To find out whether your computer can run a Steam game, compare the exact game listing’s minimum and recommended requirements with your PC’s CPU, RAM, graphics processor, graphics memory or features, Windows version, DirectX support, and free storage. On Windows, the built-in DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag) provides most of the hardware and software details you need. A match is not a performance guarantee: Steam warns that computers at or near a game’s requirements can still encounter launch or performance problems.
Start with the game’s own Steam page
System requirements are game-specific. Open the game’s Steam store page rather than relying on a generic list of requirements or another title in the same series. Steam’s support guidance directs players to compare their computer with the requirements shown on the individual store page (Steam Support).
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- Open the Steam client or Steam website and search for the exact game edition you intend to install. Deluxe, remastered, test, and VR editions can have different requirements.
- On the store page, scroll to System Requirements. Many listings show separate Minimum and Recommended sections.
- Copy the requirement lines into a note or keep the page open while you inspect your PC. Record the operating system, processor, memory, graphics card, VRAM or graphics feature, DirectX version, and storage requirement exactly as written.
- Check whether the listing includes an additional condition such as Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, a 64-bit operating system, or a particular graphics API. Treat that condition as a separate check rather than assuming it is covered by the hardware list.
Publishers commonly place their official requirements on Steam. Capcom’s troubleshooting guidance, for example, tells players to collect the CPU model, GPU model and VRAM, graphics-driver version, system memory, and operating-system version when investigating a Steam game problem (Capcom Support).
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsHow to check your PC specifications in Windows
Open DirectX Diagnostic Tool
Windows includes DxDiag for viewing core system and graphics information. Search the Start menu or taskbar for dxdiag, then open DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Microsoft’s instructions explain that the utility also identifies the DirectX version installed on the PC (Microsoft Support).
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- Press the Windows key, type
dxdiag, and select the result. - If Windows asks whether the drivers should be checked for digital signatures, choose the option to continue. Wait for the utility to finish gathering information.
- Use the System tab for the operating-system name, processor, installed memory, and DirectX version.
- Use the Display tab for the graphics processor, display-driver details, and graphics memory information. Some PCs show more than one Display tab.
- Select Save All Information to create a text report. This is useful when a game’s support team asks for a complete specification list or when you want to compare the report with several games.
Bandai Namco’s Steam FAQ also identifies the System and Display tabs as places to find computer specifications and describes the Save All Information report (Bandai Namco FAQ).
Read the System tab correctly
- Operating system: Note the Windows edition and whether it is 64-bit. Compare the exact version named by the game, not merely the fact that Windows is installed.
- Processor: Record the full CPU model. A model comparison is more useful than comparing only a brand name or advertised clock speed.
- Memory: Record installed system RAM. This is the total physical memory, not the amount currently free while a game is running.
- DirectX version: Record the installed version, but do not treat it as proof that the graphics processor supports every feature associated with that API.
Read the Display tab
- GPU model: Record the actual graphics processor shown. A laptop may list integrated graphics and a separate discrete GPU on different Display tabs.
- Display memory and VRAM: Note dedicated video memory and any shared-memory information when the game specifies a graphics-memory amount.
- Driver information: Record the driver version and date if you are troubleshooting a launch or performance problem. Out-of-date or problematic drivers can cause issues even when the hardware meets the published list.
- Feature or API language: If the game requires a particular graphics feature, compare that requirement with the GPU’s capabilities, not only with the DirectX version displayed on the System tab.
Match each requirement with the right PC detail
Use the game’s wording as the authority. The following map shows where to look and what a meaningful comparison involves.
| Game requirement | Where to check on the PC | How to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Windows version or operating system | DxDiag System tab or Windows system information | Match the exact OS version and edition named by the game. A general Windows minimum is not automatically the game’s minimum. |
| Processor or CPU | DxDiag System tab | Compare the named processor model where possible, rather than relying only on brand or clock speed. |
| System memory or RAM | DxDiag System tab | Compare installed RAM with the requirement. Memory available during play is a separate performance condition. |
| Graphics processor or GPU | DxDiag Display tab | Compare the actual GPU model. On a laptop, verify which GPU the game is using if more than one is listed. |
| VRAM or graphics feature/API | DxDiag Display tab and the Steam requirement | Check the stated VRAM amount, DirectX level, and feature language separately. Installed DirectX and hardware feature support are different checks. |
| Storage | Steam game page and the intended installation drive | Compare the listed capacity with free space on the drive where Steam will install the game. |
| Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 | Steam client System Information, msinfo32, or tpm.msc |
Check these only when the game lists them or a game component requires them. |
Compare minimum and recommended requirements separately
What the minimum list means
Minimum specifications are the publisher’s stated entry-level target. Falling below one or more minimum lines can lead to a poor frame rate, instability, or failure to launch. Passing every line means only that your PC reaches the published baseline; it does not establish a guaranteed frame rate, resolution, graphics preset, or loading time.
