Cyberpunk 2077 does not have one universal PC requirement. CD PROJEKT RED publishes separate targets for 1080p Low, 1080p High, 1440p Ultra, 4K Ultra, ray tracing and RT Overdrive. Choose your resolution and rendering mode first, then compare your CPU, GPU, RAM, operating system and SSD with the matching row. The minimum tier is an official 1080p Low target averaging 30 FPS, not a 60-FPS guarantee.
The table below separates standard rendering from ray tracing so you do not assume that a PC suitable for a conventional Ultra preset can automatically handle path tracing.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard minimum | 1080p Low | Core i7-6700 or Ryzen 5 1600; 12 GB RAM; GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB, Radeon RX 580 8 GB or Arc A380; 70 GB SSD; Windows 10 64-bit | Oct 2026 |
| Standard high | 1080p High | Core i7-12700 or Ryzen 7 7800X3D; 16 GB RAM; GeForce RTX 2060 Super, Radeon RX 5700 XT or Arc A770; 70 GB SSD | Oct 2026 |
| Standard ultra | 1440p Ultra | Higher CPU, GPU and memory tier than 1080p High; use CD PROJEKT RED’s 1440p Ultra row rather than extrapolating from 1080p | Oct 2026 |
| Standard ultra | 4K Ultra | Most demanding standard-preset target; compare against the separate 4K Ultra CPU, GPU, RAM and SSD row | Oct 2026 |
| Ray tracing | RT presets | Separate CPU, GPU and RAM rows; ray tracing is not a small adjustment to the standard requirements | Oct 2026 |
| RT Overdrive | Path-traced lighting | CD PROJEKT RED recommends GeForce RTX 40 Series hardware from RTX 4070 Ti upward; guidance also cites RTX 3090 for 1080p at 30 FPS and 10 GB VRAM for 1440p | Oct 2026 |
All rows assume the current Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty requirement framework. The exact FPS labels belong to CD PROJEKT RED’s target configurations; they are not a complete benchmark chart for every graphics setting.
What PC do you need for Cyberpunk 2077?
For basic compatibility, target the official minimum: a 64-bit Windows 10 system with the listed Core i7-6700 or Ryzen 5 1600 class CPU, 12 GB of RAM, one of the listed GTX 1060 6 GB, RX 580 8 GB or Arc A380 class GPUs, and a 70 GB SSD. CD PROJEKT RED defines that row as 1080p on the Low preset at an average of 30 FPS.
That definition matters. “Minimum” means the game is intended to run at that target configuration; it does not promise 60 FPS, High settings, ray tracing or a fixed result on every machine with similar parts. Laptop versions, cooling limits, background applications and driver versions can change performance.
Operating system and storage
The published rows are for 64-bit Windows. An SSD is a requirement in the current table, not merely a loading-time luxury. If the game is installed on a hard disk, texture streaming and open-world traversal can become a storage bottleneck even when the processor and graphics card appear strong enough. Install the game and its expansion on an SSD with more free space than the nominal 70 GB so updates have room to apply.
Memory is part of the target
Do not pair a high-tier graphics card with a system that misses the row’s RAM requirement. The official tiers increase memory as resolution and preset demands rise. Check total installed RAM, not just the amount available after Windows and other programs start.
Can your PC run Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p?
Yes, if it meets the minimum row, but the official target is 1080p Low at an average of 30 FPS. For a better-looking standard-rendering setup, use the separate 1080p High row, which calls for a substantially newer CPU and GPU tier and 16 GB of RAM.
1080p Low: the compatibility baseline
The minimum row is the right comparison for a PC you already own. Match all of its components: Core i7-6700 or Ryzen 5 1600 class processor, 12 GB RAM, GTX 1060 6 GB, RX 580 8 GB or Arc A380 class graphics, Windows 10 64-bit and SSD storage. A faster GPU cannot compensate for a processor, memory configuration or drive that falls below the same row.
