Starfield is finally out on PC, but not every rig is going to be up to the task of playing Bethesda's new sci-fi role-playing game. In this article, Game ZXC breaks down the best gaming PCs to play Starfield.
What Are The Hardware Requirements For Starfield?
The minimum and recommended hardware requirements for Starfield as published by Bethesda on Steam are as follows:
MINIMUM
- OS: Windows 10 version 22H2 (10.0.19045)
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, Intel Core i7-6800K
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5700, NVIDIA GeForce 1070 Ti
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 125 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD Required
RECOMMENDED
- OS: Windows 10/11 with updates
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, Intel i5-10600K
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 125 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD Required
MSI Aegis RS Gaming Desktop
The MSI Aegis RS comes with a 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, which is accompanied by a powerful, latest-generation Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. These provide enough processing power for even the newest and most demanding games. In addition, there are 32 gigabytes of RAM for fast and fluid multitasking and a two-terabyte NVMe SSD for fast startup and game launching.
- Brand
- MSI
- Memory
- 32GB DDR5 (16x2) 5200Mhz
- Graphics
- RTX 4070 12GB
- CPU
- Intel Core i7 13700KF
- Storage
- 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD
- Motherboard
- MSI Z790
- Weight
- 30 lb
- PSU
- 750W Gold
- Exceeds CPU requirements considerably versus published recommended specs
- Comfortably ahead of GPU spec requirements versus recommended specs
- Has plenty of DDR5 memory available out of the box
- Has an excellent amount of built-in NVME storage
- Runs considerably cooler than the competition
- Slightly limited upgradability due to the 750W PSU being a limiting factor
The MSI Aegis RS Gaming Desktop is one of the best-priced current-generation gaming desktops money can buy. It throws in a relatively new Intel Core i7 13700KF with 32GB of DDR5 memory and an RTX 4070 in addition to a capable Z790 motherboard. With 2TB of fast NVME storage, it exceeds the requirements for Starfield handily while retaining an above-requirement spec across the board for all of Starfield's stated requirements.
It also runs cooler than most of its competition thanks to an excellent liquid cooler as part of its configuration. In addition to this, it also comes with a preinstalled copy of Windows out of the box that should get gamers a jump-start on their Starfield journey. With a 750W PSU, it has more than enough power under the hood to handle the current configuration but makes upgrading to a higher-end RTX 4000 series GPU a bit of an expensive endeavor.The Thermaltake Shadow 370 v2 AIO Gaming PC is an excellent, well-built gaming PC that clocks in high on the recommendations list for Starfield while offering a futuristic look that could sync well with the game's own theme. Powered by a 6-core, 12-thread AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and a bundled RTX 3070 GPU, it meets or exceeds the stated expectations of the Bethesda team in both departments.
With 16GB of RAM and a large 1TB SSD, the Shadow 370 v2 ships with plenty of storage under the hood in addition to meeting memory requirements for Starfield. It does score slightly negatively for being powered by a 650W gold PSU which is more than adequate for the RTX 3070 it is bundled with but could prove to be restrictive for user upgrades down the line.
Cooler Master HAF 5 Pro Gaming Desktop
The Cooler Master HAF 5 Pro is a gaming computer designed for high-performance gaming. It houses an Intel Core i7-12700F processor, which can clock up to 4.9 GHz. There's also an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 12GB graphics card, which makes this machine ready for virtual reality gaming.
Cooler Master components are used throughout the system. These include a high-air-flow HAF 500 Case, a Hyper 212 Halo Tower CPU Cooler, and a G600 600W 80+ Gold Efficiency Power Supply Unit.
- Brand
- Cooler Master
- Memory
- 16GB DDR4 memory
- Graphics
- Nvidia RTX 3060
- CPU
- Intel Core i7 12700F
- Storage
- 1TB M2 SSD
- Motherboard
- Unspecified Intel 6XX or 7XX Series Motherboard
- Case
- Cooler Master Case
- Networking
- Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth
- PSU
- CM 600W Gold Rated PSU
- Comes with a capable Intel Core i7 12700F CPU out of the box
- Meets minimum requirements for Starfield
- Built with off-the-shelf components, making upgrades an easy affair
- Comes bundled with a free keyboard and mouse combo
- Ships with a locked processor despite having an adequate air cooler
- Uses a PSU that will need to be swapped out for most GPU and CPU upgrades
- Barely meets recommended GPU specs for Starfield (RTX 3060)
The Cooler Master HAF 5 Pro Gaming Desktop is a capable gaming PC that clocks in under $1300 while holding its own thanks to a fairly recent 12th generation Core i7 CPU and a capable RTX 3060 GPU. It comfortably meets the needs for Starfield's minimum specs but struggles slightly at higher resolutions, given its bundled RTX 3060 GPU's limitations. While it does meet requirements for the most part, the RTX 3060 is considerably slower than Bethesda's stated RTX 2080 recommendation for rasterization.
