Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a high fantasy RPG title that follows in the footsteps of the original while promising significantly better visuals, a higher degree of customization, and choices that impact the world around you. It also comes with a particularly beefy set of hardware specs to match even as users with early copies of the title already report performance issues to a certain degree.
Capcom, on its part, is cognizant of this issue and has stated this could be due to the game being particularly CPU-heavy in nature. This is also reflected in the recommended PC hardware specs stated by the publisher which see it go with slightly beefier CPU recommendations than most other titles in its genre.
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Hardware Requirements Explained
Capcom has published Dragon’s Dogma 2’s hardware requirements on Steam with 2 tiers stated, offering a decent amount of information about what specs users are expected to have to experience the game as intended below:
On the CPU front, we see a minimum of a hexacore CPU recommended in both Intel and AMD trims for the minimum requirement even as the game moves up to an octa-core 10th generation Intel CPU as a recommended processor requirement. For users opting for AMD CPUs the lower clocked Ryzen 5 3600 is replaced by a Ryzen 5 3600X instead even as the title supports both Windows 10 and 11 out of the box.
With GPUs, Dragon’s Dogma 2 shows that it can be quite a bit demanding if the circumstances allow with a performance target of 30 FPS for its minimum and recommended hardware suggestions that cap out at an RTX 2080 Ti or RX 6800 respectively if Ray Tracing is in play. For other users, Capcom recommends an RTX 2080 or RX 6700 GPU or a minimum of the older GTX 1070 or RX 5500 XT GPUs, establishing a minimum VRAM recommendation of at least 8GB for the title.
Interestingly, while 16GB of RAM is the norm for the title, Dragon’s Dogma 2 does not have a published recommended space requirement. Thankfully due to console install sizes (~65GB on PS5 and ~70GB on Xbox Series S|X), users have a general idea of what to expect in terms of storage. Most estimates however place storage requirements at 100GB, with the number expected to potentially grow if DLC or future patches add more to the install size.
The team at Game Rant has come up with 3 carefully curated builds (considering options from 2024 versus the recommendations) that can run the game at the stated minimum, recommended, or alternatively, ultra presets:
The High-End Sorcerer’s PC Build For Dragon’s Dogma 2
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is AMD’s latest and greatest CPU when it comes to gaming. With an excellent and highly efficient gaming performance that tops the charts currently, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is here to stay and has a crown to claim thanks to its 3D V-Cache-enabled prowess when it comes to gaming on a PC.The octa-core CPU currently happens to be the fastest in the business for gaming even as it leads efficiency charts at the top, making it a very sought-after gaming upgrade.
ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler
The ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler is ASUS’s latest premium tri-fan AIO that offers better cooling, an upgraded LCD, and a new Asetek 8th generation pump as some of its salient features. Thanks to a thicker radiator and a new cold plate, it can reduce temperatures drastically versus both its predecessor and its competition.
G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO Series (AMD Expo) 64GB Kit CL30
The G. Skill Trident Z5 NEO sticks are a pair of 32GB RAM sticks that conform to AMD’s more stringent EXPO memory requirements for overclocking. With tight timings and a CAS latency of just 30-40-40-96.With a subtle RGB effect and a premium feel, the Trident Z Neo is one of the best premium RGB RAM sticks money can buy that is designed for AMD-based systems.
ASRock X670E Taichi Carrara
The ASRock X670E Taichi Carrara is one of the best-looking motherboards for AMD’s latest Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. It also comes packed with features including excellent networking, storage options, and dual PCI-E 5.0 x16 slots in tow.With excellent 24+2+1 power phases, high memory overclocking support, and RGB lighting on the motherboard itself, it should please gamers, enthusiasts, and power users looking beyond simply the excellent aesthetic it has on offer.
Teamgroup T-Force Z540 M2 PCI-E SSD 1TB
The Teamgroup T-Force Cardea Z540 SSD offers some of the fastest PCI-E Gen 5 SSD speeds money can buy in 2024 while throwing in a thin, patented graphene-based heatsink to keep things low-profile by design.It offers a whopping 11,700 MB/s sequential read and 9,500 MB/s sequential write speeds with decent random read/write speeds in tow,With a 3,000,000-hour MBTF and 700 TBW rating along with a comprehensive 5-year warranty in tow, the Teamgroup T-Force Cardea Z540 SSD delivers on its promise as a premium PCI-E 5.0 SSD in 2024.
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER AERO OC 16G
The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER AERO OC 16G is a premium, factory-overclocked, white-themed variant of the RTX 4080 SUPER that carries the high-end AERO moniker.With an excellent tri-fan air cooler supporting a vapor chamber and a decent boost clock speed offering in tow, the all-white Gigabyte AERO OC offers much more than the competition at a premium.
MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU
The MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU is built from the ground up to support the ATX 3.0 spec while also being PCI-E 5.0 compatible in a fully modular design without costing an arm and a leg unlike some of its nearest competitors, making it a viable contender for a gaming PC.
Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL
The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL is a full-tower all-white PC case with a smart design. The case allows users to reverse the chassis, meaning the tempered glass will face the right way if the PC is kept on either the left or right side of the setup. There is integrated RGB lighting and a seamless tempered glass side that flows almost seamlessly into the front panel. The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL can accommodate up to a 420mm radiator next to the motherboard and the same at the top or front using the included bracket. A full-sized GPU that’s up to 450mm can also be used in this case.
Target Preset/Framerate: 4K/UHD/Ultra HD 60 FPS
The high-end build aims to play Dragon’s Dogma 2 at the maximum settings on 4K. This is somewhat challenging to achieve even with a high-end GPU such as the RTX 4080 SUPER and what is arguably the fastest gaming CPU on the market currently, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
The ASRock Taichi Carrara offers a white-themed design that the rest of the build, including a powerful Gigabyte Aero RTX 4080 SUPER with plenty of VRAM compliments in addition to 64GB of AMD-specific low-latency EXPO memory from G.Skill.
With the highest-end ASUS ROG Ryujin 360 cooler in play in addition to an upgrade-friend O11 Dynamic XL case in play, the build focuses on having plenty of space for upgrades, future fan additions, and the potential to go for a liquid-cooled GPU or a custom liquid loop in the near future, making this both a high performing solution as well as one that can offer significantly higher thermal needs down the line.
Irrespective of which class users go for, the build above should easily handle their performance needs, albeit with the help (hopefully) of some performance-related patches from Capcom in the near future.
The Recommended Warrior’s PC Build For Dragon’s Dogma 2
Intel Core i5 14600KF 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU
The Intel Core i5 14600KF 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU is a powerful mid-range CPU that replaces the last generation Intel Core i5 13600KF with higher clocks on both its performance and efficiency cores.Like all its siblings, it does offer better performance out-of-the-box versus its predecessors but replaces them at the same price points they sold last year. Unlike the Intel Core i5 14600K, this model trades at a small discount thanks to it skipping out on integrated graphics.
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB
The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB replaces its predecessor successfully without breaking the bank. This AIo cooler is hands down the top performer in the thermals department and brings an upgraded VRM fan and dedicated contact frames for the latest Intel and AMD platforms. Its 360mm radiator is highly effective at cooling, and the fans bring beautiful addressable RGB lighting for gorgeous lighting effects.
G.Skill Flare X 5
The memory modules of this kit are equipped with an anodized matte black finish. They have a minimalistic design inspired by classic racing stripes and grills and are ideal for a variety of build themes with their simple design. Notably, this RAM has impressive speeds and timing
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX
Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX Ice comes with plenty of connectivity options and a clean aesthetic. The white PCB and grey accents make it compete in style with higher-end motherboards, even as the well-placed heatsinks and the built-in I/O plates make for a polished, yet functional look. The motherboard provides great value for money for gamers and professionals alike thanks to its pricing, feature set and excellent VRMs on offer.
Kingston FURY Renegade 1TB PCIe Gen 4.0 NVMe M.2 Internal Gaming SSD
This version of the Kingston FURY Renegade SSD has a storage capacity of 1 TB and is designed to work with both laptops and desktops. It operates on PCIe Gen 4.0 NVMe technology, which allows it to achieve read speeds of up to 7,300 MB/s and write speeds of 7,000 MB/s. The cooling solution on this one is a low-profile graphene aluminum heat spreader, but the SSD is also available with a heat sink.
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC brings about 20% improvement over the non-Super edition for a slightly higher price and comes in a dual axial-tech fan design with factory-overclocked. Boasting a clock speed of 2550MHz in the OC mode, it provides a slight advantage to the Founders Edition along with a better cooling solution.
GIGABYTE GP-UD1000GM PG5 Rev2.0 1000W PSU
The GIGABYTE GP-UD1000GM PG5 Rev2.0 1000W is the second revision of the successful PG5 PSU with the addition of a native 16-pin PCI-E 5.0 power connector and compliance with Intel’s new ATX 3.0 PSU standards in a fully modular design backed by as much as 10 years of warranty at an affordable price.
LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 PC Case
The LANCOOL 216 is a mid-tower case with all-around mesh panels for optimal airflow. Thanks to its modular rear panel, it can be optimized for air or water cooling. It includes 2 x 160mm and 1 x 140mm pre-installed PWM fans and an innovative rear PCIe fan bracket to maximize airflow.
Target Preset/Framerate: 2K/QHD 60FPS
For users looking to play Dragon’s Dogma 2 at a respectable frame rate, one of the best gaming CPUs in the business, the Intel Core i5 14600K/KF offers spectacular value coupled with excellent single-threaded performance, making it a great contender for newly released games including Capcom’s open-world RPG title.
With one of the latest RTX 4000 series GPUs in the shape of the RTX 4070 SUPER and fast low-latency RAM on offer, the build offers a powerful, well-balanced option for gamers wanting the best value for their money in addition to building a gaming PC that stands the test of time better than its peers. It leverages a fast SSD from Kingston’s FURY lineup, an expansion-friendly Z790 Aorus Elite AX and a 1000W ATX 3.0 PSU from Gigabyte to keep things humming with easy upgrades down the line.
