Anno 1800 PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum CPU is an Intel i5 3470 or AMD FX 6350. Those are very old chips by today's standards, roughly entry level, which tells you the game was designed to run on hardware from several generations back. The minimum GPU is an NVIDIA GeForce 670 GTX or AMD Radeon R9 285 with 2 GB of VRAM and Shader Model 5.0 support. In our tier comparison that sits around the GTX 750 Ti, an older entry-level card. The minimum also lists 8 GB of RAM and 60 GB of storage, and does not require an SSD.
The official recommended CPU is an Intel i5 4690k or AMD Ryzen 5 1400. The recommended GPU is an NVIDIA GeForce 970 GTX or AMD Radeon RX 480, with 4 GB of VRAM and Shader Model 5.1. The GTX 970 still falls in an older entry band in our comparison, and the RX 480 is a card from the same era. So the gap between minimum and recommended is modest: more VRAM and somewhat more performance, not a jump to a newer generation. The recommended RAM figure is also 8 GB, with the same 60 GB of storage.
Keep in mind that 8 GB is only a starting point. As your city grows and the population climbs, system memory use rises noticeably, so we suggest at least 16 GB in practice. The publisher does not specify hardware for higher resolutions or higher detail levels, so you will need to judge those yourself.
We also note that the recommended tier is not a high-end target. If you want headroom, the mainstream builds below are a more comfortable reference point than the official recommendation alone.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build suits players on a tight budget who mainly play at 1080p. Pair a GTX 1650 Super or RTX 3050 6GB with a Ryzen 3 3100 or Core i3-10100F. Plan on 16 GB of RAM, because the mid and late game can use a lot of system memory and 8 GB leaves little margin. This combination runs the game well above the official recommended tier and is a good fit for players who want a smooth full playthrough.
The mainstream build is the value pick for most people. A GTX 1660 Super, RTX 3050 8GB or RX 5600 XT pairs well with a Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i5-10400. This tier is far above the official recommendation in our comparison, so you can run higher settings with stable performance and handle large late-game cities more comfortably. Again, 16 GB of RAM is the sensible target.
The high-end build is for players who want higher resolutions, more visual detail, or who stream and record while playing. An RTX 3060 Ti, RX 6700 XT or RX 7600 XT with a Ryzen 5 5600X or Core i5-12400 is generous for this game. It is not required, but it gives you room if you run other demanding software. We recommend 32 GB of RAM here so large saves and multitasking stay relaxed.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In city builders and simulation-heavy games like this one, the settings that usually cost the most are shadows, volumetric effects, the density of simulated units and citizens, and view distance. Raising shadow quality adds a lot of GPU work for a visual gain that is often smaller than expected, so a medium setting is usually a good compromise. View distance and city detail affect how much the GPU has to draw on large maps. If you mostly look down on your city, a moderate reduction rarely hurts how the game plays.
Ray tracing offers limited visual payoff in this kind of game. If your graphics card is from an older generation, leave it off. Simulation density and population-related options can affect game logic as well as visuals, so check what a setting does before changing it.
Upscaling technologies such as DLSS, FSR and XeSS work the same general way: the game renders at a lower internal resolution and scales the image up to your display. When your card supports one of them, enabling it is usually the easiest way to get smoother play with only a modest loss in image quality. Pick the quality mode that matches your preference.
Laptops and handheld PCs
Laptop graphics chips often share a name with desktop parts but deliver less performance. Laptop versions typically run with lower power limits and more conservative cooling, so a card with the same name can perform noticeably weaker. Before buying or judging a laptop, check that specific model's actual power and cooling specs rather than relying on the model name alone. If the laptop lets you switch to a high-performance mode while plugged in, play in that mode for steadier results.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck and ROG Ally are portable platforms that can run this game in principle, but you should compare the official requirements with their hardware. We do not have Steam Deck verification data, so we cannot give it a rating. As a general rule, start with lower resolution and detail presets, and use the built-in scaling or frame limiting options to balance battery life and heat. Handhelds also have limited memory and storage, so confirm you have enough free space before installing.
Storage and memory
Aim for at least 16 GB of system RAM and make sure it runs in dual-channel mode, with the sticks installed in the correct paired slots so the memory bandwidth doubles. The official minimum and recommended figures both say 8 GB, but that is only the starting point. Memory use climbs in the later stages of the game, and 16 GB helps avoid stutter caused by the system repeatedly reading from the drive. If your motherboard supports upgrading to 32 GB, that helps with multitasking and large saves.
For storage, the official requirement is 60 GB, but leave extra room, since updates and saves also take up space. The game does not require an SSD, but an SSD noticeably shortens loading times, which is most useful if you save often or switch between maps. A traditional hard drive will still run the game, just with slower loads.
Finally, keep the game on a drive with plenty of free space and check remaining capacity regularly so updates do not fail for lack of room.