Thinking about playing Elden Ring on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? FromSoftware’s open-world action RPG launched on February 24, 2022, and its official requirements are far gentler than its reputation suggests: the published minimum is a GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB or Radeon RX 580 4 GB, and the recommended target is a GTX 1070 or RX Vega 56. The game is capped at 60 fps, so the aim is a stable, consistent 60 rather than chasing very high frame rates, and choosing the right graphics card, CPU, and memory is still what separates a smooth trip through the Lands Between from a stuttery one. This guide breaks down the official PC requirements for Elden Ring, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations to hit your target frame rate.
- How Demanding Is Elden Ring?
- Elden Ring Official PC System Requirements
- Best GPU for Elden Ring by Resolution
- CPU, RAM and Storage for Elden Ring
- Recommended PC Builds for Elden Ring
- Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Elden Ring?
- Can You Play Elden Ring on a Laptop or Handheld?
- How to Boost FPS in Elden Ring
- 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 Elden Ring?
Elden Ring sits at the modest end of modern PC hardware demands. It is a 2022 action RPG built around a 60 fps cap, and its official minimum — a GTX 1060 3 GB or RX 580 4 GB, a Core i5-8400 or Ryzen 3 3300X, and 12 GB of RAM — is below what most budget gaming PCs sold today ship with. The recommended tier asks only for a GTX 1070 or RX Vega 56 and 16 GB of RAM. In practical terms, entry-level and mid-range cards handle 1080p comfortably, 1440p is a natural fit for mainstream modern GPUs, and 4K is within reach of upper mid-range cards rather than requiring a flagship. The one caveat is the open-world streaming load on DirectX 12: brief traversal and shader-compilation stutter has been a common complaint since launch even on capable hardware, which is why a fast SSD and up-to-date drivers matter alongside raw frame rate.
Elden Ring Official PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum (official) | Recommended (official) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10/11 |
| Processor | INTEL CORE I5-8400 or AMD RYZEN 3 3300X | INTEL CORE I7-8700K or AMD RYZEN 5 3600X |
| Memory | 12 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1060 3 GB or AMD RADEON RX 580 4 GB | NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1070 8 GB or AMD RADEON RX VEGA 56 8 GB |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 60 GB available space | 60 GB available space |
Source: the official ELDEN RING Steam store listing (app 1245620), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.
Best GPU for Elden Ring by Resolution
1080p
1080p is where the official minimum lives: a GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB or Radeon RX 580 4 GB already runs Elden Ring at this resolution with settings trimmed back, so 1080p is comfortable territory for almost any current card. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 (or a comparable card) is a solid modern pick — it sits well above the recommended spec, so you can push the visual settings and still hold the game’s 60 fps cap. Current-generation budget options such as the GeForce RTX 5060 and Radeon RX 9060 XT offer the same headroom with newer features and lower power draw.
1440p
At 1440p, look above the recommended GTX 1070 / RX Vega 56 tier rather than at it. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is a comfortable fit for high settings with the 60 fps cap held steady. This is the resolution most PC gamers target, and this class of card gives Elden Ring plenty of headroom; current-generation equivalents such as the GeForce RTX 5070 and Radeon RX 9070 do the same job with newer architecture.
4K
4K is achievable in Elden Ring without a flagship GPU, because the game stops at 60 fps and never asks for more. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a realistic entry point, and current cards in the same class, such as the GeForce RTX 5070 and Radeon RX 9070, cover it too. Elden Ring has no built-in upscaling, so on 4K displays the practical move is to raise resolution first and then trim the heaviest quality settings until the cap holds.
CPU, RAM and Storage for Elden Ring
The official CPU targets are modest: a Core i5-8400 or Ryzen 3 3300X at minimum, and a Core i7-8700K or Ryzen 5 3600X for the recommended tier. Any modern six-core chip clears both bars with room to spare. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is excellent value for gaming, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the fastest mainstream gaming CPU if you want maximum frame rates. Intel fans can opt for the Intel Core i5-14600K. Elden Ring is not a CPU-bound simulation or strategy title, so there is no need to overspend here — a mid-range processor from the last few years will not hold back a modern GPU in the Lands Between. 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 is the comfortable target for a new build. 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 in the open world.
Recommended PC Builds for Elden Ring
1080p budget build: AMD Radeon RX 7600 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — well above the official recommended spec, so high settings at 1080p with a locked 60 fps are easy.
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.
4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — for 4K at the game’s 60 fps cap with settings maxed.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Elden Ring?
If your current graphics card is older than a GTX 1060 3 GB or RX 580 4 GB, Elden Ring 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 mid-range CPU from the last few years will not bottleneck a modern GPU in this game, so you can usually keep it. Moving from 8 GB to 16 GB of RAM and putting the game on an NVMe SSD are cheap upgrades that noticeably smooth out the experience. If your PC already meets the recommended spec, though, Elden Ring will not be the game that justifies new parts — upgrade for newer, heavier titles instead and let this one ride along. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.
Can You Play Elden Ring on a Laptop or Handheld?
Gaming laptops whose mobile GPU matches or beats the recommended GTX 1070 desktop tier — a modern RTX 4060-class machine, for example — can run Elden Ring at 1080p with sensible settings, though expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop. On handhelds like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, a 2022 game with a GTX 1060-class minimum is still a viable portable pick, but you should expect to drop to low or medium settings and a lower resolution to hold a steady frame rate. 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 Elden Ring
If frame rates are low, start in the graphics menu: Elden Ring has no in-game upscaling such as DLSS or FSR, so every gain has to come from settings. Leave the optional ray tracing off unless you have a lot of spare GPU headroom, and drop the most expensive quality options first — shadow, lighting, effects and volumetric quality — before lowering resolution. Because the game is capped at 60 fps, a stable 60 is the goal; if you are already sitting at the cap, raise resolution instead of turning settings up. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, close background apps, and make sure the game is installed on an SSD. A steady frame rate almost always feels better than maxed-out visuals with stutter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PC run Elden Ring?
Compare your hardware with the official figures: a GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB or Radeon RX 580 4 GB, a Core i5-8400 or Ryzen 3 3300X, and 12 GB of RAM will run Elden Ring at 1080p with settings adjusted. For high settings at 1080p or 1440p, aim for the recommended tier or better — a GTX 1070 or RX Vega 56 with 16 GB of RAM — and modern cards such as the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT give you extra headroom.
Is Elden Ring demanding on PC?
No. By modern standards it is a modest game: the official minimum is a GTX 1060 3 GB / RX 580 4 GB with 12 GB of RAM, and the recommended tier is a GTX 1070 / RX Vega 56 with 16 GB. A mid-range PC from the last few years runs it well at 1080p and 1440p.
What GPU do I need for Elden Ring at 1440p 60fps?
A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class graphics card is the sweet spot for high-settings 1440p at the game’s 60 fps cap in Elden Ring. Anything comfortably above the recommended GTX 1070 / RX Vega 56 tier will do the job, and current options such as the RTX 5070 or RX 9070 are just as suitable. Cards in this tier give you comfortable headroom for future titles too.
How much RAM does Elden Ring need?
The official minimum is 12 GB of RAM and the recommended figure is 16 GB. 16 GB is the practical target for a modern gaming PC, and 8 GB is below the published minimum. Faster DDR5 memory also helps in CPU-limited scenes.
Do I need an SSD for Elden Ring?
The official requirements list 60 GB of available storage and do not demand an SSD, but one is strongly recommended for Elden Ring to reduce load times and smooth out streaming in the open world. An NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro is ideal for modern games.
