How I Tested
One of the first aspects that caught my attention while examining *Crimson Desert*’s system requirements was the range of hardware needed. The minimum requirements call for an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, a GPU that debuted a decade ago. This wide array suggests that the game is well-optimized; thus, I was eager to see just how well it scales across different hardware configurations.
However, the hardware range was almost too vast. For instance, the low-end specs recommend a Ryzen 5 2600X, which I no longer own. The oldest CPU I had available was the Ryzen 5 7600, which meant I had to use that for low-end testing and switch to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D for higher-end specifications.
As a side note, *Crimson Desert* mandates 16GB of RAM across all recommendations. I faced an obstacle here: to meet this requirement, I would have to run my 16GB DDR5 sticks in single-channel mode, potentially hampering performance. While purchasing a 16GB kit with two 8GB sticks crossed my mind, the rising prices nixed that idea.
Moving on to graphics cards, I had a decent selection, though I was lacking one vital component: the GTX 1060. Unfortunately, when I attempted to test with an old GTX 1060 Founders Edition, it failed to post, meaning that card might be heading to its eternal resting place. Time to upgrade!
Despite not having the necessary GPUs for the minimum specification tests, I found that the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X could run the game reasonably well. Interestingly, Pearl Abyss labeled the Ally X with specifications comparable to the GTX 1060: minimum graphics settings at 1080p upscaled from a lesser resolution.
To gauge the frame rate across various GPUs, I monitored performance as I traversed Hernand Town, the game’s initial city. While not the most demanding area, this environment proved to be repeatable, allowing me to gather reliable baseline frame rates for each graphics card effectively.
Instead of applying identical settings across all GPUs, I specifically adhered to the recommended settings provided by Pearl Abyss for each card. Surprisingly, the developer’s performance estimates seemed somewhat conservative.
Crimson Desert Xbox Ally X Performance
In light of the Steam Deck’s popularity, it’s unfortunate to note that *Crimson Desert* currently does not run on this device. The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X remains the only handheld capable of playing the game right now, although the additional power of the Z2 Extreme is likely necessary to enjoy decent performance.
Pearl Abyss recommends three settings profiles for the Xbox Ally X: ‘Performance,’ ‘Balanced,’ and ‘Quality,’ where the first two primarily utilize upscaling and frame generation. Interestingly, unlike the desktop requirements, no specific graphics preset is suggested for the handheld version. From my testing, it became evident that sticking with the ‘Minimum’ preset is advisable.
When running *Crimson Desert* at 1080p with FSR set to Quality, which essentially renders the game at 720p, the Ally X managed to achieve a respectable 40 fps. While this is playable, the lowest settings don’t make for the most visually enjoyable experience. Activating FSR frame generation pushed the frame rate to 67 fps, though I would advise caution—despite appearing smoother, I noticed noticeable input lag during basic navigational movements in town.
Given how visually enthralling *Crimson Desert* is when settings are maximized, I would recommend opting for a gaming PC or console whenever possible.
PC Performance
Paradoxically, although *Crimson Desert* appears to be one of those games that would tax even high-end hardware, its performance is surprisingly manageable, provided you have a decent graphics card. While I couldn’t test the GTX 1060 for minimum specs, using the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT revealed that it could still perform adequately, even exceeding Pearl Abyss’s performance expectations.
To clarify, I paired the 6500 XT with the Ryzen 7600, which was considerably faster than the 2600X suggested by Pearl Abyss. Yet, even though it was a low-end GPU, my tests revealed it was capable of averaging 40 fps at low settings at 1080p—without any upscaling involved. Introducing FSR on the ‘Balanced’ preset, which rendered the game at 635p, raised my average fps to 53, pushing closer to that coveted 60 fps mark.
According to Pearl Abyss, the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is the first card capable of hitting 60 fps with the Medium preset at 1080p. In reality, during my laps around Hernand Town, the RX 6700 averaged an impressive 65 fps. Engage FSR, and the average jumps to 83 fps, while enabling ray tracing still managed to maintain a solid 60 fps.
When testing with the Nvidia RTX 4070, performance was jaw-dropping at 1440p using the high preset: the game consistently averaged 75 fps without any form of upscaling.
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT purportedly allows for 60 fps at native 4K with the Ultra preset. In my tests, it just scraped that requirement with an average of 62 fps. By switching to FSR set to Performance, rendering the image at 1080p but scaling it back up to 4K, the 9070 XT managed a commendable 75 fps.
While I lacked an RTX 5070 Ti for direct comparison, the RTX 5080 generated 74 fps in similar test scenarios—a result very much in line with what one would expect from Nvidia’s elite graphics card.
A notable mention is the ‘Cinematic’ graphics preset, which is a step above Ultra, though oddly lacks a recommended graphics card in the specifications. By employing an RTX 5090, I managed to achieve an astounding average of 95 fps at 4K without any DLSS. If you activate DLSS and Frame Generation, however, the fps skyrockets to a staggering 338 with the same visuals.
Can You Play Crimson Desert?
Given how effectively *Crimson Desert* runs across all tested graphics cards, we may be witnessing one of the most optimized PC games in recent memory, despite its vast open-world scope and intricate lighting effects.
The majority of modern graphics cards can effortlessly handle *Crimson Desert* without leaning on upscaling technologies. Notably, both DLSS and FSR are supported, enhancing gameplay without sacrificing visual fidelity.
Even the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is capable of handling *Crimson Desert* reasonably well, offering an excellent portable experience, though it doesn’t completely traffic the handheld’s 144Hz display. Unfortunately, this raises the pressing need for Pearl Abyss to sort out compatibility with SteamOS and similar platforms.
Of course, while the game might be optimized for smooth performance across a myriad of systems, it still has its share of bugs and other quirks. For deeper insights, take a look at our review of *Crimson Desert*.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra