The Ultimate Powerhouses for an Unparalleled Starfield Gaming Experience

The release date for Bethesda Game Studio's Starfield is set for September 6th (or September 1st for those opting for the Premium or Constellation edition). PC gamers will be pleased to know that the game has relatively modest minimum and recommended system requirements, as detailed in the specifications provided on Steam.

MINIMUM:OS: Windows 10 version 22H2 (10.0.19045)

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, Intel Core i7-6800K

Memory: 16 GB RAM

Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5700, NVIDIA GeForce 1070 Ti

DirectX: Version 12

Storage: 125 GB available space

Additional Notes: SSD Required

RECOMMENDED:OS: Windows 10/11 with updates

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, Intel i5-10600K

Memory: 16 GB RAM

Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080

DirectX: Version 12

Network: Broadband Internet connection

Storage: 125 GB available space

Additional Notes: SSD Required

What Do The Hardware Requirements For Starfield Mean?

Most gamers with a relatively recent gaming PC and a solid CPU/GPU combination should have no problems running Starfield. However, those who want to store the game on an HDD might encounter issues since Starfield explicitly requires storage on an SSD. This requirement is likely to minimize loading screens and wait times, providing a smoother gameplay experience similar to current-generation consoles like the Xbox Series S and X, which have their own custom SSD configurations.

Although the hardware requirements for Starfield can be found on Steam, AMD has also published its own recommendations for FHD, 2K, and 4K target resolutions. Given that a majority of PC gamers currently use an Nvidia GPU and there is a fairly even split between Intel and AMD CPUs, the team at Game Rant has created three well-balanced PC builds. These builds cater to the minimum and recommended specs, as well as an ideal gaming PC for running Starfield at a higher resolution without any issues.

The Minimum Spec Build For Starfield

Intel Core i5-12400F

The Intel Core i5-12400F processor, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, excels in performance and offers a competitive price point. It effortlessly outperforms AMD's offerings priced below $200, making it a top choice. Available for $150 on Amazon and Newegg.

Introducing the ASUS Prime H610M-E D4 Motherboard, an M-ATX motherboard featuring the powerful H610 chipset. Originally released alongside the 12th generation Intel CPU lineup, it has since received a bios update to seamlessly support the latest 13th generation Intel processors.

$126 at Amazon $105 at Newegg

Patriot Viper Steel DDR4 16GB (1 x 16GB) 3200 MHz

The Patriot's Viper Steel DDR4 memory, priced at $30 at Amazon, allows for outstanding overclocking potential with its XMP 2.0 support. Its custom aluminum heat spreader effectively regulates temperatures, ensuring optimal performance. Save $6 on this 16GB RAM module.

The MSI MAG Forge 112R Case is an affordable option that caters to both gamers and content creators. Equipped with four ARGB fans and a controller box, this case illuminates with stunning preset effects. It boasts a 4mm tempered glass panel, allowing for easy access to the top-notch components without the need for tools. Additionally, it provides ample space for liquid cooling radiators and ensures efficient cooling through its mesh front panel.

$90 at Amazon $90 at Walmart $90 at Newegg

Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 650W PSU

The Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 650W power supply unit (PSU) comes with a 140mm Hydraulic-Bearing fan, illuminated in 256 different colors. The fan is designed to be quiet and provide effective cooling by optimizing the fan blades for enhanced static pressure. Additionally, this PSU has a lighting button at the back that allows users to choose from five different lighting modes: RGB Cycle, Red, Green, Blue, White, or completely turning the LED off. With its 80 PLUS Gold rating, the Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 650W ensures up to 90 percent efficiency. You can find it on Amazon.

The MSI GeForce RTX 4060 VENTUS 2X BLACK 8G OC is a top-notch choice for those seeking an RTX 4060 GPU. It provides a well-balanced solution within Nvidia's entry-level Ada Lovelace-based RTX 4000 series, ensuring minimal power consumption, a sleek design, and a solitary 8-pin power connector to efficiently meet its energy requirements. This makes it a quiet yet high-performing option that lives up to its promises.

$300 at Amazon $300 at Newegg $300 at Best Buy

XPG 1TB GAMMIX S70 Blade SSD

Get the XPG 1TB GAMMIX S70 Blade SSD for only $60 at Amazon. Save $70 and enjoy lightning-fast speeds on PCI-E 4.0, making it the perfect addition to your PC or game console. It is specifically designed to enhance your PS5's storage this summer. This SSD comes with a reliable heat spreader that is compatible with the PS5 console and a robust controller capable of handling the highest read/write speeds you desire. The Gammix S70 Blade offers great value with a price that cannot be beaten.

