Age of Empires IV: PC System Requirements & Best Hardware to Run It (2026)

Thinking about playing Age of Empires IV on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition arrived on October 28, 2021, continuing an award-winning and best-selling historical strategy franchise, and it is far friendlier to older and budget hardware than most modern releases — its official minimum still lists integrated graphics, and its recommended card is a GTX 970. The component that does matter is the processor, because large battles and big multiplayer matches lean on the CPU. This guide covers the official PC requirements, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations.

How Demanding Is Age of Empires IV?

Age of Empires IV is light on PC hardware, and that is not a guess — the official minimum names Intel HD 520 integrated graphics or AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 APU graphics, a mobile dual-core Intel Core i5-6300U or AMD Ryzen 5 2400G, 8 GB of RAM and 50 GB of storage. A laptop with no dedicated graphics at all is enough to start playing. The recommended specification is a 3.6 GHz six-core Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 16 GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 570 with 4 GB of VRAM — hardware that comfortably covers 1080p. Two caveats are worth knowing before you buy. The CPU must support AVX instructions, which rules out some very old processors, and the game is more CPU-sensitive than GPU-sensitive: small skirmishes run on almost anything, but large team games and long matches with hundreds of units put real pressure on the processor. Treat the official numbers below as a baseline, not a target.

Age of Empires IV Official PC System Requirements

Source: the official Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Steam store listing (app 1466860), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.

Best GPU for Age of Empires IV by Resolution

1080p

1080p is what this game was built for, and it needs surprisingly little. The official recommended card — a GTX 970 or RX 570 with 4 GB of VRAM — is already enough for 1080p at high settings, and integrated Vega 11 or Intel HD 520 graphics meet the minimum. If you want maximum settings, high refresh rates and headroom in the biggest battles, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 sits far above what the game asks for, and current entry-level cards such as the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT are in the same “more than enough” territory.

1440p

1440p is an easy step up, because Age of Empires IV is a 2021 strategy title with modest graphics demands. A card in the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER class runs it at 1440p with everything turned up and frames to spare, and mid-range current-generation options like the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT are plenty as well. Even an older 4 GB card that meets the official recommended spec can handle 1440p with a couple of options trimmed. Treat this tier as comfort rather than necessity — the extra GPU power mainly buys higher frame rates in big battles, and even there your CPU is usually the limit.

4K

4K sounds intimidating, but this is not a demanding 4K game. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is a sensible 4K entry point with 8 GB of VRAM — twice the 4 GB the official recommended spec calls for — and with upscaling enabled it keeps the experience smooth. A current-generation RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT is likewise more than adequate, and an RTX 5070 or RX 9070 gives you native 4K with plenty of headroom if you play heavier games as well. At 4K, VRAM and upscaling support matter more than flagship performance.

CPU, RAM and Storage for Age of Empires IV

Because Age of Empires IV leans on the processor once the map fills up, the CPU is the part worth thinking about. The official recommended chip is a 3.6 GHz six-core Intel i5 or an AMD Ryzen 5 1600, so nearly any modern six-core clears the bar — and AVX support is mandatory. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is a strong, efficient choice for a new build, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the fastest gaming processors available and especially good in the CPU-limited situations this game creates in late-game team matches. Intel builders can look at the Intel Core i5-14600K. If you are on older hardware you need none of these: a Ryzen 5 1600 or a six-core 3.6 GHz Intel i5 still plays the game well.

For memory, 8 GB is the official minimum and 16 GB the official recommendation, so 16 GB is the target. The Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB is more than strictly necessary, but the extra capacity helps if you keep other applications open or play very large matches. Storage is simple: the game needs 50 GB of free space and lists no SSD requirement, but installing it on one — ideally an NVMe drive such as the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD — shortens load times and avoids the stutter a mechanical drive can cause.

