Apex Legends has forgiving published requirements and a demanding reality. The minimum spec will run the game; it will not give you the stable high frame rate that competitive play is built around, because the worst moments in this game are exactly the moments that matter.
Short answer
Minimum is roughly a Core i3-6300, 6 GB of RAM and a GeForce GT 640-class card. Recommended is around a Core i5 with 8 GB of RAM and a GTX 970-class card. For 144 frames per second in a three-squad fight, aim well above the recommended tier.
The published figures
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-6300 / AMD FX-4350 | Intel Core i5-3570K or equivalent |
| Memory | 6 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 / Radeon HD 7730 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / Radeon R9 290 |
| Storage | Well over 60 GB, and it has grown with every season | Same, on an SSD |
These have not changed much since launch, which says more about the age of the published list than about the game's current demands.
See also: Apex Legends Best Settings — another Apex answer people look up right after this one.
What the numbers do not tell you
Apex's frame rate is stable in an empty drop and collapses in a late-ring fight with three squads, six abilities and a ring closing. The recommended spec targets an average, and averages are not what you die to.
Two practical consequences. First, more RAM matters than the requirement suggests — 16 GB removes a category of stutter that 8 GB does not, especially with a browser open. Second, the CPU carries more of the load than in most shooters, so pairing a strong card with an old processor produces disappointing results.
See also: Apex Legends FPS Cap — the same Apex question from the other direction.
Storage and the SSD question
The install is large and keeps growing. An SSD is not required, but Apex loads assets during the match — not only at the start — and a hard drive shows up as texture pop-in and occasional hitching when you enter a new area of the map. It is one of the clearer upgrades for an otherwise adequate machine.
See also: Valorant Game Size — same shape of answer, different game.
Getting frames on modest hardware
- Drop effects detail, volumetric lighting and shadows first. They cost the most and hide enemies.
- Keep texture quality up if you have the video memory — it is close to free.
- Cap the frame rate under your worst case rather than chasing a peak number.
- Close background applications. Apex is more sensitive to a busy system than most games.
- Lower resolution last. It makes distant players harder to see, which costs more than it gains.
Laptops and handhelds
A laptop with a discrete card from the last several generations runs the game well, provided it is plugged in — battery power throttles the GPU and the difference is dramatic. Integrated graphics will start the game and struggle in every fight. Handheld PCs run it at reduced settings with a frame cap, which is a reasonable experience for casual play and not for ranked.
Apex Legends FAQ
Is 8 GB of RAM enough for Apex?
It meets the recommendation, but 16 GB noticeably reduces stutter.
Does Apex need an SSD?
Not officially. In practice it reduces in-match texture pop-in as well as load times.
Can I run Apex on integrated graphics?
It will launch. It will not hold a playable frame rate once a fight starts.
Why does my frame rate drop only in fights?
Abilities, particles and multiple squads all landing at once. Lowering effects detail targets exactly that case.
Meet the CPU and RAM figures with room to spare, put it on an SSD, and tune for the worst thirty seconds of the match rather than the first five minutes.