Total War: WARHAMMER II PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
The official minimum CPU is an Intel Core 2 Duo at 3.0GHz. That is a very old dual-core processor, roughly in FrameScope's entry-level band (the Athlon 64 X2 6000+ tier). For the GPU, the minimum lists an NVIDIA GTX 460 1GB, an AMD Radeon HD 5770 1GB, or Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, which is recommended only at 720p. These are more than a decade old and represent a bare-minimum floor. The minimum RAM is 5GB and storage is 60GB. The publisher does not require an SSD.
The official recommended level moves up to an Intel Core i5-4570, an NVIDIA GTX 770 4GB or AMD Radeon R9 290X 4GB (listed at 1080p), with 8GB of RAM and the same 60GB of storage. The recommended GPU sits roughly around the GTX 1050 Ti tier, an older entry-level card. The gap between minimum and recommended is mostly about video memory and how well the system handles large battles. Meeting the recommended level means 1080p play is the intended target, not high settings.
The official figures do not promise any particular frame rate or quality level, so treat them as a baseline. If your machine only meets the minimum, lower the resolution and settings, and consider going to 8GB or more of RAM, which tends to improve the experience noticeably.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build pairs an NVIDIA GTX 1650 4GB or RTX 3050 6GB with a quad-core processor such as the Ryzen 3 3100 or Core i3-10100F, plus 16GB of RAM. It suits players on a tighter budget who are happy with 1080p at low to medium settings. The RTX 3050 6GB offers more video memory, which helps in large campaigns.
The mainstream build moves to a GTX 1660 or GTX 1660 Super, with a Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i5-10400, and 16GB of RAM. For most players this is the most sensible choice, handling 1080p at medium to high settings with room to spare when battles get crowded. The RTX 3050 8GB is also worth considering.
The high-end build uses an RTX 2070 Super, RTX 4060 or RX 7600, paired with a Ryzen 5 5600 or Core i5-12400, and 32GB of RAM. It suits players who want 1440p or maxed settings, or who run other software alongside the game. 32GB is not required for this title, but it adds comfortable headroom in late-campaign battles.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In strategy games like this one, the most demanding settings are usually unit counts and simulation density, shadows, volumetric effects and particles, and view distance. Battle size and simulation density tend to matter most, because every unit has to be simulated and drawn. If your system is struggling, lowering these first usually costs the least in visual quality.
Shadows and volumetrics are also common performance costs, and dropping them to medium often has little visible effect. View distance and terrain detail are worth keeping if your hardware allows, since they shape the look of the battlefield. Ray tracing, if offered, is not essential for this title, so turning it off leaves more performance for the battles themselves.
Upscaling technologies such as DLSS, FSR and XeSS render at a lower internal resolution and scale the image up, which is a common way to recover performance. Results depend on your GPU and the quality mode you choose, and quality or balanced modes generally hide the loss well. The official requirements do not say which upscalers are supported, so check the in-game options for what is available.
Laptops and handheld PCs
Laptop GPUs often share a name with desktop parts, such as an RTX 4060 Laptop versus a desktop RTX 4060, but they are not the same. Laptop versions are limited by power and cooling and usually perform below their desktop namesakes. Check the power limit (TGP) and cooling design of a specific model rather than relying on the model name alone, since power settings vary widely between manufacturers.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally use integrated or low-power graphics and sit in the entry range overall. Battery life and heat are the main constraints, so lower the settings and any frame-rate cap, and use the device's power profiles to balance battery against performance. FrameScope has no handheld verification data for this title, so this is general guidance only and not a rating.
For either type of device, play plugged in where possible, keep vents clear, and watch for thermal throttling during long sessions.
Storage and memory
The official requirements list 5GB of RAM as the minimum and 8GB as recommended. For a smoother experience we suggest at least 16GB, since the operating system and background apps already use a good share of memory and 8GB can get tight in large campaigns. Dual-channel memory (two sticks in the correct slots) gives better bandwidth and is worth checking on your motherboard.
For storage, the official figure is 60GB, but leave extra room for updates and save files. An SSD is not required, yet it noticeably shortens load times, especially when loading large campaign saves. If your budget allows, install the game on an SSD. A hard drive will work, only with slower loading.
Keep at least 10% of the drive free to avoid failed updates and slowdowns, and clear out unused files from time to time to keep things running smoothly.