Tarkov System Requirements and Install Size (2026)
Escape from Tarkov needs at least a Ryzen 5 3600, a GTX 1660 and 16 GB of RAM, and recommends an i7-14700F, an RTX 4070 and 64 GB. The store page asks for 80 GB of free space, but as of 6 October 2026 the Steam install actually takes up 85.8 GB on disk.
Official minimum and recommended specs
These figures come from the current list on the Steam store page. The game is sold through both the BSG launcher and Steam, and both versions use the same list.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10, 64-bit | Windows 11, 64-bit |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or similar | Intel Core i7-14700F or better |
| Memory | 16 GB | 64 GB |
| GPU | GTX 1660 or similar | RTX 4070 or better |
| DirectX | 11 | 11 |
| Storage | 80 GB | 80 GB |
The Tarkov list does not mention VRAM. Its sister game, Escape from Tarkov: Arena, has the exact same CPU and GPU requirements, and there BSG asks for 6 GB of VRAM minimum and 12 GB recommended. That is a useful guide when picking a card.
How many GB is Tarkov? About 86, not 80
According to Steam's own data, the main game depot takes 85.8 GB once installed, while the initial download is 49.4 GB compressed. A second package of about 0.4 GB comes with it. So the 80 GB on the store page is below what a current install actually needs: you want at least 86 GB free. The 78 GB figure on the official wiki is out of date too.
Why an SSD is effectively required
The Tarkov list does not mention SSDs, but for Arena, which runs on the same engine, BSG makes an SSD mandatory and does not support HDD installs at all. Current performance guides say the same about Tarkov: the game streams map data from disk during the raid, so on a hard drive you get slow raid loading, late texture pop-in and sudden stutters.
Is 16 GB of RAM enough?
16 GB is the official minimum, but a recommended spec of 64 GB tells you how much this game leans on memory. Independent guides agree that 32 GB gets rid of most of the stutter. Streets of Tarkov is the most memory-hungry map; on 16 GB, close your browser and other background apps before loading into it.
Tarkov leans on the CPU far more than the GPU. If your graphics card sits at low usage during a raid, you are CPU-bound, and a stronger card will not buy you many frames.
Performance settings added in recent patches
Patches since 1.0 have added a few new options. 1.0.2.5 updated DLSS to version 4.5 with new presets. 1.0.4.5 raised the frame cap in menus and made it adjustable in the settings. 1.0.5.0 added an experimental graphics option that moves the load of certain light sources from the CPU to the GPU: it is only available on higher-end cards and is worth trying if your CPU is the bottleneck.
Mac, Linux and Steam Deck
The Steam page lists Windows only. Tarkov uses BattlEye anti-cheat, and BSG has not enabled BattlEye's Linux and Proton support, so online raids do not work on Steam Deck or Linux. In its April 2026 anti-cheat developer diary BSG named TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements as possible next steps; as of 6 October 2026 the official list does not require either.
How many GB is Tarkov?
As of 6 October 2026 the Steam install takes about 86 GB on disk (85.8 GB main depot plus a 0.4 GB package). The initial download is 49.4 GB. The 80 GB on the store page is out of date.
Can you play Tarkov with 16 GB of RAM?
Yes, 16 GB is the official minimum. Most stutter comes from memory though, and on Streets of Tarkov in particular 32 GB makes a clear difference. On 16 GB, do not disable the Windows page file.
Does Tarkov run on Steam Deck or Linux?
Not officially. The game supports Windows only, and BattlEye's Linux/Proton support is not enabled, so online raids will not load.