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Thinking about playing They Are Billions on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? They Are Billions is a steampunk strategy game released in 2019 in which you build and defend colonies against the billions of the infected. It is a genuinely light game to run: the official requirements ask for only a 2-core CPU, 4 GB of RAM and a DirectX 9-era graphics card, so almost any PC built in the last decade can handle it, and a modern entry-level GPU will carry it well past 1080p. The one thing worth knowing before you buy is that the load shifts over the course of a match — early on the game is trivial for any hardware, but once the late-game swarms arrive and thousands of infected are on screen, the simulation leans on your processor. That makes the CPU and memory the parts worth thinking about, while the graphics card matters far less than it would in a modern AAA title. This guide covers the official requirements, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations.
ASUS ROG GM700 (2026) Gaming Desktop PC, AMD Ryzen™ 7 9800X3D Processor, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080, 2TB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 4 SSD, 32GB DDR5 RAM, Windows 11 Home, GM700TZ-PS787
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ASUS ROG G700 (2026) Gaming Desktop PC, Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 265KF Processor, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5070, 1TB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 4 SSD, 16GB DDR5 RAM, Windows 11 Home, G700TF-DB774
One of the home product options compared in this guide.
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ASUS ROG G1000 (2026) Gaming Desktop PC, AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Processor, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080, 2TB PCIe® 4 SSD, 32GB DDR5 RAM, Windows 11 Home, GM1000TY-DS787
One of the home product options compared in this guide.
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ASUS ROG GM700 (2026) Gaming Desktop PC, AMD Ryzen™ 7 8700F Processor, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5070, 1TB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 4 SSD, 32GB DDR5 RAM, Windows 11 Home, GM700TZ-PS776
One of the home product options compared in this guide.
View on AmazonHow Demanding Is They Are Billions?
They Are Billions is light by modern standards, and the official specs say so plainly. The minimum is a 2-core Intel or AMD CPU at 2 GHz, 4 GB of RAM, an Intel HD 3000-class card (or any Radeon/Nvidia GPU with shader model 3 and 1 GB of video memory) and DirectX 9.0c, with 4 GB of storage and a minimum resolution of 1360×768. The recommended tier steps up to a 4-core CPU at 3 GHz, 8 GB of RAM and something along the lines of a Radeon HD 7950 or GeForce GTX 670 with 4 GB of video memory, and the official notes list Full HD 1920×1080 as the recommended resolution, with a 4K monitor mentioned alongside the recommended spec. Those graphics cards date from around 2012, so every GPU you can buy new today — including entry-level models — sits comfortably above the recommended target. Nothing here is demanding at 1080p, 1440p or 4K in the way a modern blockbuster would be.
The one area where the game can push back is the CPU. It is a strategy game with a swarm simulation, and in the late game a single map can hold thousands of infected units; that load is handled on the processor, not the graphics card. A modern quad-core or better keeps it under control, while a very old dual-core can start to bog down when a big wave arrives. So if you are deciding where to spend, prioritise a competent CPU and 8 GB or more of RAM, and treat the GPU as the easy part.
They Are Billions Official PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum (official) | Recommended (official) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7, 8, 10 (32 and 64 bits) | Windows 7, 8, 10 (64 bits) |
| Processor | INTEL, AMD 2 cores CPU at 2Ghz | INTEL. AMD 4 cores CPU at 3Ghz |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Intel HD3000, Radeon, Nvidia card with shader model 3, 1GB video ram. | Radeon 7950 or above, Nvidia GTX 670 or above. 4GB video ram. |
| DirectX | Version 9.0c | Version 9.0c |
| Storage | 4 GB available space | 4 GB available space |
Source: the official They Are Billions Steam store listing (app 644930), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.
These are the developer’s published figures for They Are Billions. The minimum tier gets the game running at 1360×768, while the recommended tier targets 1920×1080 and lists a 4K monitor as an option on hardware of that generation.
Best GPU for They Are Billions by Resolution
Because the official recommended card is a GeForce GTX 670 or Radeon HD 7950, the honest answer at every resolution is that you need far less GPU than a current AAA game would demand. The tiers below are about headroom, quiet operation and how well a card doubles up on other titles.
1080p
1080p is the resolution the developers recommend, and hardware from the GTX 670 era meets it. Any current entry-level GPU — an RTX 5060 or Radeon RX 9060 XT, for example — is far beyond what They Are Billions needs, so the AMD Radeon RX 7600 (or a comparable card) is already more than enough: it will run the game maxed out with plenty of headroom, and it remains a sensible all-round card for newer releases.
1440p
1440p is above the official recommended target, but it is no trouble for this game’s rendering load, and cards in the RX 9060 XT / RTX 5060 Ti class handle it without effort. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is well above what They Are Billions asks for — for this game alone it is overkill, and it makes sense mainly if you also want high-refresh performance in much heavier modern titles.
4K
The official recommended notes list a 4K monitor, so 4K is within the intended scope for this game, and a modern mid-range card such as an RTX 5070 or Radeon RX 9070 is more than sufficient. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is far more than They Are Billions requires — there is no scenario in this game where you need a card of that class — but it is a reasonable pick if 4K is your target across newer, heavier games as well. If They Are Billions is all you play, put the difference into the CPU instead.