1080p High: a different target
The 1080p High configuration is intended for a higher standard preset, not merely a higher frame-rate switch on the minimum system. Its published processor examples are Core i7-12700 or Ryzen 7 7800X3D, with 16 GB RAM and graphics examples including GeForce RTX 2060 Super, Radeon RX 5700 XT or Arc A770. Treat those as the complete row: CPU, GPU, RAM and SSD all matter.
Neither 1080p row should be read as a universal 60-FPS promise. The official minimum statement supplies an average 30-FPS figure only for the Low target. Exact results depend on the selected upscaling mode, crowd density, ray-tracing toggle, driver and the rest of the system.
What GPU do you need for Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p?
Use the official 1440p Ultra row as the reference, rather than scaling the 1080p recommendation by guesswork. It represents a higher-fidelity standard-rendering target and raises the required CPU, GPU and memory tier together.
Resolution and preset are separate variables: 1440p High is not the same workload as 1440p Ultra, and enabling ray tracing changes the rendering path again. Upscaling can reduce the internal render resolution, but it does not turn a standard requirement row into an RT Overdrive configuration. Compare your complete system with CD PROJEKT RED’s 1440p Ultra CPU, GPU, RAM and SSD entries before buying a graphics card.
Why the GPU is not the only limit at 1440p
- CPU: busy city scenes can be processor-limited even when GPU utilization is below its ceiling.
- VRAM: high-resolution textures and ray-traced effects increase graphics-memory pressure.
- RAM: insufficient system memory can cause paging and stutter independently of average GPU speed.
- SSD: open-world asset streaming assumes solid-state storage in the current requirements.
Can Cyberpunk 2077 run in 4K?
Yes, but 4K Ultra is the most demanding standard-preset target in CD PROJEKT RED’s published resolution framework. It is a configuration guide, not a universal FPS guarantee. Compare the 4K Ultra row’s CPU, GPU, RAM and SSD requirements as a group; do not infer that a card capable of 1440p Ultra will deliver the same experience at 4K.
4K multiplies the number of pixels the GPU must render. Lowering the preset, using an upscaler or choosing a lower internal resolution can make a system more practical, but those are different targets from the official 4K Ultra row. If you want ray-traced or path-traced lighting at 4K, consult the dedicated RT guidance instead of the standard 4K row.
What are the Cyberpunk 2077 ray-tracing requirements?
Ray tracing has its own official configurations. A PC that meets the standard 1080p High, 1440p Ultra or 4K Ultra row should not automatically be described as meeting an RT row, because ray-traced effects add a different GPU workload and can alter the CPU and memory balance.
CD PROJEKT RED separates RT presets from the conventional requirements and provides dedicated CPU, GPU and RAM combinations. Match the row labelled for the resolution and RT preset you intend to use. If you disable ray tracing, return to the standard table; if you enable it, do not mix components from the two sections.
RT Overdrive and path tracing
RT Overdrive is a distinct path-traced mode, not a synonym for ordinary ray tracing. CD PROJEKT RED recommends GeForce RTX 40 Series hardware from the RTX 4070 Ti upward for this mode. Its guidance also cites an RTX 3090 configuration for 1080p at 30 FPS and references 10 GB of VRAM for 1440p. Those figures describe the cited guidance, not a guarantee for every card with the same name.
Path tracing is especially sensitive to GPU architecture, VRAM, upscaling and frame-generation settings. A standard Ultra requirement is therefore an unsafe basis for an RT Overdrive purchase decision. Choose RT Overdrive first, then compare against its dedicated hardware guidance and decide whether your intended resolution is realistic.
Which component should you upgrade first?
Use this order to identify the actual constraint instead of replacing the graphics card automatically.
- Choose the target. Write down resolution (1080p, 1440p or 4K), preset (Low, High or Ultra) and rendering mode (standard, ray tracing or RT Overdrive).
- Check the SSD. If the game is on a hard disk or the system lacks the required SSD capacity, fix storage first.
- Compare the GPU. Use the GPU from the same official row. For RT Overdrive, use the separate RTX 40 Series guidance rather than a standard Ultra comparison.
