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Star Citizen’s current PC requirements are a compatibility floor, not an FPS promise. Roberts Space Industries (RSI) lists 64-bit Windows 10, a quad-core processor with AVX, AVX2, and FMA3, a DirectX 11.1-class graphics card with 4 GB of VRAM, 16 GB of memory, and a 150+ GB SSD as the minimum. Its recommended target moves to Windows 10 or 11, a qualifying quad- or eight-core CPU, DirectX 12 graphics with 8 GB of VRAM, and 32 GB of DDR4 memory. The specifications were updated September 23, 2026, and RSI warns that the game remains in development, so requirements can change.
Star Citizen requirements at a glance
The table below reproduces RSI’s current compatibility guidance. “Minimum” means the hardware and software floor RSI says the game needs to start and run; “recommendation” is the advised target for a better experience. Neither column guarantees a particular frame rate, resolution, or level of smoothness.
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| Component | Minimum | RSI recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows 10 with the latest service pack | Windows 10 with the latest service pack or Windows 11 |
| CPU | Quad core; Intel i7 Haswell or newer, or AMD Excavator or newer; AVX, AVX2, and FMA3 support required | Qualifying quad- or eight-core CPU; Intel i7 Haswell or newer, or AMD Ryzen 5 or newer |
| GPU | DirectX 11.1-compatible card with at least 4 GB VRAM; drivers supporting Direct3D 11.1 and Vulkan 1.2 | DirectX 12-compatible card with 8 GB VRAM |
| Memory | 16 GB | 32 GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 150+ GB SSD required | 150+ GB SSD required |
RSI’s official requirements page also gives examples on the minimum graphics line: Nvidia 1060, AMD RX 5700, RX Vega 56, RX 460, Intel A380, and Intel UHD Graphics 730. These are examples of cards meeting the stated API and memory criteria, not a promise that they deliver equivalent frame rates, settings, or image quality.
Can your PC run Star Citizen?
Start with compatibility rather than a processor’s marketing name or a graphics card’s age. A machine passes the published floor only when every required category is satisfied: 64-bit Windows, the specified CPU instruction sets, a compatible graphics API and VRAM capacity, enough system memory, and an SSD with sufficient capacity. Failing one category can prevent installation or produce a launcher error even if the other components are substantially faster.
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Use the minimum list as a floor
A minimum-spec PC may launch the game, but RSI does not attach an FPS figure to that list. Crowded areas, large battles, background applications, and network conditions can all change the result. Treat the minimum as “meets the stated compatibility requirement,” not as “will play smoothly at a chosen resolution.”
Use the recommendation as a more sensible target
The recommendation increases graphics memory and system memory and broadens the CPU target to a qualifying quad- or eight-core part. It is the more appropriate starting point for a new build or major upgrade, while still not being a benchmark guarantee. RSI publishes no model-by-model frame-rate table with these requirements.
CPU: instruction sets matter as much as the model family
The CPU requirement has an important detail that a simple “Core i7” or “Ryzen 5” label does not capture. The processor must support AVX, AVX2, and FMA3. Those are instruction-set extensions used by software to perform certain calculations efficiently. Two chips with similar core counts or clock speeds can therefore differ in eligibility.
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- Minimum family: quad-core Intel i7 Haswell or later, or AMD Excavator or later.
- Required features: AVX, AVX2, and FMA3 support, plus a 64-bit processor.
- Recommended class: a qualifying quad- or eight-core CPU; RSI names Intel i7 Haswell or later and AMD Ryzen 5 or later as family guidance.
Family names are screening clues, not proof. Verify the exact processor model and its instruction-set support before buying or troubleshooting.
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Check the processor in Windows
- Press Windows key + R, enter
msinfo32, and press Enter. - Read the Processor line in System Information and note the complete model number.
- For a second hardware view, press Windows key + R, enter
dxdiag, and inspect the System tab. - Use the exact model number on the CPU manufacturer’s specification page to confirm AVX, AVX2, and FMA3 support.
RSI’s “System Requirements Not Met” troubleshooting article specifically warns that this launcher message can indicate missing instruction-set support and directs you to the manufacturer’s specifications. If the CPU lacks one of the required extensions, a graphics-card upgrade will not solve that compatibility problem.
GPU: API support and VRAM are separate checks
At minimum, the graphics card must be DirectX 11.1-compatible, have at least 4 GB of VRAM, and use drivers supporting Direct3D 11.1 and Vulkan 1.2. The recommendation raises the target to DirectX 12 and 8 GB of VRAM. A card can have enough memory but lack the required API support, or support the API while falling short on VRAM; both parts of the test matter.
How to evaluate a candidate card
- Confirm the exact GPU model rather than relying on a series name.
- Check the manufacturer’s specifications for DirectX feature support and driver availability.
- Confirm dedicated VRAM capacity; shared system memory is not the same as the card’s stated VRAM.
- Check your power supply, case clearance, motherboard slot, and auxiliary power connectors before purchase.
The cards listed by RSI on its minimum page are illustrative examples only. They should not be read as a ranked buying list or as evidence that every example performs identically.
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RSI lists 16 GB of system memory as the minimum and 32 GB DDR4 as its recommendation. Memory capacity is different from graphics-card VRAM: RAM serves Windows and applications, while VRAM is dedicated to graphics workloads. A PC with 16 GB can satisfy the published floor yet have less headroom for the operating system, browser tabs, voice chat, recording software, or other background tasks.
