Total War: Pharaoh: PC System Requirements & Best Hardware to Run It (2026)

Thinking about playing Total War: Pharaoh on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? Released on 11 October 2023, Total War: Pharaoh is a historical strategy game set during the Bronze Age collapse, and the good news is that its official system requirements are modest — considerably lighter than most modern releases. It is still a Total War game, though, so large real-time battles and late-game turn processing lean on the processor. This guide covers the official PC requirements, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations for 1080p, 1440p and 4K.

How Demanding Is Total War: Pharaoh?

Not very. The official minimum is an Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD FX-4300 paired with a GeForce GTX 660 or Radeon R9 270 and 6 GB of RAM — hardware from roughly a decade ago — while the recommended spec asks for an i5-6600 or Ryzen 5 2600X, a GTX 1660 Ti or RX 480 and 8 GB of RAM. In practice, almost any gaming PC built in the last several years will run it, and the minimum is low enough that plenty of older or budget machines clear it too. The heavier side of the game is the CPU: Total War battles simulate large numbers of individual soldiers, and campaign turn processing grows heavier as a campaign progresses, so a modern processor with strong single-core performance keeps big battles and late-game turns smooth. On the GPU side this is a light load by modern standards — 1080p at high settings is comfortable on entry-level cards, 1440p is easy for mid-range hardware, and 4K is realistic without a flagship card. The figures below come from the game’s official store listing.

ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX™ 4070 Ti Super BTF White OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card (PCIe 4.0, 16GB GDDR6X, Exclusive to BTF ATX Motherboards

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ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070 Super EVO OC Edition 12GB GDDR6X (PCIe 4.0, 12GB GDDR6X, DLSS 3, HDMI 2.1a, DisplayPort 1.4a, 2.5-Slot Design, Axial-tech Fan Design, 0dB Technology), 3 Year Warranty

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ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4070 OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card (PCIe 4.0, 12GB GDDR6X, DLSS 3, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4a), 3 Year Warranty

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ASUS The SFF-Ready Prime GeForce RTX 4070 12GB GDDR6X Graphics Card (PCIe 4.0, 12GB GDDR6X, DLSS 3, HDMI 2.1a, DisplayPort 1.4a), 3 Year Warranty

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Total War: Pharaoh Official PC System Requirements

Source: the official Total War: PHARAOH Steam store listing (app 1937780), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.

The official listing calls for a 64-bit version of Windows 10, DirectX 11, and 50 GB of free storage space. Note that the store page also warns that Microsoft no longer supports Windows 10 or older versions, so a current, fully updated 64-bit Windows installation is the sensible choice. There is no SSD requirement in the official spec, but installing the game to an SSD noticeably shortens load times.

Best GPU for Total War: Pharaoh by Resolution

1080p

The official recommended card, a GeForce GTX 1660 Ti or Radeon RX 480, is already enough for 1080p. Anything more modern simply gives you headroom: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (or a comparable card) sits well above the recommended bar and runs 1080p at high settings without trouble, and current-generation options such as the RTX 5060 or Radeon RX 9060 XT land in the same comfortable bracket. If you are upgrading from something older, even a GTX 1660 Super-class card meets the official recommendation.

1440p

Step up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER and you have far more GPU than this game needs at 1440p — a card in this class handles 1440p at high settings with plenty of headroom to spare, and newer options like the RTX 5070 or Radeon RX 9070 are equally comfortable. Because the official recommended spec is only a GTX 1660 Ti / RX 480, there is no need to spend big for 1440p here; a mid-range card from the last couple of generations is more than enough.

4K

For 4K, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a safe entry point and then some. Total War: Pharaoh is not a visually punishing title and its GPU demands scale gently, so 4K is achievable on upper mid-range hardware — an RTX 5070 or Radeon RX 9070 is plenty. Upscaling can help if you want to push refresh rates higher.