Estimated Build Cost: $825

At the top of the list is a fresh build that incorporates the latest technology, striving to fulfill the minimum requirements and more without exceeding your budget. It boasts an Intel Core i5 12400F processor, coupled with an entry-level ASUS Prime H610M-E D4 motherboard and a single module of Patriot's budget-friendly DDR4 memory (Game Rant suggests considering two modules if your budget permits, for additional memory capacity).

The MSI Ventus RTX 4060 offers improved graphics capabilities compared to the recommended GTX 1070TI for Starfield. Coupled with the high-performance 1TB XPG Blade SSDs, which are among the fastest in the industry, this build exceeds the minimum hardware requirements for Starfield. The inclusion of a 650W Gold-rated Thermaltake Toughpower PSU and the MSI MAG Forge 112R case ensures reliable performance. Additionally, this build provides a larger SSD capacity than necessary, accommodating multiple save files and leaving room for future expansion packs. Gamers can comfortably target FHD (1920 x 1080) resolution and, in some cases, achieve smooth gameplay at 2K resolution.

Target Resolutions: FHD Ultra, 2K High

The Recommended Spec Build For Starfield

Introducing the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X!

For just $245, gamers can now enter the new era of CPUs with significant savings of $55. With the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, users gain access to the cutting-edge features including PCIe 5.0, DDR5 RAM, and a smart shift from CPUs with pins (which tend to bend easily) to motherboards with pins.

$200 at Amazon $245 at Newegg

ID-COOLING SE-214-XT ARGB CPU Cooler

The ID-COOLING SE-214-XT ARGB CPU Cooler is a top-quality air cooler that outperforms Intel and AMD's stock coolers. It effectively cools CPUs with a TDP of up to 180W and includes a great PWM ARGB fan. At just $20 on Amazon, it offers incredible value that shouldn't be overlooked.

Introducing the GIGABYTE B650 AORUS Elite AX motherboard. With a price point that rivals AMD's budget-friendly options, this high-end motherboard features the B650 chipset. It not only offers exceptional performance but also includes a PCI-E Gen 5 M2 slot for future-proof storage upgrade to faster PCI-E 5.0 technology. Get it now for just $210 and save $10.

$210 at Amazon $220 at Best Buy $220 at Newegg

G.Skill Flare X5 Series (AMD Expo) 6000MHz 32GB (CL36)

Save $31 on the G.Skill Flare X5 Series RAM kits, which are high-performance DDR5 RAMs designed specifically for AMD AM5 processors. These RAMs operate at an impressive overclocked 6000MHz frequency and feature a lower latency EXPO profile. Users can easily overclock their memory with a simple push of a button. Not only do these RAM kits offer top-notch performance, but they also come at a budget-friendly price. Get them for $110 on Amazon or opt for the even better deal of $92 on Newegg.

The MSI RTX 4070 Ventus 3X 12G OC is a fantastic choice for those seeking a mid-range GPU from the RTX 4000 series. With comparable performance to the RTX 3080 and an impressive DLSS 3 feature, this graphics card offers excellent value for money. Currently priced at under $60 below the MSRP for an RTX 4070, this is a highly recommended purchase, especially with Prime Day approaching. Upgrade your system this summer with the MSI RTX 4070 Ventus 3X 12G OC.

$610 at Amazon

SAMSUNG 990 PRO NVMe 4.0 SSD 1TB

Save $90 when you purchase the Samsung 990 Pro, Samsung's newest and most advanced PCI-E 4.0 SSD. Experience lightning-fast read and write speeds, backed by a dependable 5-year warranty. Enjoy exceptional software support through the Samsung Magician software suite, enabling you to optimize, assess, and personalize the functionality of your SSD to a great extent. Get it now for just $80 on Amazon.

Introducing the Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 PE 850 W PSU

Now available at a discounted price of $110 (previously $157), you can save a whopping $47 on the Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 power supply. With a power output of 850 W and fully modular cables, this PSU is the perfect choice for your PC build.

Designed to deliver exceptional performance, the Toughpower GF1 is certified with an 80 Plus Gold rating. Equipped with a 140 mm fan, this power supply ensures optimal cooling to keep your system running efficiently. Additionally, its powerful single +12V rail guarantees a stable and reliable power supply to all your PC components.

