Yes, but only if your PC clears more than the headline minimum. The Last of Us Part I on Steam officially asks for a GTX 970, Radeon R9 290X, 16GB of RAM, and an SSD at minimum, yet that target means roughly 720p at 30 frames per second on Low. For a genuinely smooth 1080p experience, 16GB of memory is still workable, but an RTX 2060-class GPU, a modern six-core CPU, and a fast SSD are the safer real-world baseline. If you own an RTX 2070 Super or RX 5700 XT, you can chase 1080p High at around 60fps, provided shader compilation is complete and you avoid the game's most expensive settings.
This is the PC version of The Last of Us Part I, not The Last of Us Part II Remastered. It includes the full remake, the Left Behind prequel chapter, unlocked frame rates, ultrawide support, AMD FSR 2, Nvidia DLSS, Intel XeSS, and a substantial graphics menu. The port had a rough launch, with long shader compilation, traversal stutter, memory pressure, and crashes on some systems. Patches improved the situation, but they didn't magically turn it into a lightweight game. The honest answer depends on your GPU's VRAM, your CPU's frame-time consistency, and whether the game is installed on an SSD.
The official PC requirements versus reality
Naughty Dog's official requirements are split into four targets, and they reveal an important detail: the same 16GB RAM recommendation appears across the chart, while the GPU climbs sharply from a GTX 970 to an RTX 4080. Those labels describe resolution, preset, and frame-rate goals—not a guarantee that every scene will hold the target. The minimum profile is a survival plan, not a comfortable way to play.
The GTX 970 and R9 290X each have 4GB of VRAM, which is enough to start at Low but leaves little breathing room for texture streaming. The game can stutter when moving quickly through areas such as Downtown Boston because assets are loaded aggressively. A GTX 1060 6GB is a more sensible floor than the official GTX 970, while an RX 5600 XT or RTX 2060 gives you a far less frustrating 1080p experience.
| Target | Official GPU and CPU | Resolution and FPS | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | GTX 970 4GB or R9 290X; i7-4770K or FX-9590 | 720p Low, 30fps | Playable, but texture streaming and 1% lows can be rough |
| Recommended | RTX 2070 Super or RX 5700 XT; i7-8700 or Ryzen 5 3600X | 1080p High, 60fps | Good target after shaders finish compiling |
| Performance | RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT; i7-9700K or Ryzen 7 5700X | 1440p High, 60fps | Strong results, although CPU-heavy areas may dip |
| Ultra | RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XT; i5-12600K or Ryzen 7 7700X | 4K Ultra, 60fps | Upscaling is practically essential for consistent performance |
The full numbers are listed on the official Steam page. Pay attention to the storage line as well: the game requires around 100GB, and an SSD is explicitly required. A hard drive may technically hold the files, but streaming hitches and loading pauses make it a poor match for this port.
Real benchmark expectations for common PC builds
Benchmarks for this game are easy to misread. A 60fps average in an empty hallway doesn't tell you what happens during a fast traversal sequence, a rainy firefight, or a crowded outdoor hub. The useful numbers are average FPS plus 1% lows, measured after shader compilation and with the game installed on an SSD. The following ranges reflect practical results from the current patched PC experience, using High textures where VRAM allows and a 1080p output unless noted.
| Hardware profile | Recommended profile | Typical average | Realistic 1% lows |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTX 970 / RX 570, older quad-core CPU | 720p Low, FSR 2 Quality or Balanced | 28–38fps | 20–27fps |
| GTX 1060 6GB / RX 5600 XT, Ryzen 5 3600 | 1080p Low-Medium, FSR 2 Quality | 40–55fps | 30–40fps |
| RTX 2060 / RX 6600, Ryzen 5 5600 | 1080p Medium-High, FSR 2 Quality | 55–75fps | 42–58fps |
| RTX 3060 Ti / RX 6700 XT, Ryzen 5 5600X | 1440p High, DLSS or FSR 2 Quality | 55–75fps | 43–60fps |
| RTX 4070 / RX 7800 XT, Ryzen 7 7700X | 1440p High, native or Quality upscaling | 75–105fps | 58–80fps |
| RTX 4080 / RX 7900 XTX, modern eight-core CPU | 4K High-Ultra, DLSS or FSR 2 Quality | 60–85fps | 48–65fps |
These aren't promises for every patch, driver, or scene. They are the useful truth: the official minimum can run the game, but it cannot deliver console-like consistency. The RTX 2060/RX 6600 tier is where 1080p becomes enjoyable. At 1440p, an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6700 XT is a better starting point, especially because 8GB of VRAM is more comfortable than 6GB when textures are raised.
CPU age matters more than the average FPS suggests. The i7-4770K can meet the minimum on paper, but its older cores and weaker frame-time behavior make traversal stutter more visible. A Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i5-10400 is a much healthier pairing. You don't need a flagship processor for 60fps, but you do want six modern cores and enough background headroom for Windows, overlays, and shader work.
