Hogwarts Legacy is one of the most hotly anticipated game releases in recent memory. As a massive open-world Harry Potter RPG, it promises to bring to life the magical world of Hogwarts like never before.
But can your PC handle it? This guide will walk you through Hogwarts Legacy‘s system requirements and hardware recommendations so you can enjoy butter-smooth performance at Hogwarts.
Minimum vs Recommended System Requirements
First, let‘s overview the minimum and recommended system requirements directly from the developer Avalanche Software:
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-6600 / AMD Ryzen 5 1400 | Intel Core i7-8700 / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 960 4GB / AMD RX 470 4GB | NVIDIA GTX 1080 / AMD RX 5700 XT |
| RAM | 16GB | 16GB |
| Storage | 85 GB HDD | 85 GB SSD |
As you can see, the developer targets 1080p Medium settings at 30fps for minimum spec systems, while recommended specs will deliver 60fps High settings gameplay at 1080p.
But what CPU and GPU should you actually buy in 2023 to run Hogwarts Legacy smoothly? Let‘s take a look…
Best CPUs for Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy can really tax your CPU due to all the AI routines and physics calculations going on behind the scenes. As such, you‘ll want a modern 6 core/12 thread CPU at a minimum. Some good options:
Intel Core i5-12400F
The Intel Core i5-12400F delivers excellent 1080p gaming performance at a reasonable price point. Its 6 performance cores and 12 threads are plenty for maintaining smooth 60fps gameplay in Hogwarts Legacy at High-Ultra settings.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
On team red, the Ryzen 5 5600X is a gaming beast that will chew through Hogwarts Legacy without breaking a sweat. It matches the i5-12400F in multi-threaded performance and will deliver similarly smooth framerates.
Intel Core i7-13700K
At the high end, Intel‘s new Raptor Lake CPUs like the i7-13700K are overkill but will absolutely smash Hogwarts Legacy with performance to spare. The 13700K provides incredible single threaded speed for high refresh rate gaming.
Best Graphics Cards
On the graphics side, an Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is where I would recommend starting for smooth 60fps+ performance at 1080p High settings in Hogwarts Legacy. Some other great options include:
Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti
Excellent 1440p card that can handle Hogwarts Legacy at 60fps+ on Ultra settings
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
AMD‘s flagship 1440p GPU that rivals the RTX 3080 in performance; also great for 4K
Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB
Overkill for 1080p but will easily deliver high framerates at 1440p or 60fps+ at 4K max settings
Optimizing Performance
If you‘re experiencing low framerates or stuttering issues, here are some quick tips:
- Update GPU drivers
- Close background apps
- Disable motion blur and depth of field effects
- Lower shadow quality
- Cap framerate below monitor refresh rate
Can a Low End PC Run Hogwarts Legacy?
If your system falls below the minimum specs, Hogwarts Legacy may still be playable, but you‘ll have to really lower resolutions and graphical settings. At a bare minimum, you should have:
- Quad core CPU similar to a Ryzen 5 1400 or Intel i5-7400
- 8GB RAM
- GTX 900 series or equivalent Radeon GPU
Don‘t expect much beyond 720p Low settings, but with some perseverance Hogwarts may still be accessible to fans without top tier gaming PCs!
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardware is Hogwarts Legacy best played on?
- For the ultimate gameplay experience, a high end PC with an Nvidia RTX 3080/3080 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT can max out all graphical settings. An Intel Core i7-12700K or Ryzen 7 5800X also helps ensure smooth framerates.
Can I play on low spec laptop hardware?
- It won‘t be an ideal experience, but lower end gaming laptops can technically run the game with heavy graphical downgrades. Just be prepared for lower resolution, muddy graphics and subpar framerates.
Will my older PC meet the minimum requirements?
- It depends! If your CPU is from the Haswell/Skylake generation (Intel 4000 series) and you have a GTX 900 series card, you may just be able to scrape by. 8GB of RAM is borderline – aim for 16GB if possible.
I hope this guide has prepped you to enjoy Hogwarts Legacy on your PC! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about getting the game running smoothly or suggestions for what games I should cover next.