- Compare the CPU. Open-world crowd simulation and streaming can expose a processor shortfall even with a modern GPU.
- Verify RAM and operating system. Meeting the graphics requirement while missing memory or the 64-bit Windows tier is still an incomplete match.
- Adjust settings only after the hardware check. Lowering resolution, preset quality or ray tracing can change the target; it does not change which official row your original configuration matched.
When a GPU upgrade is appropriate
Upgrade the GPU when your CPU, RAM, Windows edition and SSD already meet the chosen row and the target is still graphics-bound. A GPU upgrade cannot correct a missing SSD, inadequate system memory or a processor below the selected tier.
When a platform upgrade is more sensible
If both the CPU and GPU fall below the same target, replacing only one may leave the other as the limiting part. Compare the entire row and budget for the component that is furthest below it, including the possibility that a new GPU needs a stronger power supply or better case cooling.
How should you interpret the official FPS figures?
CD PROJEKT RED’s clearest published performance statement is that the minimum configuration targets 1080p Low at an average of 30 FPS. The RT Overdrive guidance cites an RTX 3090 at 1080p and 30 FPS. These are tied to named configurations and modes.
The requirement rows do not provide a complete FPS matrix for every combination of resolution, preset, ray tracing, upscaling and hardware model. Do not convert “1440p Ultra” or “4K Ultra” into an exact frame-rate promise. For a purchase decision, treat each row as a hardware-and-settings target, then allow headroom for your preferred frame rate, mods and future updates.
Common mistakes when checking compatibility
- Reading minimum as 60 FPS: the official minimum statement is an average 30-FPS 1080p Low target.
- Mixing RT and standard rows: ray tracing and RT Overdrive have separate guidance.
- Ignoring the SSD: storage is a listed prerequisite in the current framework.
- Comparing only GPU names: CPU, RAM, Windows and storage must match the same tier.
- Assuming resolution alone defines performance: Low, High, Ultra, ray tracing and path tracing are separate workload choices.
- Promising a frame rate from a requirement label: published rows are target configurations, not a universal benchmark chart.
How we picked the requirement tiers
The comparison follows CD PROJEKT RED’s Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty framework: standard 1080p Low, 1080p High, 1440p Ultra and 4K Ultra rows, followed by separate ray-tracing and RT Overdrive guidance. The selection criteria are resolution, preset, rendering mode and the complete supporting platform—CPU, GPU, RAM, operating system and SSD—while keeping official target statements separate from independently measured FPS.
Bottom line: match the whole row, not just the graphics card
For 1080p, start with the minimum 30-FPS Low target or move to the separate High row for a more demanding standard preset. For 1440p and 4K, use their dedicated Ultra rows. For ray tracing or RT Overdrive, discard assumptions from the standard table and follow the dedicated RT guidance. The correct upgrade is the component that prevents your entire system from matching the row for the resolution, preset and rendering mode you actually want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cyberpunk 2077 require an SSD on PC?
Yes. The current official requirement framework lists SSD storage, with 70 GB stated for the standard rows. Leave additional free capacity for patches and the expansion rather than treating 70 GB as the amount of space you should have available in total.
Can a laptop with the same GPU name meet the desktop requirement?
Not automatically. Laptop GPUs can have different power limits and performance, and mobile CPUs may also be configured differently. Compare the laptop’s actual specifications and cooling capability with the target row instead of relying on the shared model name.
Does enabling an upscaler make a PC meet the minimum requirement?
Upscaling can reduce the internal rendering workload, but it does not replace the published CPU, GPU, RAM, operating-system or SSD prerequisites. It also changes the visual-quality target, so describe the resulting setup separately from the official native-resolution row.
Is RT Overdrive the same as ordinary ray tracing?
No. RT Overdrive uses path-traced lighting and has separate hardware guidance. A system that satisfies a conventional ray-tracing or standard Ultra row should not be assumed to satisfy RT Overdrive.