What GPU do I need to run Star Citizen?

The minimum GPU requirement for Star Citizen is NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970. For smoother performance at higher settings, a more powerful graphics card is recommended.

What are the system requirements for Star Citizen?

The minimum system requirements for Star Citizen are: CPU: Quad Core CPU - Intel: Sandy Bridge or later, AMD: Bulldozer or later, GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970, RAM: 16 GB.

Can I play Star Citizen at 60 FPS?

To achieve 60 FPS in Star Citizen at medium-to-high settings, you typically need at least an entry-level GPU (e.g. GTX 1650 or RX 6500 XT). Use the FPS estimator on this page to check your specific GPU.

Star Citizen

92/100

84 ratings2013Moderate

Can your GPU run this game?

Estimated FPS across quality settings and resolutions

Search for your GPU above to see a full FPS breakdown at every quality and resolution.

Star Citizen FPS by GPU

Estimated framerates for 14 reference GPUs · pick a resolution and quality

60+ fps30–59 fps<30 fpsClick any row to load the full benchmark

Full benchmark grid · 14 GPUs × 4 qualities × 3 resolutions

1080p performance

Star Citizen estimated FPS at 1080p across 14 GPUs and 4 quality presets
GPU	low	medium	high	ultra
RTX 5090	600 fps	480 fps	384 fps	312 fps
RTX 4090	557 fps	446 fps	357 fps	290 fps
RX 7900 XTX	500 fps	400 fps	320 fps	260 fps
RTX 5080	472 fps	377 fps	302 fps	245 fps
RTX 4080 Super	443 fps	354 fps	284 fps	230 fps
RTX 4070 Ti	350 fps	280 fps	224 fps	182 fps
RTX 4070	300 fps	240 fps	192 fps	156 fps
RX 7800 XT	264 fps	212 fps	169 fps	137 fps
RTX 3080	257 fps	206 fps	165 fps	134 fps
RTX 4060 Ti	243 fps	194 fps	155 fps	126 fps
RTX 3070	222 fps	177 fps	142 fps	115 fps
RTX 4060	200 fps	160 fps	128 fps	104 fps
RTX 3060	171 fps	137 fps	110 fps	89 fps
GTX 1660 Super	124 fps	99 fps	80 fps	65 fps

1440p performance

Star Citizen estimated FPS at 1440p across 14 GPUs and 4 quality presets
GPU	low	medium	high	ultra
RTX 5090	450 fps	360 fps	288 fps	234 fps
RTX 4090	418 fps	334 fps	268 fps	217 fps
RX 7900 XTX	375 fps	300 fps	240 fps	195 fps
RTX 5080	354 fps	283 fps	226 fps	184 fps
RTX 4080 Super	332 fps	266 fps	213 fps	173 fps
RTX 4070 Ti	263 fps	210 fps	168 fps	137 fps
RTX 4070	225 fps	180 fps	144 fps	117 fps
RX 7800 XT	198 fps	159 fps	127 fps	103 fps
RTX 3080	193 fps	154 fps	123 fps	100 fps
RTX 4060 Ti	182 fps	146 fps	117 fps	95 fps
RTX 3070	166 fps	133 fps	106 fps	86 fps
RTX 4060	150 fps	120 fps	96 fps	78 fps
RTX 3060	129 fps	103 fps	82 fps	67 fps
GTX 1660 Super	93 fps	75 fps	60 fps	48 fps

4K performance

Star Citizen estimated FPS at 4K across 14 GPUs and 4 quality presets
GPU	low	medium	high	ultra
RTX 5090	240 fps	192 fps	154 fps	125 fps
RTX 4090	223 fps	178 fps	143 fps	116 fps
RX 7900 XTX	200 fps	160 fps	128 fps	104 fps
RTX 5080	189 fps	151 fps	121 fps	98 fps
RTX 4080 Super	177 fps	142 fps	113 fps	92 fps
RTX 4070 Ti	140 fps	112 fps	90 fps	73 fps
RTX 4070	120 fps	96 fps	77 fps	62 fps
RX 7800 XT	106 fps	85 fps	68 fps	55 fps
RTX 3080	103 fps	82 fps	66 fps	54 fps
RTX 4060 Ti	97 fps	78 fps	62 fps	51 fps
RTX 3070	89 fps	71 fps	57 fps	46 fps
RTX 4060	80 fps	64 fps	51 fps	42 fps
RTX 3060	69 fps	55 fps	44 fps	36 fps
GTX 1660 Super	50 fps	40 fps	32 fps	26 fps

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Minimum Hardware

Graphics Card

Minimum required

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970

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Processor

Minimum required

Quad Core CPU - Intel: Sandy Bridge or later, AMD: Bulldozer or later

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Memory

Minimum required

16 GB

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About

Star Citizen, originally launched in 2013, is an ambitious open-world sandbox MMO space simulator from Cloud Imperium Games. The game emphasizes exploration across a vast universe, combined with combat, trading, and cooperative missions in a persistent online environment. Its scope and scale make it one of the most technically demanding titles in the space sim genre, with constantly evolving systems and content updates.

Running Star Citizen smoothly requires modern GPU hardware, with high-end cards like the RTX 4070 or RTX 3080 recommended for stable 60 FPS at 1440p with optimized graphics settings. Mid-range GPUs can handle the game at lower resolutions or reduced visual quality, though performance varies significantly depending on your current location in the universe and activity. For benchmark purposes, you'll notice considerable frame rate fluctuations between different areas, making overall FPS performance metrics somewhat variable across gameplay scenarios.

With a strong 92/100 rating, Star Citizen delivers compelling gameplay for fans of space exploration and MMO experiences. If you're interested in massive open-world sci-fi environments and have capable PC hardware, it's absolutely worth trying.

Performance profile

Released in August 2013, Star Citizen sits in the DirectX 11 generation. Comfortable on any modern mid-range GPU at 1440p; even an RTX 3050 or RX 6600 typically delivers 4K60 at High settings.

Entry-level hardware target. A GTX 1650 or RX 6500 XT reaches 60 FPS at 1080p Medium in Star Citizen; an RTX 4060 comfortably sustains 1440p Ultra. 4K Ultra 60 FPS needs an RTX 4070 or better.

Storyline

The hum of the fusion drive reverberates through the ship's hull. It reminds you that you should probably replace it soon. A quick check on the MobiGlas says there's an Aegis showroom on the planet you're heading to. Couldn't hurt to see what they got, right? With the Credits you make delivering this cargo, you should be able to buy your ship a little treat. Besides, she's your bread and butter. You roll on your side and look out the window at the vast yawning space outside. A distant planet silently orbits a dying sun.