Can your PC run it? Check more than RAM.

1. Confirm that you are checking a PC release

Start on the developer's or publisher's product page. Check the exact title, edition and supported operating systems. A console release or catalogue entry does not establish that a Windows version exists. A later PC port can have different requirements from the original release.

For example, our Super Mario Odyssey platform page links Nintendo's listing instead of generating a Windows requirements table.

2. Identify the hardware you actually use

Write down the full CPU name, full GPU name, system RAM, operating system and available drive space. In Windows, the system information and Device Manager views identify these components. A laptop may list both integrated graphics and a separate GPU; check which one the game is using.

Do not shorten a card name until its memory or laptop designation disappears. System RAM is the computer's general-purpose memory. VRAM is memory associated with the graphics processor; 16 GB of system RAM does not mean that the GPU has 16 GB of VRAM.

3. Compare minimum and recommended as separate tiers

Minimum requirements describe the publisher's baseline target. Recommended requirements describe another hardware tier, but neither label has a universal resolution or frame rate. Only attach an FPS target when the source states its test conditions. Do not assume that every recommended table means 1080p at 60 FPS.

CPU core count and clock speed alone are not a dependable ordering of every processor. Likewise, similar GPU model numbers do not make desktop and laptop products interchangeable. Use relevant, sourced benchmarks for hardware that is not explicitly listed, and keep that comparison distinct from an official requirement.

4. Check units, storage and software support

Read the unit as well as the number. A legacy requirement stated in MB must not be read as the same number of GB. Look for SSD or NVMe requirements separately from free capacity: an empty hard disk is not automatically equivalent to the requested storage type.

Operating-system, graphics API and launcher support can impose separate limits. An old game's store page may retain historical Windows versions while its current launcher requires a later system. The Shadow of Mordor requirements page explains that distinction with its linked Steam source.

5. Keep requirements and measured performance separate

A match against the RAM row is useful, but it is not a full PC test. If the GPU is below the listed baseline, increasing RAM does not establish that the rendering features are supported. A benchmark from another resolution, graphics preset or game patch may also be a poor guide to your result.

Before a purchase, compare a test using the same CPU and GPU, note the resolution and preset, and check whether upscaling, frame generation or ray tracing were enabled. If those details are missing, do not treat an isolated FPS number as a promise.

A practical final checklist

• The source covers the correct PC edition and game version.
• The CPU and GPU have been compared using their full model names.
• RAM and VRAM have been checked separately.
• The installation drive has the required free space and storage type.
• The operating system, graphics API and launcher are supported.
• Any claimed performance target includes its resolution and graphics settings.

If a requirements field is missing, the honest result is unverified. It is not a reason to substitute a typical CPU, a generic 8 GB RAM value or a successful compatibility badge.