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DOOM: The Dark Ages PC requirements
Bethesda publishes three PC performance targets. The CPU and storage requirements are the same across the tiers, while the GPU’s required dedicated VRAM and system memory increase for higher targets. [Bethesda Support]
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| Target | CPU | GPU | RAM | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum: 1080p, 60 FPS, Low | Windows 10/11 64-bit; AMD Zen 2 or Intel 10th Generation, 3.2 GHz, 8 cores / 16 threads or better. Examples: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X or Intel Core i7-10700K. | NVIDIA or AMD GPU with hardware ray tracing, 8 GB dedicated VRAM or better. Examples: NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super or AMD RX 6600. | 16 GB | NVMe SSD; Bethesda specifies a drive capacity of 512 GB or greater and 100 GB available. |
| Recommended: 1440p, 60 FPS, High | Windows 10/11 64-bit; AMD Zen 3 or Intel 12th Generation, 3.2 GHz, 8 cores / 16 threads or better. Examples: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X or Intel Core i7-12700K. | NVIDIA or AMD GPU with hardware ray tracing, 10 GB dedicated VRAM or better. Examples: NVIDIA RTX 3080 or AMD RX 6800. | 32 GB | NVMe SSD; Bethesda specifies a drive capacity of 512 GB or greater and 100 GB available. |
| Ultra 4K: 2160p, 60 FPS, Ultra | Windows 10/11 64-bit; AMD Zen 3 or Intel 12th Generation, 3.2 GHz, 8 cores / 16 threads or better. Examples: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X or Intel Core i7-12700K. | NVIDIA or AMD GPU with hardware ray tracing, 16 GB dedicated VRAM or better. Examples: NVIDIA RTX 4080 or AMD RX 7900 XT. | 32 GB | NVMe SSD; Bethesda specifies a drive capacity of 512 GB or greater and 100 GB available. |
Steam also lists an NVMe SSD and 100 GB of available space for the game. Its published minimum and recommended tiers match Bethesda’s. [Steam store listing]
Can my PC run DOOM: The Dark Ages?
Start by checking whether your graphics card supports hardware ray tracing. Bethesda says that support is required for every PC tier, including minimum specifications; a GPU without hardware ray tracing does not meet the published requirements. [Bethesda Support]
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- Identify your GPU and its dedicated VRAM. For the minimum target, compare it with the listed 8 GB threshold and example cards; the recommended and Ultra 4K targets call for at least 10 GB and 16 GB, respectively.
- Check your processor and memory. Compare your CPU generation, 8-core / 16-thread specification and stated 3.2 GHz clock with the appropriate tier. Confirm 16 GB RAM for minimum or 32 GB for recommended and Ultra 4K.
- Check the game drive. Confirm that it is an NVMe SSD and that at least 100 GB is free. Bethesda also specifies a drive capacity of 512 GB or greater.
- Choose the target you actually want. The minimum list corresponds to 1080p/60 FPS/Low; it does not promise the recommended 1440p High or Ultra 4K experience.
How to interpret the GPU examples and laptop specs
The RTX 2060 Super, RX 6600, RTX 3080, RX 6800, RTX 4080 and RX 7900 XT are examples, not an exhaustive compatibility list. Bethesda describes each threshold as the named class or better, so a card not listed in the table is not automatically ruled out—but it must still meet the hardware ray tracing and dedicated-VRAM requirements for the desired tier. [Bethesda Support]
Laptop GPU names do not necessarily indicate performance equivalent to desktop cards with similar names. Bethesda’s published requirements do not provide a laptop-specific equivalency table, so compare the laptop GPU’s actual capabilities and VRAM rather than relying on the model name alone.
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Path tracing is a separate consideration
The standard requirements above describe Bethesda’s minimum, recommended and Ultra 4K targets. Bethesda’s separate Path Tracing FAQ refers to NVIDIA GPU and settings requirements based on the June 2025 PC Update, but its detailed model table is presented as an image on the accessible page. The standard tier list should not be treated as a complete path-tracing compatibility guide. [Bethesda Path Tracing FAQ]
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