Subnautica

Subnautica

By Luigi R. Updated: June 2026

To run Subnautica (2018) on PC you need at least a Intel Haswell 2 cores / 4 threads @ 2.5Ghz or equivalent processor and a Intel HD 4600 or equivalent - This includes most GPUs scoring greater than 950 points in the 3DMark , with 4GB of RAM and 20GB of free storage. For higher settings and frame rates, the recommended specs are a Intel Haswell 4 cores / 4 threads @ 3.2Ghz or equivalent and a Nvidia GTX 550 Ti or equivalent, 2GB VRAM with 8GB of RAM. Check your exact PC against Subnautica with our free Can I Run It tool, estimate your frame rate with the FPS Estimator, or see the best GPU for Subnautica.

System Requirements

Minimum
  • CPU: Intel Haswell 2 cores / 4 threads @ 2.5Ghz or equivalent
  • GPU: Intel HD 4600 or equivalent - This includes most GPUs scoring greater than 950 points in the 3DMark
  • RAM: 4
  • Storage: 20
Recommended
  • CPU: Intel Haswell 4 cores / 4 threads @ 3.2Ghz or equivalent
  • GPU: Nvidia GTX 550 Ti or equivalent, 2GB VRAM
  • RAM: 8
  • Storage: 20

Building a PC to play Subnautica at its best

Meeting the Subnautica minimum requirements (a Intel HD 4600 or equivalent - This includes most GPUs scoring greater than 950 points in the 3DMark ) is enough to launch the game, but it won't give you high frame rates at 1440p or 4K. The recommended Nvidia GTX 550 Ti or equivalent, 2GB VRAM is a solid target, and stepping up to a GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080 or Radeon RX 9070 XT gives you the headroom for ultra settings, ray tracing and high-refresh play. On mid-range cards, DLSS 4 and FSR frame generation can lift Subnautica's frame rate substantially, while a flagship RTX 5090 drives 4K at maximum settings.

The processor matters just as much: pairing your graphics card with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D or an Intel Core Ultra, at least 8GB (ideally 32GB) of DDR5 RAM and a fast Gen5 NVMe SSD removes the stutter and long load times that can hold Subnautica back. For modern textures at 4K, aim for a GPU with 12–16GB of VRAM so you never run short.

The same premium components also decide whether your rig is VR ready: if you game in virtual reality on a Meta Quest 3, Valve Index or PlayStation VR2, a strong GPU and CPU are what hold a steady 90 FPS. Check your exact setup against Subnautica with the free Can I Run It tool, or see the best GPU for Subnautica.

Subnautica — Frequently Asked Questions

What are the minimum requirements for Subnautica?
Subnautica needs at least a Intel Haswell 2 cores / 4 threads @ 2.5Ghz or equivalent CPU and a Intel HD 4600 or equivalent - This includes most GPUs scoring greater than 950 points in the 3DMark graphics card, 4GB of RAM and 20GB of storage.

What are the recommended specs for Subnautica?
For a smooth experience, Subnautica recommends a Intel Haswell 4 cores / 4 threads @ 3.2Ghz or equivalent and a Nvidia GTX 550 Ti or equivalent, 2GB VRAM with 8GB of RAM.

How much RAM does Subnautica need?
Subnautica requires 4GB of RAM as a minimum, with 8GB recommended.

What GPU do you need to run Subnautica?
The minimum graphics card for Subnautica is a Intel HD 4600 or equivalent - This includes most GPUs scoring greater than 950 points in the 3DMark , while a Nvidia GTX 550 Ti or equivalent, 2GB VRAM is recommended for higher settings. Check any GPU against this game with our Can I Run It tool.