Rise of the Tomb Raider launched on PC on February 9, 2016, and it remains one of the best-looking action-adventure games you can install on a modern machine. The good news for anyone planning a playthrough is that it is not a heavy game by today’s standards: the official minimum is a GeForce GTX 650 2 GB or Radeon HD 7770 2 GB with 6 GB of RAM, and the official recommended list tops out at a GTX 970 for 1920×1080 or a GTX 980 Ti for 2560×1440. This guide explains what those numbers mean in practice, which graphics cards make sense at each resolution, how much CPU, memory and storage you actually need, and which complete builds to aim for.
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How Demanding Is Rise of the Tomb Raider?
Honestly, not very — at least not by modern standards. Rise of the Tomb Raider is a DirectX 11 title from early 2016, built around graphics hardware that was considered mid-range several generations ago, and the official numbers reflect that. The minimum is a GeForce GTX 650 2 GB or Radeon HD 7770 2 GB, which is roughly entry-level 2012 hardware, and the recommended cards are a GTX 970 for 1920×1080 and a GTX 980 Ti for 2560×1440. Almost every dedicated GPU released since then clears the recommended bar, and anything modern — an RTX 5060, an RX 9060 XT, or even a much older GTX 1060 — sits comfortably above what the game asks for.
It is also not a CPU-heavy game. Rise of the Tomb Raider is a linear, story-driven action-adventure with set-piece environments rather than an open-world simulation, a strategy game or a large-scale multiplayer title, so it does not scale with high core counts and does not punish older processors. The official minimum is a dual-core Intel Core i3-2100 and the recommended chip is an i7-3770K from 2012; a modest modern quad-core is already far beyond both. The areas where the game can still tax a machine are the heavier optional image-quality settings on older cards, and the fact that it wants 6–8 GB of system memory — an amount that is low for a modern PC but worth checking on a very old build.
Rise of the Tomb Raider Official PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum (official) | Recommended (official) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7 64bit | Windows 10 64 bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD equivalent | Intel Core i7-3770K |
| Memory | 6 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 650 2GB or AMD HD7770 2GB | NVIDIA GTX 980Ti 2560×1440 or NVIDIA GTX 970 1920×1080 |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Storage | 25 GB available space | 25 GB available space |
Source: the official Rise of the Tomb Raider™ Steam store listing (app 391220), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.
Two details in that list are worth pointing out. First, the recommended graphics card changes with resolution: NVIDIA lists a GTX 970 for 1920×1080 and a GTX 980 Ti for 2560×1440, so 1440p is the highest resolution the official spec actually covers. Second, the game targets DirectX 11 on 64-bit Windows, so you do not need a DirectX 12 Ultimate-capable card to meet the specification. The Steam listing also flags SteamVR support, which matters only if you want to try the game’s VR content — the requirements above describe the standard game.
Best GPU for Rise of the Tomb Raider by Resolution
1080p
The official recommendation at 1920×1080 is a GTX 970-class card, and the minimum is a GTX 650 2 GB or HD 7770 2 GB. In practice that means almost any discrete GPU from the past several generations will run the game at 1080p with high settings: a GTX 970, GTX 1060 6 GB, RX 580 or GTX 1650 all clear the recommended bar. If you are buying new and want a card that will also carry you through newer releases, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is a sensible modern pick, and its current-generation counterpart, the RTX 5060, occupies the same tier. Both are far more than Rise of the Tomb Raider needs — you are buying headroom for other games, not for this one.
1440p
NVIDIA’s recommended GPU for 2560×1440 is a GTX 980 Ti, and cards such as the GTX 1070, GTX 1080 or RTX 2060 comfortably meet or beat that today. Current-generation options like the RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070, RX 9060 XT and RX 9070 are well past the official recommendation, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER sits in the same bracket. This is the resolution where the official spec stops, so 1440p at high settings is a very achievable target rather than a stretch.
4K
3840×2160 is not covered by the official recommended list at all — NVIDIA stops at 2560×1440 with a GTX 980 Ti — so 4K is beyond what the published specification promises. Modern cards handle it comfortably: an RTX 5070 or RTX 5070 Ti, or an RX 9070 or RX 9070 XT, will drive the game at 4K, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is in the same class. At 4K the limiting factors are memory bandwidth and VRAM for the higher texture settings. Note that the game predates DLSS and FSR, so there is no upscaling toggle to lean on — 4K performance comes down to raw GPU power and, if needed, turning down the heaviest settings.
CPU, RAM and Storage for Rise of the Tomb Raider
The official processor requirements are an Intel Core i3-2100 as a minimum and a Core i7-3770K as recommended, both of which are more than a decade old and easily beaten by any current desktop chip. Because the game is a single-player action-adventure rather than a simulation or large multiplayer title, it does not benefit much from extra cores, so you should choose a CPU based on the other games you play. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is excellent value for a general gaming build, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the fastest mainstream gaming CPU if you want maximum frame rates elsewhere. Intel fans can opt for the Intel Core i5-14600K. None of these is required for Rise of the Tomb Raider specifically — they are simply sensible modern platforms.
