DARK SOULS™ II: Scholar of the First Sin PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum CPU is an AMD A8 3870 at 3.6 GHz or an Intel Core i3-2100 at 3.1 GHz. Both are entry-level chips from more than a decade ago, roughly comparable to today's Core i3-2100 class of processors. The minimum GPU is an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 or Radeon HD 6870, which sits at about the level of a GeForce GTX 650 or a Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics chip in today's terms. The minimum RAM is 4 GB and the minimum storage is 23 GB. The publisher does not require an SSD.
The recommended CPU is an AMD FX 8150 at 3.6 GHz or an Intel Core i7-2600 at 3.4 GHz, roughly similar to a Core i5-4460 today. The recommended GPU is a GeForce GTX 750 or Radeon HD 7850, which is around the level of an entry discrete card or a strong integrated chip such as the Radeon 680M. The recommended RAM is 8 GB, and the storage requirement stays at 23 GB, again with no SSD requirement.
For a player, the gap between minimum and recommended mostly shows up in how smoothly the game runs and how high you can push the graphics. Meeting the recommended tier means the publisher expects a comfortable experience at reasonable settings. Meeting only the minimum usually means lowering resolution and quality to keep things stable. No higher tier is listed in the official data.
If you are comparing your own machine, match your CPU, GPU and RAM against both lines rather than focusing on one part. A strong graphics card paired with a very old processor or limited memory will still fall short of the recommended experience.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build pairs a GeForce GTX 1650 4GB with a Ryzen 3 3100. It suits players who want a low-cost machine for smooth play at 1080p. This combination sits well above the official recommended tier, and 16 GB of RAM is advisable so the system and background apps have room to breathe.
The mainstream build uses a GeForce RTX 3050 8GB with a Ryzen 5 3600. It is for players who want a clear margin above the recommended tier, higher graphics settings, and the ability to run other programs at the same time. Again, 16 GB of RAM is the sensible choice.
The high-end build uses a GeForce RTX 4060 with a Ryzen 5 5600. It fits players who want higher resolution or more demanding graphics settings and would rather not upgrade for several years. This tier is far beyond the official recommended needs. 16 GB of RAM is still enough for the game alone, but 32 GB is worth considering if you stream or keep many applications open.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In action RPGs like this one, the settings that usually cost the most performance are shadow quality, volumetric lighting and fog, particle and effects density, view distance, and the number of enemies or objects on screen at once. Shadows and view distance tend to be the biggest levers, so start there. Texture quality usually mainly consumes video memory rather than processing power, so you can often keep it high if your card has enough VRAM.
If your graphics card supports it, upscaling technologies such as DLSS, FSR or XeSS are worth trying. In general terms, they render the scene at a lower internal resolution and reconstruct it at a higher output resolution, which can reduce the load on the GPU with only a modest loss in image quality. Results depend on how well the game implements the feature and which mode you pick, so compare the image yourself.
Anti-aliasing and sharpness settings are generally less demanding and can usually be kept on. If the game feels choppy, lower shadows, view distance and volumetric effects first; those are usually the most efficient changes to make.
Laptops and handheld PCs
Laptop graphics chips often share a name with their desktop counterparts, such as an RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, but they run with lower power limits and rely on smaller cooling systems. As a result they are noticeably weaker than the desktop version. When you evaluate a laptop, look at the GPU's rated power (TGP), the cooling design, and whether the machine can hold a high load for a long session.
While playing on a laptop, keep it plugged in and set the power mode to high performance. Battery operation will usually limit the GPU and CPU heavily.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally are low-power portable platforms. They can generally run this type of game, but you will need to lower the resolution and graphics quality. FrameScope has no verification data for handheld devices, so treat this as general guidance and check player reports for real-world experience.
Storage and memory
The official minimum RAM is 4 GB and the recommended amount is 8 GB. On current systems, 16 GB is a more comfortable target, and dual-channel memory (two sticks installed in the correct slots) helps the CPU and GPU exchange data more efficiently. If you have only a single stick, adding a second one is one of the cheapest improvements you can make.
The game requires 23 GB of storage, but leave extra room for updates and save data. The official requirements do not demand an SSD, and the game can run from a hard drive. An SSD, however, noticeably shortens loading times and reduces waits when moving between areas or loading saves, so it is a worthwhile upgrade if your budget allows.
Keep some free space on the drive the game is installed on. Running low on space can slow down updates and make the system less responsive overall.