Thinking about playing Cyberpunk 2077 on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? The open-world, action-adventure RPG set in the dark future of Night City launched on December 9, 2020, and it is still one of the heavier games you can install — a visually dense RPG with optional ray tracing and path tracing that punishes high-end graphics cards at maximum settings. Getting the right graphics card, CPU, and memory makes the difference between a smooth experience and a stuttery one. This guide breaks down the official PC system requirements for Cyberpunk 2077, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations to hit your target frame rate.
- How Demanding Is Cyberpunk 2077?
- Cyberpunk 2077 Official PC System Requirements
- Best GPU for Cyberpunk 2077 by Resolution
- CPU, RAM and Storage for Cyberpunk 2077
- Recommended PC Builds for Cyberpunk 2077
- Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Cyberpunk 2077?
- Can You Play Cyberpunk 2077 on a Laptop or Handheld?
- How to Boost FPS in Cyberpunk 2077
- Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure where your own PC lands? Our Can My PC Run It? game requirements checker compares your CPU, graphics card and RAM with the minimum and recommended specs of 100 popular games, this one included.
How Demanding Is Cyberpunk 2077?
Cyberpunk 2077 is demanding on PC hardware, but it is also one of the better-scaling modern RPGs. The official minimum asks for a GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, Radeon RX 580 8GB or Arc A380 alongside a Core i7-6700 or Ryzen 5 1600 and 12 GB of RAM, while the recommended tier steps up to a GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER, Radeon RX 5700 XT or Arc A770 with a Core i7-12700 or Ryzen 7 7800X3D and 16 GB of RAM. An SSD is required for both tiers, and the install needs 70 GB of space. In practical terms, cards at the minimum end can run the game at 1080p with sensible settings and upscaling enabled, while 1440p and 4K push you toward a stronger mid-range or high-end GPU. Because the game offers optional ray tracing and path tracing, an RTX 40- or 50-series or RDNA 3/4 card with good RT performance is worth prioritising if you want those effects switched on. It is a GPU-bound game rather than a simulation or strategy title, but the high recommended CPU shows that the busiest parts of Night City do reward a modern multi-core processor.
Cyberpunk 2077 Official PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum (official) | Recommended (official) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | 64-bit Windows 10 | 64-bit Windows 10 |
| Processor | Core i7-6700 or Ryzen 5 1600 | Core i7-12700 or Ryzen 7 7800X3D |
| Memory | 12 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or Radeon RX 580 8GB or Arc A380 | GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER or Radeon RX 5700 XT or Arc A770 |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 70 GB available space | 70 GB available space |
Source: the official Cyberpunk 2077 Steam store listing (app 1091500), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.
Best GPU for Cyberpunk 2077 by Resolution
1080p
For 1080p, the official recommended tier — RTX 2060 SUPER, RX 5700 XT or Arc A770 — is the sensible target, and anything beyond it buys you higher settings or higher refresh rates. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (or a comparable card such as the Radeon RX 9060 XT) comfortably clears that bar and will handle high settings at 1080p with upscaling such as DLSS, FSR or XeSS turned on. Cards at the official minimum, like the GTX 1060 6GB or RX 580 8GB, still work at this resolution if you lower settings and lean on upscaling.
1440p
Step up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER for 1440p at high or ultra settings, with the GeForce RTX 5070 and Radeon RX 9070 in the same class. This sits well above the official recommended spec, and that is the point: 1440p in Night City needs more headroom than an RTX 2060 SUPER-class card can give at high settings. If you want ray tracing at this resolution, a card from this tier or higher is the realistic starting point.
4K
For 4K, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the realistic entry point, ideally paired with upscaling to keep frame rates high; current-generation equivalents include the GeForce RTX 5080 and Radeon RX 9070 XT. Cyberpunk 2077 at native 4K ultra is demanding, and adding ray tracing or path tracing raises the bar again, so a top-tier card plus DLSS/FSR makes the biggest difference here.
