Skyrim Special Edition needs an Intel Core i5-750 or AMD Phenom II X4-945 CPU, a GeForce GTX 470 1GB or Radeon HD 7870 2GB GPU, and 8GB of RAM at minimum, or an Intel Core i5-2400 or AMD FX-8320 with a GeForce GTX 780 3GB or Radeon R9 290 4GB for the recommended tier. These skyrim special edition system requirements pc specs are light by today’s standards, which is why the game still runs comfortably on most modern hardware nearly a decade after its 2016 release.
Here are the Skyrim Special Edition System Requirements (Minimum)
- CPU: Intel Core i5-750 or AMD Phenom II X4-945
- RAM: 8 GB
- VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 1GB or AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB
- DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 2 GB
- PIXEL SHADER: 5.0
- VERTEX SHADER: 5.0
- OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit)
- FREE DISK SPACE: 12 GB
Skyrim Special Edition Recommended Requirements
- CPU: Intel Core i5-2400 or AMD FX-8320
- RAM: 8 GB
- VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 3GB or AMD Radeon R9 290 4GB
- DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 4 GB
- PIXEL SHADER: 5.0
- VERTEX SHADER: 5.0
- OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit)
- FREE DISK SPACE: 12 GB
Minimum vs Recommended At a Glance
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Core i5-750 or Phenom II X4-945 | Core i5-2400 or FX-8320 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| GPU | GTX 470 1GB or RX HD 7870 2GB | GTX 780 3GB or R9 290 4GB |
| VRAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| OS | Windows 7/8.1/10 64-bit | Windows 7/8.1/10 64-bit |
Can My PC Run Skyrim Special Edition?
If your PC has at least a Core i5-750 or Phenom II X4-945, 8GB of RAM, and a GTX 470 1GB, you clear the minimum bar for Skyrim Special Edition. Given how dated that minimum spec is, almost any PC built in the last ten years runs the base game without issue, including most budget laptops. To hit the recommended tier for smoother performance at higher settings, you’ll want closer to a Core i5-2400 or FX-8320 paired with a GTX 780 3GB or better. Keep in mind that heavy modding, especially texture and ENB mods, pushes VRAM and RAM demands well past these official numbers, so a mod-heavy setup benefits from more headroom than the specs above suggest.
Who Skyrim Special Edition Is For
Skyrim Special Edition holds a PC Metascore of 74, lower than the original 2011 release’s 94, since critics viewed it mainly as a graphical remaster rather than a substantial reinvention. Despite that, it remains one of the most played open-world RPGs on PC years after launch, largely because of its enormous modding scene, which lets players overhaul everything from visuals to combat to entirely new quest lines. It’s a strong fit for players who want a game world they can keep customizing and revisiting long after finishing the main story.
It’s a weaker fit if you’re looking for a tightly written, modern RPG narrative or fast, responsive combat, since both are frequently cited as the game’s weaker points even by longtime fans. Players who want a fresh out-of-the-box experience without touching mods should also know that the base game shows its age in places, particularly in animation and combat feel, compared to newer open-world releases.
Get Skyrim Special Edition For Less
If you want to try before you commit to a full price purchase, check out our guide on how to get Skyrim Special Edition free for legitimate ways to play it at no cost or a steep discount.
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This is the last page in our Open-World Epics & Story-Driven Action cluster. Browse the full list above for every game we’ve covered so far.
FAQ
What are the system requirements for Skyrim Special Edition? Skyrim Special Edition needs an Intel Core i5-750 or AMD Phenom II X4-945 CPU, a GTX 470 1GB or Radeon HD 7870 2GB GPU, and 8GB of RAM at minimum. The recommended tier asks for a Core i5-2400 or FX-8320, a GTX 780 3GB or R9 290 4GB, and the same 8GB of RAM.
How much storage does Skyrim Special Edition need? Skyrim Special Edition requires 12GB of free disk space for both the minimum and recommended install, though heavily modded setups often need much more.
Can I run Skyrim Special Edition on a laptop? Yes. The minimum requirements are low enough that most laptops built in the last decade, including many without a dedicated GPU, can run the base game at lower settings.
Does Skyrim Special Edition need 16GB of RAM? No. The official minimum and recommended requirements both list 8GB of RAM, though heavy mod lists can benefit from more.
Is Skyrim Special Edition worth playing today? Skyrim Special Edition holds a 74 PC Metascore, lower than the original game’s 94, but it remains widely played thanks to its massive modding community, which continues to add new content and overhaul the game years after release.
