Cyberpunk 2077 still ranks among the most graphically demanding PC titles around. Its sprawling open world, high‑detail environments, ray tracing implementation, and the Phantom Liberty expansion keep even recent hardware working hard. Whether someone is just starting their first playthrough or coming back after the latest patches, checking the system requirements for Cyberpunk 2077 is a solid starting point—it helps set realistic expectations and avoid nasty performance surprises.
This guide lays out the official minimum and recommended PC specs, breaks down how each major component affects performance, and offers a clear way to figure out if a given system is up to the task. It also covers which upgrades—extra RAM or a faster SSD, for instance—tend to give the most noticeable improvement when a system falls short.
Cyberpunk 2077 System Requirements
Before installing Cyberpunk 2077, checking the official hardware requirements is a solid first step. The 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion bumped up the spec bar, thanks to improved AI, denser environments, and ray tracing. One non‑negotiable change: an SSD is now required across all supported configurations.
| Component |
Minimum Requirements |
Recommended Requirements |
| Operating System |
64-bit Windows 10 |
64-bit Windows 10 |
| Processor |
Intel Core i7-6700 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 |
Intel Core i7-12700 or AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D |
| Memory |
12 GB RAM |
16 GB RAM |
| Graphics Card |
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB, or Intel Arc A380 |
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER, AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, or Intel Arc A770 |
| DirectX |
Version 12 |
Version 12 |
| Storage |
70 GB available space (SSD required) |
70 GB available space (SSD required) |
Cyberpunk 2077 system requirements Minimum
The minimum specs target around 1080p gameplay at Low settings, averaging roughly 30 FPS. A system meeting those requirements will deliver a playable experience, though framerates and visual quality tend to take a hit in Night City’s more congested areas.
Cyberpunk 2077 system requirements Recommended
Recommended specs target 1080p High settings with Ray Tracing enabled at around 60 FPS. A modern CPU, a more capable GPU, and at least 16 GB of RAM deliver noticeably smoother performance—particularly in dense city areas, high‑speed driving, and combat.
SSD Is No Longer Optional
SSDs are now mandatory under the updated system requirements. Compared to traditional hard drives, they cut loading times and improve asset streaming, which helps reduce texture pop‑in and stuttering while moving through Night City.
Keep Extra Storage Space Available
The official install size lists 35 GB, but setting aside extra room is a pretty solid move. Future updates, shader cache files, and the Phantom Liberty expansion all eat into that space over time. Leaving 70–100 GB free on the SSD gives the installation room to breathe and helps keep performance from degrading as the game pulls in new assets.
How to Check If Your PC Can Run Cyberpunk 2077
Windows includes a few built-in tools that show the CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, and OS version, making it pretty straightforward to check against the official requirements. For users who want a more detailed compatibility check, the
can my pc run cyberpunk 2077 provides a step-by-step way to determine whether their hardware can handle the game.
1. Check Your Processor, RAM, and Operating System
Hit Windows + R, type msinfo32, and hit Enter. The System Information window pulls up the processor model, installed physical memory (RAM), system type (make sure it’s 64‑bit), and Windows version. A quick compare against the official specs for Cyberpunk 2077 shows where the system lands—minimum or recommended.
2. Check Your Graphics Card
The GPU has the largest impact on gaming performance. To identify the installed model, open the Run dialog with Windows+R, type dxdiag, and switch to the Display tab. The name listed there is what to match against the supported GPUs in the Cyberpunk 2077 system requirements.
3. Check Your Available Storage
Cyberpunk 2077 requires installation on an SSD. To verify the target drive, open File Explorer, select This PC, and check the drive type and available space. If it’s not clear whether a drive is SSD or HDD, Task Manager offers a quick way: press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, head to the Performance tab, and select the storage drive—Windows will label it accordingly.
4. Compare Your Hardware with the Official Requirements
Once the system specs are identified, the next step is comparing them against the official Cyberpunk 2077 requirements.
- Meeting the minimum specs should deliver playable performance at 1080p with Low settings.
- Meeting the recommended specs allows for smoother gameplay at High settings and generally better overall performance.
- Falling short of the minimum means upgrades—particularly to the GPU, RAM, or SSD—can make a meaningful difference.
Checking the hardware only takes a few minutes and offers a clear answer: either the current system is ready for Night City, or it’s time to plan an upgrade before installation.
Conclusion
Cyberpunk 2077 remains a hardware‑hungry title, particularly when ray tracing and path tracing are enabled. Checking system specs against the official requirements before installation offers a clear picture of whether the current hardware is sufficient or if an upgrade is in order.
The GPU carries the bulk of the performance load, but RAM and storage aren’t bystanders. Sufficient memory helps keep things stable during extended sessions and background multitasking, while a fast SSD cuts load times and keeps asset streaming smooth across Night City.
Whether the goal is higher frame rates or turning up visual settings, getting the hardware balance right makes a difference. A system that meets or exceeds the recommended specs is in a good position to handle what the game throws at it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cyberpunk 2077 a heavy game?
Cyberpunk 2077 still ranks as one of the most demanding PC titles out there. Its open world, detailed environments, AI, ray tracing, and path tracing all push the CPU and GPU pretty hard. It’ll run on mid‑range systems if you dial settings down, but hitting higher frame rates at Ultra or with ray tracing enabled takes modern hardware—no way around that.
Does Cyberpunk require a good PC?
Not necessarily. The game runs on a fairly wide range of PCs, as long as they clear the official minimum bar. That said, smoother gameplay, higher graphics presets, or resolutions above 1080p call for a stronger CPU, a dedicated GPU, enough RAM, and an SSD—those upgrades tend to make the biggest difference in practice.
What are the maximum system requirements for Cyberpunk 2077?
CD PROJEKT RED does not publish a formal “maximum” spec, since performance varies with resolution, graphics settings, and whether ray tracing or path tracing is enabled. For 4K Ultra with Ray Tracing Overdrive, a high‑end build is generally the move: something like a Core i9‑12900K or Ryzen 9 7900X (or better), an RTX 4080, 4090, or newer, 32 GB of RAM, a fast NVMe SSD with room to spare, and Windows 10/11 64‑bit with DirectX 12. Those aren’t official requirements, but they’re the kind of hardware that tends to keep things smooth at the game’s heaviest settings.
What are the minimum system requirements for Cyberpunk 2077?
The latest official minimum requirements call for a 64‑bit Windows 10 system, an Intel Core i7‑6700 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 12 GB of RAM, and a GPU from the GTX 1060 6 GB, RX 580 8 GB, or Arc A380 tier. DirectX 12 is required, and the install size is 35 GB on an SSD—no spinning drives allowed.
A system matching those specs can run the game at 1080p with Low settings, averaging around 30 FPS. It’s playable, but the recommended spec is where things start to feel noticeably smoother and look better.