Can I Run Half-Life 2?
Valve · 2004
Reawakened from stasis in the occupied metropolis of City 17, Gordon Freeman is joined by Alyx Vance as he leads a desperate human resistance. Experience the landmark first-person shooter packed with immersive world-building, boundary-pushing physics, and exhilarating combat.
Can You Run Half-Life 2?
Pick your CPU, GPU, RAM and OS — we check each one against Half-Life 2’s official minimum and recommended requirements.
Your PC
You can run Half-Life 2 — and then some
Your PC meets the recommended requirements. Expect a great experience.
| Component | Your PC | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPU | GeForce RTX 4060 | DirectX 8.1 level Graphics Card (requires support for SSE) | DirectX 8.1 level Graphics Card (requires support for SSE) |
| CPU | Core i5-13400 | 1.7 Ghz | 1.7 Ghz |
| RAM | 16 GB | — | — |
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 7, Vista, XP | Windows 7, Vista, XP |
Verdict compares your components against the game’s published requirements using our GPU/CPU benchmark database. Estimates — real performance varies with drivers, settings and cooling.
Estimated FPS at 1080p
GAMERSPECS ESTIMATEEstimated using the GamerSpecs performance model. Actual FPS may vary depending on drivers, cooling, power limits, background applications, and game updates.How is this calculated? →Half-Life 2 is a demanding action game from 2004. On a mid-range GPU like the RTX 4060 it averages around 91 FPS at 1080p, while budget cards manage roughly 41 FPS and high-end hardware pushes about 173 FPS. Plan on a dedicated graphics card and check the recommended specs below before buying.
Budget GPU
GTX 1650 / RX 6500 XT
~36–46 FPS
Low Performance
Mid-range GPU
RTX 4060 / RX 7600
~80–100 FPS
Playable
High-end GPU
RTX 4080 / RX 7900 XTX
~155–190 FPS
Excellent
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Half-Life 2 System Requirements
The official minimum and recommended PC specs for Half-Life 2, component by component.
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7, Vista, XP |
| Processor | 1.7 Ghz |
| Memory | 512 MB RAM |
| Graphics | DirectX 8.1 level Graphics Card (requires support for SSE) |
| Storage | 6500 MB available space |
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Minimum
OS *: Windows 7, Vista, XP Processor: 1.7 Ghz Memory: 512 MB RAM Graphics: DirectX 8.1 level Graphics Card (requires support for SSE) Storage: 6500 MB available space
Requirements sourced from the official Steam store listing.
Half-Life 2 — FAQ
Can I run Half-Life 2?+
On a mid-range GPU like an RTX 4060 you can expect around 91 FPS at 1080p in Half-Life 2. Budget GPUs get about 41 FPS and high-end GPUs around 173 FPS. Use the checker on this page to test your exact CPU, GPU, RAM and OS against the official requirements.
What are the minimum system requirements for Half-Life 2?+
Half-Life 2 needs at least a 1.7 Ghz processor, a DirectX 8.1 level Graphics Card (requires support for SSE) graphics card, 6500 MB available space of storage, running Windows 7, Vista, XP.
Can Half-Life 2 run without a graphics card?+
No — Half-Life 2 is too demanding for integrated graphics. You'll need a dedicated GPU (minimum: DirectX 8.1 level Graphics Card (requires support for SSE)).
More games to check
FPS values displayed on GamerSpecs are estimates. Actual game performance may vary depending on hardware configuration, drivers, cooling, power limits, background applications, and game updates.