Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: PC System Requirements & Best Hardware to Run It (2026)

Thinking about playing Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? Released on September 9, 2024, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a third-person action shooter built around co-op battles against enormous Tyranid swarms, and that mix of scale and effects means it asks a fair amount from a modern PC without ever demanding a flagship. Getting the right graphics card, CPU and memory still makes the difference between a smooth experience and a stuttery one. This guide breaks down the official PC system requirements for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations to hit your target frame rate.

How Demanding Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2?

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a modern AAA action game, so it is moderately demanding rather than punishing. The official minimum asks for a 6 GB graphics card such as the GeForce GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 580, 8 GB of RAM and a 6-core processor, and that configuration is quoted for 30 FPS at 1920×1080 on the “Low” preset. For 60 FPS at 1920×1080 on the “Ultra” preset the developer recommends an 8 GB card in the GeForce RTX 3070 / Radeon RX 6800 XT class, 16 GB of RAM and a modern 8-core-class CPU. In practice that means 1080p is comfortable on mainstream hardware, 1440p is a reasonable stretch for a mid-range card with upscaling, and 4K is where you want a genuinely fast GPU. An SSD is listed as required at both tiers, and the install comes to around 75 GB.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Official PC System Requirements

Source: the official Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam store listing (app 2183900), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.

Best GPU for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 by Resolution

1080p

At 1080p the official target is 60 FPS on the Ultra preset with an 8 GB card in the RTX 3070 / RX 6800 XT class, so that is the bar to aim for if you want the full experience. A current mainstream option is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, which clears the official minimum with room to spare and handles 1080p at high settings with upscaling such as DLSS or FSR turned on. If you are buying new, current-generation cards like the GeForce RTX 5060 and Radeon RX 9060 XT sit in a similar bracket, while an RTX 3070 or RX 6800 XT still matches the official recommendation exactly.

1440p

1440p is not one of the resolutions the developer publishes figures for — both official targets are 1920×1080 — but the recommended GPU class gives you headroom to move up if you lean on upscaling. Step up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER for high-refresh 1440p at high or ultra settings. It sits above the official recommended tier, so Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 has plenty of room here. Current-generation equivalents such as the GeForce RTX 5070 and Radeon RX 9070 do a similar job for anyone building fresh.

4K

4K is the one scenario where Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 gets genuinely heavy, and it sits well beyond the published requirements — so treat it as an enthusiast target rather than something the official specs promise. For 4K, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a realistic entry point, ideally paired with upscaling to keep frame rates high. A card of that class or above, such as the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti or Radeon RX 9070 XT, plus DLSS or FSR, is what makes 4K at high settings a sensible proposition.

CPU, RAM and Storage for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is not a simulation or a strategy game, so it is not unusually CPU-bound — the graphics card does most of the work. That said, the swarm-heavy fights do put a real load on the processor, and the official recommended CPUs are 8-core-class parts (Ryzen 7 5800X or Core i7-12700), so a modern 6-core or better is a sensible floor. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is excellent value and sits comfortably in that recommended performance class, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the fastest mainstream gaming CPUs if you want maximum frame rates. Intel fans can opt for the Intel Core i5-14600K. On memory, 16 GB is the officially recommended amount and 8 GB is the minimum, so 16 GB of DDR5 is the sensible target and a 32 GB kit such as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB simply gives you headroom for background apps and future games. Storage is straightforward: the developer lists an SSD as required and the game needs roughly 75 GB of space, so install it on a fast NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD to cut load times and reduce texture streaming stutter.

Recommended PC Builds for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

1080p budget build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — well clear of the official minimum, and a great fit for high-settings 1080p; expect to lean on upscaling if you want to push toward the Ultra preset.

1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — above the official recommended tier and the setup most players should aim for if they want 1440p with headroom to spare.

4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — for 4K with upscaling, which goes beyond the published requirements and is where a fast GPU matters most.

Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2?

If your current graphics card is a generation or two old, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a reasonable excuse to upgrade, but be strategic about it. If you already own a GTX 1060 or RX 580-class card you can play at 1080p on Low — the question is whether you want the Ultra preset and 60 FPS, which is exactly what the recommended tier buys you. The graphics card delivers by far the biggest jump in gaming performance, so upgrade the GPU first if you have to choose; a modern 6-core CPU from the last few years will not hold back a mid-range GPU in this game, so you can usually keep it. Moving from 8 GB to 16 GB of RAM matches the official recommendation, and installing the game on an SSD is required rather than optional. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.

Can You Play Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 on a Laptop or Handheld?

Gaming laptops with an RTX 4060-class mobile GPU can run Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 well at 1080p, though remember that mobile chips are slower than their desktop namesakes and the official recommended GPU carries 8 GB of VRAM — a spec worth checking before you buy. Expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop. On handhelds such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, the integrated graphics sit at or below the official minimum, so expect to play on the Low preset with aggressive upscaling, and treat the 30 FPS figure the minimum spec is written for as the realistic target rather than a floor. Storage is the other consideration: the game needs roughly 75 GB and an SSD is listed as required, so internal storage is preferable to a microSD card even though the latter will work.

How to Boost FPS in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

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, and remember that the official presets run from “Low” to “Ultra”, so stepping down a preset is the quickest way to find headroom. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, close background apps, run 16 GB of RAM rather than the 8 GB minimum if you can, and install the game on an SSD, which the developer lists as a requirement. 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 Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2?

If your PC has at least a 6 GB GTX 1060 / RX 580-class GPU, a 6-core CPU such as the Ryzen 5 2600X or Core i5-8600K, and 8 GB of RAM, it meets the official minimum and can run Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 at 1920×1080 on the Low preset at 30 FPS. For 60 FPS on Ultra at the same resolution, aim for an RTX 3070 / RX 6800 XT-class card, a Ryzen 7 5800X or Core i7-12700-class CPU and 16 GB of RAM, with the game installed on an SSD.

Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 demanding on PC?

It is moderately demanding. The official minimum is modest by modern standards — a GTX 1060, a 6-core CPU and 8 GB of RAM for 1080p Low at 30 FPS — but the recommended tier calls for an RTX 3070 / RX 6800 XT and 16 GB of RAM to hit 60 FPS on Ultra at 1080p, which puts it firmly in mainstream-AAA territory rather than light.

What GPU do I need for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 at 1440p 60fps?

The published figures only cover 1920×1080, so 1440p is a step beyond them. A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class graphics card is the sweet spot for high-settings 1440p at 60fps or higher, since it sits above the official recommended RTX 3070 / RX 6800 XT tier, especially with upscaling enabled. Current-generation cards such as the GeForce RTX 5070 and Radeon RX 9070 sit in the same bracket.

How much RAM does Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 need?

The official minimum is 8 GB and the official recommendation is 16 GB, so 16 GB is the practical target for a smooth experience on higher presets. Faster DDR5 memory also helps in the busiest swarm fights, and 32 GB is only worth it if you keep a lot of other software running while you play.

Do I need an SSD for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2?

Yes — the official requirements list an SSD as required at both the minimum and recommended tiers, alongside roughly 75 GB of free space. An NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro is ideal, cutting load times and helping with texture streaming during the large battles.