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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Indiana Jones and the Great Circle requires a graphics card with hardware ray tracing—even at the minimum specification. If your GPU lacks it, your PC is outside the game’s official requirements. If it has it, check the rest of your hardware, reserve SSD space, update Windows and your graphics driver, then start with settings matched to your system.
Check whether your PC meets the requirements
Bethesda lists three PC targets. They specify hardware classes and resolutions, not a guaranteed frame rate in every scene. All three require hardware ray tracing, a 64-bit version of Windows 10 version 22H2 or newer, an SSD, broadband internet for activation and installation, and a Steam or Microsoft account. See Bethesda’s official PC requirements for the current listing.
| Target | CPU | RAM | GPU | Resolution target | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Intel Core i7-10700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | 16 GB | NVIDIA RTX 2060 SUPER 8 GB, AMD RX 6600 8 GB, or Intel Arc A580 8 GB | 1080p native | 126 GB or more; SSD |
| Recommended | Intel Core i7-12700K or AMD Ryzen 7 7700 | 32 GB | NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti 12 GB or AMD RX 7700 XT 12 GB | 1440p native | 126 GB or more; SSD |
| Ultra | Intel Core i7-13900K or AMD Ryzen 9 7900X | 32 GB | NVIDIA RTX 4080 16 GB or AMD RX 7900 XT 20 GB | 4K native | 126 GB or more; SSD |
Use the GPU and ray-tracing requirement as the first gate
The listed minimum GPUs all have 8 GB of VRAM and hardware ray tracing. A GTX card, an older Radeon without hardware ray-tracing support, or most integrated graphics is not an officially supported substitute—even if it can run other recent games. A GPU with ray tracing but less performance or VRAM than the listed examples is borderline, not a confirmed match.
On a laptop, check the exact GPU configuration, power limit, cooling and dedicated VRAM; a mobile GPU with the same model number as a desktop card may perform differently. Integrated graphics and handheld-class GPUs are not listed as supported targets. Avoid configuration-file hacks intended to bypass hardware checks: they are unsupported and may break after updates or perform poorly.
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Interpret the tiers realistically
- Below minimum: If the GPU has no hardware ray tracing, a GPU upgrade is the practical route to official compatibility. If it has ray tracing but falls below the listed class, expect uncertainty and compromises.
- Minimum: The target is 1080p native with 16 GB RAM and an 8 GB-class GPU. Plan to use a lower preset and possibly upscaling; the specification does not promise a particular frame rate.
- Recommended: The listed 32 GB RAM and 12 GB-class GPU are Bethesda’s 1440p target. Upscaling can still be useful if native rendering is too demanding.
- Ultra: The listed RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XT-class hardware targets 4K native. This is not a promise that maximum ray tracing or path tracing will run at a particular frame rate.
VRAM and system RAM are separate. 8 GB VRAM appears in the minimum examples, but it does not guarantee high texture settings. 16 GB system RAM is the minimum; 32 GB is listed for recommended and Ultra and is the more comfortable target when other applications are open.
Find your PC’s specifications in Windows
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then select Performance. Check the CPU model, Memory capacity, GPU model and dedicated GPU memory, and Disk information.
- Press Windows + R, type
winver, and press Enter to check your Windows version. It must be Windows 10 version 22H2 or newer, 64-bit. - Open Settings → System → About for the system details, and Settings → System → Storage to check free space and the drive holding your game library.
- On a laptop with more than one GPU, confirm the game uses the discrete GPU. Connect the laptop to power before playing.
Write down the storefront you use—Steam, Microsoft Store or PC Game Pass—and your monitor’s resolution and refresh rate. Those details help when choosing graphics settings and following the correct repair steps.
Prepare Windows, drivers and the installation
Update Windows and the graphics driver
Install available Windows updates and restart. Get the latest driver offered for your exact GPU from its manufacturer, rather than relying on a version number that may already be superseded:
Rank #2
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- Powered by GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
- Integrated with 16GB GDDR7 256bit memory interface
- PCIe 5.0
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For a clean driver refresh, download the installer, close the game and launcher, use the manufacturer’s clean-install or factory-reset option if available, install, then restart Windows. Launch the game once before restoring overlays or custom tuning.
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Make the SSD and free-space check before downloading
Bethesda lists 126 GB or more, plus an additional 9 GB for DLC, and requires an SSD. Aim to have 150–160 GB free before installing if possible; patches, language files and temporary installation data can make the space needed differ from the headline figure. Avoid a nearly full drive. Bethesda also advises installing on an SSD rather than an HDD in its crash troubleshooting guidance.
An internal NVMe or SATA SSD is a sensible destination. An external USB SSD may work, but enclosure speed, cable quality and USB power management can affect results. If you move the installation later, use the launcher’s library-management feature rather than dragging folders manually.
Rank #3
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Keep the first launch simple
- Update the game and its launcher before troubleshooting or tuning settings.
- Close unnecessary overlays and monitoring utilities for the first launch.
- Remove GPU overclocks or undervolts until the game is stable.
- On a laptop, use a power-connected profile and make sure the game is assigned to the dedicated GPU.
- Pause large downloads or cloud-sync activity if installation or play is competing for bandwidth or disk activity.
Game Mode, HAGS, fullscreen optimizations and Windows power-plan changes are not universal fixes. Try such changes only as targeted troubleshooting experiments if a specific problem persists.
Choose sensible starting graphics settings
Start with a preset appropriate to your tier, then change one setting at a time. Bethesda’s Update 3 added FSR 3.1 with frame generation and XeSS 1.4 alongside DLSS support, and added path tracing for supported AMD and Intel hardware-ray-tracing GPUs with at least 16 GB VRAM. See the official Update 3 notes for version-specific details.
