Oxygen Not Included PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum for Oxygen Not Included lists a Dual Core 2 GHz CPU, an Intel HD 4600 graphics chip (or an AMD or NVIDIA equivalent), 8 GB of RAM and 3 GB of storage. On FrameScope's tier scale, the HD 4600 is an integrated, very old entry-level chip, and the dual-core CPU sits in the same early band. Meeting the minimum means the game will start and run, but it does not mean it will run comfortably.
The official recommended spec is an Intel Core i7-8700K or equivalent, a dedicated graphics card with at least 2 GB of VRAM, 16 GB of RAM and the same 3 GB of storage. The GPU reference is roughly a GTX 670 class card, an older entry-level discrete GPU, and the CPU reference is in the modern mainstream band around the Ryzen 5 3500X. The gap between minimum and recommended is large: you move from integrated graphics to a dedicated card, and RAM doubles from 8 GB to 16 GB. For most players, the recommended tier is the more useful baseline.
The publisher does not list an SSD requirement, and both tiers state that an SSD is not required. Load and save times still benefit from faster storage, which is covered in the storage section below. The official language list includes English, Simplified Chinese, Korean and Russian, and Traditional Chinese is not listed, so check the language options before you buy.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build suits players who want to keep costs down while still meeting the recommended spec. A GTX 1650 4GB or RX 6500 XT covers the graphics side, paired with a CPU such as the Ryzen 5 3500X or Core i5-10400F. Go with 16 GB of RAM, since that is the official recommended amount and anything less tends to cause problems later in a big colony. The goal here is to clear the recommended tier and play at moderate settings.
The mainstream build is the choice most players will find the best value. A GTX 1660 Super or RTX 3050 8GB gives you headroom for higher settings, and a Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i5-11400 handles the simulation load comfortably. The extra margin matters most when your colony grows large and the CPU has more to calculate. 16 GB of RAM is still the right amount.
The high build is aimed at players who want higher visual settings and plenty of room for large bases. An RTX 4060 or RX 7600 covers the graphics, and a Ryzen 7 7700 or Core i7-12700K covers the CPU. Because the game's requirements are fairly modest, the benefit here is a higher quality ceiling and more margin rather than the difference between running and not running. 16 GB is enough, and 32 GB is a sensible choice if you keep other programs open while playing.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
Simulation games like this lean more on the CPU than on the GPU, because the game constantly updates many objects, fluids, gases and creatures. The settings that usually cost the most are shadow quality, volumetric lighting and fog, and view distance. Their impact grows when your base is large or the screen is crowded, so these are the first things to lower if the game stutters.
Resolution and basic texture quality are worth keeping, since they affect sharpness noticeably while costing relatively little in smoothness. If your graphics card has limited VRAM, lowering texture quality is a sensible way to avoid running out of memory. Ray tracing is generally not essential in a game like this, so whether to enable it depends on your hardware and taste.
If your card supports DLSS, FSR or XeSS, these upscaling techniques render at a lower internal resolution and reconstruct the image at your target resolution. This can reduce GPU load with a modest loss in image quality. Quality modes usually give the best balance. The actual gain varies with hardware and settings, so compare for yourself.
Laptops and handheld PCs
Laptop GPUs often share names with desktop cards, such as an RTX 4060 laptop version, but they are limited by power (TGP) and cooling, so they usually perform below the desktop equivalent. When buying a laptop, check the GPU's power limit and the cooling design rather than just the model name. Poor cooling during long sessions can cause throttling and affect stability.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally are general PC platforms and can run many Windows or Linux games, but compatibility and performance depend on each device's setup. FrameScope has no Steam Deck verification data for this game, so we do not give it a rating. Compare the official requirements with the device's specs yourself. Handhelds are constrained by battery and thermals, so lower the settings and keep an eye on temperatures.
Storage and memory
For memory, the official recommendation is 16 GB, and dual-channel installation, with two matched sticks, gives the best results. Dual-channel lets both modules work at once to raise memory bandwidth, which helps overall system performance. If you currently have 8 GB, moving to 16 GB is the most direct improvement and matches the recommended spec.
The official storage requirement is 3 GB, but leave extra room for updates and save files. An SSD usually shortens loading and save times. It is not required, but it is the more comfortable option if you can choose. A hard drive will also run the game, though waits for loading and saving may be longer.
Make sure the drive has enough free space before installing, and avoid keeping it close to full over long periods, since that helps the system and the game stay stable.