What the recommended list means
Recommended specifications describe a higher target. They generally provide more headroom for the game’s expected settings, but the listing still does not promise a particular performance result. Compare your PC with this tier independently instead of treating a minimum match as a recommended match.
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Make a two-column result
For a clear answer, mark each line as meets, below, or needs verification for both tiers. For example, a computer can meet the minimum CPU and RAM requirements while falling short of the recommended GPU. Report that mixed result directly rather than reducing it to a yes-or-no verdict.
- Meets: Your recorded model, amount, version, or capacity is at least what the listing specifies.
- Below: The recorded value is clearly lower than the published requirement.
- Needs verification: The listing uses feature, architecture, or model language that your basic DxDiag reading does not establish.
Check graphics details beyond the GPU name
Graphics requirements can contain several independent conditions. A game may name a GPU family, require a minimum VRAM amount, and specify DirectX or another graphics feature. Check all of them.
Dedicated and integrated graphics
Many laptops expose an integrated GPU and a discrete GPU. DxDiag can show both on separate Display tabs. If the hardware appears sufficient but the game performs as if it were using a weaker adapter, verify that the game is assigned to the expected GPU in Windows or the laptop manufacturer’s graphics controls. This is a troubleshooting step, not evidence that every laptop will behave the same way.
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VRAM is not the same as system RAM
System RAM listed on the System tab and graphics memory listed on the Display tab serve different purposes. Compare a game’s VRAM requirement with the graphics-memory information, and compare its RAM requirement with installed system memory. Do not substitute one for the other.
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DirectX version versus feature support
The DirectX version shown by DxDiag tells you what software component is installed. It does not by itself prove that the GPU supports every feature a game may require. If the Steam listing specifies a feature level, shader model, ray-tracing capability, or other API condition, verify that capability separately through the GPU’s documentation or the game’s support instructions.
Verify storage at the installation location
Steam lists the game’s storage requirement on its store page. Compare that number with free space on the drive selected for the installation, not with the capacity of a different drive. Leave room for the game’s files to unpack, update, and create temporary data; the published number is the game’s stated requirement, not a promise that no additional working space will ever be needed.
Storage is separate from memory. A drive with enough free capacity does not compensate for insufficient RAM, and additional RAM does not create the disk space needed for installation.
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Check Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 when the game requires them
Most games do not require these checks, so perform them only when the Steam listing or a game component explicitly mentions Secure Boot or TPM 2.0.
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Use Steam’s client information
- Open the Steam desktop client.
- Choose Help in the top menu, then select System Information.
- Review the security-related entries and compare them with the game’s requirement.
Steam may display a warning for missing Secure Boot or TPM 2.0 when you view a relevant store page in the client. Steam says this local check is not performed when the page is viewed in a browser or mobile app (Steam Support: Secure Boot & TPM 2.0).
Check Secure Boot in Windows
- Press the Windows key, type
msinfo32, and open System Information. - Find Secure Boot State and record whether it is enabled.
Check the TPM specification
- Press the Windows key, type
tpm.msc, and open TPM Management. - Find the Specification Version entry.
- Compare that version and the TPM’s readiness state with the game’s wording. Do not assume that the presence of a TPM automatically means it is version 2.0 or enabled for use.
Do not confuse Windows 11 requirements with game requirements
Microsoft’s Windows 11 minimum device requirements are operating-system installation criteria, not a universal test for Steam games. Microsoft lists a 1 GHz-or-faster compatible 64-bit processor with at least two cores, 4 GB of RAM, a 64 GB storage device, UEFI and Secure Boot capability, TPM 2.0, and DirectX 12-compatible graphics with a WDDM 2.0 driver (Microsoft Windows 11 specifications).