Recommended PC Builds for Age of Empires IV

1080p budget build: AMD Radeon RX 7600 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — well above what Age of Empires IV needs at 1080p, so it runs maxed out with high frame rates. A cheaper route is to simply match the official recommended spec: a GTX 970 / RX 570-class card, a Ryzen 5 1600 or 3.6 GHz six-core Intel i5, and 16 GB of RAM.

1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — the setup most players should aim for, with the X3D processor a genuine advantage in large battles.

4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — deliberately GPU-modest, because Age of Empires IV does not need a flagship card at 4K. Put the money into the processor and the drive instead.

Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Age of Empires IV?

Age of Empires IV is rarely a reason to rebuild a PC, but it can be a reason to fix one weakness. If your graphics card is already at GTX 970 or RX 570 level or better, it meets the official recommended spec and there is little to gain from a GPU upgrade — this game simply does not scale far with graphics horsepower. If your machine struggles, the processor is the likelier culprit: large multiplayer matches and long games with many units are CPU-limited, so moving to a modern six-core or eight-core chip does more for smoothness than a faster graphics card. Going from 8 GB to 16 GB of RAM is a cheap improvement, and moving the 50 GB install onto an SSD noticeably cuts load times. Target the weakest link rather than replacing everything at once.

Can You Play Age of Empires IV on a Laptop or Handheld?

Age of Empires IV is one of the better strategy games for portable play. Its official minimum is built around integrated graphics — Intel HD 520 or Radeon RX Vega 11 — so a modern laptop with integrated graphics can run it at reduced settings, and any laptop with a dedicated GPU from the last several years handles 1080p comfortably; you do not need an RTX 4060-class mobile card. Expect shorter battery life and more fan noise when the map gets busy. Handhelds such as the Steam Deck and ROG Ally run this kind of strategy game well at sensible settings, and the 50 GB footprint fits comfortably on their internal storage. If you plan to play on the move, prioritise the processor, since that is what large battles demand.

How to Boost FPS in Age of Empires IV

If frame rates are lower than you would like, start with upscaling: where the game and your GPU support it — DLSS on NVIDIA, FSR on AMD, XeSS on Intel — enabling it is usually the single biggest gain, and it helps most at 1440p and 4K. Not every title or card supports frame generation, so treat that as a bonus rather than a fix. Next, lower the most expensive graphics options rather than the resolution. If slowdown only appears in huge battles, you are CPU-limited and dropping graphics settings will not help much. Keep GPU drivers current, close background applications that compete for CPU time, make sure the game is on an SSD, and set laptops to a performance power plan. A stable, slightly lower frame rate always feels better than maxed-out visuals with stutter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my PC run Age of Empires IV?

Very likely. The official minimum is an Intel Core i5-6300U or AMD Ryzen 5 2400G with Intel HD 520 or Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics, 8 GB of RAM, DirectX 12, a CPU with AVX support and 50 GB of storage. The official recommended spec is a 3.6 GHz six-core Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 16 GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 570 with 4 GB of VRAM. If your PC meets or beats those numbers, you can play it.

Is Age of Empires IV demanding on PC?

No. Age of Empires IV is a light 2021 strategy game whose minimum requirements still list integrated graphics, and even 4K is manageable with a mid-range modern card. The processor matters more than the graphics card in large multiplayer matches.

What GPU do I need for Age of Empires IV at 1440p 60fps?

Not a high-end one. A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class card handles 1440p at high settings with frames to spare, and modern mid-range options such as the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT are more than enough. An older 4 GB card that meets the official recommended spec can also manage 1440p with a few options reduced, though in large battles your CPU will be the limit rather than the GPU.

How much RAM does Age of Empires IV need?

The official minimum is 8 GB and the official recommendation is 16 GB, so 16 GB is the sensible target, especially if you keep other applications open or play large multiplayer matches. You can play with 8 GB, but 16 GB gives useful headroom.

Do I need an SSD for Age of Empires IV?

No — the official requirement is 50 GB of available storage space, with no SSD listed. An SSD is still worth having, since it shortens load times and avoids the hitching a mechanical drive can cause; an NVMe drive such as the Samsung 990 Pro is a good choice for a modern build.