, type dxdiag and open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. The Display tab names your graphics card and its dedicated memory. Some systems show two display tabs; the one with the separate card is usually the one games use.
3. Open File Explorer and select This PC to see the free space on each drive. Install large games on the drive with the most space, ideally a solid-state drive.

On macOS

1. Open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac. This shows the chip or processor, memory and macOS version.
2. For more detail on graphics, open System Information (search for it with Spotlight) and look under Graphics/Displays.
3. Check free storage under System Settings, then General, then Storage.
4. Confirm that the game supports macOS at all, and which chips it supports. Not every PC game has a Mac version, and some Mac versions have different requirements from the Windows version.

On Linux

1. Run lscpu in a terminal for processor details and free -h for memory.
2. Run lspci | grep -i -E "vga|3d" to list graphics hardware. Your desktop environment's settings panel may also show it under an "About" section.
3. Run df -h to see free space on each mounted drive.
4. Check whether the game offers a native Linux version. If it does, note which distributions the publisher mentions; others may work but are less likely to be supported.

Comparing your figures with the list

Put your note next to the publisher's list and go line by line. Operating system, storage and memory are simple comparisons: you either have enough or you do not. Processor and graphics comparisons are harder, because model numbers do not map neatly onto performance. A few rules of thumb help:

• Within one brand and one product line, a newer generation at the same tier is usually at least as capable as an older one.
• A laptop graphics chip with the same name as a desktop card is generally less capable than the desktop card.
• Graphics built into the processor can run many games at low settings but rarely reach the recommended level for demanding 3D games.
• If you are unsure, the publisher's own support pages or community forums often have threads about specific hardware.

Before you install

A few simple preparations make the first session go better, especially for large online games.

• Update your graphics driver from the graphics card maker or through your operating system's update tool.
• Install outstanding operating system updates and restart, so they do not start in the middle of a download.
• Free up more storage than the publisher lists, to leave room for patches.
• If you are on a metered or capped internet plan, check how much data the download will use against your monthly allowance.
• Download the installer only from the publisher's own website or a store you already trust. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security publishes general guidance on keeping devices and software up to date and avoiding malicious downloads.

Laptops, heat and power

Laptops can be good gaming machines, but they share a few traits that lists of requirements do not capture. Most reduce performance on battery power to save energy, so test with the charger connected. Many run their fans harder and reduce speed when they get hot, which can show up as a game that starts smoothly and becomes uneven after twenty minutes. Playing on a hard, flat surface rather than a bed or sofa helps the fans do their job.

If a laptop has both integrated and separate graphics, check that the game is actually using the separate card. Windows lets you set this per application under the graphics settings in Settings, and graphics drivers usually have their own control panels for the same purpose.

When the game still struggles

If performance is poor even though your computer meets the recommended specification, work through the usual suspects before deciding the game is not for you: close browser tabs and background programs, check that the game is running on the right graphics card, lower the resolution scaling or shadow quality first, and make sure the game is installed on your fastest drive. If none of that helps, the publisher's support site is the right place to ask; its staff will know of any known issues with particular hardware or drivers.

And if the honest conclusion is that your computer is not up to it, that is useful knowledge too. It is better to find out during a tutorial than after spending money inside a game you cannot comfortably play.