Thinking about playing Apex Legends on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? Apex Legends is the award-winning, free-to-play Hero Shooter from Respawn Entertainment: a fast battle royale where stable, high frame rates matter far more than ultra settings. It arrived on Steam in November 2020 and was built to run on a very wide range of hardware, so the official requirements are genuinely low. This guide breaks down the real PC requirements for Apex Legends, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations to hit your target frame rate.
How Demanding Is Apex Legends?
Apex Legends is light on PC hardware, and the official specs say so plainly. The minimum tier asks for a GeForce GTX 950 or Radeon HD 7790 (2 GB), an AMD FX 4350 or Intel Core i3-6300-class processor, 6 GB of RAM and 75 GB of storage, and the recommended tier only steps up to a GTX 970 or R9 290 with a Ryzen 5-class CPU and 8 GB of RAM. That is hardware from the mid-2010s, so any reasonably modern gaming PC can run this game at 1080p, and mid-range cards have plenty of headroom at 1440p. Even at 4K it is far easier to drive than a current AAA release, though 4K is still four times the pixels of 1080p, so a solid mid-range GPU helps if you want high refresh rates. Because it is a competitive multiplayer shooter rather than a simulation or strategy game, it is not unusually CPU-hungry — a modern quad-core is enough to keep frame rates stable. For competitive play, prioritise high, consistent frame rates over maxed-out visuals.
Apex Legends Official PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum (official) | Recommended (official) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | 64-bit Windows 10 | 64-bit Windows 10 |
| Processor | AMD FX 4350 or Equivalent, Intel Core i3 6300 or Equivalent | Ryzen 5 CPU or Equivalent |
| Memory | 6 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon™ HD 7790 (2 GB), NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 950 | AMD Radeon™ R9 290, NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 970 |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 75 GB available space | 75 GB available space |
Source: the official Apex Legends™ Steam store listing (app 1172470), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.
Both tiers list DirectX 12, a broadband internet connection and 75 GB of available space, with roughly 3.8 GB extra for each localized language you install.
Best GPU for Apex Legends by Resolution
1080p
The official minimum — a GTX 950 or Radeon HD 7790 — is a 1080p low-settings target, and older cards such as the GTX 1050 Ti, GTX 1650 or Radeon RX 570 comfortably clear it. For 1080p at high settings with room to spare, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is considerably more card than this game needs, and current-generation options such as the RTX 5060 or Radeon RX 9060 XT sit in the same comfortable bracket. At 1080p you are more likely to be limited by your CPU and monitor than by your graphics card.
1440p
1440p is still easy for Apex Legends. The official recommended cards — the GTX 970 and R9 290 — can handle it with adjusted settings, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER leaves an enormous amount of headroom for high-refresh 1440p play. Current-generation cards like the RTX 5070 or Radeon RX 9070 live in the same class and will never be the bottleneck here. This is the resolution most PC gamers target, and almost any modern mid-range GPU covers it in this title.
4K
4K is where the pixel count finally matters, but Apex Legends is not a demanding 4K game. A strong mid-range card such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is more than enough, and even the official recommended tier can produce a playable 4K image with lowered settings. Cards like the RTX 5070 or RX 9070 handle 4K comfortably, and if you want to push refresh rates higher, upscaling takes pressure off the GPU.
CPU, RAM and Storage for Apex Legends
Because the official recommended processor is only a Ryzen 5-class chip, almost any modern CPU is plenty. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is far beyond what Apex Legends asks for and keeps a high-refresh setup fed without trouble, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the fastest mainstream gaming CPUs if you want maximum frame rates in a competitive shooter. Intel fans can opt for the Intel Core i5-14600K. On memory, the official figures are modest: 6 GB minimum and 8 GB recommended. A 32 GB DDR5 kit such as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB is well past that, but it is a sensible modern standard if you run the game alongside other applications. Storage is straightforward: the official requirement is 75 GB of available space, plus roughly 3.8 GB per localized language pack. An SSD is not listed as a requirement, but installing on one — like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD — cuts load times and helps assets stream in smoothly.
