The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim System Requirements

Here are the The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim System Requirements (Minimum)

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Recommended Requirements

Can you run Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim?

By Cliff Henjum July 6, 2019

Perhaps the biggest single-player game of the decade, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, has won over 200 Game of the Year Awards throughout its life. It has been ported to every new console that has come out and has even been fully adapted to Virtual Reality. The action role-playing game from Bethesda continues to bring in new players that are wondering if their computer is strong enough to run it. Don't forget about other big games from Bethesda, such as Fallout 4 and DOOM Eternal. It’s important to figure out which version of Skyrim you plan on playing because the system requirements are different. Do you and your computer have what it takes to stop Alduin the World-Eater?

In October of 2016, Bethesda released a Special Edition version of Skyrim and provided all previous owners with the free upgrade. While this meant a boost in graphics, it also meant an increase in computer power was needed. Originally you only needed a GeForce 7600 GT or a Radeon X1800 to pass the minimum requirements, but the enhanced version requires at least a GeForce GTX 470 or a Radeon HD 7870. That’s a fairly sizeable increase in video card power, but it is definitely worth it. There was also a jump between old and current CPU requirements - it used to be set at a simple 2 GHz Dual-Core processor, but now your PC will need at least a Core i5-750 or a Phenom II X4-945. The Special Edition brings all of the exceptional mod tools to your fingertips, as well as new weapons, armor, and character dialogue.

If you want your PC to max out all of the graphics and play with tons of mods installed, you will need to pass the recommended requirements. In order to slay dragons with a high FPS, your GPU needs to be at least a GeForce GTX 780 or a Radeon R9 290 with 3-4 GB of VRAM. If you have a card along the lines of the GeForce GTX 780, that means you can run over 90% of the other games on the market as well. It would put you somewhere in between the minimum and recommended requirements for a game like Rust, which is notorious for having high system requirements. Don’t forget about your CPU - it needs to be at least as powerful as a Core i5-2400 or an AMD FX-8320.

Maybe you want to strap on an Oculus Rift or an HTC VIVE while you live the life of magic-wielding archer. Well then your PC needs to pass the standard VR system requirements as well as having about 15+ GB of available space for install files. A GeForce GTX 1070 or a Radeon RX Vega 56 will put you over the recommended requirements so hopefully your PC is ready for that. The VR version of Skyrim is hailed as one of the greatest VR adaptations of any modern game.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Updated March 15, 2021 By Cliff Henjum

Skyrim, the fifth entry in the Elder Scrolls series, remains one of the most popular games to ever be played on PC. PC gamers that want to join in on the fun need hardware in their computer that can pass this system requirements test. Bethesda set the minimum GPU requirements at the GeForce GTX 470 and the Radeon HD 7870. For your CPU, they want you to have at least an Intel Core i5-750 or an AMD Phenom II X4 945. Play Skyrim with maxed out graphics for the most immersive gameplay experience on a computer that passes the recommended requirements test. The recommended GPU is set at the GeForce GTX 780 and the Radeon R9 290, while the recommended CPU is set at the Core i5-2400 and AMD FX-8320. Skyrim also needs 8 GB of system RAM and about 12 GB of free harddrive space for the install. Now it’s time to slay some dragons!