In the cooling department, an airflow-friendly, but budget-conscious Lian Li Lancool 216 leads the way even as a tri-slot Arctic Freezer III 360 ARGB cooler keeps the thermals on Intel’s 14-core chip under control, preventing any thermal throttling during potentially extended gaming sessions roaming between Vermund and Battahl.
The Entry-Level Wayfarer’s PC Build For Dragon’s Dogma 2
AMD Ryzen 5 7600
The Ryzen 5 7600 is the entry-level, yet very capable, gaming CPU from AMD that features 6 cores, 12 threads, and 32MB of L3 cache. It has a base clock speed of 3.8GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.1GHz. The Ryzen 5 7600 is an unlocked processor with a default TDP of 65W. It also has integrated RDNA 2 graphics and is the cheapest offering in the lineup with an iGPU.
G.Skill Flare X5 Series (AMD Expo) 6000MHz 32GB (CL36)
The G.Skill Flare X5 Series RAM kits are DDR5 RAMs that operate at an overclocked 6000MHz sweet spot for AMD AM5 processors with a lower latency EXPO profile available to allow users to overclock their memory with a push of a button while costing significantly lower than the competition.
MSI MAG B650M MORTAR WIFI
MSI MAG B650M MORTAR WIFI brings a powerful delivery system with each power phase rated at 80A. The thermal solution is top-notch with dedicated heatsinks for each section. Plenty of USB ports are offered at the I/O along with WiFi 6E to verify users can benefit from their high-speed internet. The B650M Mortar WiFi is the ultimate solution for Ryzen 7000 CPUs without breaking the bank.
Kingston NV2 500G M.2 2280 NVMe Internal SSD
The Kingston NV2 500G SSD uses Gen 4x4 NVMe PCIe technology. This drive delivers read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s and write speeds up to 2,800 MB/s. It’s designed for systems requiring fast performance, in both laptop and desktop builds. It is suitable for most applications thanks to the compact, single-sided M.2 2280 design. And the low power requirements mean that it produces minimal heat.
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX™ 4060 OC Edition 8GB
The ASUS Dual RTX 4060 GPU offers a higher boost clock than many of its peers while offering a compact, 2.5-slot GPU that can easily fit in most cases. Powered by a single 8-pin connector with a thermal design power (TDP) of 115W, it offers more efficiency than its predecessor but has no RGB lighting whatsoever in a bid to match Nvidia’s MSRP for the Founder’s Edition.
Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX PSU
The Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX is a power supply unit that is designed to provide reliable and efficient power for your computer. This unit delivers 600 watts of continuous output. It complies with both Intel ATX 12V 2.31 and EPS 12V 2.92 standards, ensuring compatibility with many PC builds.The SMART 600W ATX has received an 80 PLUS certification, indicating 80% efficiency under a typical load. This power supply supports two PCI-E 6 plus 2-pin connectors.
Thermaltake View 200 TG ARGB
With Thermaltake View 200 TG ARGB, users can build a good-looking gaming PC without breaking the bank. The chassis brings support to standard-sized components and has a full-length PSU shroud to cover the PSU and cable mess. There are triple RGB fans pre-installed at the front that can be replaced by a radiator as well. It’s compact but doesn’t lack anything significant.
Target Preset/Framerate: FHD/Full HD/1080P 60 FPS
For users looking to toe the line when it comes to hardware specs, but targeting a slightly better frame rate, the build above runs just shy of $1,000 while offering an excellent power-efficient but performant Ryzen 5 7600 CPU that comes bundled with its stock cooler to keep costs in check.
It is paired with the balanced Asus RTX 4060 Dual OC that also brings DLSS 3/3.5 support with Frame Gen possibly counterbalancing some of the optimization issues that users are claiming the title has at launch. With low latency DDR5 RAM, cherry-picked for AMD CPUs from G.Skill, an entry-level PCI-E 4.0 SSD in the shape of the Kingston NV2 and mid-range MSI MAG B650M Mortar in play, the build makes plenty of tradeoffs, but none that would be game-breaking or particularly adverse to performance, toeing the minimum requirements and then some for users looking to experience Dragon’s Dogma 2 without stutters.
Thermaltake’s 600W Smart PSU and View 200 TG ARGB case bring up the rear for what is one of the most balanced gaming PCs in play under $1000 with plenty of upgrade paths down the line for users looking to go that route later down the line.
FAQ
Q: When Does Dragon’s Dogma 2 Release?
Dragon’s Dogma 2 was released on the 22nd of March 2024 on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC simultaneously.
Q: How Much Storage Does Dragon’s Dogma 2 Require?
Dragon’s Dogma 2 requires 65GB on PlayStation 5, 70GB on Xbox Series S|X, and a rumored 100GB of free space on PC with a strong preference for an SSD for the latter; The first 2 options already have SSDs in play by default.