Recommended PC Builds for Apex Legends
1080p budget build: AMD Radeon RX 7600 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — far above the official minimum and easily enough for 1080p on high settings with headroom.
1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — more than this game needs at 1440p, with plenty left over for other titles.
4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — comfortable 4K in Apex Legends, especially with upscaling enabled.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Apex Legends?
If your current graphics card is a generation or two old, Apex Legends is a reasonable excuse to upgrade, but be strategic about it. This is a 2020 free-to-play shooter that was designed to run on modest hardware, so you should not buy a flagship card for it alone — think about the other games you play first. If your build is sitting at the official minimum class — a GTX 950, HD 7790 or an older quad-core — almost any modern entry-level GPU is a large step up. The graphics card delivers by far the biggest jump in gaming performance, so upgrade the GPU first if you have to choose. A mid-range CPU from the last few years will not bottleneck a modern GPU in this game, so you can usually keep it. Memory is only a concern if you are below the 8 GB recommended figure. Moving the game to an SSD is a cheap upgrade that noticeably smooths out loading and streaming. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.
Can You Play Apex Legends on a Laptop or Handheld?
Gaming laptops with a modern entry-level or mid-range mobile GPU — RTX 4050/4060 class and up — run Apex Legends comfortably at 1080p, and older gaming laptops with GTX 1050 or GTX 1650-class graphics can still meet the official spec. Expect more heat, fan noise and shorter battery life than a desktop. Windows-based handhelds such as the ROG Ally run the game natively and handle this light a title well. On Linux-based handhelds like the Steam Deck, compatibility depends on the game’s anti-cheat support, which has changed over time, so check current platform support before relying on one. Apex Legends also requires a broadband connection, so handheld play means being online. If portability matters, prioritise a device with a capable GPU and pair it with a fast microSD or SSD for storage.
How to Boost FPS in Apex Legends
If frame rates are low, start with the settings that cost the most for the least visual benefit, such as shadows and effects, before lowering overall resolution. If your GPU and the game expose an upscaling option, enabling it is usually the single biggest performance gain. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, close background apps, and make sure the game is installed on an SSD. Check that your monitor is actually running at its rated refresh rate, and cap your frame rate to something your system can hold consistently. Lowering settings to hit a stable frame rate almost always feels better than chasing maxed-out visuals with stutter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PC run Apex Legends?
Compare your PC against the official minimum: a GeForce GTX 950 or Radeon HD 7790 (2 GB), an AMD FX 4350 or Intel Core i3-6300-class CPU, 6 GB of RAM, DirectX 12, a broadband connection and 75 GB of free space. If you meet that, you can run Apex Legends at 1080p with adjusted settings. For the recommended tier, aim for a GTX 970 / R9 290-class GPU, a Ryzen 5-class CPU and 8 GB of RAM.
Is Apex Legends demanding on PC?
No. Apex Legends is one of the lighter multiplayer shooters around — its official minimum hardware dates from the mid-2010s, and its recommended tier is only a modest step above that. Mid-range hardware handles it well at 1080p and 1440p with sensible settings.
What GPU do I need for Apex Legends at 1440p 60fps?
The official recommended tier — a GTX 970 or R9 290 — is the baseline for 1440p with adjusted settings. A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class graphics card is far more than this game requires at 1440p and leaves comfortable headroom for high-refresh play, as well as for more demanding titles.
How much RAM does Apex Legends need?
The official requirements list 6 GB as the minimum and 8 GB as recommended, so 8 GB is the figure to target. 16 GB or more is a common modern standard and gives you room for background apps and other games, but the game itself does not require it. Faster memory makes little difference here — capacity is what matters.
Do I need an SSD for Apex Legends?
Not strictly — the official spec only asks for 75 GB of available space. That said, an SSD is strongly recommended to reduce load times and keep asset streaming smooth, and a fast NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro is a good choice if you are buying new storage anyway.
