NBA 2K21 System Requirements
NBA 2K21, released Sep 4, 2020, is a simulation / sports game from Visual Concepts. Its recommended spec points at NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 graphics with an Intel Core i5-4430-class CPU; below we translate that into parts you can actually buy today.
Official System Requirements
The minimum specs for NBA 2K21 call for AMD Radeon HD 7770-class graphics, AMD FX-4100-class processor, 4 GB of RAM and 110 GB of storage.
The recommended specs for NBA 2K21 call for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770-class graphics, Intel Core i5-4430-class processor, 8 GB of RAM and 110 GB of storage.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD FX-4100 | Intel Core i5-4430 |
| GPU | AMD Radeon HD 7770 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 110 GB | 110 GB |
Original published requirement text
Minimum: Minimum:
Recommended: Recommended:
Best GPU for NBA 2K21
Full GPU guide →NBA 2K21's stated graphics card is roughly NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 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
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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
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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 NBA 2K21
Full CPU guide →NBA 2K21's stated processor is roughly Intel Core i5-4430 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 NBA 2K21
Full build guide →Want the whole tower speced out? Our NBA 2K21 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 NBA 2K21?
- Can the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT run NBA 2K21?
- Yes. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT is well ahead of NBA 2K21's NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 target, so expect a comfortable 1080p experience with headroom to spare.
- Can the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 run NBA 2K21?
- Yes. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is well ahead of NBA 2K21's Intel Core i5-4430 target, so expect a comfortable 1080p experience with headroom to spare.
FAQ
- What is the cheapest GPU for NBA 2K21?
- 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 NBA 2K21?
- 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 NBA 2K21 need?
- NBA 2K21 lists 8 GB of system memory. 16 GB is a safe modern baseline.
- Is a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 still enough for NBA 2K21?
- 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.