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Start by checking your current PC against Roberts Space Industries’ published minimum requirements, especially its SSD and free-space guidance. These are requirements for CIG games that include Squadron 42—not a final, game-specific performance benchmark. RSI said on February 4, 2026, that Squadron 42 was still in development and unavailable to download, so treat this as a provisional checklist and confirm the official requirements again before spending money on upgrades.
What PC requirements has RSI published for Squadron 42?
RSI’s “Game and Launcher Requirements,” updated December 17, 2025, says its requirements apply to CIG games including Squadron 42. The published minimums are:
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| Component | RSI-published minimum or guidance |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit (latest Service Pack) or Windows 11. RSI says Linux and macOS are not currently supported. |
| Graphics | DirectX 11.1 graphics card with 4 GB graphics memory. This is minimum wording, not a recommended target. |
| Processor | Quad-core CPU with AVX, AVX2, and FMA3; Intel i7 Haswell or later, or AMD Excavator or later. |
| System memory | 16 GB or more RAM. |
| Storage | 150+ GB SSD required. |
| Drive format and additional space | RSI recommends NTFS, at least 100 GB for the RSI Launcher and Star Citizen installation, and another 10 GB of SSD space for the pagefile. |
RSI’s graphics line says “4 GB” of graphics memory; use that published wording rather than treating it as a broader recommendation. Meeting a minimum does not establish a particular frame rate or prove how the released game will run. See RSI’s requirements page.
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Record the specifications before deciding whether anything needs replacing. RSI points users to Windows System Information or DXDiag for this check.
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- Open the Windows Run prompt, enter
dxdiag, and press Enter. Alternatively, open Windows System Information. - Note your Windows version, processor model, installed system memory, and graphics card.
- Check the drive where game content would be installed: confirm it is an SSD, its file system, and how much space is free.
- Compare those details with the requirements table, including CPU instruction-set support—not just the number of cores or the model family.
If you are unsure about a CPU’s AVX, AVX2, or FMA3 support, verify the exact processor specification rather than inferring compatibility from its name alone.
How much SSD space should you allow?
RSI lists a 150+ GB SSD as required. It separately recommends an NTFS-formatted drive with at least 100 GB for the RSI Launcher and Star Citizen installation, plus 10 GB of additional SSD space for the pagefile. Those figures are not a confirmed Squadron 42 installation-size estimate; RSI has not established the game’s final footprint in the cited requirements.
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Check both the drive’s total capacity and its available space, and confirm where the launcher and game content are set to install. If your current drive cannot meet RSI’s published SSD requirement or lacks the recommended headroom, storage is the most direct readiness issue to address. Do not buy a drive based on an assumed final install size; recheck RSI’s official guidance closer to release.
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The cited RSI requirements page does not specify a graphics-driver version or make a driver update a performance fix. For routine maintenance, check the graphics-card maker’s supported driver for your exact card and Windows version. A newer driver is not automatically a guarantee of better performance.
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Before installing a driver, identify the GPU precisely and use the vendor’s support information for that model and operating system. RSI’s requirements establish a DirectX 11.1 card with 4 GB graphics memory as the minimum wording, but do not name specific cards.
Should you upgrade RAM, the GPU, or storage?
Compare your current system with the published minimum first, then account for your device’s compatibility constraints. Consider an upgrade only where a component fails a stated requirement or the drive cannot meet the storage guidance.
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- RAM: If the PC has less than 16 GB, a compatible capacity upgrade may bring it up to RSI’s stated minimum. Check motherboard or laptop support before buying. More RAM than the minimum is not, by itself, a performance guarantee.
- Graphics card: If the GPU does not meet RSI’s published graphics wording, a suitable upgrade may be needed, but the cited guidance does not establish which model to buy or predict results for a particular card.
- SSD: If the installation drive is not an SSD or cannot accommodate the stated requirement and recommended headroom, address that gap. Verify capacity and compatibility before choosing a replacement.
Do not upgrade a component solely on the expectation of a particular FPS increase: the published requirements are not a benchmark, and no final Squadron 42 performance results or installation footprint are established here.
Can RSI telemetry predict your performance?
RSI’s Public Telemetry offers a view of performance on community machines, which can provide broad context when comparing system configurations. It cannot guarantee the frame rate your individual PC will achieve, and it is not proof of Squadron 42 performance at release. RSI describes Public Telemetry in its Development Hub.
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When should you recheck the requirements?
In a support article updated February 4, 2026, RSI stated: “Squadron 42 is currently in development and is not available for download.” The article says availability depends on completion, testing, and release. The cited preparation guidance has not been established as a test of the released game. Revisit RSI’s official availability and requirements pages before making a costly upgrade, since both status and requirements may change.
Quick Recap
Check RSI’s Squadron 42 availability update.
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