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For a low-end PC, start with Cyberpunk 2077’s Low graphics preset, keep ray tracing and Overdrive off, and lower the output resolution or try resolution scaling if performance is still poor. CD PROJEKT RED’s current non-ray-tracing minimum targets Low at 1080p and 30 FPS, but that is a published baseline—not a guarantee of the same frame rate on every PC or in every scene.
Recommended starting settings
- Choose the Low preset. This is the official preset in the publisher’s non-ray-tracing minimum specification.
- Turn ray tracing and Overdrive off. The publisher lists separate, more demanding hardware tiers for ray tracing, and describes Overdrive as very GPU intensive.
- If performance remains poor, reduce resolution. Try a lower output resolution, or test resolution scaling if the option is available for your setup.
- Compare changes with the in-game benchmark. Change one setting at a time and use Settings → Graphics → Run Benchmark to see whether the change helps your PC. This is a practical way to compare your own results, not a universally tested settings recipe.
CD PROJEKT RED’s support index lists Patch 2.31, while its system-requirements page says the requirements below apply from Update 2.0. The publisher does not label that table specifically as a Patch 2.31 requirements table.
Can your PC run Cyberpunk 2077?
CD PROJEKT RED’s non-ray-tracing minimum is a useful baseline for checking a PC near the entry level. The publisher says its Update 2.0 requirements apply to the base game and Phantom Liberty. The 30 FPS figure is the publisher’s expected target for the listed configuration, not an independently measured result or a promise for every location and workload.
| Tier | Resolution | Expected frame rate | Preset | Ray tracing | CPU | GPU and VRAM | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum, non-ray-tracing | 1080p | 30 FPS expected | Low | Off | Core i7-6700 or Ryzen 5 1600 | GTX 1060 6 GB, RX 580 8 GB, or Intel Arc A380; 6 GB VRAM listed | 12 GB |
| Recommended, non-ray-tracing | not stated in the cited requirements summary | not stated in the cited requirements summary | not stated in the cited requirements summary | Off | not stated in the cited requirements summary | not stated in the cited requirements summary | not stated in the cited requirements summary |
| Ultra, non-ray-tracing | not stated in the cited requirements summary | not stated in the cited requirements summary | not stated in the cited requirements summary | Off | not stated in the cited requirements summary | not stated in the cited requirements summary | not stated in the cited requirements summary |
| Ray-tracing tiers | not stated in the cited requirements summary | not stated in the cited requirements summary | not stated in the cited requirements summary | On | not stated in the cited requirements summary | Separate ray-tracing tiers; exact values not stated in this summary | not stated in the cited requirements summary |
The minimum also specifies 64-bit Windows 10 and a 70 GB SSD. Requirements are from CD PROJEKT RED’s Cyberpunk 2077 System Requirements; the table’s scope is the base game and Phantom Liberty from Update 2.0. The page also contains older Patch 1.63 requirements, so check that you are reading the Update 2.0 section.
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Why lowering resolution can help
Resolution affects how many pixels the PC must render. CD PROJEKT RED sums up the relationship as “higher resolution = more pixels to process.” A lower output resolution reduces that workload, though the image may look less sharp on a higher-resolution display.
Resolution scaling offers another trade-off: the game renders at a lower resolution and upscales the image to make it look closer to a higher-resolution output. Available modes and their results vary by hardware; the publisher does not prescribe one scaling mode for every GPU. Its explanation is in How does resolution affect performance?
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Why low-end PCs should avoid ray tracing and Overdrive
The system-requirements page separates ray-tracing configurations from the non-ray-tracing minimum, so a PC that meets the minimum should not be assumed to handle those effects well. Overdrive uses path tracing, and CD PROJEKT RED describes it as very GPU intensive. For hardware near the minimum, leave both features off rather than treating them as routine performance settings. See the publisher’s Path Tracing & Overdrive Mode – Requirements & How-To for its feature-specific requirements and instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If performance is still poor
Low frame rates, choppiness, or long loading do not always come from graphics settings. If your PC meets the minimum but the game still performs poorly, follow CD PROJEKT RED’s troubleshooting guidance:
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
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- Clean-install your graphics drivers. The support article mentions DDU for NVIDIA driver cleanup and AMD Cleanup Utility for AMD drivers; follow the vendor-specific context rather than using a cleanup tool indiscriminately.
- Verify the game’s files or cache through the launcher you use.
- Disable overlay features and close unnecessary applications while playing.
- Run the in-game benchmark at Settings → Graphics → Run Benchmark. Include the results when reporting a persistent problem.
The publisher’s current steps are in Performance issues. If you are considering a hardware upgrade, first confirm compatibility with your motherboard, power supply, case, and storage connections; the published minimum alone cannot determine which components will fit your particular PC.
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