Warhammer 40,000: Darktide: PC System Requirements & Best Hardware to Run It (2026)

Thinking about playing Warhammer 40,000: Darktide on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? Darktide is the four-player co-op action shooter from the team behind the Vermintide series, released on 30 November 2022, and it drops you into the collapsing city of Tertium on Atoma Prime. It is a GPU-driven game: the hordes, weapon effects and lighting do most of the work on your graphics card, while the official requirements stay modest by modern standards — a GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 570 meets the minimum, and an RTX 3060-class card is what the developers recommend. This guide breaks down those official specs, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations to hit your target frame rate.

How Demanding Is Warhammer 40,000: Darktide?

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a 2022 release with requirements to match, so it is far less punishing than its horde-shooter reputation suggests. The official minimum — a GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 570 paired with an Intel i5-6600 or AMD Ryzen 2400G and 8 GB of RAM — is a 1080p, reduced-settings starting point built around hardware from the mid-2010s. The recommended tier moves up to a GeForce RTX 3060 or RTX 2060 (or a Radeon RX 5700 XT) with an Intel i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and 16 GB of RAM, which is a mainstream mid-range target rather than a high-end one.

Where Darktide does push hardware is density. Missions throw large hordes of enemies at your squad at once, so the heaviest fights are where frame rates dip, and the game needs 72 GB of storage with an SSD highly recommended on the official spec sheet. In practice, a card at or above the recommended tier handles 1080p and 1440p comfortably at high settings, while 4K and very high frame rates are where you need a genuinely fast GPU and upscaling.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Official PC System Requirements

Source: the official Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Steam store listing (app 1361210), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.

Both tiers assume a 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 install, DirectX 12, a broadband internet connection for the game’s online co-op, and 72 GB of free storage space. The recommended tier carries an additional note that an SSD storage device is highly recommended.

Best GPU for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide by Resolution

1080p

1080p is the easy target. The official minimum — GTX 970 or RX 570 — is the level for lower settings at this resolution, and the recommended RTX 3060 / RTX 2060 / RX 5700 XT tier is what you want for high settings. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 sits comfortably above the recommended spec and handles 1080p at high settings, with DLSS or FSR available to add headroom during the biggest hordes. If you are buying current-generation hardware, the GeForce RTX 5060 and Radeon RX 9060 XT are the equivalent class.

1440p

For 1440p at high settings you want to look above the official recommended tier. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER has plenty of headroom for 1440p and suits high-refresh displays, while current-generation cards such as the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070 and Radeon RX 9060 XT / RX 9070 fill the same slot. This is the resolution most PC gamers target, and a card in this class gives Warhammer 40,000: Darktide room to spare even when the screen fills with enemies.

4K

4K is the one resolution where Darktide asks a lot of your GPU. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a realistic entry point, with a current-generation GeForce RTX 5070 or Radeon RX 9070 as the comparable option. Because the official recommended card is only an RTX 3060-class part, 4K is a big step up from the published spec, so plan on enabling DLSS or FSR and expect to trim the most expensive visual settings.

CPU, RAM and Storage for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

The CPU bar for Darktide is low. The official recommended processor is an Intel i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 — both several generations old — so almost any modern desktop chip clears it. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is far more than the game needs and a strong value pick for a new build, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is more than this game will use and is worth it only if you also play titles that lean harder on the processor. Intel builders can go with the Intel Core i5-14600K, likewise well above the official recommendation. Large enemy counts do put some load on the CPU, but nothing here requires a flagship chip.

For memory, 8 GB is the official minimum and 16 GB is the official recommendation, so 16 GB of DDR5 is the sensible target for a new build; a 32 GB kit such as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB simply adds headroom for background apps and future games. Storage matters too: the game needs 72 GB of space and the developers highly recommend an SSD, so install it on a fast NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD to cut load times and reduce texture streaming hitches.

Recommended PC Builds for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

1080p build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — comfortably above the official recommended spec, 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.

4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — for 4K with upscaling.

Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide?

If your current graphics card sits at or below the official minimum — a GTX 970 or RX 570, for instance — Darktide is a reasonable excuse to upgrade, but be strategic about it. The GPU delivers by far the biggest jump in this game, so upgrade that first if you have to choose. Because the recommended CPU is only an i7-9700K or Ryzen 5 3600, a mid-range processor from the last few years will not hold back a modern graphics card, so you can usually keep it. Making sure you have 16 GB of RAM and moving the game to an SSD are inexpensive changes that noticeably smooth out the experience. Target the weakest link in your build rather than replacing everything at once.

Can You Play Warhammer 40,000: Darktide on a Laptop or Handheld?

Gaming laptops with a mobile RTX 4060 or better can run Darktide at 1080p, since that class of mobile GPU is in the same league as the recommended desktop RTX 3060 tier, though expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop. Handhelds are a tougher ask: the official minimum calls for a desktop GTX 970 or RX 570, which is more raw GPU than a Steam Deck or ROG Ally offers, so on those devices plan on low settings, aggressive upscaling, and playable performance rather than high frame rates. If portability matters, prioritise a device with the strongest GPU you can get and pair it with a fast SSD for storage.

How to Boost FPS in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

If frame rates are low, the biggest single gain usually comes from upscaling — DLSS on RTX cards, FSR on a much wider range of GPUs including the older cards in the official minimum spec, or XeSS on Intel hardware — along with frame generation if your GPU supports it. After that, trim the most expensive settings, with shadows, volumetric effects and post-processing the usual suspects, before dropping resolution. Keep your GPU drivers current, close background applications, and make sure the game is installed on an SSD, which the developers recommend. A stable frame rate at slightly reduced settings almost always feels better than maxed-out visuals with stutter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my PC run Warhammer 40,000: Darktide?

Compare your hardware against the official specs above. If you have at least a GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 570, an Intel i5-6600 or AMD Ryzen 2400G, and 8 GB of RAM, you meet the minimum and can play at 1080p with settings turned down. For high settings at 1080p or 1440p, aim for the recommended tier: an RTX 3060 or RTX 2060 (or RX 5700 XT), an i7-9700K or Ryzen 5 3600, and 16 GB of RAM.

Is Warhammer 40,000: Darktide demanding on PC?

Not especially, by current standards. It launched in 2022 with an official minimum of a GTX 970 or RX 570 and a recommended spec of an RTX 3060-class card, so mid-range hardware handles 1080p and 1440p well. The exceptions are 4K and very high frame rates, where you need a fast GPU and upscaling.

What GPU do I need for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide at 1440p 60fps?

A card in the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER class is well above the official recommended RTX 3060 tier and gives you comfortable headroom at 1440p with high settings, particularly with upscaling enabled. Current-generation equivalents such as the GeForce RTX 5070 or Radeon RX 9070 are also a good fit.

How much RAM does Warhammer 40,000: Darktide need?

The official minimum is 8 GB and the official recommendation is 16 GB. In practice 16 GB is the comfortable target for a modern gaming PC, while 8 GB will run the game but leaves little room for anything else in the background.

Do I need an SSD for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide?

The official spec sheet notes that an SSD is highly recommended, and the game needs 72 GB of free space either way. A fast NVMe drive such as the Samsung 990 Pro is a good choice for cutting load times.