Thinking about playing Mortal Kombat 1 on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? Mortal Kombat 1 launched on 19 September 2023 as a one-on-one fighting game, and it is a light PC title rather than a demanding one: the official minimum is a GTX 1660, RX 590 or Arc A750-class graphics card with 8 GB of RAM, and the recommended spec is an RTX 2080 Ti, RX 5700 XT or Arc A770 for 1440p at high settings. Because fighting games depend on fast, consistent response, a stable frame rate matters more than the most extreme settings. This guide breaks down the official PC requirements for Mortal Kombat 1, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations to hit your target frame rate.
- How Demanding Is Mortal Kombat 1?
- Mortal Kombat 1 Official PC System Requirements
- Best GPU for Mortal Kombat 1 by Resolution
- CPU, RAM and Storage for Mortal Kombat 1
- Recommended PC Builds for Mortal Kombat 1
- Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Mortal Kombat 1?
- Can You Play Mortal Kombat 1 on a Laptop or Handheld?
- How to Boost FPS in Mortal Kombat 1
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Demanding Is Mortal Kombat 1?
Mortal Kombat 1 is easy on PC hardware for a full-price release. The official minimum asks for an Intel Core i5-6600 or AMD Ryzen 3 3100 / Ryzen 5 2600, 8 GB of RAM and a GTX 1660, RX 590 or Arc A750 at 1080p/Low, while the recommended tier — an i5-8400 or Ryzen 5 3600X with the same 8 GB and an RTX 2080 Ti, RX 5700 XT or Arc A770 — targets 1440p/High. Those are modest numbers, and the game is not CPU-heavy either: a fighting game has only two characters and a small arena to simulate, so even the older quad-core chips in the minimum spec keep up. Budget cards can run it at 1080p with sensible settings, while 1440p and 4K ask for a stronger GPU rather than a different class of machine, and because the game is light, upper mid-range hardware reaches 4K comfortably even though that sits above the published 1440p target. For competitive play, aim for high, stable frame rates rather than maxed-out visuals, and always check the game’s official store page for the published requirements.
Mortal Kombat 1 Official PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum (official) | Recommended (official) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10/11 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel® Core™ i5-6600 | AMD Ryzen™ 3 3100 or Ryzen™ 5 2600 | Intel® Core™ i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen™ 5 3600X |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce® GTX 1660 or AMD Radeon™ RX 590 or Intel® Arc™ A750 | Nvidia GeForce® GTX 2080 Ti or AMD Radeon™ RX 5700 XT or Intel® Arc™ A770 |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 140 GB available space | 140 GB available space |
Source: the official Mortal Kombat 1 Steam store listing (app 1971870), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.
The additional notes apply to both tiers: Mortal Kombat 1 needs 140 GB of free space, an SSD is preferred because it enables the full online cross-play experience, and an HDD is supported.
Best GPU for Mortal Kombat 1 by Resolution
1080p
For 1080p you need very little: the official minimum is a GTX 1660, RX 590 or Arc A750 at low settings, and a modern entry-level card such as the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT clears that comfortably at high settings. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 (or a comparable card) is the sweet spot, sitting above the minimum tier with room to raise settings.
1440p
1440p at high settings is exactly what the official recommended spec targets — an RTX 2080 Ti, RX 5700 XT or Arc A770 — so any card in that class, or a current equivalent such as the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT, is enough. Step up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER for a high-refresh 1440p experience at high or ultra settings. This is the resolution most PC gamers target, and this class of card sits well above the recommended tier, giving Mortal Kombat 1 plenty of headroom.
4K
4K sits above the officially published 1440p target, but Mortal Kombat 1 is light enough that it does not take an extreme GPU to get there. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a comfortable entry point, and current cards such as the RTX 5070 or RX 9070 do the same job. Upscaling helps if you want maximum frame rates at this resolution, and dropping a few of the more expensive settings costs very little visually.
CPU, RAM and Storage for Mortal Kombat 1
Mortal Kombat 1 is not CPU-heavy: the official minimum names an Intel Core i5-6600 or AMD Ryzen 3 3100 / Ryzen 5 2600, and the recommended chip is only an i5-8400 or Ryzen 5 3600X, so any modern quad-core or six-core processor is more than enough. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is excellent value for gaming, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the fastest gaming CPUs if you want maximum frame rates. Intel fans can opt for the Intel Core i5-14600K. Memory is equally undemanding — the official requirement is 8 GB, and 16 GB is a comfortable margin that covers the rest of your library, so a kit such as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB gives you headroom without being necessary for this game. Storage deserves more attention: Mortal Kombat 1 needs 140 GB of free space, an SSD is preferred and is what enables the full online cross-play experience, and an HDD is supported. A fast NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD keeps load times short.
