To meet Valve’s published minimum for Half-Life: Alyx, a PC needs 64-bit Windows 10, an Intel Core i5-7500 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 processor, 12 GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 580 with 6 GB of VRAM. The game is VR-only: you also need a VR headset that can work with SteamVR. These are minimum specifications, not a guarantee of a particular frame rate or compatibility with every headset.
Half-Life: Alyx minimum PC requirements
Valve’s Steam listing provides the following minimum specifications. The requirements are published by Valve, not results from a performance test.
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| Component | Valve’s listed minimum |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10; 64-bit operating system required |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-7500 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 |
| System memory | 12 GB RAM |
| Graphics card | NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 580 |
| Graphics memory | 6 GB VRAM |
| VR platform and equipment | SteamVR support; a VR headset is required |
Valve’s Steam listing for Half-Life: Alyx does not provide a complete recommended PC specification. There is no official recommended tier to compare against these minimums in the listing.
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What the minimums do—and do not—tell you
Compare the exact processor and graphics-card models, rather than relying only on broad labels such as “gaming PC.” Also check that the GPU has the listed 6 GB of dedicated VRAM and that the computer has at least 12 GB of system RAM.
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Meeting the listed minimum is a starting point, not an individualized compatibility or performance test. The available official information does not establish how a particular PC will perform with every headset, render resolution, driver, or hardware configuration. The headset’s connection requirements and play mode matter too.
How to check whether your PC meets the requirements
- Check Windows, processor, and RAM. In Windows, open System Information or Task Manager and note the operating-system version, processor model, and installed memory. Compare them with Windows 10 64-bit, an i5-7500 or Ryzen 5 1600, and 12 GB RAM.
- Identify the graphics card. Find the GPU model in Task Manager or your system information. If your PC has both integrated graphics and a discrete graphics card, compare the discrete gaming GPU—not just the integrated graphics—with Valve’s GTX 1060 or RX 580 minimum.
- Check dedicated GPU memory. Steam Support documents this Task Manager path: press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, open Details, right-click a column header, choose Select Columns, and enable Dedicated GPU memory. Compare the result with the listed 6 GB VRAM requirement. See Steam’s Half-Life: Alyx performance tips.
- Check the headset and SteamVR setup. Confirm that your headset can connect to the PC and use SteamVR, then review the headset’s specific connection and play-area requirements. Steam’s SteamVR FAQ covers setup considerations; room-scale requirements depend on the headset and play mode.
- Let the game select initial settings, then adjust if needed. On first launch, or after hardware changes, the game benchmarks the CPU and GPU and checks available system memory to choose initial graphics settings. This automatic choice is not a guarantee of a specific frame rate. SteamVR’s render-resolution control is under Settings > Video > Render Resolution, according to Steam Support.
Why a VR headset changes the compatibility check
Half-Life: Alyx is not playable as a standard monitor-only PC game: Valve’s store page says that a VR headset is required and identifies SteamVR as the supported VR platform. A PC that meets the processor, memory, and graphics minimums still needs to work with the headset’s connection and setup requirements. Check those details for your particular headset rather than assuming all SteamVR setups are identical.
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If your PC falls short
Use the comparison to locate the specific gap: processor, system memory, graphics-card model, or dedicated VRAM. The published minimum names particular CPU and GPU models; it does not establish equivalent performance for every other component or combination. If the GPU is the mismatch, a card with a similar name or general gaming label is not proof that it meets the requirement—verify its exact model and dedicated memory. Recheck headset compatibility separately.
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