Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum CPU is listed as an Intel i3-3220 or AMD equivalent. By today's standards that is a very old entry-level processor, roughly on the level of an Intel Core i3-2100. The minimum GPU is listed as a GTX 660, GTX 1050 or Radeon HD 7770. The GTX 1050 and HD 7770 are both old entry-level cards, and the GTX 660 is older still. The minimum asks for 8GB of RAM and 40GB of storage, and does not require an SSD.
The recommended CPU is an Intel i7-4770K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600, which sits around the Ryzen 5 1400 class, still an old entry-level tier. The recommended GPU is a GTX 1060 6GB or RX 480 8GB, roughly comparable to a Radeon R9 390. Recommended RAM rises to 16GB, storage stays at 40GB, and an SSD is again not required.
The gap between the two levels is mostly about CPU, GPU and memory capacity. The minimum suits players who are happy to lower settings and prioritize smoothness. The recommended level gives you more headroom to play at steadier settings. Where the publisher did not list a component for a given level, it is not specified, and we do not guess.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build pairs a GPU such as the GeForce GTX 1650 4GB, GeForce GTX 1660 or Radeon RX 6500 XT with a quad-core CPU like the Ryzen 3 3100 or Core i3-10100F, plus 16GB of RAM. It suits a tight budget and 1080p play at low to medium settings. It clearly exceeds the official minimum and reaches the recommended tier.
The mainstream build uses a GeForce GTX 1660 Super, RTX 3050 8GB or Radeon RX 5600 XT, paired with a six-core CPU such as the Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i5-10400, again with 16GB of RAM. This tier suits players who want stable 1080p play at medium to high settings and a balanced price-to-performance ratio.
The high-end build uses a GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 3070 or Radeon RX 6700 XT, paired with a Ryzen 5 5600X, Ryzen 7 5700X or Core i7-11700K, and 32GB of RAM for extra room in multitasking and other games. It suits players who want higher resolutions or higher settings.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In large action-adventure games like this one, the settings that usually cost the most are shadow quality, volumetric lighting and fog, ambient occlusion, and the density of foliage and scene detail. Shadows and volumetrics are often the largest cost, while view distance affects how much distant geometry is drawn. If you need performance, lower shadows and volumetric effects first, since these changes are often less noticeable in play.
Ray tracing, if your GPU supports it, is one of the most demanding options. For a card that only just reaches the recommended tier, it is generally best left off so the GPU budget goes to resolution and core settings.
Upscaling technologies such as NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR and Intel XeSS render at a lower internal resolution and reconstruct the image, which can ease the load on the GPU at some cost to fine detail. If your hardware supports them, they are a good way to balance image quality and smoothness. Results depend on your hardware and settings, so compare the image in-game yourself.
Laptops and handheld PCs
Laptop GPUs and desktop GPUs with the same name are not identical. Laptop versions are limited by power caps and cooling space, so they usually perform below their desktop counterparts. When reading a spec sheet, check whether a model is the laptop or desktop variant. Good cooling and a high-performance power profile matter a lot for sustained play, so keep vents clear during long sessions.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally are designed for portability, which means tighter power and thermal limits. In general, these devices work best at lower resolutions and settings, and it helps to use their built-in performance and power tuning options. The official data has no handheld-specific verification for this title, so this is general guidance only.
Storage and memory
The official minimum RAM is 8GB and the recommended is 16GB. In practice, 16GB is the safer starting point today, leaving room for the game and background programs. Make sure your memory runs in dual-channel mode by installing two matching modules in the correct slots, which helps CPU and overall performance.
For storage, the official figure is 40GB, but you should leave extra room for updates and cache files, so plan for more than the listed number. An SSD is not officially required, but it noticeably shortens load times and reduces stutter when moving between areas. If your budget allows, install the game on an SSD. A traditional hard drive will still work but loads more slowly.
Finally, keep a reasonable share of your drive free so that game and system updates and temporary files can be handled without trouble.