Cyberpunk 2077 is demanding because its most advanced graphics mode, Ray Tracing: Overdrive, uses path tracing, and because the highest-end official target combines that workload with 4K resolution. But there is no single PC requirement for the game: its published targets vary by resolution, graphics settings, ray tracing, and frame-generation features.
Why Cyberpunk 2077 can be demanding
Overdrive uses path tracing
Traditional rendering and standard ray tracing handle lighting in different ways. Ray Tracing: Overdrive goes further: it uses path tracing, which CD PROJEKT RED describes as bringing lighting information together rather than combining conventional rendering with selected ray-traced effects. The result can include more detailed reflections, micro-shadows, and lighting in dark tunnels or around steam, but the developer calls the mode very GPU intensive. CD PROJEKT RED’s Patch 1.62 notes explain the mode; its feature overview with NVIDIA describes the visual approach.
Higher resolution means more work for the GPU
The official targets range from 1080p for the lower tiers to 2160p (4K) for non-ray-tracing Ultra and Overdrive. Rendering at a higher resolution means producing more pixels, increasing the GPU’s workload. That is one reason a PC that meets a 1080p target should not be assumed to meet a 4K target at the same settings and frame rate.
Frame generation affects what a target means
The publisher’s 4K Overdrive target of 60 FPS was measured with DLSS Frame Generation enabled. Frame generation can affect displayed frame rates, so that figure is not a like-for-like comparison with a target that does not specify it. Check whether a stated target includes frame generation before comparing it with your own results.
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Cyberpunk 2077’s published PC targets
CD PROJEKT RED published these reference configurations on June 11, 2023. The figures are expected results from the developer’s internal testing, not a guarantee; the publisher says performance can vary with hardware and software configuration, individual graphics settings, and resolution. Treat the hardware as a guide to the intended target, not as a current buying recommendation. See the complete requirements announcement.
| Target | Resolution, settings and expected frame rate | Processor | Graphics card | Memory and storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum, no ray tracing | 1080p, Low, 30 FPS | Core i7-6700 or Ryzen 5 1600 | GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB, Radeon RX 580 8 GB, or Intel Arc A380 | 12 GB RAM; 70 GB SSD |
| Recommended, no ray tracing | 1080p, High, 60 FPS | Core i7-12700 or Ryzen 7 7800X3D | GeForce RTX 2060 Super, Radeon RX 5700 XT, or Intel Arc A770 | 16 GB RAM; 70 GB SSD |
| Ultra, no ray tracing | 2160p (4K), Ultra, 60 FPS | Core i9-12900 or Ryzen 9 7900X | GeForce RTX 3080 or Radeon RX 7900 XTX | 20 GB RAM; 70 GB NVMe |
| Minimum ray tracing | 1080p, Ray Tracing Low, 30 FPS | Core i7-9700 or Ryzen 5 5600 | GeForce RTX 2060, Radeon RX 6800 XT, or Intel Arc A750 | 16 GB RAM; 70 GB SSD |
| Recommended ray tracing | 1080p, Ray Tracing Ultra, 60 FPS | Core i9-12900 or Ryzen 9 7900X | GeForce RTX 3080 Ti or Radeon RX 7900 XTX | 20 GB RAM; 70 GB NVMe |
| Ray Tracing: Overdrive | 2160p (4K), 60 FPS; DLSS Frame Generation enabled | Core i9-12900 or Ryzen 9 7900X | GeForce RTX 4080; 16 GB VRAM | 24 GB RAM; 70 GB NVMe |
All six published tiers list Windows 10 64-bit. The two lower non-ray-tracing tiers and minimum ray-tracing tier specify an SSD; the higher tiers specify NVMe storage. Update 2.0 says an SSD is required and advises against HDDs—and SD cards on Steam Deck—because lower bandwidth can interfere with streaming game content. Read the Update 2.0 notes.
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What settings and features change performance?
Choose a target before comparing hardware
Start with the experience you want rather than looking for one universal “minimum PC.” Compare four things: output resolution, rendering mode, target frame rate and whether frame generation is enabled, then RAM, VRAM, and storage. A 1080p Low target without ray tracing is a substantially different workload from 4K Overdrive.
Ray tracing and reconstruction options
Features and compatibility depend on the game version and graphics hardware. Update 2.0 introduced DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction; its release notes specify an RTX card and Path Tracing enabled. Patch 2.13 added AMD FSR 3 with Frame Generation and Intel XeSS 1.3, and allowed DLAA and DLSS Ray Reconstruction to be used together. Patch 2.21 added DLSS 4 support, including Multi Frame Generation for RTX 50 Series and faster single Frame Generation support for RTX 50 and 40 Series. These are version-specific release-note claims, not a promise about every later game and driver combination. Update 2.0, Patch 2.13, and Patch 2.21 provide the details.
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CPU-sensitive settings and crowd density
Update 2.0 added an AMD SMT setting and lets players adjust Crowd Density independently of the quick preset. These options show that CPU-related and scene settings can matter, but the cited official notes do not quantify their frame-rate effects. Treat them as settings to evaluate on your own PC rather than assuming a particular FPS gain.
How to check performance on your own PC
- Pick a defined target. Record your resolution, graphics preset, ray-tracing mode, frame-rate goal, and whether frame generation is on. Without those details, a comparison with a published target is incomplete.
- Use the built-in benchmark. Run it with the settings you intend to play with. Patch 1.62 says the results screen shows PC specifications, driver version, and selected settings, which can help you keep comparisons consistent. It does not make a single result representative of every scene or configuration.
- Change one setting at a time. If performance is not where you want it, adjust resolution, ray tracing, or other graphics settings individually and run the benchmark again. This makes it easier to see which trade-off helps on your system.
Patch 1.62 introduced Overdrive as a path-tracing technology preview and initially offered launch guidance including an RTX 4070 Ti and above, with an RTX 3090 listed for 1080p at 30 FPS. CD PROJEKT RED later said Overdrive had exited preview status with Update 2.1. For the developer’s published 4K/60 Overdrive configuration, use the later June 2023 requirements table above: RTX 4080 with DLSS Frame Generation enabled. The earlier preview guidance describes its launch context, not the later published target. Patch 1.62 notes.
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What the requirements can—and cannot—tell you
The requirements table is useful for separating targets, but it cannot predict an identical result on every PC. CD PROJEKT RED explicitly cautions: “Performance may vary depending on your particular PC hardware and software configuration, any changes made to individual graphics settings or resolution output.” These are the publisher’s reference targets from 2023; they are not independent benchmark results or a current ranking of graphics cards.
If you are deciding whether your PC can run the game, match your system to the closest resolution and rendering mode, then compare the entire configuration—not just the GPU. Pay attention to the Overdrive frame-generation condition, memory, and SSD requirement. For a specific card or processor, current independent benchmarks would be needed to judge real-world performance; the official target table alone does not establish that comparison.
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