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Can You Run Elden Ring on Your PC? The honest answer, with official specs and the 12GB RAM surprise.

Developers Matrix — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 10:17:21 +0000

Can You Run Elden Ring on Your PC? The honest answer, with official specs and the 12GB RAM surprise.

Can You Run Elden Ring on Your PC? (Honest Answer for 2026)

Elden Ring is a rare case in the "can you run it" world: a game whose official requirements shocked everyone on announcement day and have not changed since. Four years, one massive expansion, and dozens of patches later, FromSoftware still asks for the same hardware. And the minimum spec has a line that catches more people than anything else in this series: 12GB of RAM.

Yes, you read that right. Not 8, not 16. Twelve.

Quick Answer

If your PC was built or bought for gaming any time in the last six years, you can probably run Elden Ring. The official minimum asks for an Intel i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 3 3300X, a GTX 1060 3GB or Radeon RX 580, and that unusual 12GB of RAM. The recommended tier wants an i7-8700K or Ryzen 5 3600X, a GTX 1070 or RX Vega 56, and 16GB of RAM.

The honest version: those specs target 30fps on low settings. If you want a smooth 60fps through Shadow of the Erdtree, especially in the big open areas, plan a bit above the official recommended tier.

The Official Specs (FromSoftware Has Not Changed Them Since 2022)

FromSoftware published these before launch, briefly deleted them, then re-confirmed them. They are still the official numbers:

Minimum

CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 3 3300X
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB / AMD Radeon RX 580 4GB
RAM: 12GB
OS: Windows 10, 64-bit
Storage: 60GB
DirectX 12

Recommended

CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB / AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 8GB
RAM: 16GB
OS: Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit
Storage: 60GB
DirectX 12

With Shadow of the Erdtree installed, budget closer to 60GB total, and put it on an SSD. The base game launched at around 45 to 49GB, and the expansion plus patches pushed the full install to about 61GB.

The Catch: That 12GB RAM Minimum, and the 2026 Reality

The 12GB minimum is the thing that blocks the most people. RAM comes in 8GB or 16GB sticks for most buyers, so a PC with exactly 8GB fails the official minimum on paper. This is the single most common "can my PC run Elden Ring" surprise, and it was true at launch and it is true now.

Two more honest notes for 2026:

The game is capped at 60fps. This is by design, not a limitation of your hardware. A 144Hz monitor and a modern GPU will not take Elden Ring past 60. Buy for stable 60, not for high refresh.

Shadow of the Erdtree is heavier than the base game. The expansion's areas, especially Scadu Altus, push both CPU and GPU harder than Limgrave ever did. If you are right on the official recommended line, the expansion is where you will feel it. In 2026, the practical smooth-60 target is closer to an RTX 2060 or RX 5700 XT with an 8-core CPU, above what FromSoftware lists.

What Each Tier Feels Like

Minimum: The game opens and is playable at 1080p, low to medium settings, around 30fps. Frame pacing was rough at launch and patches helped, but this is still a "play it, don't expect silk" tier. The open world will feel heavier than the legacy dungeons.

Recommended: 60fps at 1080p on high settings is realistic in most areas. This is the tier where Elden Ring feels like it should. A GTX 1070 is a 2016 card, which says something good about how well the game scales.

Above recommended (the 2026 sweet spot): Any modern mid-range card with 8GB of VRAM, 16GB of RAM, and a six-core or better CPU holds 60fps through the DLC. Match your texture quality to your VRAM: 4GB is fine for 1080p medium, 8GB is the comfortable pick for 1440p high, and 12GB or more only matters at 4K.

The realistic sweet spot: 16GB of RAM, an NVMe SSD, and any mid-range GPU from the last five years. That combination runs the full game plus DLC at 1080p/1440p high settings at a stable 60fps. No need for a flagship card.

The Honest Verdict

Elden Ring is demanding on paper and fair in practice. Check two things: do you clear the 12GB RAM minimum (8GB PCs fail on paper), and is the game on an SSD. If both are yes and your GPU is from the last several years, you are in.

Run your specs through the free Can You Run It checker to get a straight answer on where your PC lands against Elden Ring and the other games in your library. Free, no signup.

Check if your PC can run it. Free, no signup.

For the full breakdown of how the checker scores your hardware, read our guide on how the Can You Run It checker works.

FAQ

Will my PC run Elden Ring?
If you have a gaming PC from the last six years with at least 12GB of RAM and the game installed on an SSD, very likely. Check the official tiers above, then verify with our free checker.