A PC that satisfies those Windows 11 figures can still fail a game’s own CPU, GPU, VRAM, storage, or feature requirements. Conversely, a game may support an operating system configuration that does not use every Windows 11 criterion. Always use the game’s Steam listing for the compatibility decision.
What to do when your PC appears to qualify but the game fails
A requirements comparison diagnoses published specifications; it does not diagnose every launch or performance problem. Steam cautions that systems at or near the listed requirements can encounter issues. Before concluding that a component must be replaced, work through software and configuration checks.
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Update or reinstall graphics drivers
Use the GPU manufacturer’s current driver package for your exact graphics model. DxDiag’s Display tab provides the model and driver details you need when selecting the correct package. If a recently installed driver introduced the problem, consult the game or GPU vendor’s rollback guidance rather than repeatedly installing unrelated drivers.
Close competing background applications
Browsers, recording tools, overlays, launchers, and other background programs can consume memory, CPU time, or GPU resources. Close nonessential applications, then test the game again. This also helps distinguish a hardware shortfall from resource contention.
Lower graphics settings when only the minimum tier is met
Capcom advises lowering graphics settings when a PC meets minimum but not recommended specifications. Start with resolution, texture quality, shadows, effects, and view distance; change one group at a time so you can identify which setting affects stability or frame rate.
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Use Steam’s installed-game properties to run its file-integrity check when files may be damaged or incomplete. If the problem continues, consult the game publisher’s support page for launch options, known issues, and required redistributables instead of assuming that the requirements list explains the failure.
Record a complete support report
Save the DxDiag report with Save All Information. Include the CPU, GPU and VRAM, system memory, operating-system version, driver version, and the exact symptom when contacting support. A reproducible description—such as a crash before the menu, an error message, or a low frame rate only in crowded scenes—is more useful than saying only that the game “doesn’t work.”
Common comparison mistakes
- Using a generic requirements website: Requirements can differ between games and editions. Use the exact Steam store page.
- Checking only the CPU: A qualifying processor does not compensate for an underpowered GPU, insufficient VRAM, inadequate RAM, or a missing API feature.
- Comparing brand names: “Intel,” “AMD,” or “NVIDIA” alone is not a model comparison. Record the full processor and GPU names.
- Counting shared memory as dedicated VRAM: Shared system memory is not equivalent to dedicated graphics memory when a listing specifies VRAM.
- Treating DirectX as a complete graphics test: The installed DirectX version and the GPU’s supported feature set are separate questions.
- Ignoring free space on the target drive: Compare storage with the drive selected in Steam, not with another disk that has more capacity.
- Assuming minimum equals smooth: Minimum is an entry-level target, while recommended is a higher target; neither is a guaranteed FPS result.
- Checking Secure Boot or TPM by default: These matter only when the game lists them or a particular component requires them.
- Upgrading before identifying the shortfall: First determine which exact requirement is below target and whether drivers, settings, background software, or corrupted files explain the symptom.
A concise checklist before you install
- Open the exact game’s Steam store page.
- Copy the minimum and recommended OS, CPU, RAM, GPU, VRAM or feature, DirectX, and storage lines.
- Run
dxdiagand record the System-tab details. - Record every Display-tab GPU, VRAM, and driver detail.
- Compare each PC value with minimum and recommended separately.
- Check free space on the intended Steam installation drive.
- Verify Secure Boot with
msinfo32and TPM withtpm.msconly if listed. - Label the result as meets, below, or needs verification for each line.
- If the game still fails, test drivers, background software, graphics settings, and game files before replacing hardware.
How to state your result accurately
A useful conclusion names the exact lines that match and the ones that do not. For example: “The PC meets the game’s minimum CPU and RAM requirements, but its GPU has less VRAM than the minimum listing; it does not meet the recommended GPU tier.” That is more informative than “My PC should run it.” If every published line matches, say that the machine meets the listed requirements while noting that Steam does not guarantee smooth performance or successful launch for systems near the threshold.
Steam’s performance troubleshooting guidance mentions 1,000 MB of available RAM as a rule of thumb and 2,000 MB or more as safer advice (Steam Support: Troubleshooting Game Performance Issues – Hardware). Those figures are troubleshooting guidance, not a universal compatibility threshold and not a substitute for the game’s own RAM requirement.
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