Can I Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim?
Bethesda Game Studios · 2011
Our verdict
Runs on almost any PC
Even Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics runs up to your refresh rate (the card alone: about 85 FPS) at 1080p.
Check your own PC ↓Estimated FPS at 1080p
GAMERSPECS ESTIMATEOn a mid-range RTX 4060 or RX 7600, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim runs up to your refresh rate (the card alone: 300+ FPS) at 1080p; a budget GTX 1650 or RX 6500 XT runs up to your refresh rate (the card alone: about 185 FPS), and a high-end RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XTX runs up to your refresh rate (the card alone: 300+ FPS).
The publisher states no target settings for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, so figures assume High, the usual target of a recommended spec.
Budget GPU
GTX 1650 / RX 6500 XT
Up to your refresh rate
In-game limit
Card alone: about 185 FPS
High (assumed from the recommended spec) · native
Excellent
Mid-range GPU
RTX 4060 / RX 7600
Up to your refresh rate
In-game limit
Card alone: 300+ FPS
High (assumed from the recommended spec) · native
Excellent
High-end GPU
RTX 4080 / RX 7900 XTX
Up to your refresh rate
In-game limit
Card alone: 300+ FPS
High (assumed from the recommended spec) · native
Excellent
Want your exact FPS? Enter your CPU, GPU and resolution.
Check My PC →What limits performance in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Your monitor's refresh rate, or the graphics card if it is slower. V-sync is on by default (PCGamingWiki), so the frame rate stops at your monitor's refresh rate, and its physics do not work correctly above 60 FPS without editing a configuration file. Any recent card draws more than 60 FPS here, and each figure below shows what the card alone would reach.
Frame-rate limit source: PCGamingWiki
Graphics card (GPU)
Not a limit
Even Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics runs up to your refresh rate (the card alone: about 85 FPS) at 1080p.
Processor (CPU)
No measured limit
We couldn't place the publisher's processor requirement ("Quad-core Intel or AMD CPU") on our scale. We have no measured processor limit for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, so the frame rates on this page assume your processor isn't holding the graphics card back.
Video memory (VRAM)
512 MB min · 1 GB rec
The minimum spec lists 512 MB of video memory and the recommended spec 1 GB, less than any current graphics card has, so it won't limit you.
Settings to lower first in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- 1Nothing, once you reach your monitor's refresh rate: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's frame rate goes no higher, so spend spare performance on higher settings or resolution instead.
Can I run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on my graphics card?
Pick your GPU for a straight yes-or-no, an FPS estimate at every resolution, and the settings to run.
Check your GPU against The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Pick your graphics card to see the verdict and estimated frame rates.
Can You Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim?
Pick your CPU, GPU, RAM and OS — we check each one against The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s official minimum and recommended requirements.
Your PC
You can run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim — and then some
Your PC meets the recommended requirements. Expect a great experience.
Wrong result? Tell us| Component | Your PC | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPU | GeForce RTX 4060 | Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512 MB of RAM | DirectX 9.0c compatible NVIDIA or AMD ATI video card with 1GB of RAM (Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 or higher; ATI Radeon 4890 or higher) |
| CPU | Core i5-13400 | Dual Core 2.0GHz or equivalent processor | Quad-core Intel or AMD CPU |
| RAM | 16 GB | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 7/Vista/XP PC (32 or 64 bit) | — |
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.
Join the squadNot sure? Ask our community.Join our Discord →The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim System Requirements
The official minimum and recommended PC specs for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, component by component.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7/Vista/XP PC (32 or 64 bit) | — |
| Processor | Dual Core 2.0GHz or equivalent processor | Quad-core Intel or AMD CPU |
| Memory | 2GB System RAM | 4GB System RAM |
| Graphics | Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512 MB of RAM | DirectX 9.0c compatible NVIDIA or AMD ATI video card with 1GB of RAM (Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 or higher; ATI Radeon 4890 or higher) |
| Storage | 6GB free HDD Space | — |
Show the full Steam listingHide the full Steam listing
Minimum
OS *: Windows 7/Vista/XP PC (32 or 64 bit) Processor: Dual Core 2.0GHz or equivalent processor Memory: 2GB System RAM Hard Disk Space: 6GB free HDD Space Video Card: Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512 MB of RAM Sound: DirectX compatible sound card
Recommended
Processor: Quad-core Intel or AMD CPU Memory: 4GB System RAM Video Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible NVIDIA or AMD ATI video card with 1GB of RAM (Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 or higher; ATI Radeon 4890 or higher)
Source: Steam
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim — FAQ
Can I run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim?+
Runs on almost any PC. Even Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics runs up to your refresh rate (the card alone: about 85 FPS) at 1080p. 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 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim?+
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim needs at least a Dual Core 2.0GHz or equivalent processor processor, a Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512 MB of RAM graphics card, 2 GB of RAM, 6GB free HDD Space of storage, running Windows 7/Vista/XP PC (32 or 64 bit).
Can The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim run without a graphics card?+
Yes. Even Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics runs up to your refresh rate (the card alone: about 85 FPS) at 1080p.
How much RAM does The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim need?+
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim officially requires a minimum of 2 GB of RAM, with 4 GB recommended for smooth performance. 16GB is a comfortable amount for modern gaming overall.
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.