Short answer
RSI mentions 16 GB of RAM as a minimum, recommends 32 GB DDR4 and requires an SSD with at least 150 GB of free memory. Minimum values mean above all that Star Citizen can basically run; they promise no specific frame rate.
Comparison of official system requirements
| Category | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 (Latest Service Pack) | Windows 10 (Latest Service Pack) / Windows 11 |
| Processor | Quad-Core CPU – Intel i7 (Haswell or later) or AMD Excavator or later | Quad/Eight Core CPU – Intel i7 (Haswell or later) or AMD Ryzen 5 or later |
| Graphics card | DirectX-11.1 compatible graphics card with 4 GB VRAM | DirectX-12 compatible graphics card with 8 GB VRAM |
| Memory | 16 GB | 32 GB DDR4 |
| Storage space | 150+ GB SSD required | 150+ GB SSD required |
What do the values mean for beginners?
16 GB RAM are the official minimum requirement, but not the recommendation. For a more pleasant overall system, RSI calls 32 GB DDR4. CPU, GPU, memory, driver and server state work together; a single strong value therefore guarantees no specific performance.
An SSD is expressly required. Plan additional space for updates and note that Star Citizen requires a 64-bit processor, a 64-bit operating system and the processor instructions referred to by RSI.
RSI does not run Star Citizen as a macOS or Linux game. Official information may change as long as the project is developed.
RSI Telemetry as rough orientation
The official Telemetry Dashboard can provide a rough assessment of similar system configurations. RSI itself points out that each system is different and the actual performance depends on other factors.