Upgrade your gaming rig or workstation with the Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 PE 850 W PSU today and experience superior power delivery like never before.

$110 at Amazon $110 at Newegg

Corsair 4000D Airflow

Get the CORSAIR 4000D AIRFLOW mid-tower ATX case now at a discounted price of $90, originally $105, saving you $15! Experience seamless cable management and superior cooling with its convenient features. The steel front panel, equipped with triangular cutouts, maximizes airflow to your components. Furthermore, enjoy the added benefit of two 120 mm AirGuide fans that are specifically designed with anti-vortex vanes to enhance cooling. Managing your cables is a breeze with the CORSAIR RapidRoute cable management system, which allows you to easily route major cables through a single channel that offers 25mm of routing depth. Don't miss out on this deal – available for $90 at both Amazon and Best Buy.

Estimated Build Cost: $1,412

The recommended build for Starfield features a hand-picked selection of components. The CPU remains a 6-core, but an upgraded Ryzen 5 7600X is included, offering superior performance and higher clock speeds compared to competing options. While it doesn't come with a stock cooler, it is bundled with the budget-friendly SE-214-XT air cooler from ID-Cooling, which shares a similar design to the popular Hyper 212 cooler. The updated build also includes a newer and slightly more expensive motherboard, based on the Zen 4 architecture, which offers improved I/O options compared to the entry-level version considered for the minimum spec build.

In order to fully utilize AMD's newer CPUs and chipsets, it is recommended to pair them with DDR5 memory. This not only requires higher clock speeds, but also suggests upgrading RAM to 32GB to avoid any performance limitations caused by memory bottlenecks. To enhance the graphics experience, an RTX 4070 with 12GB of VRAM is suggested, and for storage, a Samsung 980 Pro 1TB SSD is highly recommended. With this configuration, the PC can effortlessly handle Starfield, surpassing the recommended specifications in many cases, and performing equally or slightly better in others. Overall, this setup is capable of providing a smooth gaming experience at up to 2K resolution, while also allowing for some 4K gameplay with adjusted settings.

Target Resolutions: 2K Ultra, 4K Medium

The Ideal Spec Starfield Build

Introducing the powerful AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Boasting exceptional gaming capabilities, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is truly the pinnacle of gaming CPUs. Its remarkable performance and unrivaled efficiency have placed it at the forefront of the gaming industry. With groundbreaking 3D V-Cache technology, this CPU elevates PC gaming to new heights and solidifies its position as a true gaming powerhouse.

$439 at Amazon $449 at Newegg

DeepCool Liquid Cooler LS720 360MM ARGB Liquid Cooler

The DeepCool Liquid Cooler LS720 360MM ARGB Liquid Cooler stands out as one of the most visually appealing options in the market. Moreover, it offers exceptional cooling performance, capable of effectively handling even the most powerful CPUs, all while maintaining a more affordable price compared to other high-end ARGB liquid coolers.

Available for $140 on Amazon and Newegg.

The ASRock X670E PG Lightning Gaming Motherboard is a top choice for gamers looking to build a powerful gaming rig using the latest AM5 socket/Ryzen 7000 processor lineup. With the robust X670E chipset and a wide range of I/O options, this motherboard offers exceptional value for money. Although it lacks Wi-Fi connectivity, the X670E makes up for it with its impressive features and overall value proposition.

$259 at Amazon $259 at Newegg

G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO Series (AMD Expo) 64GB Kit CL30

Save $15 on the G. Skill Trident Z5 NEO sticks, a high-performance pair of 32GB RAM sticks. These sticks meet AMD's demanding EXPO memory requirements for overclocking and feature tight timings with a CAS latency of just 30-40-40-96. With an elegant RGB effect and a luxurious design, the Trident Z Neo is one of the top choices for premium RGB RAMs designed specifically for AMD-based systems. Available for $210 on Amazon and $218 on Newegg.

Upgrade to the Sapphire AMD Radeon NITRO+ RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X for only $1050, saving $80 compared to its original price of $1130. Known for their top-of-the-line AMD 3rd-party GPU offerings, the Sapphire Nitro lineup surpasses expectations once again. With the highest-in-market clocks and an advanced vapor chamber, the Nitro+ outperforms the standard design by a significant margin. Despite its premium price tag, it stands head and shoulders above competing products based on the 7900XTX architecture.

