Yes—many PCs can run Metro Exodus, but the edition matters. The standard PC release can run on a 64-bit Windows 7/8/10 system with 8 GB of memory and a GTX 670-, GTX 1050- or Radeon HD 7870-class graphics card. Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition is a separate ray-tracing target: it requires a ray-tracing-capable Nvidia RTX or AMD RX GPU, and RTX features require Windows 10 RS5 (build 1809) or newer with DirectX 12.
Use the requirements table below to identify your starting point, then apply the safe-mode profile and tune resolution, shading rate and the most expensive effects in that order. Official requirements define hardware tiers, not a guaranteed frame rate for every GPU, resolution or preset.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Which Metro Exodus edition should you install?
Metro Exodus has two different PC targets. The standard edition supports conventional rendering and DirectX 11, while the Enhanced Edition is built around hardware ray tracing. Treat them as separate compatibility decisions rather than two graphics presets in one game.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Choose the standard edition when your GPU has no hardware ray tracing
If your graphics card is an older GeForce GTX or Radeon model without ray-tracing hardware, the standard release is the appropriate target. Its minimum tier includes cards such as the GeForce GTX 670, GeForce GTX 1050 and Radeon HD 7870. Its recommended tier moves to the GeForce GTX 1070, GeForce RTX 2060 or Radeon RX Vega 56 class.
#1 Best Overall
- Spacious Design: Measuring 21.1" wide and 14.1" deep, our lap desk comfortably fits most laptops up to 15.6". Extra room for accessories ensures convenience.
- Enhanced Functionality: Packed with handy features, including a 5x9" precision tracking mouse pad and a built-in phone slot for seamless work or video calls. Plus, enjoy ergonomic support with the integrated cushioned wrist rest.
- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
- Durable Surface: Work with confidence on our lap desk's solid surface, featuring a sleek black carbon color, ensuring optimal air circulation to prevent your laptop from overheating.
- On-the-Go Convenience: With an integrated handle and lightweight design (2.8 lbs), our lap desk is portable for travel or moving around the house, offering flexibility in any space.
Choose Enhanced Edition only when the GPU and operating system qualify
PLAION’s requirement is explicit: “Enhanced Edition requires Nvidia RTX or AMD RX GPU.” Epic’s store FAQ adds that Windows 10 RS5 (build 1809) or newer and DirectX 12 are required for RTX features. A compatible card alone is therefore not enough if the operating system or graphics API does not meet those conditions.
The official Metro announcement describes Enhanced Edition as a free upgrade for owners and highlights ray-tracing improvements, 60 FPS support, field-of-view options and DLSS 2.0. Those features make it the higher-end target, not a universal replacement for the standard build on every PC.
Official standard-edition system requirements
The following values are the published minimum and recommended specifications for the standard PC release. The graphics entries identify classes of hardware; they are not promises that every card in a class will produce the same frame rate.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| Tier | Operating system | Processor | Memory | Graphics card | VRAM | DirectX | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 64-bit Windows 7, 8 or 10 | Intel Core i5-4440 or equivalent | 8 GB RAM | GeForce GTX 670, GeForce GTX 1050 or AMD Radeon HD 7870 | 2 GB | DirectX 11 | 59 GB available |
| Recommended | Windows 10 | Intel Core i7-4770K or equivalent | 8 GB RAM | GeForce GTX 1070, GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD RX Vega 56 | 8 GB | DirectX 12 | 59 GB available |
The minimum line is the entry point for launching and playing the standard edition, not a 1080p, high-quality or 60 FPS guarantee. The recommended line is likewise a hardware tier rather than a measured frame-rate promise. Your resolution, preset, driver, background software and selected effects all influence the result.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
What Enhanced Edition changes on PC
Enhanced Edition’s defining requirement is hardware ray tracing. A GeForce RTX or compatible AMD RX card is required; a non-RTX GeForce GTX card that meets the standard edition’s recommended tier does not satisfy that requirement.
For RTX features, use Windows 10 RS5 (build 1809) or newer and DirectX 12. If the game offers an API choice, DirectX 12 is mandatory for those RTX features. The official announcement also calls out support for 60 FPS, adjustable field of view and DLSS 2.0, but neither the announcement nor the requirements page supplies one universal GPU-to-FPS table.
Because the published Enhanced Edition statement focuses on the ray-tracing GPU and platform conditions, do not infer a separate CPU, RAM or storage specification that is not stated. In practice, compare your system against the standard requirements as a baseline, then verify that the GPU and Windows/DirectX combination meets the Enhanced conditions.
How to check whether your PC meets the requirements
- Identify the processor and installed memory. Open Windows Settings and search for About, or open Task Manager and select the Performance tab. Compare the CPU model with the Core i5-4440 minimum or Core i7-4770K recommended class, and confirm at least 8 GB of RAM.
