Where do I find a game's system requirements on Steam?

On the game's store page, scroll down to the System Requirements section. It lists minimum and, for most games, recommended specs.

Can I play a game if my PC only meets the minimum requirements?

Usually yes, at low settings, but publishers rarely say which resolution and frame rate the minimum targets. An FPS estimate for your exact parts gives a clearer answer.

How do I know if my graphics card is better than the one in the requirements?

Compare them in a performance ranking, not by model number. doesitrun has a graphics card list and GPU vs. GPU comparisons, and estimates the FPS for your card in each game.

How to check if your PC meets a game's system requirements

By chicksaw · Updated October 16, 2026 · 6 min read

Short answer: find the requirements at the bottom of the game's Steam store page, then compare them line by line with your parts: processor, graphics card, RAM, VRAM, storage and Windows version. The hard part is the graphics card, because the listed model is rarely yours. doesitrun does that comparison for you and estimates the FPS.

Where to find the requirements

Steam store page: scroll down to "System Requirements". There are usually two columns, minimum and recommended.
The publisher's website or support pages: sometimes with extra tiers like "1440p High" or "4K Ultra".
PCGamingWiki: collects requirements and technical details (DirectX version, ultrawide support) for many games.

What minimum and recommended really mean

The minimum is roughly what the game needs to start and be playable at low settings. The recommended spec is meant for a good experience, often higher settings. Most publishers don't say which resolution and frame rate they had in mind, and some are generous while others are strict. So "meets the minimum" can mean anything from a smooth game at low settings to barely playable.

How to compare, line by line

Don't know your exact parts? How to check your PC hardware shows where Windows lists the graphics card, VRAM, processor and RAM.

Operating system: nearly all current games need 64-bit Windows 10 or 11.
RAM: easy, more is fine. Below the minimum, expect stutter or crashes.
VRAM: often hidden in the GPU line ("8 GB VRAM"). Too little VRAM causes stutter and blurry textures even when the GPU is fast enough.
Storage: free space, and whether an SSD is required. Many newer games list an SSD as required.
Processor: compare generation and class. A newer mid-range CPU often beats an older high-end one.
Graphics card: the hardest line, see below.

Comparing graphics cards

Requirements usually list one NVIDIA and one AMD card, for example "GTX 1060 6 GB / RX 580 8 GB". Your card is probably neither. The model number alone doesn't tell you much: a newer budget card can be slower or faster than an older mid-range card. You need a performance ranking, like the graphics card list or a GPU vs. GPU comparison on doesitrun.

Also watch out for laptop GPUs (usually slower than the desktop card with the same name) and integrated graphics, which are often not listed at all.

Passing the requirements is not the same as good FPS

Requirements are a yes/no line. What you want to know is usually "how well will it run on my PC, at my resolution?". doesitrun answers that: it compares the requirements with your parts and estimates the frame rate at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, checked against measured benchmarks. Do it for one game, or for your entire Steam library or wishlist at once.

Meets the requirements but runs badly?

Then the cause is often not the hardware: an old graphics driver, a laptop running the game on its integrated graphics instead of the dedicated card, overheating, or one or two very expensive settings such as ray tracing. FPS drops and stutter: causes and fixes goes through them in order, before you spend money.

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