For memory, the game asks for 6 GB as a minimum and 8 GB as recommended, so 16 GB is already generous for this title and covers a modern system comfortably. A 32 GB kit such as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB is worth considering only if you multitask heavily or want headroom for newer games — Rise of the Tomb Raider itself will not use it. On the storage side the install is a modest 25 GB, and the official requirements do not demand an SSD. That said, a fast NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD shortens load times and can smooth out streaming hitches, and it is a sensible foundation for a modern build regardless.
Recommended PC Builds for Rise of the Tomb Raider
Because the game is light by today’s standards, treat these as builds that run it maxed out with plenty of headroom for newer titles — not as a minimum bar you have to clear.
1080p budget build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — far beyond the official 1080p recommendation, and a good all-round modern starting point.
1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — well above the GTX 980 Ti the official spec calls for at 1440p, and the setup most players should aim for.
4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — since 4K sits outside the official recommended list, this tier is for maximum settings here and in newer games.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Rise of the Tomb Raider?
If you are upgrading for this game alone, probably not. The official minimum is a GTX 650 2 GB or HD 7770 2 GB with 6 GB of RAM, so any dedicated graphics card from the last several generations already runs it, and most modern integrated graphics can manage it at reduced resolution and settings. The honest case for an upgrade is that you also play newer, heavier titles and want one machine that handles both. If that is you, be strategic: the graphics card delivers the biggest jump in gaming performance, so upgrade the GPU first if you have to choose. A mid-range CPU from the last few years will not hold back a modern GPU in this game, so you can usually keep it. Going from 8 GB to 16 GB of system memory is a cheap, broadly useful upgrade, and moving the game from a mechanical drive to an SSD shortens load times noticeably. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.
Can You Play Rise of the Tomb Raider on a Laptop or Handheld?
Yes, and comfortably. Any gaming laptop with a dedicated GPU from the last several generations exceeds the recommended specification at 1080p, so this is one of the easier modern titles to take on the road — the practical limits are battery life, thermals and fan noise rather than raw performance. On handhelds like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, the hardware sits far above the official minimum and well past the recommended GTX 970, so Rise of the Tomb Raider runs well with settings adjusted for battery life. If portability matters, prioritise a device with a capable GPU and pair it with a fast microSD card or SSD — the 25 GB install fits comfortably either way.
How to Boost FPS in Rise of the Tomb Raider
Because this is a DirectX 11 game from 2016, it predates DLSS, FSR and frame generation, so there is no upscaling toggle to switch on. Start by lowering the overall graphics preset one notch and see how the frame rate responds, then trim the most expensive individual settings — anti-aliasing, shadow quality and any supersampling options are usually the heaviest, so they are the first places to look. Lowering the output resolution is the most reliable fix on older hardware. Beyond the in-game menu, make sure your GPU drivers are up to date, close background applications, install the game on an SSD if you have one, and on laptops check that the game is running on the dedicated GPU rather than integrated graphics and that the power profile is set for performance. A stable frame rate at slightly lower settings almost always feels better than maxed-out visuals with stutter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PC run Rise of the Tomb Raider?
If your PC has a GTX 650 2 GB or HD 7770 2 GB (or better), a processor comparable to an Intel Core i3-2100, 6 GB of RAM, DirectX 11 support, 64-bit Windows and 25 GB of free space, it meets the official minimum. For the recommended experience at 1080p you want a GTX 970-class card with 8 GB of RAM and a Core i7-3770K-class CPU — a bar that almost any PC built in the last several years clears easily.
Is Rise of the Tomb Raider demanding on PC?
No, not by modern standards. It is a DirectX 11 title from 2016 whose official minimum is entry-level hardware from around 2012, and whose recommended GPUs are a GTX 970 for 1080p and a GTX 980 Ti for 1440p. Current mid-range cards run it with plenty of room to spare.
What GPU do I need for Rise of the Tomb Raider at 1440p?
The official recommendation for 2560×1440 is a GTX 980 Ti, and a GTX 1070, GTX 1080 or RTX 2060 already matches or beats that. Any modern mid-range card — RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070, RX 9060 XT — exceeds it comfortably, as does the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER. There is no need to buy a high-end GPU for this game specifically.
How much RAM does Rise of the Tomb Raider need?
The official requirements list 6 GB as a minimum and 8 GB as recommended. 16 GB is a comfortable baseline for a modern system and gives you headroom, but this particular game will not make use of more than that, and it does not benefit from faster memory the way CPU-heavy simulation or strategy titles do.
Do I need an SSD for Rise of the Tomb Raider?
No — the official requirements ask for 25 GB of storage space and do not specify an SSD. An SSD is still worthwhile: it shortens load times and can reduce streaming hitches, and a drive like the Samsung 990 Pro is a solid choice for a modern build.
