To determine if a game will run on your PC, you’ll need to compare your computer’s specifications with the game’s system requirements. Here’s how you can do this:
1. Check Your PC’s Specifications
- Operating System: Ensure you know which version of Windows, macOS, or Linux you’re running.
- Processor (CPU): Find out the model and speed of your processor.
- Graphics Card (GPU): Identify your graphics card model.
- Memory (RAM): Check how much RAM your PC has.
- Storage: Ensure you have enough available storage space.
- DirectX Version (for Windows): Make sure your DirectX version is up-to-date.
You can find this information by:
- Windows: Right-click the Start menu and select
System
to see CPU, RAM, and OS details. For GPU, open theDevice Manager
and check underDisplay adapters
. - Mac: Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner, then select
About This Mac
. - Linux: Use commands like
lscpu
for CPU details,lspci | grep VGA
for GPU, andfree -h
for RAM.
2. Find the Game’s System Requirements
- Minimum Requirements: These are the lowest specs needed to run the game, but it may not run well or look good.
- Recommended Requirements: These specs will allow the game to run smoothly with good graphics settings.
You can find this information on:
- The game’s official website or store page (e.g., Steam, Epic Games Store).
- Gaming forums or review sites.
- The physical box of the game if you have it.
3. Compare Your PC’s Specs with the Game’s Requirements
- Ensure your CPU and GPU meet or exceed the game’s minimum and recommended requirements.
- Check that your RAM is sufficient.
- Make sure you have enough storage space.
- Verify that your operating system is compatible.
4. Use Online Tools (Optional)
- Can You Run It: A popular tool that automatically checks your PC against game requirements. Visit the Can You Run It website, search for the game, and follow the prompts.
- Game Debate: Another useful site for checking game compatibility.
5. Consider Performance Factors
- If your PC meets only the minimum requirements, you may need to play the game at lower graphics settings for a smoother experience.
- If your PC exceeds the recommended requirements, you should be able to play the game at higher settings with better performance.
Example
Let’s say you want to check if “Black Myth: Wukong” will run on your PC:
- Minimum Requirements: Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 16 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB / AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB, Requires 130 GB of free space, Windows 10.
- Recommended Requirements: Intel Core i7-9700 / AMD Ryzen 5 5500, 16 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 / AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT / INTEL Arc A750, Requires 130 GB of free space, Windows 10.
Compare these to your PC’s specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 (good for minimum, but slightly under for recommended).
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB (below recommended, above minimum).
- RAM: 16 GB (sufficient).
- Storage: 500 GB SSD (sufficient).
In this example, the game should run, but you may need to use medium settings for a better experience.