CPU, RAM and Storage for Cyberpunk 2077
The official minimum processor is a Core i7-6700 or Ryzen 5 1600, and the official recommended is a Core i7-12700 or Ryzen 7 7800X3D — a notably high bar that reflects how much the game leans on the CPU in the busier parts of Night City. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is excellent value and sits comfortably above the minimum, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D matches the official recommendation and is among the fastest gaming CPUs for this game. Intel fans can opt for the Intel Core i5-14600K, which is in the same league as the recommended Core i7-12700. For memory, the official minimum is 12 GB and the recommended figure is 16 GB; a 32 GB DDR5 kit such as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB gives you headroom for the game plus background apps. Storage is the one place the official specs are strict: an SSD is required rather than merely advised, and you need 70 GB free. Install the game on a fast NVMe SSD like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD to cut load times and reduce texture streaming stutter.
Recommended PC Builds for Cyberpunk 2077
1080p build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — comfortably above the official minimum and a match for the recommended memory figure, great for high-settings 1080p.
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, well beyond the official recommended GPU tier.
4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — for 4K with upscaling.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Cyberpunk 2077?
If your current graphics card sits below the official minimum — older than a GTX 1060 6GB, RX 580 8GB or Arc A380 — Cyberpunk 2077 is a reasonable excuse to upgrade, but be strategic about it. The graphics card delivers by far the biggest jump in gaming performance, so upgrade the GPU first if you have to choose; a modern mid-range card will take you from the minimum tier to the recommended one and beyond. The official recommended CPU is a high-end part, so if you are still on an older quad-core, a modern six- or eight-core chip is worth considering, though it is not the first thing to replace. Moving to 16 GB of RAM and installing the game on an SSD, which the official specs require, are inexpensive upgrades that noticeably smooth out the experience. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.
Can You Play Cyberpunk 2077 on a Laptop or Handheld?
Gaming laptops with an RTX 4060-class mobile GPU or better can run Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with settings and upscaling adjusted, though expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop. On handhelds like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, this is a genuinely heavy game, so expect to play at low settings with aggressive upscaling and to treat it as a compromise rather than the ideal way to see Night City. If portability matters, prioritise a device with a capable GPU and enough SSD storage for the 70 GB install.
How to Boost FPS in Cyberpunk 2077
If frame rates are low, enable upscaling (DLSS on NVIDIA, FSR on AMD, or XeSS on Intel), which offers the single biggest performance gain, and turn on frame generation if your GPU supports it. Drop the most expensive settings first — ray tracing and path tracing, shadows, and volumetric effects — before lowering overall resolution. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, close background apps, and make sure the game is installed on an SSD, which the official specs require. 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 Cyberpunk 2077?
If your PC meets the official minimum — a GTX 1060 6GB, RX 580 8GB or Arc A380, a Core i7-6700 or Ryzen 5 1600, 12 GB of RAM and an SSD — it can run Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with adjusted settings and upscaling. For a smooth high-settings experience at 1080p or 1440p, aim for the recommended tier: an RTX 2060 SUPER, RX 5700 XT or Arc A770 with 16 GB of RAM.
Is Cyberpunk 2077 demanding on PC?
Yes. Its dense open world, ray tracing and optional path tracing make it heavy at maximum settings, and the official recommended GPU is an RTX 2060 SUPER / RX 5700 XT / Arc A770 rather than an entry-level card. That said, it scales down to a GTX 1060 6GB-class GPU at 1080p, and upscaling helps a great deal at every resolution.
What GPU do I need for Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p 60fps?
A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class graphics card is a comfortable choice for high-settings 1440p in Cyberpunk 2077, especially with upscaling enabled — it sits well above the official recommended RTX 2060 SUPER tier. Cards in this class also give you headroom for ray tracing and for future titles.
How much RAM does Cyberpunk 2077 need?
The official minimum is 12 GB and the recommended figure is 16 GB, so 16 GB is the practical target for a modern gaming PC. Going beyond that, with a 32 GB kit, gives you room for background apps and future games but is not required by the game itself.
Do I need an SSD for Cyberpunk 2077?
Yes — the official requirements list an SSD as required rather than optional, and the game needs 70 GB of space. An NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro is ideal and helps with load times and asset streaming.
