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Short answer: Ashes of the Singularity II requires a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 PC, a DirectX 12 graphics card, 8GB of RAM and 50GB of free storage at minimum. For a better margin in its large battles, target the recommended CPU and GPU classes, 16GB of RAM and an SSD. The published requirements do not include an official frame-rate target, so no component list can guarantee a particular FPS until reproducible testing is available.
The game is scheduled to launch on November 10, 2026. Oxide Games is developing it and Stardock Entertainment is publishing it. The announced package includes a campaign, three playable factions, skirmish, competitive multiplayer and co-operative multiplayer; the campaign is set in 2031 and features larger battles and advanced units.
Official Ashes of the Singularity II requirements
These specifications come from the current Steam listing (accessed in 2026). They describe the hardware and software needed to start the game, not a guaranteed resolution, graphics preset or frame rate.
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| Operating system | Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit | Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 2400G or Intel Core i5-8500 | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i5-11600K |
| Memory | 8GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Graphics | Radeon RX 580 with 8GB or GeForce GTX 1660 with 6GB | Radeon RX 6750 XT with 8GB or GeForce RTX 3070 with 8GB |
| Graphics API | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12 |
| Storage | 50GB available space | 50GB available space |
| Internet | Broadband internet connection | Broadband internet connection |
An SSD is recommended even though the listing specifies capacity rather than a solid-state requirement. Keep more than the stated free-space minimum when possible: Windows updates, shader caches and future game patches can consume additional room.
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Can your current PC run it?
Check the four parts that determine whether your system fits the listing before buying or upgrading. A machine that misses one minimum requirement may launch unreliably or require compromises that are not covered by the published specification.
- Confirm Windows and DirectX: Open Settings > System > About and verify a 64-bit edition of Windows 10 or 11. Press
Windows+R, typedxdiag, and check the DirectX version shown on the System tab. - Identify the processor: In Settings > System > About, note the full CPU model. Compare it with the minimum and recommended classes in the table, not just the Ryzen 5 or Core i5 label; different generations within those families perform very differently.
- Check memory: Press
Ctrl+Shift+Escto open Task Manager, choose Performance > Memory, and record installed capacity. Also note whether the system is already using most of it while your normal background applications are open. - Check the graphics card: In Task Manager, select Performance > GPU and record the exact model and dedicated memory. A card with the right name but a different laptop or low-power variant should be treated cautiously.
- Check free storage and drive type: Open Settings > System > Storage. Confirm at least 50GB free on the installation drive and use Defragment and Optimize Drives to see whether it is an SSD or hard disk. The latter can satisfy capacity while still producing slower loading.
- Verify broadband access: Multiplayer modes and any online service checks require an internet connection. A speed test alone does not reveal Wi-Fi interference or latency, so test from the room where the PC is located.
If every item meets the minimum column, the PC is within the developer’s stated entry point. Meeting the recommended column gives more headroom, but it still is not an FPS promise.
What the CPU requirement means for large battles
Real-time strategy games can keep many simulation objects active even when the camera is zoomed out. Ashes II is advertised around thousands of units and continent-scale battlefields, but no independent source has published a verified unit-count performance test. Treat the recommended processor class as a sensible target for sustained simulation work rather than proof of a particular frame rate.
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Minimum-class processors
The Ryzen 5 2400G and Core i5-8500 are the entry models named by the listing. If your processor is older, has fewer cores, or is a mobile chip with a substantially lower power limit, expect a greater risk of slow turn processing or dips during crowded engagements. Lowering image quality cannot remove all CPU-side simulation work.
Recommended-class processors
The Ryzen 5 5600X and Core i5-11600K represent the recommended tier. Moving to this class is most useful when the graphics card already meets the recommended level but battles still feel sluggish, camera movement is uneven, or the game takes a long time to process an active match. Check motherboard socket support, BIOS compatibility and cooling before purchasing a CPU; a faster chip is not automatically a drop-in replacement.
Choosing the right GPU
The graphics requirement has the largest gap between its two columns. The minimum examples are an RX 580 8GB or GTX 1660 6GB. The recommended examples are an RX 6750 XT 8GB or RTX 3070 8GB. These are reference points for performance class and video memory, not a promise that every card with the same memory amount behaves identically.
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If your card is below minimum
Upgrade the GPU before changing the CPU. Confirm that the power supply has the required connectors and sufficient capacity, that the card fits the case, and that the motherboard slot and monitor outputs are suitable. On a laptop, the graphics processor is generally soldered and cannot be replaced; an external GPU is a platform-specific workaround rather than a universal solution.
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The published upgrade guidance puts a recommended-class GPU first because it creates the largest graphics headroom. Buy for the resolution and refresh rate you actually use, and leave room for the game to evolve after launch. Do not select solely by VRAM: architecture, bandwidth, cooling and driver support also affect results.
Integrated graphics and shared memory
The minimum list names discrete Radeon and GeForce cards. An integrated GPU that borrows system memory may show a large total memory figure in Windows but still lack the bandwidth and dedicated VRAM expected by the listing. Consider such a system below the stated minimum unless the developer later documents support for that specific graphics solution.
