Starfield PC Requirements – You need a SSD!
With the arrival of Bethesda’s newest game on the way, here’s the scoop on the Starfield PC Requirements that you’ll want to have before Sept 6 2023. Meeting the requirements will ensure that you can play the game without any issues.
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Minimum Starfield PC Requirements
- OS: Windows 10 version 22H2 (10.0.19045)
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, Intel Core i7-6800K
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5700, NVIDIA GeForce 1070 Ti
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 125 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD Required
Recommended Starfield PC Requirements
- OS: Windows 10/11 with updates
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, Intel i5-10600K
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 125 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD Required
Key Takeaway: While the storage space is not as much as the space needed for Red Dead Redemption 2, you are going to need the game installed on an SSD.
There was a time when I once obsessed over having the biggest beefiest PC before I would consider playing a Bethesda game. When I first started modding Oblivion and Fallout 3, I learned very quickly that when you start modding in HD texture packs, things start to slow down in terms of performance. I learned that lesson by the time I started playing Skyrim.
Fast forward to today, and apart from a recent video card upgrade and extra sticks of RAM, my PC is more than capable of running Red Dead Redemption 2, Hogwarts Legacy, and Skyrim with 1000+ mods installed.
That being said, lots of things can happen in a few years. And so, to ensure that others know what they might need before Starfield comes out, I’ve provided a brief breakdown of what kind of specs your PC should have before you even think of buying the game.
Operating System and CPU
Obviously, you’re going to need the newest version of Windows; as much as I loved Windows 7, I had to upgrade my OS. At minimum, the processor needs to be a AMD Ryzen 5 2600X or a Intel Core i7-6800K. Both are 6-core CPUs that came out a few years ago. Personally, I’m using a Intel Core i5-9400F which came out in 2019, so fingers crossed that have no issues running the game.
Memory
The RAM requirements are quite a doozy at 16 GB! I recently upgraded my RAM to be 64 GB in total, which may be more than enough. If you have an older PC with very little memory, it may be in your best interest to upgrade. Since Starfield features a lot of procedural generation to simulate an entire galaxy, it makes a lot of sense as to why it needs sufficient memory to create entire worlds for you to explore.
Graphics Card (GPU)
Unsurprisingly, this where you are going to need some beefy gear, and sadly, with how crazy the cost of GPUs are these days, you may want to wait until the prices cool down. The recommended GPS are either the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT or the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080. The GPU I’m using originally came out in 2019, and thankfully meets the minimum requirements. Sadly, this may also mean that I won’t be able to run the game at higher settings.
Storage: You’re gonna need a bigger SSD!
Perhaps the biggest thing I’d like to point out is the simple fact that the required storage space for this game is not only massive at 125GB, but it needs to be installed on a dedicated SSD. Due to the nature of open-world games, a lot of space is always needed to be able to save all the data associated with the many places you’ll explore in Starfield, and since this is taking place on a “galactic” scale, it’s not surprising that a faster reading drive will be needed to provide a good gaming experience.
What’s with the Broadband Internet Connection?
At least according to Steam’s store page for Starfield, an internet connection is listed under the recommended PC requirements. While I woudl assume this is to ensure that you can quickly download and install the game, this could also mean that the game may require some kind of internet functionality at some point in the future. For a single player game, I hope that is not the case, but only time will tell.
Anyways, that’s about all I have for now. I imagine that once I get a chance to play the game for myself, I’ll have more details to share. If you haven’t upgraded your rig in a while, you may want to take a look at your options.
Thank you for reading, and happy gaming!
~Ken