This means that while the RTX 3060 can (with the help of FSR2) handle the game on medium and high on FHD and 2K, it would be somewhat range-bound in terms of the frame rate. This is in addition to the fact that despite the aftermarket air cooler, the HAF ships with a locked 12th-generation Core i7 CPU as well as a PSU that will nearly always need to be swapped out to get any meaningful upgrade going.
While the HAF 5 Pro is a capable PC on its own, it sits in the middle of the recommended specs. It offers an excellent but budget-limited take on what a prebuilt PC would look like for Starfield.
MSI Infinite RS (13th-gen Intel, RTX 40 series)
The 13th generation MSI Infinite RS is a powerhouse gaming PC with the flexibility to serve gamers for many years. The MEG Prospect 700RL case is modular with more room for expansion than the typical prebuilt PC case. This Infinite RS 13 prebuilt system includes MSI's own RTX 4090 Gaming Trio 24GB graphics card, for an added boost in performance and cooling. To enhance its graphical performance further, the system is powered by the Intel Core i9-13900KF CPU accompanied by 32 GB of DDR5 memory and 4 TB of combined storage.
- Brand
- MSI
- Memory
- 32GB (2x 16GB) DDR5 4800MHz
- Graphics
- MSI NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GAMING TRIO 24GB GDDR6
- CPU
- Intel Core i9-13900KF
- Storage
- 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe 4.0 SSD + 2TB 3.5" 7200 RPM HDD
- Motherboard
- MSI z790
- Case
- MSI MEG PROSPECT 700RL
- Networking
- WiFi 6E (802.11ax)
- Comes equipped with a top-of-the-line RTX 4090 GPU
- Offers an excellent Intel Core i9 13900KF CPU as part of its offerings
- Has plenty of storage space thanks to the 2TB SSD and 2TB HDD
- Ships with a copy of Windows 11 Pro out of the box
- Has excellent cable management out of the box
- Considerably more expensive than most of its prebuilt PC alternatives
- Some users report being offered slightly different internals being offered in their builds
The MSI Infinite RS (13th-gen Intel, RTX 40 series) is one of the most premium gaming PCs money can buy. It offers a top-tier Intel Core i9 13900KF paired with an MSI RTX 4090 GPU, both of which handle Starfield and pretty much every game title with ease at the maximum resolution possible. With a pre-installed copy of Windows 11 Pro, excellent cable management, and plenty of storage under the hood, the Infinite RS is a pricey but no-holds-bared take on a gaming PC.
It easily meets or exceeds all of Bethesda's stated specs for the title, throwing in a mammoth 32GB of DDR5 memory for good measure. It does however cost considerably more than some of its similarly-performing alternatives that pack the same tier of hardware but ship sans the MSI badge which users can equate to being a more reliable brand in terms of consistency and performance.
CyberpowerPC Gamer Supreme Gaming Desktop
The Cyberpower PC Supreme Gaming Desktop includes some high-end specs for a more reasonable price than the competition. This prebuilt gaming PC makes a system with an RTX 4090 graphics card and Intel i9-13900KF CPU as affordable as possible. Even so, this rig doesn't compromise on storage with a 2TB NVMe SSD or memory speed with 16GB of DDR5 RAM. The Supreme Gaming Desktop also ships with a CyberpowerPC mouse and keyboard, so gamers are ready for battle.
- Brand
- CyberpowerPC
- Memory
- 16GB DDR5
- Graphics
- Geforce RTX 4090
- CPU
- Intel i9-13900KF
- Storage
- 2TB PCI-E NVMe SSD
- Motherboard
- Z690
- Case
- CyberpowerPC Eclipse P428X DRGB
- Networking
- Intel WIFI 802.11ac
- Has one of the best gaming CPUs currently available for purchase
- Offers a capable top-of-the-line RTX 4090 as part of its value proposition
- Bundles a capable 2TB SSD as part of its package
- Meets and exceeds Bethesda's Starfield requirements considerably
- 16GB of DDR5 memory, while adequate for Starfield is slightly underwhelming for the price point the PC currently commands
- Users report getting cheaper internals than most custom builds would generally offer
Thermaltake Shadow 370 v2 AIO Gaming PC
The Thermaltake Shadow 370 v2 AIO gaming PC features a closed-loop liquid-cooled system with a 360 mm radiator. The performance is delivered by an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X six-core processor and Nvidia GeForce 3070 graphics card with improved ray-tracing performance. The system also has 16 gigabytes of RGB-lit DDR4 memory with a 3600 MHz speed and one terabyte of fast NVMe M.2 SSD storage. The system supports Wi-Fi and comes with a Windows 10 Home license.
