Home Gaming Here’re the PC specs for Skyrim: Special Edition

Here’re the PC specs for Skyrim: Special Edition

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Later this month, it’ll be time to step back in to the shoes of the Dovahkiin, a warrior with the body of a mortal and soul of a dragon, whose destiny it is to destroy the evil dragon Alduin. Only, now, with shinier textures and prettier graphics!

Yes, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is coming back as a remastered special edition for the newer consoles, five years after its original release. There are many, many people who’re still playing the game on PC – largely thanks to a vibrant modding community who keeps adding content to the game. And this time, mods will be coming to consoles too – albeit in a restricted way, especially on PS4. Though, it must be said, the PS4 Pro is getting 4K support.

That all said, even PC owners of the game will benefit from the Special Edition, which increases the game’s texture resolution, and adds in a bunch of underlying technology to make the game look better. And for that extra shiny, you’ll need a bump in spec over the original release.

Here’s what’s new:

  • Mod support on consoles
  • Remastered art and effects
  • Volumetric lighting (“God Rays”)
  • Dynamic Depth of Field
  • Screen-space reflections
  • New snow and water shaders

Bethesda released the minimum and recommended system specs for the Special Edition version. Take a look:

Minimum

  • Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit Version)
  • Intel i5-750/AMD Phenom II X4-945
  • 8 GB RAM
  • 12 GB free HDD space
  • Nvidia GTX 470 1GB /AMD HD 7870 2GB

Recommended

  • Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit Version)
  • Intel i5-2400/AMD FX-8320
  • 8 GB RAM
  • 12 GB free HDD space
  • Nvidia GTX 780 3 GB /AMD R9 290 4 GB

They’re not the most demanding of specifications for a game released in 2016, but you’ll certainly need to have upgraded in the last five years to truly take advantage of its new tech.

It’s coming on October 28 – and remember, if you already own Skyrim and all of its expansions on PC, you’ll get upgraded to this newer, prettier versions for free.

Last Updated: October 11, 2016

32 Comments

  1. Pariah ???

    October 11, 2016 at 08:03

    Bit sooner than 5 years. My PC is 4 years old but my graphics card won’t run this. #storyofmylife.

    Bonus in December. Can finally buy games released in the last 18 months.

    Reply

    • BacchusZA

      October 11, 2016 at 08:14

      Maybe look into picking up a second hand card? There are evidently loads of *cheap* 970s & 980s available from people who upgraded to the 10 series cards, and the 9 series cards still perform really well.

      Reply

      • Dungeon of JJ

        October 11, 2016 at 08:15

        Even the R9 200 series are very cheap now, but it’s still money. 🙂

        Reply

      • Pariah ???

        October 11, 2016 at 08:16

        I’ll be buying a 6GB 1060. The bonus will easily cover that cost, and since I have 1 monitor and game at 1080p, I don’t need anything more. Plus it’ll be new and I know where it’s been.

        I have issues with not knowing who’s had a piece of hardware (or anything) before, and not knowing how they’ve treated it.

        Reply

        • Dungeon of JJ

          October 11, 2016 at 08:17

          The 1060 is great, I very very nearly got one, but then went AMD in the end.

          Reply

          • Pariah ???

            October 11, 2016 at 08:19

            My condolences.

          • Dungeon of JJ

            October 11, 2016 at 08:20

            I’ve had nVidia all my life. Only my last one was AMD. So I’ve tried and tested both. With nVidia I had problems with my last three cards, none with AMD, so it works for my setup.

          • Pariah ???

            October 11, 2016 at 08:21

            GO AWAY WITH YOUR REASON AND LOGIC

          • Dungeon of JJ

            October 11, 2016 at 08:22

            😀
            The price was damn good too. Because I was actually eyeing the 1060. But got a 480 8GB for such a great price.

          • Pariah ???

            October 11, 2016 at 08:23

            Eh, well you can’t really complain then. 😛

            I’m still very sold on the 1060 though. I’d personally pay a bit more for it. Just seems like the better overall card to me. Also I like the 60 in the name. It’ll replace my 560 nicely. XD

          • Dungeon of JJ

            October 11, 2016 at 08:24

            Hehe. Your reasoning is sound.

        • BacchusZA

          October 11, 2016 at 08:19

          Yeah, you definitely want to go that route if your budget supports it. I’d probably stretch things a bit & get the 1070 though, but I’ve never been all that good with the shekels lol

          Reply

          • Pariah ???

            October 11, 2016 at 08:20

            Lol I have other things i need to buy too. And saving for a holiday early next year would be nice. So I can’t just blow the whole thing. XD

  2. Dutch Matrix

    October 11, 2016 at 08:04

    Hee-hee-hee. My PC said Nope. My PS4 said YES! My wife said no.

    Reply

    • Pariah ???

      October 11, 2016 at 08:04

      That’s a real rollercoaster of emotion.

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        October 11, 2016 at 08:15

        To be honest, I do not see myself getting it, even if my wife was all for it. I played it. It was good. But is done.

        Reply

        • Pariah ???

          October 11, 2016 at 08:17

          I have the original + all DLC on Steam already. So I’ll be getting it free of charge. And once I upgrade I might just jump back in. Loved it so much.

          Reply

        • BacchusZA

          October 11, 2016 at 08:18

          I grabbed the special edition with all the DLC for my other half when it was on sale the other day. Because I’m trying to get her into gaming. You know, all gentle like…..

          Anyway, I’ll not bother picking up the new release, if her version will be upgraded for free & I can play it on her Steam account 🙂

          Reply

  3. Dungeon of JJ

    October 11, 2016 at 08:12

    Going to get stuck back in this game for sure.

    Reply

  4. Dungeon of JJ

    October 11, 2016 at 08:13

    Remasters and TESOKAK and all we want is Elder Scrolls VI.
    Luckily this one’s free for me on Steam, so that’s at least not a problem.

    Reply

    • Pariah ???

      October 11, 2016 at 08:18

      Yeah I won’t complain about it being free and all. Sure ES6 would be great, but Skyrim remastered for free is pretty neat too.

      Reply

      • Dungeon of JJ

        October 11, 2016 at 08:19

        Yes. If it wasn’t free I definitely wouldn’t have bothered.

        Reply

        • Pariah ???

          October 11, 2016 at 08:19

          100%

          Reply

  5. Admiral Chief

    October 11, 2016 at 08:25

    I’m clearing some games off my current playlist, and then, I’m back in Skyrim!!!

    Reply

  6. Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

    October 11, 2016 at 08:31

  7. Raptor Rants

    October 11, 2016 at 08:32

    Ok. All cool. But where are the screenshots? I want to see if I should waste my bandwidth or not.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      October 11, 2016 at 08:34

      I’ll download for you, since I’m doing it anyway

      Reply

  8. Jac7

    October 11, 2016 at 08:46

    Fos Rah Damn! I still love playing this game 🙂

    Reply

  9. BakedBagel

    October 11, 2016 at 09:51

    “Whats new”

    >Things that mods have done forever

    Reply

  10. HairyEwok

    October 11, 2016 at 09:55

    Wait what! GTX780 recommended O.o

    Reply

  11. Deceased

    October 11, 2016 at 10:47

    mehehehehe – that confident Dragonborn confronting a dragon with his steel-sword and steel-armor and ( iconic ) steel helmet 😛
    He’s going to be in for one nasty surprise 😀

    Reply

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