Marvel Rivals PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum asks for an Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X, a GPU in the class of an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, AMD RX 580 or Intel Arc A380, 16 GB of RAM and 70 GB of storage. It does not require an SSD. Today those CPUs sit in the older mainstream band, the GTX 1060 and RX 580 are older mid-range cards, and the Arc A380 is an entry-level part. The minimum is the threshold for the game to launch and run at basic settings, not a configuration built for a smooth experience.
The recommended tier lists an Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, plus an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Super, AMD RX 5700 XT or Intel Arc A750, with the same 16 GB of RAM and 70 GB of storage. This roughly corresponds to today's modern mainstream: the i5-10400 and 5600X are current mainstream CPUs, and the RTX 2060 Super and RX 5700 XT are 1080p-class mainstream cards. The gap between minimum and recommended is mostly a GPU and CPU generation gap. RAM and storage stay the same, so if you upgrade, focus on the graphics card and processor.
The publisher did not list an SSD requirement, only that one is not needed. Still, with a 70 GB install, map and character loading times will vary, which is covered in the storage section below.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build suits players on a tight budget who are happy to play at lower settings. Good GPU choices include the Intel Arc A380, GTX 1650, GTX 1660 series or RTX 3050 6GB, paired with a CPU such as the Ryzen 3 3100, Core i3-10100F or Ryzen 5 4500. Plan on 16 GB of RAM, which is the official minimum and the floor for this class of system. This combination reaches the official minimum and runs at reduced settings, but do not expect it to stay steady in heavy team fights.
The mainstream build is the most practical choice for most players. Consider an RTX 2060 Super, RX 5700 XT, RTX 3060 12GB, RX 6600 XT or Arc B570, with a CPU like the Core i5-10400F, Ryzen 5 3600, Core i5-11400F or Ryzen 5 5500. Again 16 GB of RAM is the right target. This tier meets the official recommended requirements, handles 1080p at medium to high settings, and copes better with ability-heavy moments.
The high-end build suits players who want more headroom or who play on a high refresh-rate monitor. Options include an RTX 4070, RX 7800 XT or RTX 3080 Ti, with a CPU such as the Ryzen 5 7600X, Ryzen 7 7700X or Core i7-12700K. Go to 32 GB of RAM so multitasking and background apps do not interfere with the game. This configuration sits clearly above the official recommendation. Its value is in leaving room to raise settings and keeping spare capacity when many effects hit at once.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In a multiplayer hero shooter like this, the settings that usually cost the most are shadows, volumetric lighting and fog, reflections, global illumination and view distance. Particle effects from abilities and destructible environments add load too. If you can only change a few things, lower shadows and reflections first, since they tend to be the most expensive while helping least with spotting enemies. Once shadow quality drops, just make sure character silhouettes stay readable.
View distance and detail level should be set to suit your monitor and habits. In competitive play, clear outlines of characters and cover matter more than texture fidelity, so keep model and texture detail reasonably high while trimming post-processing effects. Global illumination and volumetric effects can usually sit at medium, which keeps some atmosphere without dragging the frame pacing down when lots of effects overlap.
If your GPU supports DLSS, FSR or XeSS, upscaling can trade a small image difference for more smoothness. Quality modes generally lose the least detail, while balanced modes give more headroom. When upscaling, check that character edges and interface text stay sharp; if things look noticeably blurry, step up to a higher quality mode.
Laptops and handheld PCs
Laptop GPUs often share names with desktop cards, such as an RTX 3060 or RTX 4070, but power limits and cooling mean real performance is usually below the desktop version. When buying or judging a laptop, look at that model's GPU power range and cooling design, not just the name. For long sessions, set the power mode to high performance and keep the vents clear so thermal throttling does not hurt consistency.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally are general-purpose portable computers. They run on low power, so they are best suited to low settings and upscaling, with a conservative frame-rate cap to save battery and manage heat. The official requirements do not give handheld-specific guidance, so test with your own settings and adjust graphics to the device's power mode.
If you plan to use an external monitor with a handheld or laptop, confirm the display's resolution and refresh rate are supported by the output port, and use a power adapter with enough wattage so the system does not run short under heavy load.
Storage and memory
For memory, both the official minimum and recommended tiers call for 16 GB, which is a sensible amount for running the game alongside other programs. If your PC also runs a browser, chat apps or streaming tools, 32 GB gives more room and avoids paging to disk, which can cause stutter. Install RAM in dual-channel mode, meaning two sticks of matching capacity on the motherboard, which generally improves overall performance.
For storage, the game needs 70 GB, so leave extra space for updates and temporary files. The publisher does not require an SSD, but an SSD clearly shortens startup and map loading, which is a useful upgrade for anyone queuing matches frequently. An HDD will still run the game, only with longer waits.
Finally, check free space on both your system drive and the drive holding the game regularly. Running low can cause failed updates and slower performance.