How much RAM does The Ascent need?

The Ascent lists 16 GB of system memory. 16 GB is a safe modern baseline.

Is a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 still enough for The Ascent?

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.

The Ascent System Requirements

Jul 29, 2021ActionAdventureIndieRPG

The Ascent, released Jul 29, 2021, is an action / adventure game from Neon Giant. Its recommended spec points at NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics with an Intel Core i9-9900K-class CPU; below we translate that into parts you can actually buy today.

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Official System Requirements

The minimum specs for The Ascent call for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660-class graphics, Intel Core i5-3470-class processor, 8 GB of RAM and 35 GB of storage.

The recommended specs for The Ascent call for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070-class graphics, Intel Core i9-9900K-class processor, 16 GB of RAM and 35 GB of storage.

Component	Minimum	Recommended
CPU	Intel Core i5-3470	Intel Core i9-9900K
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070
RAM	8 GB	16 GB
Storage	35 GB	35 GB

Original published requirement text

Minimum: Minimum:

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 x64
Processor: Intel Core Intel Core i5-3470 (4 * 3200) or equivalent / AMD FX-8350 (4 * 4000) or equivalent
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: GeForce GTX 660 ( 2048 MB) / Radeon R9 390X (8192 MB)
Storage: 35 GB available space
Additional Notes: Minimum Specification listed above allows gameplay experience close to 30 FPS on average while using 1080p resolution and lowest settings

Recommended: Recommended:

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 x64
Processor: Intel Core i7-6700K (4 * 4000) or equivalent / AMD Ryzen 5 2600 (6 * 3400) or equivalent
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: Geforce GTX 1070 (8192 MB) / Radeon RX 5700 (8192 MB)
Storage: 35 GB available space
Additional Notes: The Recommended Specification listed below allows gameplay experience close to 60 FPS on average while using 1080p resolution and overall “High” settings:

Best GPU for The Ascent

Full GPU guide →

The Ascent's stated graphics card is roughly NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 level. The current sweet spot is the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT, with cheaper and faster options either side.

Budget

Intel Arc B570

~$220

score 21010 GB VRAMBattlemage

Intel Arc B570 is the cheapest current card that clears this game's recommended bar with 10GB VRAM. Fine for 1080p.

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Other options at this level

Intel Arc B580 · 12GB~$250Buy
AMD Radeon RX 7600 · 8GB~$260Buy
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 · 8GB~$290Buy
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 · 8GB~$310Buy

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

~$350

score 24016 GB VRAMRDNA 4

AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT adds headroom with 16GB VRAM - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.

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Other options at this level

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT · 16GB~$320Buy
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti · 8GB~$370Buy
AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT · 12GB~$400Find
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 · 12GB~$520Buy

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

~$430

score 27516 GB VRAMBlackwell

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti leaves plenty of margin with 16GB VRAM for higher resolutions and frame rates.

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Other options at this level

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT · 16GB~$480Buy
AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE · 16GB~$550Find
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 · 12GB~$560Buy
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super · 12GB~$590Buy

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 The Ascent

Full CPU guide →

The Ascent's stated processor is roughly Intel Core i9-9900K level. The current sweet spot is the Intel Core i5-13500, with cheaper and faster options either side.

Budget

AMD Ryzen 5 5600

~$110

score 175Zen 3

AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is the cheapest current chip that clears this game's recommended bar. Fine for 1080p.

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Other options at this level

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X ~$130Buy
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X ~$160Buy
Intel Core i5-13400F ~$180Find
Intel Core i5-14400F ~$190Buy

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

Intel Core i5-13500

~$210

score 210Raptor Lake

Intel Core i5-13500 adds headroom - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.

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Other options at this level

AMD Ryzen 5 7500F ~$165Buy
AMD Ryzen 5 7600 ~$190Buy
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D ~$200Buy
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X ~$210Buy

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 9600

~$220

score 268Zen 5

AMD Ryzen 5 9600 leaves plenty of margin for higher resolutions and frame rates.

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Other options at this level

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X ~$250Find
AMD Ryzen 7 7700 ~$270Buy
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X ~$280Buy
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X ~$310Buy

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 The Ascent

Full build guide →

Want the whole tower speced out? Our The Ascent 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 The Ascent?

Can the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT run The Ascent?: Yes. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT is well ahead of The Ascent's NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 target, so expect a comfortable 1080p experience with headroom to spare.
Can the Intel Core i5-13500 run The Ascent?: Yes. The Intel Core i5-13500 meets or beats The Ascent's Intel Core i9-9900K recommendation, so 1080p should run smoothly.

FAQ

What is the cheapest GPU for The Ascent?: 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 The Ascent?: Intel Core i5-13500 - Intel Core i5-13500 adds headroom - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
How much RAM does The Ascent need?: The Ascent lists 16 GB of system memory. 16 GB is a safe modern baseline.
Is a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 still enough for The Ascent?: 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.