To play well on Windows 11, here are the official recommendations from Microsoft

Microsoft’s hardware recommendations for gaming on Windows 11

This guide is aimed both at beginners by popularizing the function of each component of the PC, but also at people who are a little more knowledgeable via minimum and recommended hardware specifications, as games do to play on a budget. Here they are:

Entry-level games

• CPU: a modern quad-core processor, for example the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 or the Intel Core i5-12400
• GPU: Nvidia GTX 1660 Super or AMD Radeon RX 6600

Mid-range games

• CPU: a six-core processor or higher, for example an AMD Ryzen 5 7600 or the Intel Core i5-13600K
• GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti/4060 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT

High-end games

• CPU: an eight-core processor or better, such as an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D or an Intel Core i7-13700K
• GPU: Nvidia RTX 4080 or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX

It should be noted that Microsoft here avoids the latest generations of graphics cards from AMD and Nvidia (overpriced and difficult to find, especially at Nvidia) and does not mention Intel GPUs. On the other hand, the firm advises choosing a GPU based on the targeted refresh rate and capable of displaying through its screen.

There’s no point in getting a card that’s too expensive if you can’t/want to go beyond 60 or 144 Hz/FPS for example, while playing in FHD, 1440p or UHD will also require a different GPU. The manufacturer quickly discusses the types of panels and their respective advantages (IPS, VA and OLED), the response time (between 1 and 3 ms ideal for gaming) and HDR.

Regarding RAM, whose price is soaringMicrosoft states that 16 GB is enough for most games, but 32 GB is ideal for more demanding titles. Our recommendation if your budget is tight: start with 16 GB and go for 32 GB when prices have calmed down for greater comfort of use in and out of the game.

For the motherboard, a subject that can be complex, Microsoft indicates that you must obviously choose one compatible with the components mentioned above, but also sufficient connectivity and slots for everything else (power supply, network, M.2 SSD, etc.). The firm takes the opportunity to remind — rightly — that a good cable management is essential to ensure adequate cooling of your PC.

Microsoft’s software recommendations for gaming on Windows 11

After a quick overview of gaming peripherals and their specific features (keyboard, mouse, controller and headsets), Microsoft finally talks about the software aspect allowing you to optimize the gaming experience on Windows 11. Not content with reminding you to activate the OS’s Game Mode to prioritize games over other tasks, the firm lists the features integrated into Windows 11 and activated if available, such as DirectX 12 Ultimate, Auto HDR or even DirectStorage. For the latter, an NVMe SSD is also very strongly recommended for very fast loading, 1 TB being a size suitable for modern video game titles.