Cyberpunk 2077 PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum CPU is a Core i7-6700 or Ryzen 5 1600. On our tier scale that places it in the older mainstream band. It is enough to launch and run the game on an older platform, but do not expect much headroom. The minimum GPU is a GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, a Radeon RX 580 8GB, or an Intel Arc A380, the last of which sits at the older entry level. The minimum system RAM is 12 GB, and the recommended amount is 16 GB.
The recommended CPU is a Core i7-12700 or Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which is a modern mainstream part (the 7800X3D is a strong gaming processor). The recommended GPU is a GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER, a Radeon RX 5700 XT, or an Intel Arc A770, which is roughly a mainstream 1080p-class card. The gap between the two sets is large. The minimum list tells you what can start the game, while the recommended list is the better reference for most players.
Both levels list 70 GB of storage, and the publisher requires an SSD. No other official level is listed, so the comparison here uses only these two sets.
For the general reader: the GPU sets the baseline for how demanding scenes will feel, and the CPU and RAM mainly affect how smoothly the open city streams in and how busy streets are simulated.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build pairs an entry-level GPU, such as a GeForce GTX 1660 or an RTX 3050, with an older six-core CPU like the Ryzen 5 3500X or the Core i5-10400F, and 16 GB of RAM. This suits players on a tight budget who are happy to lower resolution and settings. The aim is a stable game, not maximum visuals.
The mainstream build centers on a GPU in the RTX 2060 SUPER, RX 5700 XT, or Arc A770 class, such as the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or the Radeon RX 6600 XT. It is paired with a Ryzen 7 5800X or a Core i5-12600K and 16 GB of RAM. This matches the official recommended tier and is the best value for a steady 1080p experience.
The high build uses a GPU like the GeForce RTX 4070, the Radeon RX 7800 XT, or the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D or a Core i9 chip and 32 GB of RAM. It fits players who want high settings, ray tracing, or higher resolutions. The extra VRAM gives high-resolution textures more room.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
Most of this game's load falls on the GPU. Ray tracing is usually the most expensive option, especially reflections and global illumination. If your hardware is tight, turn it off first, since it is often the single biggest improvement you can make. Volumetric fog, screen-space reflections, and shadow quality are the next biggest costs in an open city.
Crowd density and simulation density control how many pedestrians and vehicles appear on the street. They put pressure on both the CPU and the GPU, so lower them if you see stutter. View distance decides how far distant objects are drawn. Lowering it is usually cheaper in visual terms than cutting lighting effects.
Upscaling technologies such as DLSS, FSR, and XeSS render at a lower internal resolution and reconstruct a sharper image, which generally buys performance headroom. Pick a quality mode rather than the most aggressive performance mode, so text and distant detail stay clean. Choose the option that matches your GPU brand.
Laptops and handheld PCs
Laptop GPUs often share names with desktop cards, such as the RTX series, but their real performance depends on power limits and cooling. The laptop version of a card usually runs at lower power and conservative clocks, so judge it against that specific model's actual specifications, not the desktop card's results. Long sessions can cause thermal throttling, so keep vents clear and set the power mode to performance.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck and ROG Ally are portable platforms, and how they compare to the official recommended tier depends on the specific model. FrameScope has no Steam Deck verification data for this game, so this guide gives no handheld rating. In general, handheld players should lower resolution and settings and use built-in scaling or frame limiting to balance battery life and performance.
Storage and memory
For memory, the official minimum is 12 GB and the recommended amount is 16 GB. Use a dual-channel setup, meaning matched memory modules installed as a pair, to get more bandwidth. A system with 8 GB or a single stick may stutter noticeably when the city loads heavily.
The game needs at least 70 GB of storage, but leave extra room because updates and caches take up more space over time. The publisher requires an SSD because the open world streams large amounts of data continuously. An SSD greatly reduces load times and stutter during area transitions. A traditional hard drive usually cannot match that streaming speed, so installing on a mechanical drive is not recommended.