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RAM, storage and loading behavior
Why 16GB is the practical target
Eight gigabytes is the published minimum; 16GB is recommended. Upgrading from 8GB to a matched 16GB kit is the second step in the published practical order, after addressing a below-recommended GPU. Close browsers, recording tools and launchers when testing, but do not treat closing them as a substitute for adequate physical memory. Use two matched modules when your motherboard supports dual-channel operation and verify the board’s maximum capacity and memory type.
SSD versus hard disk
The listing asks for 50GB of free space and separately recommends an SSD. A solid-state drive can reduce loading and asset-streaming delays compared with a mechanical hard disk, but it does not increase the graphics card’s rendering power. A 1TB NVMe SSD leaves useful room for Windows, the game and patches; check whether your motherboard has an available M.2 slot before ordering one. A 2.5-inch SATA SSD is a valid alternative when an M.2 slot is unavailable.
Best upgrade order
The following order translates the gap between minimum and recommended specifications into a practical plan. It is guidance from the published requirement differences, not a benchmark result.
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- Bring the GPU up to the recommended class. Do this first if your current card is below that level. Verify case clearance, power-supply connectors and monitor requirements before buying.
- Move from 8GB to 16GB of RAM. Install a compatible matched kit, then enable the motherboard’s advertised memory profile only if the system remains stable.
- Reach the recommended CPU class. Replace the processor when it is below the recommended tier and you observe simulation slowdowns or the rest of the system is already ready for the change. Confirm socket, BIOS, cooler and power limits.
- Install the game on an SSD with at least 50GB free. Prefer additional capacity for patches and other applications; migrate or reinstall rather than filling the drive to its limit.
If funds allow only one change, compare your current component with the table and address the largest shortfall. A balanced system generally matters more than pairing a very fast GPU with an old processor or adding storage while remaining at minimum graphics hardware.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Upgrade the existing PC or replace it?
An upgrade is usually practical when
- The motherboard supports a recommended-class processor after a BIOS update.
- The case accepts the desired graphics-card length and thickness.
- The power supply has adequate continuous output, the correct connectors and reasonable age.
- The machine uses standard desktop DIMMs and has an open memory slot or can replace its current kit.
- You already have a 64-bit Windows license and a monitor suited to the planned GPU.
A replacement is safer when
- The computer is a laptop with no replaceable GPU or has proprietary desktop parts.
- The motherboard, CPU socket, power supply and case would all need replacement.
- The system cannot run a 64-bit Windows 10/11 installation or lacks a DirectX 12-capable GPU.
- Adding the GPU, memory, processor and SSD costs close to a new system with a warranty.
Hardware prices, stock and compatibility change by region and date. Price the complete upgrade—including a cooler, power supply, operating-system installation and adapters—against a replacement PC rather than comparing the graphics card alone.
What “smoothly” can and cannot mean yet
No official or reproducible benchmark currently supplies FPS, frame-time, resolution or graphics-preset targets for Ashes II. The November 10, 2026 launch announcement says the team continued improving performance and multiplayer stability after the Steam Next Fest demo and September public playtest, but it does not turn those improvements into a measurable target.
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Use the recommended specification as a margin, not a guarantee. After launch, evaluate frame rate and frame-time consistency at your chosen resolution, then adjust settings in this order: reduce costly effects and unit-detail distance, cap frame rate to a stable value, and monitor GPU utilization, CPU utilization and memory usage. Record the same battle or replay when comparing changes; otherwise a different unit count can make one run appear faster for reasons unrelated to the upgrade.
Common problems and fixes
The game will not start
- Recheck that Windows is 64-bit and that the system exposes DirectX 12.
- Install current graphics drivers from the GPU manufacturer and reboot.
- Confirm that the installation drive has more than the required free space and that security software has not quarantined a game file.
- If the PC has both integrated and discrete graphics, select the discrete adapter in Windows graphics settings.
Stuttering despite meeting the requirements
- Check Task Manager for memory exhaustion, background downloads and CPU or GPU thermal throttling.
- Move the installation from a hard disk to an SSD and leave free space for the operating system and shader caches.
- Use a repeatable scenario, because crowded battles can stress the CPU differently from a quiet opening.
- Do not assume a higher FPS counter means smoother play; inspect frame-time consistency when tools permit.
Multiplayer disconnects
Verify the broadband connection, test wired Ethernet if Wi-Fi is unstable, and check whether other devices are saturating the connection. Router quality and internet routing can affect a match even when the local PC meets every hardware requirement.
Bottom line for buying decisions
For a new build or major upgrade, aim at the recommended CPU and GPU classes, 16GB of RAM and an SSD rather than assembling a minimum-only machine. For an existing desktop, prioritize a below-recommended graphics card, then memory, processor and solid-state storage in that order, checking compatibility at every step. That plan offers the best evidence-based margin available before independent launch benchmarks establish what “smooth” means at a specific resolution and frame rate.
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