CPU, RAM and Storage for They Are Billions
The official CPU recommendation is 4 cores at 3 GHz, and that is the part of the spec that genuinely matters, because large late-game swarms are simulated on the processor. Almost any modern chip clears that bar easily: the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is far more than the game needs while remaining excellent value for gaming in general, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the fastest mainstream gaming CPUs if you want maximum frame rates in strategy and simulation titles, and Intel buyers can look at the Intel Core i5-14600K. None of these are necessary for They Are Billions specifically — a much cheaper 4-core chip meets the recommended spec — but they are sensible picks if the same PC will run heavier games.
On memory, the official recommendation is 8 GB, with 4 GB as the minimum. 16 GB is a comfortable modern baseline that leaves room for a browser and other apps alongside the game, and if you want to go further, a 32 GB DDR5 kit such as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB is more than this game will ever use but a reasonable long-term buy. Storage is the simplest part of the spec: the game needs just 4 GB of space and an SSD is not required. A drive like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD shortens load times and makes a good general-purpose system drive, but any SSD — or even a hard drive — runs They Are Billions perfectly well.
Recommended PC Builds for They Are Billions
Every build below clears the official requirements by a wide margin, and They Are Billions would run happily on a PC costing a fraction of these. They are worth considering as all-round gaming builds that also happen to be far more than this game needs.
1080p budget build: AMD Radeon RX 7600 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — well beyond the official recommended spec for 1080p, and a solid entry point for newer games too.
1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — for 1440p in They Are Billions this is overkill; it makes sense as a general high-refresh 1440p machine for a wider library.
4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — more than the game requires at 4K, but a strong all-round 4K build if you also play heavier titles.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for They Are Billions?
Usually not, and that is worth saying plainly. The official minimum is a 2-core CPU, 4 GB of RAM and a DirectX 9-capable card, so if your PC was bought in the last several years it almost certainly already runs the game. The graphics card is the last thing to change here: They Are Billions is not GPU-limited, and a new GPU will make very little difference. The exception is the processor, and only if you are on an old dual-core or a very low-clocked chip, because late-game swarms are simulated on the CPU and that is the one place an upgrade is felt. Moving to 8 GB of RAM (or 16 GB if you multitask) and installing the game on an SSD are cheap, low-effort improvements. If you do want a faster machine, target the weakest link and remember that this game rewards a balanced build rather than an expensive graphics card.
Can You Play They Are Billions on a Laptop or Handheld?
Yes — this is one of the easier games to take on the road. The requirements are low enough that recent integrated graphics can run it at modest settings, and any gaming laptop with a dedicated GPU from the last several generations will handle it comfortably at 1080p. On handhelds such as the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, the game runs well, and its 4 GB install size makes it a good fit for a small drive or a memory card. Because the late-game load falls on the CPU, a handheld or laptop with a stronger processor holds up better during big swarm waves than one that leans on graphics alone. If portability matters, prioritise a device with a decent CPU, 8 GB or more of RAM and an SSD, and keep the graphics settings modest to protect battery life.
How to Boost FPS in They Are Billions
Start with resolution: They Are Billions has a light renderer, and lowering the output or internal render resolution is usually the single biggest gain available. From there, drop the overall graphics quality preset and reduce the most expensive visual options, then turn off effects you do not need. On the CPU side — which is where late-game slowdowns actually come from — closing background applications, slowing the game speed during huge waves, and playing on smaller maps or with lower population limits can help more than any graphics setting. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, keep the game on an SSD so loading is quick, and remember that a stable frame rate feels much better than maxed-out visuals. Driver-level upscaling, if your GPU vendor offers it, can also help on very low-end hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PC run They Are Billions?
Almost certainly. The official minimum is a 2-core CPU at 2 GHz, 4 GB of RAM, 4 GB of storage and a DirectX 9.0c graphics card with 1 GB of video memory — an Intel HD 3000 or any Radeon/Nvidia card of that era. If your PC has a dedicated GPU from the last decade, or a reasonably recent integrated graphics chip, it meets or beats that. For the recommended experience — a 4-core 3 GHz CPU, 8 GB of RAM and a Radeon HD 7950 / GTX 670-class card — you are looking at hardware from around 2012 or newer.
Is They Are Billions demanding on PC?
No. The official requirements are modest and date back to the game’s 2019 release, and the graphics side in particular is very light by modern standards. The only part that can feel heavy is the late-game simulation, when thousands of infected units are active at once; that load falls on the CPU, so a modern quad-core or better keeps things smooth.
What GPU do I need for They Are Billions at 1440p 60fps?
Not much. The official recommended card is a Radeon HD 7950 or GeForce GTX 670, and 1440p does not change the picture much for a game this light. Any current card — an RTX 5060 or Radeon RX 9060 XT, for instance — is comfortably above what is needed, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is far beyond this game’s requirements; it is worth buying only if you also play much heavier titles. If you are chasing a high frame rate during big swarm waves, the CPU is the component to look at first.
How much RAM does They Are Billions need?
The official minimum is 4 GB and the recommended figure is 8 GB. 8 GB is enough for the game itself; 16 GB is a comfortable modern baseline if you keep a browser or other apps open at the same time, and 32 GB is more than this game will use. Faster memory can help slightly in CPU-bound late-game situations, but capacity is not a concern here.
Do I need an SSD for They Are Billions?
No — the game needs only 4 GB of space and runs fine from a hard drive. An SSD mainly shortens load times and makes a good general-purpose system drive; a fast NVMe model like the Samsung 990 Pro is a nice upgrade for your whole library, but it is not a requirement for this game.
