Elite Dangerous is a space simulator that’s been around for over a decade now, and the Elite Dangerous system requirements are a perfect reflection of the game’s age. That said, the graphical quality is by no means dated, and even compares favorably to modern sci-fi games like No Man’s Sky.
Elite Dangerous doesn’t demand anything special when it comes to hardware, even as of the latest Trailblazers update. If you can already run another of the best space games on Steam, namely the Eve Online system requirements, you’ll have no issues getting Elite Dangerous to run, even if you don’t have the best graphics card from our buying guide. However, before you can chart your own course through the Milky Way, you’ll need to decide if you’ll do so with or without the Elite Dangerous Odyssey expansion, which drastically updates the game’s base system requirements.
Here are the Elite Dangerous system requirements in 2025:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce GTX 470 AMD Radeon R7 240 |
Nvidia GTX 770 AMD Radeon R9 280X |
| VRAM | 1-2GB | 2-3GB |
| CPU | Quad-core 2.0GHz | Intel Core i7 3770K AMD FX 4350 |
| RAM | 6GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 25GB | 25GB |
| Notes | Supports SteamVR | Supports SteamVR, Oculus Rift, and TrackIR |
When it comes to the Elite Dangerous minimum requirements, only a 15-year-old GPU like the Nvidia GeForce GTX 470 or AMD Radeon R7 240 is required, along with a 2.0GHz quad-core CPU such as the Intel Core i5-2400S or the AMD Phenom II X4 820, and a mere 6GB of RAM.
The Elite Dangerous recommended specs may once have been a challenge back in 2015, but an Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 or AMD Radeon R9 280X GPU, paired with an Intel Core i7-3770K or AMD FX 4350 CPU and 8GB of RAM, isn’t even a match for the No Man’s Sky system requirements. Despite that, the Elite Dangerous base game still features some very impressive graphics, even if the developer never clarified what level of performance you can expect from meeting its recommended specs.
| Odyssey minimum | Odyssey recommended | |
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 AMD R9 280X |
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 AMD Radeon RX 580 |
| VRAM | 3GB | 8GB |
| CPU | Intel i5 4590 AMD FX 8350 |
Intel i5 8600 AMD Ryzen 5 2600 |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 75GB | 75GB |
The Elite Dangerous Odyssey system requirements expand on the base game’s recommended specs, requiring an Nvidia GTX 780 or AMD R9 280X GPU paired with an Intel i5 4590 or AMD FX 8350 CPU and 8GB of RAM.
The Elite Dangerous Odyssey recommended specs take a sudden leap, especially over the base game’s demands, calling for an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580 GPU, an Intel Core i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 CPU, and 12GB of RAM. Whereas older gaming laptops and PCs will likely have had little issue up to this point, Odyssey’s additions may require an upgrade.
The Elite Dangerous download size proves about as much threat as a Sidewinder, demanding only 25GB of storage space for the base game, and a more modest 75GB for the Odyssey expansion. You won’t even need an SSD to get the game running, but we’d recommend grabbing the best gaming SSD from our buying guides if you’re still using a traditional mechanical drive, or in need of some extra space.
Whether you’re a returning player or a fresh-faced pilot, make sure you game with the best gaming keyboard from our buying guides so you can fly everything from your Sidewinder to your Lakon Type-8 in comfort, and check out the best gaming chair if you want to really immerse yourself in your ship’s cockpit.
Take our Elite Dangerous system requirements benchmark test to answer the question… Can I run Elite Dangerous?
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