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Minimum-class GPU at 1080p
- Start at Low or Medium.
- If native rendering is too slow, try Quality or Balanced upscaling.
- Leave path tracing off. Reduce texture-pool quality if VRAM is under pressure; lower vegetation and shadow quality before making a large texture cut.
- Keep frame generation off if the underlying frame rate is unstable or very low.
Recommended-class GPU at 1440p
- Start at High and try Quality upscaling if needed.
- Leave full path tracing off unless performance and VRAM headroom are clearly sufficient.
- Consider frame generation only after the underlying frame rate feels stable.
Ultra-class GPU at 4K
- Start with the Ultra preset. If native 4K is too demanding, try DLSS, FSR or XeSS.
- Treat path tracing as an enthusiast setting, not the default.
- Set a frame-rate cap that suits your display if you want to limit power draw and temperature spikes.
Upscaling and frame generation are different tools
First establish stable rendering, then select an upscaler mode suited to your resolution. Add frame generation afterward, and test it in a demanding scene rather than judging by an easy opening area. Frame generation can raise the displayed FPS without an equivalent increase in the game’s underlying rendered frames or responsiveness. Disable it if you notice ghosting, flicker, extra latency or uneven frame pacing; prioritize smooth, responsive play over the largest overlay number.
Rank #4
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4. System Requirements: Minimum 850W PSU with 16-pin 12V-2x6 (12VHPWR) connector required. Verify before purchasing.
- Military-grade components deliver rock-solid power and longer lifespan for ultimate durability. Compatibility: 348mm (13.7") length, 3.6 slots, 4.3 lbs. Confirm case clearance and slot spacing. GPU bracket included.
- Protective PCB coating helps protect against short circuits caused by moisture, dust, or debris
- 3.6-slot design with massive fin array optimized for airflow from three Axial-tech fans
- Phase-change GPU thermal pad helps ensure optimal thermal performance and longevity, outlasting traditional thermal paste for graphics cards under heavy loads
Check image quality and display-specific settings
Texture quality and texture-pool settings are particularly sensitive to VRAM limits. Shadow quality and vegetation animation are useful settings to reduce when performance or visual issues arise. If path tracing causes foliage shadow popping, Bethesda’s Update 3 notes say lowering Vegetation Animation Quality below Ultra can reduce occasional popping in foliage-dense areas.
For ultrawide displays, test framing, field of view and upscaling separately. Update 3 included a fix involving DLSS at 3440×1440 with widescreen picture framing, so results can depend on the game version. HDR is also worth toggling off temporarily when diagnosing a display failure; if it then works, test HDR settings again rather than assuming it must remain disabled.
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If the game crashes or will not launch
Work through the checks in order, testing the game after each meaningful change. Bethesda’s crash guidance starts with requirements and SSD installation.
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- Restart the PC and install pending Windows updates.
- Update the GPU driver, then restart again.
- Confirm the game is installed on an SSD and that the drive has free space.
- Repair or verify the installation using the relevant storefront’s library tools. On Steam, use the game’s installed-files verification option. In the Xbox app or Microsoft Store, use the game’s manage or app-repair options; labels vary by launcher and edition.
- Return the GPU to default clocks and voltage settings.
- Temporarily disable Steam, Xbox Game Bar, Discord, NVIDIA or AMD recording overlays, and MSI Afterburner/RivaTuner-style overlays.
- Lower graphics settings, particularly ray-tracing effects, textures and path tracing.
- Check whether antivirus or Controlled folder access is blocking the game.
- Reinstall only if these steps fail.
If the screen is black but audio plays
Bethesda has a separate black-screen troubleshooting article. Try these display checks before reinstalling:
- Press Alt + Enter to switch display mode.
- Disconnect secondary monitors temporarily; the game may have opened on an inactive display.
- Temporarily disable HDR in Windows and in the game if accessible.
- Reset resolution and refresh rate, and try borderless windowed mode.
- For an ultrawide or unusual refresh-rate setup, test a standard resolution and refresh rate first.
- If you reset the game’s configuration, back up the files first. Paths can vary by edition and Windows account, so do not assume one folder location applies to every installation.
For OEM systems and laptops, Bethesda also recommends checking the computer manufacturer’s support resources; display switching and GPU selection can depend on the system’s firmware and software.
If performance stutters or suddenly drops
- Check that the game is running on the dedicated GPU and the laptop is plugged in.
- Watch dedicated GPU memory and system RAM use; close background applications if memory is pressured.
- Reduce texture-pool quality if VRAM is full, then test shadows and vegetation settings.
- Disable frame generation to assess the underlying frame rate and frame pacing.
- Turn off overlays and return GPU tuning to default before changing multiple settings at once.
- If the issue appears only with path tracing, disable it and retest.
Upgrade only the component that is holding you back
If the GPU lacks hardware ray tracing, prioritize a compatible GPU rather than trying to compensate with more RAM or an SSD. Before buying, check power-supply capacity and connectors, case clearance, airflow, CPU limitations and—on laptops—the fact that the GPU generally cannot be upgraded. Do not choose by model name alone: laptop power limits, cooling and VRAM can substantially change performance.
If the GPU meets the minimum but has only 8 GB VRAM, expect to manage texture settings and resolution carefully. Moving from 16 GB to 32 GB system RAM aligns with Bethesda’s recommended and Ultra tiers and may help when multitasking, but it cannot fix inadequate ray-tracing performance or VRAM. An SSD upgrade makes sense if you lack a suitable drive or installation headroom; it does not substitute for a compatible GPU.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIf you want to try the game before committing to a purchase or hardware upgrade, check current availability and terms on the official PC Game Pass page. A subscription is not permanent ownership, and availability and terms may change. For a permanent PC license, see the Steam store page; check its current regional price and edition details before buying.
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