Recommended PC Builds for Mortal Kombat 1
1080p budget build: AMD Radeon RX 7600 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — well above the official minimum, and plenty for high-settings 1080p.
1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — comfortably clears the official 1440p/High recommended spec; 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, which sits above the official 1440p target, with upscaling if you want higher frame rates.
Remember how low the bar is: an i5-6600-class CPU, 8 GB of RAM and a GTX 1660, RX 590 or Arc A750-class card already meet the official minimum at 1080p/Low.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Mortal Kombat 1?
If your current graphics card sits below the official minimum — anything under a GTX 1660, RX 590 or Arc A750 — Mortal Kombat 1 is a good reason to upgrade, and the GPU is by far the biggest single improvement you can make. If you already have a card in that class, you can play today at 1080p, and an upgrade is about raising resolution and settings rather than making the game run at all. The CPU bar is low too: the recommended chip is only an i5-8400 or Ryzen 5 3600X, so a mainstream processor from the last several years won’t hold you back. Beyond graphics, the upgrade that matters most is storage — the official notes say an SSD is preferred and enables full online cross-play, and it also cuts load times on a 140 GB install. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.
Can You Play Mortal Kombat 1 on a Laptop or Handheld?
Gaming laptops with a discrete GPU in the GTX 1660 / RX 590 class or above can run Mortal Kombat 1 at 1080p, and a modern laptop GPU such as an RTX 4060 or newer handles 1080p at high settings and 1440p with ease, though expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop. On handhelds like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, this light game runs comfortably at reasonable settings, making it a good portable pick. If portability matters, prioritise a device with a capable GPU and keep the 140 GB install size in mind — pair it with a fast SSD or a large microSD card for storage.
How to Boost FPS in Mortal Kombat 1
Because Mortal Kombat 1 is a light game, low frame rates usually come from a setting that is too high rather than from the game being heavy, so start there. If your GPU and the game’s video options offer upscaling such as DLSS, FSR or XeSS, enabling it is the easiest way to gain performance at 1440p and above, and frame generation can help further if your card supports it. Reduce 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. For a fighting game, consistent frame times and low input lag matter more than maximum visual quality, so favour stability over cranking every setting to its highest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PC run Mortal Kombat 1?
The official minimum is an Intel Core i5-6600 or AMD Ryzen 3 3100 / Ryzen 5 2600, 8 GB of RAM, a GTX 1660, RX 590 or Arc A750 and 140 GB of free space, which gets you 1080p at low settings. If your PC meets those numbers, it can run the game. For 1440p at high settings the recommended spec is an i5-8400 or Ryzen 5 3600X with an RTX 2080 Ti, RX 5700 XT or Arc A770 — and modern cards such as the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT clear that bar comfortably.
Is Mortal Kombat 1 demanding on PC?
No. Mortal Kombat 1 is one of the lighter major releases of its era: the minimum is a GTX 1660-class card with 8 GB of RAM at 1080p/Low, and the recommended spec tops out at an RTX 2080 Ti, RX 5700 XT or Arc A770 for 1440p/High. Entry-level and mid-range modern hardware handles it well.
What GPU do I need for Mortal Kombat 1 at 1440p 60fps?
1440p/High is the officially recommended target, and the published spec for it is an RTX 2080 Ti, RX 5700 XT or Arc A770. A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class card sits well above that tier, so it is the sweet spot for high-settings 1440p with comfortable headroom, and current equivalents such as the RTX 5070 or RX 9070 offer the same kind of margin.
How much RAM does Mortal Kombat 1 need?
The official requirement is 8 GB of RAM for both the minimum and recommended specs. 16 GB is a comfortable margin that helps if you keep other apps open and covers most modern games, but it isn’t needed for Mortal Kombat 1, and there is no benefit to going beyond that for this game.
Do I need an SSD for Mortal Kombat 1?
The official notes list an SSD as preferred and an HDD as supported. The SSD is what enables the full online cross-play experience and it noticeably shortens load times on a 140 GB install. An NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro is ideal, but any SSD is a sensible choice.
