System Shock
To run System Shock (2023) on PC you need at least a Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better processor and a NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better, with 4GB of RAM and 10GB of free storage. For higher settings and frame rates, the recommended specs are a Intel Core i7-3770/AMD FX-8350 or better and a NVIDIA GTX 970 4GB/AMD Radeon R9 290 4GB or better with 8GB of RAM. Check your exact PC against System Shock with our free Can I Run It tool, estimate your frame rate with the FPS Estimator, or see the best GPU for System Shock.
System Requirements
Minimum
- CPU: Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better
- RAM: 4
- Storage: 10
Recommended
- CPU: Intel Core i7-3770/AMD FX-8350 or better
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 970 4GB/AMD Radeon R9 290 4GB or better
- RAM: 8
- Storage: 10
Building a PC to play System Shock at its best
Meeting the System Shock minimum requirements (a NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better) is enough to launch the game, but it won't give you high frame rates at 1440p or 4K. The recommended NVIDIA GTX 970 4GB/AMD Radeon R9 290 4GB or better 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 System Shock'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 System Shock 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 System Shock with the free Can I Run It tool, or see the best GPU for System Shock.
System Shock — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the minimum requirements for System Shock?
System Shock needs at least a Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better CPU and a NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better graphics card, 4GB of RAM and 10GB of storage.
What are the recommended specs for System Shock?
For a smooth experience, System Shock recommends a Intel Core i7-3770/AMD FX-8350 or better and a NVIDIA GTX 970 4GB/AMD Radeon R9 290 4GB or better with 8GB of RAM.
How much RAM does System Shock need?
System Shock requires 4GB of RAM as a minimum, with 8GB recommended.
What GPU do you need to run System Shock?
The minimum graphics card for System Shock is a NVIDIA GTX 670 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB or better, while a NVIDIA GTX 970 4GB/AMD Radeon R9 290 4GB or better is recommended for higher settings. Check any GPU against this game with our Can I Run It tool.
