War Thunder has a reputation for running on almost anything, and the minimum spec backs that up. The recommended spec tells a different story, especially on memory and storage — and those are the two places a modern War Thunder install actually needs room.
Minimum specs
Windows 10 64-bit, a dual-core 2.2 GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, a DirectX 11-class graphics card (AMD Radeon 77XX or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660), 70GB of storage and a broadband connection. That’s enough to get into battles at low settings, but not enough for smooth performance in busy ground matches.
Recommended specs
Windows 10 or 11 64-bit, an Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5 3600 or better, 16GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 570 or better, and 95GB of storage. Gaijin also supports War Thunder on macOS and Linux, as well as on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S with cross-play.
Where to spend if you’re upgrading
Memory is the first priority. Going from 8GB to 16GB makes the biggest difference to stutter on large maps and when loading into battle, and it’s also the cheapest upgrade on this list. Storage comes next: 95GB is a lot for one game, and an SSD cuts load times and helps high-resolution textures stream in. The GPU tier in the recommended spec is modest by 2026 standards — any current entry-level card clears it comfortably.
Settings that matter most
In ground battles, spotting enemies matters more than visual flair. Keep draw distance and terrain detail reasonably high so vehicles and cover render at range, and lower shadow quality and post-processing effects first when you need frames. A stable frame rate matters more than peak resolution for aiming at long range.
Our take
If your PC meets the recommended CPU and GPU, spend on RAM and an SSD before anything else. That combination does more for War Thunder than a new graphics card. Our War Thunder beginner’s guide covers how to get the most out of your first hours once it’s installed.