- Brand
- Liquid Cooled, 360MM radiator
- Memory
- ThermalTake 16GB DDR4 3600MHz
- Graphics
- MSI RTX 3070 8GB
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-Core 12-Thread
- Storage
- MSI 1TB NVME SSD
- Motherboard
- MSI Pro B550
- Case
- Thermaltake Core P3 ATX Tempered Glass Chassis
- PSU
- Thermaltake 650W Toughpower GF1
- Meets or exceeds CPU requirements for Starfield
- The GPU is Starfield's recommended graphics card
- Is one of the most aesthetically pleasing PC options out there
- Has plenty of fast M2 storage
- The PSU severely limits upgrade potential
The CyberpowerPC Gamer Supreme Gaming Desktop is an excellent alternative for gamers who need to max out their gaming experience with Starfield but are unwilling to spend the sub-$4k that the MSI Infinite above commands. At just above $3000 for an RTX 4090 coupled with a top-of-the-line Intel Core i9 13900KF CPU, this PC delivers on that front. It throws in 16GB of fast DDR5 memory, 2TB of SSD storage, and a liquid cooler as part of its offerings, making this a capable and yet more affordable PC for playing Starfield at maxed settings out of the box.
It does however cut corners in noticeable ways. 16GB of DDR5 memory is on the lower end of the spectrum, especially for a sub-$3k gaming PC. CyberpowerPC also seems to be balancing the lower cost by compromising on the SSD by using an entry-level SKU in that department coupled with an entry-level Z690 motherboard which can impede future upgrades and overclocking potential.
That being said, given the CPU and GPU choices being offered, it does tend to extend more value than its alternatives at the same price while delivering on the performance front, making it a relatively easy recommendation from the Game ZXC team.
Xbox Series X – Diablo IV Bundle
The Xbox Series X is arguably the most powerful console gamers can buy in 2024, and it comes as part of multiple bundles, including Diablo 4. With a built-in multi-volt supply, 1TB of SSD storage, and arguably one of the best stock controllers in the market, it is a gift worth giving to most gamers, but it might appeal to Diablo fans more than others.
- 4K Capability
- Yes, up to 4K 120FPS gaming, up to 8K video
- Top Games
- Halo, Forza, Gears of War, etc.
- Power Source
- Built-in power supply unit requiring external power
- What's Included
- Console, Controller, Diablo 4 Voucher, Quick Start Guide, Cables
- Brand
- Microsoft
- Screen
- Not Included
- Game support
- All Xbox One, Series S/X Titles
- Processing Power
- 12 TFLOPS Custom RDNA 2 GPU + 8 Core AMD Zen 2 CPU
- Storage
- 1TB custom SSD built-in, expansion slots available
- CPU
- Custom AMD Zen 2-based Eight Core CPU
- Battery
- N/A
- Connectivity
- Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11ac dual band
- Bands
- 2.4G, 5G
- Ports
- 3x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x custom expansion slot
- Dimensions
- 5.94 x 5.94 x 11.85 in
- Weight
- 9.8 lbs
- Audio
- Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby TrueHD + Atmos, 7.1 L-PCM
- RAM
- 16Gb GDDR6 320bit shared with SoC
- At $500, it is the cheapest way to play Starfield at up to a 4K resolution
- Comes with everything needed to play Starfield out of the box
- Has plenty of SSD storage on offer (1TB with expansions available)
- The bundle comes with a free copy of Diablo IV out of the box
- Starfield offers a locked 30 FPS experience on the Xbox Series X
- Does not have the ability to choose between a performance and a fidelity mode; users are locked to 30FPS on the Series X
The Xbox Series X is not a gaming PC per se, but the last two console generations have blurred the lines between what gaming PCs and consoles are as they have moved towards the X86 architecture for easier developer access and more modular PC-like design. The Xbox Series X is a capable gaming console that is on the receiving end of many console-specific optimizations even as it clocks in at a fraction of most gaming PCs that are capable of running Starfield.
It does however come with a hard limitation specific to Starfield: the title is locked at 30 FPS as part of Bethesda's aim of wanting a more stable experience for gamers on the console. The lack of choice between a high refresh rate performance mode and a quality-centric fidelity mode does seem to stick out for the game in 2023 with many titles offering this choice to gamers.
With plenty of storage, an appealing price tag, and peripherals that allow it to be a plug-and-play experience, the Xbox Series X is worth a second glance if users are not looking to buy an expensive gaming PC just for Starfield. It delivers the goods, albeit locked at 30 FPS that most PC gamers would scoff at in 2023.
Looking for other gaming PC options? Check out Game ZXC's list of the best prebuilt PCs!
FAQ
Q: What is the recommended GPU for Starfield?
Bethesda recommends the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT or the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 for Starfield. This is roughly equivalent to the more recent Nvidia RTX 3060TI or 4060TI GPUs as well as the new AMD Radeon RX 7700XT/7800XT GPUs.
Q: How much storage is needed for Starfield?
Starfield currently requires 125GB of free storage space on an SSD as a minimum for its game files. Future updates, patches, and DLC may require additional storage for the title.