Can I run Elden Ring with 8GB of RAM?
You are below the official minimum of 12GB. Some players do it with reduced settings and background apps closed, but stutter is common. A RAM upgrade to 16GB is the cheapest meaningful fix.

Does Elden Ring need an SSD?
Strongly recommended, yes. The full install with Shadow of the Erdtree is about 61GB, and HDD load times in the open world are noticeably worse. An NVMe SSD is the ideal, any SSD is fine.

Why is Elden Ring capped at 60fps?
FromSoftware capped the frame rate at 60 by design, and it has never been raised. Your monitor refresh rate and GPU headroom will not push it higher in the official build.

Can my laptop run Elden Ring?
If it has a discrete GPU from the last five years, 16GB of RAM, and an SSD, yes, at 1080p. Integrated graphics will struggle; this is one game where the GPU floor is real.

Is Elden Ring harder to run with Shadow of the Erdtree?
Yes, noticeably in the expansion's larger areas. The official specs still apply, but the practical hardware for smooth 60fps in the DLC is a step above FromSoftware's recommended tier.

Can You Run Valorant on Your PC? The honest answer, with official specs and the one catch nobody mentions.

Developers Matrix — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:58:00 +0000

Can You Run Valorant on Your PC? The honest answer, with official specs and the one catch nobody mentions.

Can You Run Valorant on Your PC? (Honest Answer for 2026)

Here is a rare thing in the "can you run it" world: a major competitive shooter with official, modest requirements that have not changed in years. Valorant will run on hardware that struggles with a web browser full of tabs.

But there is a catch, and it has nothing to do with your graphics card. Keep reading.

Quick Answer

Yes, almost certainly. Riot's official minimum specs ask for a processor from 2008, integrated graphics, and 4GB of RAM, targeting 30fps. The recommended tier, aimed at 60fps, asks for an Intel i3-4150 or Ryzen 3 1200 with a GeForce GT 730. For 144fps and up, the high-end tier wants an i5-4460 or Ryzen 5 2600X with a GTX 1050 Ti.

The real gatekeeper is not your GPU. It is Vanguard, Riot's anti-cheat. On Windows 11, Valorant requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled. A gaming PC from 2019 with a fine GPU can be blocked by a motherboard setting.

The Official Specs (Straight From Riot)

Riot publishes three tiers on its support site. These are the current numbers:

Minimum (30 FPS)

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 / AMD Athlon 200GE
GPU: Intel HD 4000 / AMD Radeon R5 200
RAM: 4GB
OS: Windows 10 (build 17134 or newer), 64-bit, or Windows 11, 64-bit

Recommended (60 FPS)

CPU: Intel i3-4150 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200
GPU: GeForce GT 730 / AMD Radeon R7 240
RAM: 4GB
OS: Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit

High-end (144 FPS and up)

CPU: Intel i5-4460 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
GPU: GeForce GTX 1050 Ti / AMD Radeon R7 370
RAM: 4GB (16GB is the comfortable pick in practice)
OS: Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit

These are official and stable. Unlike the GTA 6 situation, nobody needs to guess here.

The Catch: Vanguard, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot

Valorant runs at the kernel level through Vanguard, and on Windows 11 that means your PC must have TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot turned on. This is where most "why won't Valorant launch" threads start.

If you built or bought your PC after 2016, you probably have the hardware. It is often just disabled in the BIOS. The fix is usually three steps: reboot into your motherboard's UEFI settings, enable TPM (sometimes labeled fTPM, PTT, or PSP fTPM depending on your board), enable Secure Boot, and save. Valorant's own support pages walk through it per manufacturer.

Two more things worth knowing: Riot's current minimum OS is Windows 10 build 19041 or newer, 64-bit. Running the game in Windows 7 or 8 compatibility mode is not a fix anymore, despite what old forum threads say. And budget roughly 40 to 60GB of free storage, since Riot does not publish one fixed install size and live-service games grow.

What Each Tier Feels Like

Minimum: The game opens and runs. At 30fps on integrated graphics you are playing, but you are not competitive. Fine for casual unrated games, rough for anything serious.

Recommended: 60fps on low to medium settings. This is where most laptops from the last decade land, and it is genuinely playable. The step up from a Core 2 Duo to an i3-4150 sounds small on paper, but frame consistency is night and day.

High-end: 144fps and beyond. This is the competitive standard, and it is still cheap to hit. A used GTX 1050 Ti or any modern entry-level card clears it. In 2026, almost any discrete GPU from the last eight years qualifies.