- Identify the graphics card and VRAM. In Task Manager’s Performance tab, select GPU. For the standard minimum tier, check for roughly 2 GB of dedicated video memory and a GTX 670/GTX 1050/Radeon HD 7870-class card. The recommended table specifies 8 GB of VRAM and GTX 1070/RTX 2060/RX Vega 56-class graphics.
- Check the operating system architecture. The minimum standard requirement is 64-bit Windows 7, 8 or 10. Enhanced RTX features require Windows 10 RS5 (build 1809) or newer.
- Verify DirectX. Press
Win+R, enterdxdiag, and inspect the System and Display tabs. DirectX 11 is the standard minimum API; DirectX 12 is the recommended API and is required for Enhanced RTX features. - Confirm free storage. Leave at least 59 GB available for the game. Keeping additional free space for updates and normal Windows operation is sensible, but 59 GB is the published requirement.
If your card meets only the standard line, install or select the standard edition rather than treating Enhanced Edition as a low-setting mode. If the card is ray-tracing capable but the operating system is below Windows 10 RS5, satisfy the platform requirement before troubleshooting graphics settings.
Rank #3
- Note: Not suitable for MacBooks released after 2023 or devices with a protruding front camera; Not applicable to full-screen or notch-style tempered glass screen protectors; Do not use on the rear camera of the phone.
- 💻 Why Do You Need a Webcam Cover Slide? — Safeguard your privacy by covering your webcam with our reliable webcam cover when not in use. Don't let anyone secretly watch you. Stay protected!
- ✅ Thin & Stylish — Enhance your laptop's functionality and aesthetics with our 0.027" ultra-thin webcam covers. Seamlessly close your laptop while adding a touch of sophistication.
- ✅ Fits Most Devices — Compatible with laptops, phones, tablets, desktops! Keep your privacy intact on Ap/ple, Mac/Book, iPh/one, iP/ad, H/P, L/novo, De/ll, Ac/er, As/us, Sa/msung devices.
- ✅ 365 Days Protection — Our upgraded 3.0 adhesive ensures a strong hold that won't damage your equipment. Experience reliable, long-term privacy protection day in and day out.
Official safe-mode settings for a difficult first launch
When Metro Exodus starts slowly, crashes during setup or produces unusable frame rates, begin with the game’s official low-load baseline. This profile is deliberately conservative and gives you a known starting point:
- Resolution: 720p
- Quality preset: Low
- Tessellation: Off
- Ray tracing: Off
- DLSS: Off
- Shading rate: 1
- DirectX: DX11
- HairWorks: Off
- Advanced PhysX: Off
Apply the profile, restart if the game requests it, and confirm that you can reach gameplay reliably. The baseline is for diagnosis, not a recommendation that every player should remain at 720p. Once the game is stable, raise one control at a time and use the built-in performance test after each major change.
A practical order for improving image quality and FPS
1. Set resolution and shading rate before individual effects
Resolution determines how many pixels the GPU must render, so it is the first control to test when frame rate is unstable. If 1080p, 1440p or 4K is too demanding, lower the resolution or shading rate before spending performance on effects. The official safe-mode profile uses 720p and shading rate 1 for this reason.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Change one of the two controls, run the performance test, and keep the change only if it solves the problem without making the image unacceptable. A lower internal shading rate can preserve the display resolution while reducing rendering workload, whereas lowering output resolution changes the visible pixel grid.
Rank #4
- Anti-Slip Surface - Transform your laptop into a mobile workstation with the AboveTEK portable laptop lap desk. The anti-slip surface provides a strong grip for laptops up to 15.6 inches(Diagonal), while the double rubber strip on the bottom ensures a stable display or typing experience on your lap, couch, or bed.
- Retractable Mouse Pad - Retractable laptop mouse pad extends on both directions for the left/right handed with elevation along the edges for stopping mouse from falling off. The size of laptop tray is 14" X 9.7" and the size of mouse pad is 7.4" X 6.1".
- Effective Heat Shield - The effective heat shield made of sturdy and thick material protects your laptop from overheating. Prioritizes your comfort and safety, an ideal lap pad or board for working anywhere.
- EASY to Carry and Store - With an ergonomic and simplistic design, the lap desk is portable to store in a backpack. Only 15" in size, 2.2 lb of weight and with slim 0.6 inch thickness, it is ready to be easily carried around.
- Widely Applicable - The smooth platform accommodates laptops and tablets up to 15.6 inches(Diagonal), making it a versatile accessory and one of the best gifts for mom, dad, students and professionals. Perfect for use as a laptop bed tray or tablet holder anywhere at home, library, or park.
2. Disable the expensive effects first
Ray tracing, tessellation, HairWorks and Advanced PhysX are the official fallback switches. Turn them off before reducing every other quality option. This is especially important on a system that is close to the minimum tier or on a non-Enhanced installation where ray tracing is not part of the target.
After the game is stable, re-enable effects individually. That approach shows which feature is responsible for a slowdown and avoids confusing several simultaneous changes. Exact gains vary by hardware, resolution and scene, so treat the switches as troubleshooting priorities rather than fixed percentage improvements.
