What are the Minecraft RTX minimum and recommended PC requirements?
What are the Minecraft RTX minimum and recommended PC requirements?
RTX at a budget
Minecraft is not known for being a difficult game to run, and in some ways enabling Minecraft RTX doesn't change this, as the game still isn't CPU intensive. If you're planning on joining the Minecraft RTX beta, you will need a solid GPU that supports RTX, and that means an NVIDIA 20 Series GPU or better. However, going for the bare minimum will lead to reduced frame rates, a lower draw distance (or how far away from the player the game will render things), and an overall less smooth experience. If you want the best, consider an upgrade, particularly in the GPU department.
According to the Minecraft RTX FAQ, the minimum requirements for Minecraft RTX include:
- An Intel Core i5 or AMD equivalent
- An NVIDIA 2060 or greater
- 8GB of RAM or greater
- 10GB of storage
- A 64bit version of Windows 10
The best ray tracing
As mentioned above, the minimum requirements to pull off Minecraft RTX come with some major compromises in overall playability, and your PC simply won't make the cut if you're not running a newer RTX-enabled GPU from NVIDIA. For these reasons, a few key upgrades to your PC can make all the difference. If it's a matter of priority, focus on your GPU above all else, as ray tracing is almost entirely GPU dependent. I suggest upgrading your RAM second, as 8GB of RAM just barely handles Minecraft RTX.
Our recommended set up for Minecraft RTX includes:
- Intel Core i5 10400 ($177 at Amazon) or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 ($200 at Amazon)
- MSI NVIDIA 2060 Super ($400 at Amazon) or EVGA NVIDIA 2070 Super ($525 at Amazon)
- Corsair DDR4 RAM 16GB ($67 at Amazon) or Corsair DDR4 RAM 32GB ($110 at Amazon)
- Samsung 970 EVO SSD 250GB ($70 at Amazon) or Samsung 860 EVO SSD 250GB ($50 at Amazon)
- Windows 10 Home 64bit ($119 at Amazon)
Upgrade your Minecraft experience.
Minecraft is an inarguable and complete success. It has sold copies in the hundreds of millions, has a huge following of dedicated players, and lets you unlock your every creative desire. It's also available now with RTX ray tracing from NVIDIA, unlocking a new tier of gorgeous lighting effects and textures.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter @BoddyZachary.