Crusader Kings III System Requirements
Crusader Kings III, released Sep 1, 2020, is a rpg / simulation game from Paradox Development Studio. Its recommended spec points at NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 graphics with an AMD Ryzen 5 1600X-class CPU; below we translate that into parts you can actually buy today.
Official System Requirements
The minimum specs for Crusader Kings III call for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660-class graphics, AMD FX-4300-class processor, 8 GB of RAM and 20 GB of storage.
The recommended specs for Crusader Kings III call for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970-class graphics, AMD Ryzen 5 1600X-class processor, 16 GB of RAM and 20 GB of storage.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD FX-4300 | AMD Ryzen 5 1600X |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 20 GB | 20 GB |
Original published requirement text
Minimum: Minimum:
Recommended: Recommended:
Best GPU for Crusader Kings III
Full GPU guide →Crusader Kings III's stated graphics card is roughly NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 level. The current sweet spot is the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT, with cheaper and faster options either side.
Budget
Intel Arc B570
~$220Intel Arc B570 is the cheapest current card that clears this game's recommended bar with 10GB VRAM. Fine for 1080p.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended
AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT
~$350AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT adds headroom with 16GB VRAM - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Performance
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti
~$430NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti leaves plenty of margin with 16GB VRAM for higher resolutions and frame rates.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Best CPU for Crusader Kings III
Full CPU guide →Crusader Kings III's stated processor is roughly AMD Ryzen 5 1600X level. The current sweet spot is the AMD Ryzen 5 5500, with cheaper and faster options either side.
Budget
Intel Core i3-14100F
~$110Intel Core i3-14100F is the cheapest current chip that clears this game's recommended bar. Fine for 1080p.
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
~$80AMD Ryzen 5 5500 adds headroom - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Performance
AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT
~$125AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT leaves plenty of margin for higher resolutions and frame rates.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended PC build for Crusader Kings III
Full build guide →Want the whole tower speced out? Our Crusader Kings III build guide pairs these CPU and GPU picks with RAM, motherboard, SSD, PSU and case at budget, recommended and performance tiers, with an approximate total.
Can these parts run Crusader Kings III?
- Can the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT run Crusader Kings III?
- Yes. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT is well ahead of Crusader Kings III's NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 target, so expect a comfortable 1080p experience with headroom to spare.
- Can the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 run Crusader Kings III?
- Yes. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is well ahead of Crusader Kings III's AMD Ryzen 5 1600X target, so expect a comfortable 1080p experience with headroom to spare.
FAQ
- What is the cheapest GPU for Crusader Kings III?
- Intel Arc B570 - Intel Arc B570 is the cheapest current card that clears this game's recommended bar with 10GB VRAM. Fine for 1080p.
- Which CPU should I get for Crusader Kings III?
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500 - AMD Ryzen 5 5500 adds headroom - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
- How much RAM does Crusader Kings III need?
- Crusader Kings III lists 16 GB of system memory. 16 GB is a safe modern baseline.
- Is a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 still enough for Crusader Kings III?
- It matches the game's stated target, so it will run, but it is an older part. A current card in the budget tier above gives you driver support and better efficiency for a similar outlay.