Path of Exile 2 PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum CPU is an Intel Core i7-7700 or AMD Ryzen 5 2500X. Those are older mainstream chips, roughly comparable today to a budget mid-range part such as the Core i3-9100F. They are enough to launch the game and run it at lower settings, but they will struggle in fights with large enemy counts. The minimum GPU is a GeForce GTX 960 (3GB), Intel Arc A380, or Radeon RX 470. That is an older entry-level class, around the Radeon HD 7950 range, so the listing is about getting the game running rather than about smooth play.
The recommended tier is a clear step up. The CPU is an Intel Core i5-10500 or AMD Ryzen 5 3700X, which sits in today's mainstream band. The GPU is a GeForce RTX 2060, Intel Arc A770, or Radeon RX 5600 XT, roughly a 1080p mainstream card. The gap between minimum and recommended is mostly a generation gap in both CPU and GPU. In practice, the recommended tier gives you more headroom for late-game maps and group play with dense fights.
For memory, the minimum is 8 GB and the recommended is 16 GB. 16 GB is the more comfortable choice for long sessions and for running other programs alongside the game. Both tiers list 100 GB of storage. The publisher does not require an SSD, and it does not specify a drive type for either tier, so an SSD is a matter of comfort rather than a stated requirement.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build suits players who want to keep costs down and are happy with lower settings and conservative choices. A GeForce GTX 1660 or Intel Arc A380 sits at or slightly above the official minimum, paired with a Ryzen 5 3500X or Core i5-10400F class processor. Aim for at least 16 GB of RAM, since this tier leans on system memory for everything else you run.
The mainstream build is what most players will want. The goal is to comfortably meet the official recommended tier and keep some margin. A Radeon RX 5600 XT, RTX 2060, or RTX 3060 8GB is a good GPU target, with a Ryzen 5 3600, Core i5-11400, or Ryzen 5 5500 as the CPU. 16 GB of RAM is enough for most group play and skill effects, and this is the best-balanced tier for the price.
The high-end build is for players who want higher resolution, more effects, or a longer upgrade runway. Consider an RTX 4060 Ti 16GB, RX 6800, or RTX 3080 10GB, paired with a Ryzen 7 5800X3D or Core i5-13600K. 32 GB of RAM leaves room for chat, guides, and streaming software alongside the game.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In an isometric action RPG like this, shadows, global illumination, volumetric effects, and dense particle work usually cost the most. Shadows and global illumination are typically the heaviest, so lower them first. Volumetrics and particle density add real load when many skills fire at once, and their visual payoff is often modest, so they are good candidates to reduce. View distance and scene object detail also keep consuming resources across large maps.
Ray tracing usually offers limited benefit in a game like this, and for steady combat it is generally better left off. If your GPU supports DLSS, FSR, or XeSS, an upscaling quality mode can reduce load without a dramatic loss of image quality. Dynamic resolution is another way to handle combat spikes and suits players who prioritize smoothness.
A sensible order is to reduce shadows and global illumination first, then particles and view distance, and only then resolution or upscaling. When testing your settings, use high enemy-density content rather than a quiet town or an early area, or your results will not reflect the hard moments.
Laptops and handheld PCs
Laptop GPUs often share names with desktop cards but deliver less performance, because of power limits (TGP) and cooling differences. The same model name can mean a noticeably slower laptop variant, so check the actual power specification rather than the name alone. Long sessions can also trigger throttling if cooling is poor, so keep vents clear and consider a cooling pad.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally can run games of this kind in general, but the experience depends on how much the game relies on integrated graphics and memory bandwidth. FrameScope has no verification data for this game on Steam Deck, so we cannot give a rating. If you use a handheld, start with a lower resolution and conservative settings, and check that battery life and thermals hold up over long sessions.
Storage and memory
For memory, 16 GB is the recommended capacity, and dual-channel configuration is worth using, such as two 8 GB sticks or two 16 GB sticks. Dual-channel gives better memory bandwidth, which helps the CPU and integrated components. 8 GB will launch the game but can run short during long sessions or when other programs are open.
The official listing requires 100 GB of storage, but it is wise to leave extra room for updates and cache. The publisher does not require an SSD, yet a solid-state drive noticeably shortens load times and reduces waits when moving between areas. The game will run from a hard drive, but loading will be clearly slower. Install it on a dedicated SSD if you can, and keep enough free space so that updates and day-to-day running are not affected.