The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition — a light title that runs on modest PCs: specs & FPS
2016 · Action, RPG · Bethesda Game Studios · ESRB Mature · Metacritic 74
Official system requirements
Publisher-published Minimum / Recommended values via RAWG, retrieved 2026-08-21. Real-world performance varies with drivers, resolution and your full build.
| Spec | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Minimum: | Recommended: |
| Processor | OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit Version) | OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit Version) |
| Memory | Processor: Intel i5-750/AMD Phenom II X4-945 | Processor: Intel i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 |
| Graphics | Memory: 8 GB RAM | Memory: 8 GB RAM |
| Storage | Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 470 1GB /AMD HD 7870 2GB | Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 780 3GB /AMD R9 290 4GB |
| DirectX | Storage: 12 GB available space | Storage: 12 GB available space |
Multi-GPU FPS estimate
Estimated average FPS by GPU at 1080p / 1440p / 4K, derived from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition's demand tier (tier 3, Light (entry discrete GPU)) and published TechPowerUp-style relative-performance indices (RTX 4090 = 100), retrieved 2026-08-29. Planning estimates, not benchmarks.
| GPU | 1080p | 1440p | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 4090 | 285 | 188 | 108 |
| RTX 4080 Super | 256 | 169 | 97 |
| RTX 4080 | 246 | 162 | 93 |
| RX 7900 XTX | 273 | 180 | 104 |
| RX 7900 XT | 256 | 169 | 97 |
| RTX 4070 Ti Super | 218 | 144 | 83 |
| RX 7800 XT | 218 | 144 | 83 |
| RTX 4070 Super | 205 | 135 | 78 |
| RTX 4070 | 192 | 127 | 73 |
| RX 7700 XT | 198 | 130 | 75 |
| RTX 3070 | 179 | 118 | 68 |
| RX 6800 XT | 215 | 142 | 82 |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 158 | 104 | 60 |
| RX 6700 XT | 192 | 127 | 73 |
| RTX 3060 | 145 | 95 | 55 |
| RX 6600 XT | 163 | 108 | 62 |
| RTX 2060 | 131 | 86 | 50 |
| GTX 1660 Super | 108 | 71 | 41 |
| RX 580 | 125 | 83 | 48 |
| GTX 1060 6GB | 102 | 68 | 39 |
| GTX 1650 | 82 | 54 | 31 |
| Intel Arc A770 | 166 | 110 | 63 |
| UHD 770 (integrated) | 33 | 22 | 13 |
Method: a game's demand tier maps to a “GPU index needed for ~60 FPS at 1080p”; each GPU's relative index produces an estimate via a diminishing-returns curve, then scaled for resolution. Source: TechPowerUp GPU database (relative performance), 2026-08-29.
For the full hardware spec sheet and a deeper performance breakdown, see Full specs & performance data on GameFigs.
Frequently asked questions
Common pre-launch questions about The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, answered from official publisher and studio announcements (verified 2026-09-09). Guides, configuration and troubleshooting pages are added after launch.
What are the system requirements for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Special Edition)?
Minimum: Intel Core i5-750 / 4 GB RAM / GTX 470. Recommended (1080p/60, editorial estimate where official numbers are unpublished): Intel Core i5-2400 / 8 GB RAM / GTX 780.
What is the best way to mod The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Special Edition)?
Use SKSE + Vortex / Mod Organizer 2; get mods from Nexus Mods. Mods are single-player only — never in online modes.
How do I fix The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Special Edition) crashing or not launching on PC?
Update GPU drivers, verify/repair game files, install community shader fixes where they exist, and disable overlays. See the Crash & Fix page.
How do I get better FPS in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Special Edition)?
Lower Shadows, Volumetrics and View Distance first; enable DLSS/FSR/XeSS; cap the framerate. See the Optimization page.
Age rating & regional compliance
GameRulePro pairs each title with its ESRB age rating and, where documented, real regulatory notes on loot boxes, skin gambling and randomized monetization. Every line is source-linked and labeled with its retrieval date. This is an educational reference, not legal advice — verify the specifics that apply to your jurisdiction.