3. Use DLSS when supported, with realistic expectations
On supported GeForce RTX hardware, DLSS can trade some native-resolution detail for a lower rendering workload. NVIDIA reported a 2X performance boost at 4K with DLSS 2.0 enabled on GeForce RTX. That is NVIDIA’s result under its test conditions, not a universal guarantee for every RTX card, preset or scene.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Test DLSS at the quality mode that gives you an acceptable image, then verify the result with the benchmark. If you are using the official safe-mode profile to diagnose a problem, leave DLSS off until the basic installation is stable, then enable it as a separate experiment.
Best Value
- Spacious Design: Measuring 21.1" wide and 12" deep, our lap desk comfortably fits most laptops up to 15.6". Extra room for accessories ensures convenience.
- Enhanced Functionality: Packed with handy features, including a 5x9" precision tracking mouse pad and a built-in phone slot for seamless work or video calls. Plus, enjoy laptop support with the integrated device ledge.
- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
- Durable Surface: Work with confidence on our lap desk's solid surface, featuring a blush pink color, ensuring optimal air circulation to prevent your laptop from overheating.
- On-the-Go Convenience: With an integrated handle and lightweight design (2.14 lbs), our lap desk is portable for travel or moving around the house, offering flexibility in any space.
4. Select the API that matches your edition and goal
DX11 is part of the standard minimum profile and the official safe-mode baseline. DX12 appears in the recommended standard specification and is required for RTX features in Enhanced Edition. Do not switch to DX12 on an Enhanced installation expecting ray tracing to work while another requirement remains unmet; the Windows build and ray-tracing-capable GPU still matter.
5. Treat 4K/60 with Extreme settings as an enthusiast target
The official Steam announcement says the 4A Engine scales to entry-level hardware while enthusiasts can stretch current video cards to 4K/60 FPS with Extreme settings. Read that as a target for high-end experimentation, not a promise that a recommended-tier PC will deliver 4K/60. Start with a resolution and preset your hardware can sustain, then work upward.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to use the built-in performance test
Run the game’s performance test after each major change: resolution, shading rate, API, ray tracing, DLSS or a group of quality settings. The test gives you a repeatable comparison point, while normal play confirms whether the result holds in the areas and weather conditions you actually encounter.
- Begin with the safe-mode profile or your current known-good settings.
- Run the performance test and note the displayed result for your own comparison.
- Change one major variable, such as 720p to 1080p, DX11 to DX12, or ray tracing off to on.
- Run the test again, then play briefly to check for stutter, crashes or visual problems.
- Keep the change only when both the benchmark and normal gameplay are acceptable.
Official patch notes refer to the game’s performance test and fixes for benchmark behavior, but the published material does not provide a complete current table of FPS results for every GPU, resolution and preset. Avoid treating an online number as a guaranteed result for your own system.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The Enhanced Edition will not start or RTX options are unavailable
- Confirm that the GPU is a ray-tracing-capable Nvidia RTX or AMD RX model.
- Confirm Windows 10 RS5 (build 1809) or newer.
- Use DirectX 12 for RTX features.
- If the hardware is a non-RTX GeForce GTX or an older Radeon card, use the standard edition instead.
Frame rate is too low immediately
- Apply the official 720p, Low, shading-rate-1 profile.
- Turn off ray tracing, tessellation, HairWorks and Advanced PhysX.
- Test a lower resolution or shading rate before raising other effects.
- Use the benchmark to compare one change at a time.
The game is stable but image quality is poor
- Raise resolution first if the GPU has headroom.
- Increase the quality preset gradually rather than enabling every expensive effect together.
- On supported RTX hardware, test DLSS and compare its image to native rendering.
- Re-enable tessellation, HairWorks, Advanced PhysX or ray tracing individually so you can identify the setting that costs too much.
You are unsure whether the PC is “recommended”
Compare every component, not just the GPU name. The official recommended line includes Windows 10, a Core i7-4770K-equivalent processor, 8 GB RAM, an 8 GB-VRAM GTX 1070/RTX 2060/RX Vega 56-class GPU, DirectX 12 and 59 GB of storage. Meeting only one or two of those items does not make the entire system recommended.
Quick Recap
Quick decision guide
- Older 64-bit PC with a GTX 670-, GTX 1050- or Radeon HD 7870-class GPU: target the standard edition and begin at Low settings, using the safe-mode profile if necessary.
- System around the GTX 1070, RTX 2060 or RX Vega 56 recommended tier: target the standard edition at a higher preset, then benchmark your chosen resolution rather than assuming a fixed FPS.
- Ray-tracing-capable Nvidia RTX or AMD RX GPU plus Windows 10 RS5 (build 1809) or newer: Enhanced Edition is the compatible target, with DirectX 12 for RTX features.
- 4K/60 Extreme ambition: treat it as an enthusiast project. Use the benchmark, lower resolution or shading rate when performance is unstable, and add ray tracing or other costly effects only after the base profile is reliable.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