The realistic sweet spot: If you are buying or upgrading specifically for Valorant, 16GB of RAM and any modern CPU with a mid-range GPU gets you 144fps without trying. Valorant does not support DLSS or FSR, but NVIDIA Reflex works on GTX 900-series cards and newer, and it genuinely lowers input latency.

The Honest Verdict

Valorant is one of the easiest major shooters to run in 2026, and the barrier is trust, not graphics. Check two things: does your hardware meet the official tiers above, and does your Windows 11 install have TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled. If both are yes, you are in.

Run your specs through the free Can You Run It checker to get a straight answer on where your PC lands against Valorant and the other games in your library. Free, no signup.

Check if your PC can run it. Free, no signup.

For the full breakdown of how the checker scores your hardware, read our guide on how the Can You Run It checker works.

FAQ

Will my PC run Valorant?
Almost certainly yes, unless you are on very old hardware or blocked by Vanguard's security requirements. Check the official tiers above, then verify with our free checker.

Why does Valorant say my PC is unsupported on Windows 11?
Almost always TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot. Enable both in your UEFI/BIOS settings and reboot. This is a Vanguard requirement, not a performance one.

Can I run Valorant on a laptop?
Yes. The official minimum includes integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, which any laptop from the last decade has. Expect 60fps on modest settings with most modern integrated graphics, and much more with a discrete GPU.

Does Valorant need a good graphics card?
No, and that is the point. The high-end 144fps tier asks for a GTX 1050 Ti, a card from 2016. Your CPU, RAM, and monitor refresh rate matter more than GPU horsepower for this game.

How much storage does Valorant need?
Plan for 40 to 60GB free. Riot does not publish a single fixed number, and patches add up over time.

Is 4GB of RAM really enough?
It meets the official minimum, but 4GB leaves no room for Discord, a browser, or background apps. 8GB is the practical floor and 16GB is the comfortable pick for competitive play.

Can You Run GTA 6 on Your PC? The honest answer, with facts separated from estimates.

Developers Matrix — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:56:31 +0000

Can You Run GTA 6 on Your PC? The honest answer, with facts separated from estimates.

Can You Run GTA 6 on Your PC? (Honest Answer for 2026)

I typed "can you run GTA 6" into Google last week and got seventeen different spec charts. Seventeen. And not one of them came from Rockstar.

Here is the honest version, with everything labeled clearly: what is confirmed, what is an educated estimate, and what to actually do with your PC right now.

Quick Answer

Rockstar has not announced a PC version of GTA 6 and has published no official PC system requirements. The game launches November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S only. Based on Rockstar's history, a PC version is likely but probably lands in 2027 or 2028.

If you want a planning target anyway, evidence-based estimates suggest a modern six-core CPU, 16GB of RAM, an RTX 2060-class GPU with 6GB of video memory, and an SSD as a plausible floor. For a comfortable experience, aim for an eight-core CPU, 32GB of RAM, and an RTX 3060 Ti or RTX 4060-class GPU.

These are estimates, not official specs. Do not buy hardware based on them alone.

What Rockstar Has Actually Confirmed

Release date: November 19, 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
PC version: not announced
PC system requirements: not published

That is the entire official list. Every GTA 6 PC spec chart you see online right now is a third-party estimate built from console hardware and Rockstar's past PC ports. Some are careful. Most are not.

When Is GTA 6 Coming to PC?

Nobody outside Rockstar knows. But history gives us a pattern:

GTA 4: console April 2008, PC December 2008 (8 months later)
GTA 5: console September 2013, PC April 2015 (19 months later)
Red Dead Redemption 2: console October 2018, PC November 2019 (13 months later)

A former Rockstar producer has said the studio builds for fixed console hardware first because scaling up to PC is easier than the reverse. So a PC version is a reasonable expectation, just not a confirmed one. Realistically, you are looking at 2027 or 2028.

Estimated Minimum Specs (The Plausible Floor)

These estimates come from an evidence-based breakdown of console hardware and Rockstar's current PC requirements. They target roughly 1080p at 30fps on reduced settings with upscaling. Treat them as a planning floor, not a promise.

