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Thinking about playing Oxygen Not Included on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? Oxygen Not Included is a 2D colony simulation from Klei Entertainment, released on July 30, 2019, and it is one of the gentler games you can point a modern PC at. The official minimum is a dual-core 2 GHz processor, 8 GB of RAM and integrated Intel HD 4600-class graphics, while the recommended spec asks for something like an Intel Core i7-8700K, 16 GB of RAM and a dedicated graphics card with 2 GB of VRAM. The catch is that Oxygen Not Included is a simulation rather than a graphics showcase: your frame rate in a large, long-running colony is decided mostly by your CPU, not your GPU. This guide breaks down the realistic requirements for Oxygen Not Included, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations to hit your target frame rate.
How Demanding Is Oxygen Not Included?
Oxygen Not Included is very light on graphics hardware. Because it renders a 2D side-on world, even the official minimum — Intel HD 4600 integrated graphics — is enough to run it at 1080p, and almost any dedicated card from the last decade will handle it at 1440p or 4K without strain. What does scale up is the simulation: as you add duplicants, pipe networks, gas mixing, temperature transfer and automation, the game has more to calculate every tick, and that load lands on the CPU. So the honest summary is that Oxygen Not Included is easy on the GPU and increasingly CPU-bound as your base grows. The requirements below are the official ones published by the developer; always check the game’s official store page for the exact published requirements.
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View on AmazonOxygen Not Included Official PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum (official) | Recommended (official) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 version 21H1 or later | Windows 11 |
| Processor | Dual Core 2 GHz | Intel Core i7-8700K or equivalent |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Intel HD 4600 (AMD or NVIDIA equivalent) | Dedicated graphic card with 2GB VRAM |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Storage | 3 GB available space | 3 GB available space |
Source: the official Oxygen Not Included Steam store listing (app 457140), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.
Best GPU for Oxygen Not Included by Resolution
1080p
At 1080p you clear the official minimum with integrated graphics such as Intel HD 4600, and anything newer sits comfortably above the bar. A card like the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is far more than Oxygen Not Included needs — it runs the game at 1080p without breaking a sweat and leaves plenty of headroom for other titles.
1440p
1440p changes very little for a 2D game like this one. Older cards such as the GTX 1050 or RX 560 already meet the recommended 2 GB VRAM guidance, and current budget-to-mid-range options like the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT are more than sufficient. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 sits well above what the renderer needs at 1440p, so if you already own one you are covered. This is the resolution most PC gamers target, and for Oxygen Not Included it is an easy target to hit.
4K
At 4K the GPU load is still modest, because the game’s art is simple 2D. Any dedicated card with 2 GB of VRAM — for example a GTX 1650, or a current RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT — will drive it. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is far more than required; that class of card makes sense mainly if you also play modern 3D games at 4K. In Oxygen Not Included specifically, expect the CPU to be the limiting factor in a mature colony long before the GPU is.
CPU, RAM and Storage for Oxygen Not Included
The official minimum is a dual-core 2 GHz chip, but a colony sim rewards a faster processor far more than a faster graphics card. Late-game colonies with many duplicants, large liquid and gas systems and heavy automation can become CPU-limited, so a modern six- or eight-core processor is a sensible target: the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is a strong value pick, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the fastest gaming CPUs around if you want maximum simulation headroom, and Intel buyers can look at the Intel Core i5-14600K. For memory, the official recommended figure is 16 GB, so a 16 GB DDR5 kit is the target and a Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB kit simply gives you extra headroom for other games and heavy multitasking. Storage requirements are tiny at 3 GB, so almost any drive works; a fast NVMe SSD like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD mainly cuts load times and leaves room for a large game library.
Recommended PC Builds for Oxygen Not Included
Because the official requirements are so low, any of these builds runs Oxygen Not Included comfortably. They are aimed at players who also want a machine for more demanding games.
1080p budget build: AMD Radeon RX 7600 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — comfortably above the recommended spec for Oxygen Not Included and a solid all-round 1080p gaming PC.
1440p sweet-spot build: AMD Radeon RX 7600 + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — the CPU here gives you headroom for large late-game colonies, and the GPU is more than the game needs at 1440p.
4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — overkill for Oxygen Not Included’s 2D renderer, but a good match if you also play 3D titles at 4K.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Oxygen Not Included?
If you already meet the official minimum, an upgrade is rarely necessary just for this game. Where upgrades do help is the CPU: a large, long-running colony is a simulation workload, and a processor with strong per-core performance keeps late-game tick rates steadier. If you are on an old dual-core or a very old quad-core, moving to a modern six-core is the most meaningful change you can make. 16 GB of RAM matches the recommended spec and is worth having for general use. An SSD is not required — the install is only 3 GB — but it makes loading quicker and the whole system snappier. A new graphics card is the lowest priority here unless you also play more demanding titles. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.
Can You Play Oxygen Not Included on a Laptop or Handheld?
Yes. Because the graphics requirements are so low, most laptops from the last several years — including many with integrated graphics — can run Oxygen Not Included at 1080p. A gaming laptop with a dedicated GPU such as an RTX 4060 or better will run it easily, though expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop. Handhelds like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally handle the game comfortably thanks to its low GPU load, and the 3 GB install size means it fits on modest storage. If you plan on very large colonies, prioritise a device with a stronger CPU rather than a stronger GPU.
How to Boost FPS in Oxygen Not Included
Because Oxygen Not Included is usually CPU-bound rather than GPU-bound, the usual graphics tweaks have limited effect. Lowering the resolution or running in fullscreen can help a little on weak integrated graphics, but in a large colony the frame rate is governed by simulation cost. Practical steps: close background applications so the CPU has more headroom, keep your graphics drivers up to date, install the game on an SSD for faster loading, and use the game’s speed controls rather than expecting the simulation to keep up at maximum speed with a huge base. If one particular colony has become sluggish, limiting the number of duplicants or starting a fresh map will do more for performance than any settings change. Lowering settings to hit a stable frame rate almost always feels better than chasing maxed-out visuals with stutter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PC run Oxygen Not Included?
If your PC has a dual-core 2 GHz processor, 8 GB of RAM and Intel HD 4600-class graphics or better, it meets the official minimum and can run Oxygen Not Included. For the recommended experience — Windows 11, an Intel Core i7-8700K-class CPU, 16 GB of RAM and a dedicated graphics card with 2 GB of VRAM — the game runs smoothly, with performance in very large colonies depending mostly on CPU speed.
Is Oxygen Not Included demanding on PC?
No. Oxygen Not Included is light on the graphics side and runs on integrated graphics. The only real hardware pressure comes from the CPU in large, late-game colonies, where the simulation has a great deal to calculate.
What GPU do I need for Oxygen Not Included at 1440p 60fps?
Very little. Any dedicated card with 2 GB of VRAM meets the recommended spec at 1440p, and older cards such as the GTX 1050 or RX 560 are already enough. A AMD Radeon RX 7600-class graphics card is far beyond what the game needs, and mainly makes sense if you play other titles as well. In Oxygen Not Included the CPU, not the GPU, is what decides how a big colony performs.
How much RAM does Oxygen Not Included need?
The official minimum is 8 GB and the official recommended figure is 16 GB. 8 GB is enough to run the game, but 16 GB is the sensible target for a modern PC, especially if you keep other applications open while playing or run very large colonies.
Do I need an SSD for Oxygen Not Included?
No — the official requirement is just 3 GB of available storage, and the game runs from a mechanical drive. An SSD like the Samsung 990 Pro is still nice to have because it shortens load times and speeds up general system use.
