Thinking about playing God of War Ragnarok on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? The game launched on PC on September 19, 2024, and it’s a cinematic action-adventure RPG in which Kratos and Atreus embark on a mythic journey for answers before Ragnarök arrives. It’s a well-optimised port rather than a hardware-stretching one: the official minimum asks for a GTX 1060-class card and 8 GB of RAM, and the recommended tier is comfortably mid-range. This guide breaks down the official PC requirements for God of War Ragnarok, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations to hit your target frame rate.
- How Demanding Is God of War Ragnarok?
- God of War Ragnarok Official PC System Requirements
- Best GPU for God of War Ragnarok by Resolution
- CPU, RAM and Storage for God of War Ragnarok
- Recommended PC Builds for God of War Ragnarok
- Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for God of War Ragnarok?
- Can You Play God of War Ragnarok on a Laptop or Handheld?
- How to Boost FPS in God of War Ragnarok
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Demanding Is God of War Ragnarok?
God of War Ragnarok is not a punishing PC release. It’s a linear, story-driven action-adventure RPG — not a large-scale simulation, strategy game or big multiplayer title — so it leans far more on your graphics card than on your processor, and performance scales predictably as you move up the GPU stack. The official minimum (GTX 1060 6GB, RX 5500 XT 8GB or Arc A750, paired with 8 GB of RAM) is what gets you in the door at 1080p with reduced settings, while the official recommended tier (RTX 2060 Super, RX 5700 or Arc A770 with 16 GB of RAM) is the target for higher settings and 1440p. The one figure that genuinely stands out is storage: 190 GB of available space is a hefty install, so plan for it before you download.
God of War Ragnarok Official PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum (official) | Recommended (official) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 20H1 | Windows 10 20H1 |
| Processor | Intel i5-4670k or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 | Intel i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 1060 (6GB) or AMD RX 5500 XT (8GB) or Intel Arc A750 | NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super or AMD RX 5700 or Intel Arc A770 |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 190 GB available space | 190 GB available space |
Source: the official God of War Ragnarök Steam store listing (app 2322010), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.
Best GPU for God of War Ragnarok by Resolution
1080p
At 1080p the official minimum cards — the GTX 1060 6GB, RX 5500 XT 8GB or Arc A750 — will run the game with settings trimmed back. For a smooth high-settings experience, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the sweet spot, sitting well above the recommended spec, and current-generation options such as the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT offer similar or better performance with more headroom. Upscaling such as DLSS, FSR or XeSS is available if you want extra frames.
1440p
Step up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER for high-refresh 1440p at high or ultra settings. This is the resolution most PC gamers target, and this class of card gives God of War Ragnarok plenty of headroom — it sits several tiers above the RTX 2060 Super / RX 5700 recommended spec. Newer cards in the same bracket, such as the RTX 5070 or RX 9070, are equally comfortable here, and pairing any of them with 16 GB of system memory keeps things consistent with the official recommended configuration.
4K
4K is where the game asks the most of your graphics card, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a realistic entry point, ideally with upscaling enabled to keep frame rates high. Faster current-generation cards such as the RTX 5070 Ti or RX 9070 XT give you more margin at native resolution. Note that the official requirements don’t change with resolution — the CPU, memory and storage figures are the same at 4K as they are at 1080p; only the GPU burden grows.
CPU, RAM and Storage for God of War Ragnarok
Because God of War Ragnarok isn’t CPU-heavy, you don’t need a flagship processor. The official recommended CPUs — an Intel Core i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 — are modest by modern standards, and anything newer sits well beyond them. 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. For memory, the official minimum is 8 GB and the official recommended figure is 16 GB, which is the practical target for a smooth experience; a larger kit such as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB simply gives you extra headroom. Storage is the standout requirement at 190 GB, and installing the game on a fast NVMe SSD like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD cuts load times and reduces texture streaming stutter.
Recommended PC Builds for God of War Ragnarok
1080p budget build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — comfortably above both the official minimum and recommended specs, and 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, with plenty of room above the RTX 2060 Super / RX 5700 recommended spec.
4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — for 4K with upscaling, plus the 190 GB of storage the install requires.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for God of War Ragnarok?
If you’re already sitting on a GTX 1060 6GB, RX 5500 XT or Arc A750-class card, you meet the official minimum and can play today — an upgrade is optional rather than mandatory. If you want higher settings, a higher resolution or more consistent frame rates, the graphics card delivers by far the biggest jump, so upgrade the GPU first if you have to choose. A mid-range CPU from the last several years, such as the recommended i5-8600 or Ryzen 5 3600, will not hold back a modern GPU in this game, so you can usually keep it. Moving from 8 GB to 16 GB of RAM and installing the game on an NVMe SSD with 190 GB free are the cheap upgrades that smooth out the experience most noticeably. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.
Can You Play God of War Ragnarok on a Laptop or Handheld?
Gaming laptops with an RTX 4060-class mobile GPU or better can run God of War Ragnarok well at 1080p, sitting comfortably above the recommended desktop spec, though expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop. Handhelds are a tougher sell: the official minimum GPU is a GTX 1060 6GB-class part, which is well beyond the integrated graphics in most handhelds, so on devices like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally you should expect low settings with aggressive upscaling and a modest frame rate. If portability matters, prioritise a device with the most capable GPU you can get, and pair it with a fast microSD or SSD — the 190 GB install leaves little room to spare on a small drive.
How to Boost FPS in God of War Ragnarok
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 — shadows, volumetric effects and post-processing — before lowering overall resolution. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, close background apps, and make sure the game is installed on an SSD with plenty of free space. 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 God of War Ragnarok?
The official minimum is an Intel Core i5-4670K or AMD Ryzen 3 1200, 8 GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 1060 (6GB), AMD RX 5500 XT (8GB) or Intel Arc A750, plus 190 GB of storage. If you meet that, you can run the game at 1080p with adjusted settings. For higher settings at 1080p or 1440p, aim for the official recommended tier — an i5-8600 or Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB of RAM, and an RTX 2060 Super, RX 5700 or Arc A770 — or better.
Is God of War Ragnarok demanding on PC?
Not especially. It’s a well-optimised port with modest official requirements, and the recommended spec is only mid-range hardware. The biggest ask is the 190 GB of storage space rather than raw GPU power.
What GPU do I need for God of War Ragnarok at 1440p 60fps?
A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class graphics card is the sweet spot for high-settings 1440p in God of War Ragnarok, especially with upscaling enabled, and it sits well above the RTX 2060 Super / RX 5700 recommended spec. Current-generation alternatives such as the RTX 5070 or RX 9070 are in the same comfortable bracket.
How much RAM does God of War Ragnarok need?
The official minimum is 8 GB and the official recommended figure is 16 GB, which is the practical target for smooth play. More than 16 GB won’t hurt, but this game doesn’t need it.
Do I need an SSD for God of War Ragnarok?
The official requirement is 190 GB of available storage space. An SSD is strongly recommended to reduce load times and texture streaming stutter, and an NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro is ideal.