OS: Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600
GPU: Nvidia RTX 2060 6GB or AMD RX 5600 XT 6GB
RAM: 16GB
Storage: SSD with 150 to 200GB free
Graphics API: DirectX 12

Estimated Recommended Specs (The Comfortable Target)

This tier targets 1080p at 60fps or 1440p at medium to high settings with upscaling:

OS: Windows 11, 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core i5-12600K or AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 4060, or AMD RX 6700 XT
RAM: 32GB
Storage: NVMe SSD with 150 to 200GB free
Upscaling: DLSS, FSR, or equivalent

Aiming for 1440p at 60fps on high settings? You would probably want something in the RTX 4070 or RX 7800 XT class with at least 12GB of video memory. Native 4K with ray tracing is a whole different budget.

What Each Spec Actually Means

CPU: GTA 6 has to simulate traffic, pedestrians, physics, and interiors across a huge map. The consoles run eight-core Zen 2 chips, so this game will be CPU-hungry. A stronger graphics card cannot fully cover for a weak processor.

GPU: This decides your resolution and frame rate. Six gigabytes of video memory is the estimated floor, but 8GB or more gives you real breathing room. If Rockstar makes ray tracing mandatory, older cards without hardware ray tracing could be locked out.

RAM: 16GB is the estimated minimum. 32GB is the safer pick for a new build, since Windows, the game, and background apps all share it. Running short on memory causes stuttering that feels worse than low frame rates.

Storage: This is the safest part of the estimate. Both consoles are built around fast SSD streaming, and Rockstar already requires an SSD for GTA V Enhanced. A mechanical hard drive is almost certainly out.

Upscaling: DLSS and FSR let your GPU render at a lower resolution and reconstruct a sharper image. Rockstar added both to GTA V Enhanced, so expect them here too. This is genuinely free performance if your card supports it.

The Honest Verdict

Should you upgrade your PC for GTA 6 right now? No. Buying hardware for a port that has not been announced means spending money against requirements that do not exist yet. Prices will change, new GPU generations will arrive, and Rockstar's official specs could land higher or lower than every estimate online.

What you should do instead: check where your current PC stands against what Rockstar actually asks for today. Run your specs through the free Can You Run It checker and see how your machine handles GTA V Enhanced and Red Dead Redemption 2, both of which have real published requirements. If your rig clears those comfortably, you are in a good starting position. If it struggles, you already know what to upgrade first, and that upgrade helps every game you own, not just a future one.

Check if your PC can run it. Free, no signup.

For the full breakdown of how the checker scores your hardware, read our guide on how the Can You Run It checker works.

7 Ways to Squeeze More FPS Out of Your Current PC

1. Update your GPU drivers. New game-ready drivers routinely add 10 to 20 percent performance. Do this before you judge your hardware.

2. Turn on DLSS or FSR. Quality mode upscaling is nearly free frames with minimal visual cost.

3. Drop the resolution before anything else. Going from 1440p to 1080p buys more performance than any other single setting.

4. Lower shadows and reflections first. These two settings eat GPU budget with the least visible payoff in most open-world games.

5. Close background apps. Browsers with fifty tabs are silently eating the RAM your game wants.

6. Move the game to an SSD. If you are still on a hard drive, this is the single most noticeable upgrade you can make.

7. Cap your frame rate. A stable 60fps with consistent frame times feels smoother than a bouncing 75.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my PC run GTA 6?
Nobody can answer that yet. No PC version has been announced and no official specs exist. Use the estimates above as a rough guide, and measure your machine against Rockstar's current PC titles with our free checker.

Is GTA 6 coming to PC?
Not confirmed. Rockstar lists only PS5 and Xbox Series X|S for the November 19, 2026 launch. Based on the studio's history, a PC version in 2027 or 2028 is plausible, but Rockstar has committed to nothing.

Will an RTX 3060 run GTA 6?
Possibly, at 1080p with upscaling, based on current estimates. But GTA 6 is a different game from GTA V Enhanced, and official requirements could differ. Nobody can give you a reliable yes.

Can I run GTA 6 on a laptop?
Laptop GPUs with the same name as desktop cards run 15 to 30 percent slower due to power and heat limits. Treat any laptop result as a best case and check the exact power configuration of your machine.

Should I download a GTA 6 PC version or requirement checker from a random site?
No. There is no legitimate public GTA 6 PC build. Files claiming to test compatibility or install the game are a known malware vector. Only trust software from stores and launchers Rockstar officially names.

How much storage will GTA 6 need?
Unknown. Estimates suggest planning for 150 to 200GB free on an SSD. GTA V Enhanced asks for 105GB and Red Dead Redemption 2 needed 150GB, so a big install is a safe assumption.