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Before installing a 32 GB kit
- Check whether the motherboard uses DDR4 and which module capacities and speeds it supports.
- Verify the number of free slots and whether a matched two-module kit is preferable to mixing older modules.
- Confirm the operating system is 64-bit so it can address the installed memory.
- After installation, open Settings > System > About or Task Manager’s Performance > Memory page to confirm the capacity.
Do not buy memory solely because it is advertised as “32 GB.” Desktop and laptop modules, DDR4 and DDR5, and different motherboard layouts are not interchangeable.
Storage: why an SSD and free space both matter
Star Citizen requires a 150+ GB SSD under RSI’s current requirements. The SSD requirement is explicit; a hard-disk drive does not meet that stated storage condition. Capacity also needs practical headroom, because a drive filled close to 100 percent can leave Windows and the game with little working space.
Install and pagefile guidance
RSI’s separate Game and Launcher Requirements page, updated December 17, 2025, recommends an NTFS drive with at least 100 GB for the launcher and game installation plus at least 10 GB of additional SSD space for the Windows pagefile. Read that as installation and pagefile guidance alongside—not instead of—the current 150+ GB SSD requirement. The figures describe space allocation, not a guarantee that a particular drive will produce a given loading time.
Check a replacement or secondary SSD
- Identify whether your computer accepts a 2.5-inch SATA SSD, an M.2 SATA drive, or an M.2 NVMe drive.
- Check the motherboard manual for supported M.2 lengths, PCIe generation, and any slot-sharing limitations.
- Choose capacity that leaves the required installation space and room for the pagefile and normal Windows use.
- In Windows, open Settings > System > Storage to review free space before installing.
Operating-system and platform limits
RSI’s current page specifies 64-bit Windows 10 and recommends Windows 10 or Windows 11. It states that Star Citizen is not available for macOS or Linux. A 32-bit edition of Windows cannot satisfy the requirement, even if the CPU and GPU are otherwise capable.
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Keep Windows and graphics drivers current, but do not confuse a driver update with an upgrade to unsupported hardware. Driver support must still provide the Direct3D 11.1 and Vulkan 1.2 capabilities called for on the minimum graphics line.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to upgrade first
Use the limiting component, not a generic “gaming PC” checklist, to set priorities.
If the CPU fails the instruction-set check
Replace the platform—CPU, and potentially motherboard and memory—before considering a faster graphics card. No GPU can add AVX2 or FMA3 support to a processor that lacks it.
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If the GPU is below the API or VRAM floor
Choose a card that meets both the API requirement and the stated VRAM threshold. Then verify power delivery, physical clearance, display outputs, and the rest of the system. RSI does not publish a single recommended model, so avoid treating any one minimum example as a universal performance choice.
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If the system has 16 GB and you want more headroom
A compatible 32 GB DDR4 kit aligns the machine with RSI’s recommended memory capacity. Check the motherboard and existing modules first; incompatible or mixed kits can prevent the system from booting or force conservative settings.
If the game is on a hard drive or a nearly full SSD
Move the installation to an SSD that satisfies the capacity requirement and leaves additional free space for the pagefile and normal system operation. Confirm the interface and available slot before ordering an internal drive.
Troubleshooting a “System Requirements Not Met” message
- Record the exact CPU model in
msinfo32ordxdiag. - Confirm AVX, AVX2, and FMA3 support in the CPU manufacturer’s specifications.
- Check that Windows is 64-bit and meets the supported version requirement.
- Verify the installed GPU model, VRAM, driver version, DirectX support, and Vulkan 1.2 support.
- Check installed RAM and free SSD capacity, not just the drive’s advertised size.
- Install current hardware drivers and restart Windows.
If the processor lacks a required instruction set, software settings cannot repair the mismatch. If every specification appears compliant but the launcher still reports an error, use the hardware details and the exact message when contacting RSI support rather than guessing at a replacement part.
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RSI explicitly says actual performance, frame rates, and stability vary with in-game location, server population, background applications, and network conditions. Storage speed, cooling, power limits, driver state, and other system-level factors can also influence how a compliant PC behaves, but RSI’s published requirements do not quantify those effects. There is no official FPS number attached to either the minimum or recommendation.
That distinction matters when comparing upgrade advice: meeting the recommendation improves your odds of having adequate headroom, but it does not establish a guaranteed frame rate at 1080p, 1440p, ultrawide, or 4K.
Requirements can change
RSI says, “As the game is still in development, these minimum and recommended system specs may change in the future.” Its Terms of Service, last updated September 28, 2023, likewise state that minimum requirements may change without notice as the underlying technology changes. Check the dated support page again before a purchase or major upgrade; the September 23, 2026 figures are the current snapshot, not a permanent contract.
Quick Recap
Practical pre-purchase checklist
- Write down the exact CPU, GPU, RAM, Windows edition, and drive model.
- Verify AVX, AVX2, and FMA3 on the CPU specification sheet.
- Verify GPU API support, driver support, and dedicated VRAM.
- Confirm 64-bit Windows and an SSD with enough installed and free capacity.
- For upgrades, check motherboard sockets, memory type, M.2/SATA interfaces, power supply, case clearance, and available slots.
- Budget for the recommended target only if you need additional headroom; it remains guidance rather than a frame-rate guarantee.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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