Phasmophobia PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum requirements list an Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 processor, an NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 390 graphics card, 8 GB of RAM and 21 GB of storage. The recommended requirements raise the bar to an Intel Core i5-10600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor, an NVIDIA RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 graphics card, 8 GB of RAM and 21 GB of storage.
In today's terms, the minimum GPU sits in the older entry-level band, roughly on par with a GTX 1060 3GB. The recommended RTX 2060 and RX 5700 are mainstream cards aimed at 1080p. On the processor side, the i5-4590 is a very old entry-level chip, while the Ryzen 5 3600 is a modern mainstream part. The gap between the two levels is mostly about GPU and CPU generation: players at the recommended level can run comfortably at higher settings, while players at the minimum level will need to be more conservative.
Both tiers list 8 GB of RAM, but in practice that is only just enough, and most players will want 16 GB. Storage is listed at 21 GB. An SSD is not officially required, though one is recommended to reduce loading times.
The publisher lists both a minimum and a recommended tier for every component, so there is no missing level to account for.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build suits players who want to get into the game on a tight budget. A GTX 1660 Super or an RTX 3050 are sensible entry-mid graphics cards, paired with a budget six-core-class CPU such as the Ryzen 5 3500X or Core i5-10400F, and 16 GB of RAM. This combination clears the recommended tier and is best for 1080p at medium to high settings.
The mainstream build is the most practical choice for most players. Aim for an RTX 2060 12GB or RX 5700 class GPU, a Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i5-11400F, and 16 GB of RAM. This tier reliably meets the recommended requirements and gives a balanced experience at 1080p with medium-high settings.
The high-end build suits players who want higher resolutions, extra headroom for effects, or who stream and record while playing. Options include an RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT, a Ryzen 7 5800X3D or Core i5-13600K, and 32 GB of RAM. For this game, the main benefit of a high-end system is headroom rather than necessity, since its requirements are fairly modest.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In an atmospheric indoor horror game like this one, the settings that usually cost the most are shadow quality, volumetric lighting and fog, depth of field, reflections, and the density of objects and particles. Shadows and volumetrics are often the heaviest, so if you need headroom, lower those first and keep the rest at medium or high.
Ray tracing is generally less transformative in this kind of game than traditional lighting settings, so it is best left off unless your graphics card is well above the recommended tier. Anti-aliasing is worth keeping at a good level because it strongly affects image clarity, and its cost is usually lower than that of shadows.
Upscaling technologies such as DLSS, FSR and XeSS generally render at a lower internal resolution and reconstruct a sharper image. They can free up a lot of performance if your GPU supports them. Quality modes are a reasonable compromise if the image does not look noticeably soft. Results vary with your hardware and display, so compare for yourself.
Laptops and handheld PCs
A laptop GPU shares a name with a desktop card but usually performs noticeably lower. Laptop chips run under tighter power limits (TGP) and smaller cooling budgets, so the same name often sits about one tier below the desktop version. When choosing a laptop, check the GPU's power limit and cooling design rather than just the model name. Play while plugged in, keep vents clear, and watch for thermal throttling.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally sit between entry-level and mid-range performance, so they suit lower resolutions and reduced settings. No dedicated handheld requirements are listed for this game, so the general advice applies: use the built-in performance profile, lower shadows and post-processing, and lean on upscaling where available. Actual results depend on the specific model and settings you choose.
Storage and memory
The official recommended RAM is 8 GB, but once the operating system and background apps are counted, 16 GB is the practical target. Use a dual-channel configuration if your motherboard supports it, placing the two sticks in the correct slots to enable dual-channel mode.
The game itself needs 21 GB, but updates and temporary files take extra space, so leave generous free room. An SSD is not officially required, but it significantly shortens map and menu loading, which matters most if you switch scenes often. A hard drive will still run the game, just with slower loads.