CPU, RAM and Storage for Total War: Pharaoh

The official recommended processor is an Intel Core i5-6600 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X — both several generations old — so almost any current CPU clears that bar easily. If you want a modern platform, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is excellent value and far beyond what the game requires, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the fastest mainstream gaming CPU if you want maximum performance in the largest battles; Intel fans can opt for the Intel Core i5-14600K. Memory is similarly undemanding: the official recommendation is 8 GB, with 6 GB as the minimum, so 16 GB is a comfortable target that leaves room for a browser and background apps. A 32 GB kit such as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB is more than the game needs, but it is a sensible long-term buy. Storage is where the official spec is most generous: 50 GB of free space. Installing to an NVMe SSD like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD cuts load times and keeps the campaign map feeling responsive.

Recommended PC Builds for Total War: Pharaoh

1080p budget build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — comfortably above the official recommended spec for high-settings 1080p.

1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — the setup most players should aim for.

4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — for 4K with upscaling.

Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Total War: Pharaoh?

If you are still running a GeForce GTX 660 or Radeon R9 270, Total War: Pharaoh is a good excuse to move to something newer, but you do not have to spend much: a modern entry-level or mid-range card comfortably exceeds the official recommended spec. The graphics card delivers by far the biggest jump in gaming performance, so upgrade the GPU first if you have to choose. Because battles are CPU-driven, an older processor can also hold back large battles and turn times, so a CPU and platform upgrade may be worthwhile if your chip is older than the recommended i5-6600 or Ryzen 5 2600X. Adding RAM up to 16 GB and moving the game to an SSD are cheap upgrades that noticeably smooth out the experience. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.

Can You Play Total War: Pharaoh on a Laptop or Handheld?

Because the official requirements are low, laptops with a modest discrete GPU — a GTX 1660 Ti-class mobile chip or newer — can run Total War: Pharaoh at 1080p with sensible settings, and machines with an RTX 4060 or better mobile GPU have plenty of headroom. Expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop, as always. On handhelds like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, this is a realistic game rather than a stretch, since the official minimum targets hardware that is now more than a decade old; plan on reduced settings and modest battery life rather than maximum visual quality. If portability matters, prioritise a device with a decent GPU and pair it with a fast microSD or SSD — the install needs 50 GB.

How to Boost FPS in Total War: Pharaoh

If frame rates are lower than you would like, enable upscaling (DLSS on NVIDIA, FSR on AMD, or XeSS on Intel) if your game’s graphics menu offers it, as this is usually the single biggest performance gain, and turn on frame generation if your GPU supports it. Next, reduce the most expensive settings first — shadows, effects, anti-aliasing and resolution — before dropping overall quality further. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, close background apps, and make sure the game is installed on an SSD. Because Total War battles are CPU-bound, anything that frees up processor time helps as much as a graphics setting change. Lowering settings to hit a stable frame rate almost always feels better than chasing maxed-out visuals with stutter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my PC run Total War: Pharaoh?

The official minimum is a GeForce GTX 660 or Radeon R9 270 with an Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD FX-4300 and 6 GB of RAM, so a great many older systems qualify. For the official recommended experience — an i5-6600 or Ryzen 5 2600X, a GTX 1660 Ti or RX 480, and 8 GB of RAM — you only need modest, several-generations-old hardware.

Is Total War: Pharaoh demanding on PC?

No. Total War: Pharaoh is one of the lighter recent entries in the series, with official requirements that date back roughly a decade. Even budget hardware handles it at 1080p, and mid-range parts are more than enough for 1440p and 4K.

What GPU do I need for Total War: Pharaoh at 1440p 60fps?

The official recommended GPU, a GTX 1660 Ti or RX 480, is enough for 1440p with sensible settings. If you want high settings and higher frame rates, a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class card is far more than enough, and even a mid-range current-generation card such as an RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT will do the job comfortably.

How much RAM does Total War: Pharaoh need?

The official recommendation is 8 GB, with 6 GB as the minimum. 16 GB is a comfortable target that leaves room for background apps while you play, and faster DDR5 memory helps in CPU-limited battle scenes.

Do I need an SSD for Total War: Pharaoh?

Not according to the official spec, which only lists 50 GB of free space. An SSD is still strongly recommended, though, because it reduces load times; an NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro is ideal if you are building or upgrading.