STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl requires 160 GB of available space on an SSD. The official minimum target is 1080p at 30 fps on Low, while Steam’s Recommended specification targets 1440p at 60 fps on High. For a new gaming PC or upgrade, 32 GB of dual-channel RAM is the more sensible target, although 16 GB remains the official minimum.
These targets were tested with upscaling technologies including TSR, DLSS, FSR, and XeSS, so they should not be read as guarantees of native-resolution performance.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Legends of the Zone Trilogy (Multi-Language) | $59.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Art of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl | $31.19 | Buy on Amazon |
How much storage does STALKER 2 need?
The current official PC listings require 160 GB of available storage on an SSD. Both the Steam listing and the developer’s system-requirements guide specify an SSD rather than a conventional hard drive.
That 160 GB figure is a required amount of free space, not necessarily the exact download size. Download size, installed size, and the free space needed for installation or patching can differ. Leave additional room for updates, temporary installation files, shader caches, Windows, and other games. A drive with exactly 160 GB of usable capacity is therefore a poor choice.
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#1 Best Overall
- The first console reported version of the survival horror FPS S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series that has sold over 15 million units worldwide
- Chornobili, its tragedy doesn't end
- Genre: Open World FPS
A 500 GB SSD can work if it is mainly dedicated to the game, but a 1 TB SSD is a more practical minimum for most players. A 2 TB drive makes more sense for anyone keeping several large games installed. The official requirement does not require a particular SSD brand or interface.
Why do some pages say 150 GB?
Early reports and older listings cited 150 GB. That is a superseded figure, not a second current requirement. The safer current wording is: STALKER 2 requires 160 GB of available SSD space according to the official Steam and developer listings. The sources do not establish a precise reason for the change.
STALKER 2 minimum PC requirements
The minimum tier is designed for 1080p, 30 fps, Low settings:
| Component | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 x64 or Windows 11 x64 |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-7700K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X |
| Memory | 16 GB dual-channel RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB, AMD Radeon RX 580 8 GB, or Intel Arc A750 |
| Storage | 160 GB available on an SSD |
| Target | 1080p, Low preset, 30 fps |
Meeting these specifications means your PC is around the published entry point; it does not mean 60 fps, maximum settings, or perfectly consistent frame times in every area. Open-world streaming, simulation, drivers, background software, patches, and individual locations can all affect performance.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSTALKER 2 recommended PC requirements
Steam presents the developer’s higher target as Recommended: 1440p at 60 fps on High settings.
| Component | Recommended requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 x64 or Windows 11 x64 |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-11700 or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X |
| Memory | 32 GB dual-channel RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT |
| Storage | 160 GB available on an SSD |
| Target | 1440p, High preset, 60 fps |
There is a CPU difference between the two official presentations. Steam lists the Core i7-11700 and Ryzen 7 5800X for Recommended, while the developer’s expanded guide lists the Core i7-9700K and Ryzen 7 3700X in its High tier. These should be treated as source-specific reference points rather than silently combined into one exact compatibility list.
Medium, High, and Epic targets
The developer’s support guide provides more useful steps between minimum and recommended hardware:
| Target | Resolution and frame rate | CPU | RAM | GPU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 1080p, 30 fps | Ryzen 5 1600X or Core i7-7700K | 16 GB | RX 580 8 GB, GTX 1060 6 GB, or Arc A750 |
| Medium | 1080p, 60 fps | Ryzen 7 3700X or Core i7-9700K | 16 GB; 32 GB recommended for headroom | RX 5700 XT, RTX 2070 Super, or RTX 4060 |
| High | 1440p, 60 fps | Ryzen 7 3700X or Core i7-9700K | 32 GB | RX 6800 XT, RTX 3070 Ti, or RTX 4070 |
| Epic | 2160p, 60+ fps | Ryzen 7 7700X or Core i7-13700KF | 32 GB | RX 7900 XTX or RTX 4080 |
All four tiers use the same 160 GB SSD requirement and Windows 10/11 x64 baseline. Epic is a 4K-class target, not simply the default meaning of “recommended.”
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An SSD is mandatory in the published specification
Do not treat an HDD as an officially supported alternative. Some users may experiment with installing the game on a hard drive, but that falls outside the published requirement and may lead to poor loading or world-streaming behavior. An SSD is the correct baseline.
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Is 16 GB of RAM enough?
Yes, 16 GB is enough to meet the official minimum and is listed for the developer’s Medium tier. However, the Medium guide recommends 32 GB for additional headroom, and High and Epic both list 32 GB. A matched, dual-channel 32 GB kit is the practical choice for High settings, multitasking, and a new upgrade.
Check whether your PC uses DDR4 or DDR5 before buying memory. Laptop memory may be soldered or difficult to replace, and adding an unmatched module can leave the system in an undesirable configuration.
Do you need ray tracing?
The published requirement tables do not describe these targets as ray-tracing requirements. They specify resolution, preset, frame rate, and upscaling technologies. Do not assume that ray tracing is mandatory based on the listed GPUs.
How important are upscaling technologies?
GSC says its specifications were tested with TSR, DLSS, FSR, and XeSS. Consequently, a 60 fps target may rely on rendering internally below the output resolution and reconstructing the image. It is not automatically equivalent to 60 fps at native 1440p or 4K. Support and image quality can vary by GPU and game setting; frame generation should not be assumed unless the relevant setting and hardware support it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can your PC run STALKER 2?
- Confirm that you are running 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11.
- Check the exact CPU model, not just the computer’s brand or product name.
- Identify the GPU and its VRAM capacity.
- Confirm that 16 GB or 32 GB of memory is running in dual-channel mode.
- Verify that at least 160 GB is free on an SSD, with extra headroom available.
- Match your hardware against the target table rather than comparing only one component.
- Update your graphics drivers before troubleshooting performance.
GSC’s PC performance-optimization guidance recommends checking system specifications against the requirements and consulting its performance advice when problems remain.
What should you upgrade first?
- Storage: Move the installation to an SSD if it is currently on an HDD, and avoid buying a drive with only 160 GB usable.
- Memory: Move from 16 GB to 32 GB dual-channel if targeting Medium or High settings, especially if the current setup is single-channel.
- GPU: Upgrade if your graphics card is below the target class for your chosen resolution and preset.
- CPU: Consider a processor upgrade if the GPU is adequate but frame-time drops persist in busy or open areas.
Do not choose an upgrade solely by model number. VRAM, cooling, power limits, and the exact target resolution matter. The same branding is especially misleading on laptops: a laptop RTX 4070, for example, is not guaranteed to perform like a desktop RTX 4070. There is no separate official laptop requirements table, so compare the actual laptop GPU, CPU power configuration, RAM arrangement, and available SSD space.
What about Xbox Series X|S?
The PC requirements do not apply directly to Xbox Series X|S because console hardware is fixed. Use the PC tables only when assessing a Windows computer. Platform availability and storefront access can change by region and should be checked through the current official platform listings.
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Bottom line
Plan for 160 GB of available SSD space, not the older 150 GB figure. A minimum PC targets 1080p/30 fps on Low with 16 GB RAM, while the Steam Recommended tier targets 1440p/60 fps on High with 32 GB RAM and a substantially faster GPU. Leave storage headroom, use dual-channel memory, keep drivers current, and remember that the published frame-rate targets were tested with upscaling rather than guaranteed native-resolution performance.
Quick Recap
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