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Age rating | ESRB Mature | ESRB rating via RAWG.io, retrieved 2026-08-21. |
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Open profile →Guides & fixes for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Deep-dive performance, crash-fix and settings references for this title — each links to a focused guide.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Open →The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition System Requirements
Open →The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Best Mods
Open →The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Crash Fixes
Open →The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Optimization Guide
Open →The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Modding Order & Stability
Open →Can My RTX 4090 Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RTX 4080 Super Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RTX 4070 Super Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RTX 4070 Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RTX 4060 Ti Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RTX 3060 Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RTX 2060 Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RX 7800 XT Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Best graphics settings for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Pick your PC and get a starting preset — resolution, upscaler, shadows, ray tracing and an FPS cap — tuned to how demanding The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is on hardware. Print it and tune from there. Everything runs in your browser.
Best graphics settings for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition hardware-demand tier: 3/9. Pick your PC above to get a starting preset, then tune up if you have FPS headroom or down if you're under your target.
Estimated starting point — real FPS depends on drivers, thermals and background load.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition — Best settings (Mid-range (GTX 1660 – RTX 3060))
Generated at GameRulePro · 2026-09-25
Release, patch & rule-change notes
Official release date: 2016-10-27. Ongoing patches and version history are published by the developer — for the latest patch notes, see the official store or support page. GameRulePro summarizes the official release only and does not invent patch dates. When a developer ships a rule-affecting update (balance pass, mode change, or ranked-reset), re-run the generator above to keep your house rules in sync.
About The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is the 2016 reinstallment of the open world fantasy RPG, developed by Bethesda Game Studios. Following the original release of 2011, Special Edition focuses on reshaping every sword and ax, polishing every stone in the high castles and the suburbs of the low, overall bringing a renewed experience to its fans and newcomer players. After 5 years of the original’s glory, this collection of all the content, available with the game itself, offers to once again set foot on the snowy mountains of the Skyrim province of Tamriel. The magnificent open world, full of breathtaking environments and landscapes, welcomes all its players to embark on another journey. Explore the even more beautiful flora of Skyrim, fight the most dangerous fauna, and many more. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition now includes full support of community-made and developer-approved mods, allowing for even more exploration and experiments with the in-game contents. Continually expanding, the database of various new quests, characters, and locations not disappointing any player, while some modifications try to focus on enhancing the vanilla experience to the maximum.
Performance reality & how to tune The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
GameRulePro editorial — these notes are based on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition's published specifications and genre profile, not a single benchmark run. Use them to set expectations before you open the settings menu.
As a 2016 action title, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition sits at demand tier 3 (Light (entry discrete GPU)) — light on PC. It is light enough for older hardware and even integrated graphics at lower settings.
What to tune first on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
- Open-world RPGs lean on CPU and storage in busy towns — SSD + dual-channel RAM first.
- Shadows and lighting scale hardest; keep textures high since they mostly use VRAM.
- An upscaler at 4K recovers the most frames with the smallest visual hit.
The FPS table above is a model estimate from the demand-tier + GPU-index method. Real frame rates vary with drivers, background apps, thermals and resolution. Treat it as a buying or upgrade planning aid, then verify in-game. For step-by-step fixes, see the crash-fix and optimization guides linked on this page.
Sources & attribution
- Game data (release year, genres, platforms, system requirements, description, cover art) via RAWG.io, retrieved 2026-08-21.
- GPU relative-performance indices via TechPowerUp GPU database (relative performance), retrieved 2026-08-29.
- FPS estimates on this page are GameRulePro planning estimates from the demand-tier + GPU-index model — not benchmark results.
- House rules and tournament formats are community-style templates for casual play, not official rulebooks.
- Pre-launch intelligence (release windows, settings, editions, pricing, beta dates) is compiled from each title's official publisher / studio announcements and is source-linked per item with its retrieval date (2026-09-09). Where a detail is from reporting rather than a primary source, the item's source line states so. This is preview material, not an official specification.
- Per-game age-rating & regional compliance reference (ESRB rating via RAWG; curated regulatory notes) from the GameRulePro game-rules dataset, retrieved 2026-08-29.
How the The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition FPS estimate and rules generator are computed
Each game is scored on a 0–9 demand tier from its published PC requirements (and a year/genre fallback when requirements are absent). The FPS estimate compares your selected GPU's relative-performance index against the tier's required index using a diminishing-returns curve, then scales for resolution. The rules and tournament builder is a community-style template engine: it formats your group size, match format and tiebreaks into a printable sheet. All outputs are planning guides — verify in-game and agree house rules with your group before play.
Do more with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Can I run it? FPS calculator
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