The Expanse System Requirements
The Expanse, released Nov 24, 2021, is an action / adventure game from Phoebus76. Its recommended spec points at NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 graphics with an Intel Core i7-9700K-class CPU; below we translate that into parts you can actually buy today.
Official System Requirements
The minimum specs for The Expanse call for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970-class graphics, Intel Core i5-4590-class processor, 16 GB of RAM and 45 GB of storage.
The recommended specs for The Expanse call for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660-class graphics, Intel Core i7-9700K-class processor, 32 GB of RAM and 45 GB of storage.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-4590 | Intel Core i7-9700K |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Storage | 45 GB | 45 GB |
Original published requirement text
Minimum: Minimum:
Recommended: Recommended:
Best GPU for The Expanse
Full GPU guide →The Expanse's stated graphics card is roughly NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 level. The current sweet spot is the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT, with cheaper and faster options either side.
Budget
Intel Arc B570
~$259.99Intel 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
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 The Expanse
Full CPU guide →The Expanse's stated processor is roughly Intel Core i7-9700K level. The current sweet spot is the Intel Core i5-14400F, with cheaper and faster options either side.
Budget
AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT
~$179AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT is the cheapest current chip that clears this game's recommended bar. 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
Intel Core i5-14400F
~$178.99Intel Core i5-14400F 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 7 5700X3D
~$200AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D 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 The Expanse
Full build guide →Want the whole tower speced out? Our The Expanse 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 Expanse?
- Can the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT run The Expanse?
- Yes. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT is well ahead of The Expanse's NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 target, so expect a comfortable 1080p experience with headroom to spare.
- Can the Intel Core i5-14400F run The Expanse?
- Yes. The Intel Core i5-14400F meets or beats The Expanse's Intel Core i7-9700K recommendation, so 1080p should run smoothly.
FAQ
- What is the cheapest GPU for The Expanse?
- 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 Expanse?
- Intel Core i5-14400F - Intel Core i5-14400F adds headroom - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
- How much RAM does The Expanse need?
- The Expanse lists 32 GB of system memory. 16 GB is a safe modern baseline.
- Is a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 still enough for The Expanse?
- 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.