$1050 at Amazon $1050 at Newegg

MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU

Get the MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU now and save $7! This incredible power supply unit is specifically designed to meet the ATX 3.0 specifications and is also PCI-E 5.0 compatible. With its fully modular design, it offers great value without being overly expensive compared to similar products on the market. It is an excellent choice for anyone looking to build a gaming PC. Purchase it for just $193 at Amazon or $200 at Newegg.

Experience unrivaled speed and performance with the SAMSUNG 990 PRO w/ Heatsink SSD. Boasting the title of being the fastest PCI-E Gen 4 SSD offered by Samsung, this SSD is equipped with a sleek and cutting-edge heatsink design. It seamlessly complements the aesthetic of most gaming PCs and ensures optimal utilization on your PlayStation 5. Aptly priced at a remarkable discount from the MSRP, the SAMSUNG 990 PRO delivers unparalleled performance, making it an ideal choice for modern gaming PCs. With a storage capacity of 2 TB and a price tag of just $180, this deal is an absolute steal.

See at Amazon $160 at Newegg

MSI MEG Prospect 700R Case

Get $30 off the MSI MEG Prospect 700R, a top-of-the-line gaming PC case with advanced cooling and monitoring options. Its standout feature is the 4.3" touchscreen LCD panel, allowing you to view system temperatures, weather, and control the RGB effects of the four 140 mm fans included. The case also boasts hinged side panels, including tempered glass on the left side. It supports most E-ATX-sized motherboards and graphics cards up to 400 mm in length, with the option to mount them vertically. Find it for $350 on Amazon and $380 at Walmart and Newegg.

The estimated cost to build is $2831.

In many cases, the Ideal Spec Starfield Build prioritizes high-resolution and unrestricted gaming. It includes the top-notch AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor as the centerpiece, along with the ASRock X670E PG Lightning Gaming motherboard. Since the Ryzen 7 7800X3D does not include a cooler, the efficient and budget-friendly tri-fan DeepCool LS720 liquid cooler is used to cool the essential component of the PC.

The Sapphire RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X is arguably the top-of-the-line option for AMD's flagship GPU, offering a generous 24GB of VRAM to effortlessly handle high resolutions. Its partnership with AMD in the development of Starfield ensures a seamless gaming experience for those who trust the brand. However, for those who prefer Nvidia, the RTX 4080 is a viable alternative that can be easily swapped with the 7900 XTX while maintaining PC performance integrity. The included MSI MPG 1000W power supply meets the requirements of Nvidia's GPUs with its PCI-E 5.0 compatibility and native power connector.

Gamers can rely on the G.Skill RAM with low latency DDR5 memory and customizable AMD EXPO profiles. With a substantial 64GB capacity, it is unlikely that users will ever run out of memory, even with future mods. The inclusion of a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro SSD with a heatsink, along with the premium MSI Meg Prospect 700R case, contributes to the high price of this PC. However, these top-of-the-line components ensure that the PC is capable of much more than just handling Starfield at playable resolutions. It exceeds expectations, providing users with the ability to enjoy the game at maximum textures and 4K resolution.

Target Resolution: 4K Ultra

Other Things To Consider For Starfield At Launch

Similar to previous open-world Bethesda games, Starfield is anticipated to have several bugs due to the vastness of the game and the challenges associated with open-world titles, even if they have been in development for an extended period. To ensure a satisfactory experience upon launch, it is advisable to have the latest drivers for your motherboard/chipset, GPU, and other peripherals, rather than relying on older drivers. We anticipate that Nvidia and AMD will release new drivers closer to the launch of Starfield, which will include optimizations. Updating your PC's GPU drivers not only enhances performance but also helps eliminate many potential bugs.

Additionally, it is recommended to use an up-to-date version of Windows 10 or 11, as specified in the above specifications, to enhance gameplay. If you are in need of a copy of Windows 11 for your new gaming PC, Newegg offers both Windows 11 Home and Pro versions, depending on your specific requirements as an end user. Acquiring a licensed copy of Windows with regular updates is likely the optimum way to fully experience Starfield upon its release on September 6th, 2023.

FAQ

Q: How much RAM is needed for Starfield?

Starfield requires at least 16GB of RAM to run smoothly on PC, per the official specs published on Steam.

Q: Is an SSD recommended for Starfield?

Starfield's specifications explicitly state that an SSD is required for the game. If you do not have 125GB or more SSD space free, you might need to get a new SSD to play Starfield in all its glory.