The settings that actually move performance
The preset system is a blunt instrument. Dropping every option to Low makes the game look noticeably worse without always solving the main bottleneck. Textures primarily consume VRAM, while shadows, reflections, volumetric effects, and character detail can punish the GPU or CPU depending on the scene. Start with the settings below, then adjust based on your GPU memory and frame-time graph.
| Setting | Recommended value | Approximate FPS impact | Visual trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texture Quality | High with 8GB VRAM; Medium with 6GB | High VRAM use, small raw FPS cost | Major improvement to surfaces and character clothing |
| Dynamic Objects Level of Detail | Medium or High | 3–8% | Lower values simplify moving scenery and distant geometry |
| Characters Level of Detail | Medium | 2–6% | Can reduce facial and enemy detail at distance |
| Environment Level of Detail | Medium-High | 4–10% | Controls object density and distant world detail |
| Volumetric Effects | Medium | 5–12% | Less convincing fog, dust, smoke, and light shafts |
| Shadow Quality | Medium | 5–10% | Softness and distance of shadows take a hit |
| Screen Space Reflections | Medium | 3–8% | Reflections in wet surfaces become less stable |
| Ambient Occlusion | High | 1–4% | Keep it high; it adds valuable contact depth |
| Motion Blur | Off or 2 | Negligible | Personal preference, not a meaningful performance fix |
Textures are the trap. If your card has 6GB, selecting High can trigger asset pressure and hitching even when the FPS counter looks healthy. Medium textures with a stable frame rate feel better than High textures followed by a half-second pause during every major transition. On 8GB cards, High is generally safe at 1080p and 1440p, but Ultra textures are not a free upgrade.
Upscaling is the biggest lever. Nvidia owners should begin with DLSS Quality; AMD and Intel users should try FSR 2 Quality or XeSS. At 1440p, Quality mode renders below native resolution while preserving much of the game's detail. Balanced mode is useful for an RTX 2060 at 1440p, but sharpening halos and fine foliage shimmer become easier to spot. Don't use Dynamic Resolution and aggressive upscaling together unless you absolutely need a locked target—the image can become soft during combat.
Why shader compilation and SSD speed matter
The first launch is not representative. The Last of Us Part I compiles shaders before you play, and that process can take a long time on older CPUs. Interrupting it doesn't just waste time; it can bring the stutter problem back as the game compiles effects during traversal. Let the process reach 100 percent, then restart the game once before judging performance.
Shader compilation is CPU-heavy, so a fast GPU cannot rescue an old four-core processor. Close unnecessary launchers and recording tools, keep at least 16GB of system RAM available, and update your GPU driver through a clean installation if you moved between vendors. Windows' page file should remain enabled on an SSD. Disabling it to save disk space is a bad trade for this particular game.
An NVMe SSD improves loading and reduces streaming pauses, but it won't double your FPS. The benefit is consistency: fewer stalls when Joel runs through a new district, faster checkpoint reloads, and less texture pop-in. SATA SSDs are also perfectly usable. The real red flag is a nearly full or aging hard drive, especially when the system is already short on RAM.
If your copy still crashes, use the official PC support page before reaching for random config files. Steam's file verification can repair corrupted assets, while disabling overlays and resetting an overclock can isolate instability. Steamoz's guides on crash fixes and low-FPS troubleshooting cover the same useful diagnostic habits, even though those articles target different games.
Can a laptop or Steam Deck run it?
Gaming laptops need to be judged by their actual GPU wattage, not the name on the lid. An RTX 3060 laptop at 115 watts can deliver a good 1080p result, while a low-power RTX 3050 laptop may struggle with its 4GB VRAM limit. Plug in the charger, use the manufacturer's performance mode, and make sure the game uses the dedicated GPU. Laptop cooling also matters: a CPU or GPU that throttles after fifteen minutes can turn an initially smooth session into a stuttery one.
The Steam Deck is a much tougher case. It can launch the game with substantial compromises, but the 1280x800 display, 16GB shared memory, and 15-watt APU leave very little headroom. A 30fps cap, Low settings, reduced textures, and FSR are realistic; demanding outdoor areas can still dip below that target. The Deck isn't the machine to buy specifically for this game, and Valve's compatibility rating should be treated as a warning rather than a performance guarantee.
| Platform or hardware | Best practical target | Key limitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTX 970 desktop | 720p Low, 30fps cap | 4GB VRAM and older CPU requirements | Runs, but only at the minimum experience |
| RTX 2060 desktop | 1080p Medium-High, DLSS Quality | 6GB VRAM requires texture discipline | Good budget 1080p option |
| RTX 3060 Ti / RX 6700 XT | 1440p High with Quality upscaling | CPU can limit busy scenes | Best value tier for 1440p |
| RTX 3060 laptop | 1080p Medium-High, DLSS Quality | Power limit and cooling vary widely | Good if the laptop has adequate wattage |
| Steam Deck | 800p Low, approximately 30fps | Shared memory and limited GPU power | Playable experiment, not the ideal platform |
The best PC profile for a smooth playthrough
For most players, the sweet spot is 1080p, High textures, Medium shadows and volumetrics, High ambient occlusion, and DLSS or FSR 2 Quality. Cap the frame rate at 60fps if your monitor supports it, or use 30fps with a stable frame-time profile on minimum hardware. A stable 45fps is also a perfectly reasonable target on a VRR display; it feels dramatically better than an unlocked 30-to-50fps swing.
Use the game's benchmark-style testing areas only after the shader cache is complete. Walk through a dense outdoor location, trigger a combat encounter, and watch 1% lows rather than celebrating a peak number. If the GPU is below 90 percent utilization while the frame rate drops, lower character detail, dynamic objects, and environment detail—or investigate CPU thermals. If GPU utilization is pinned at 99 percent, reduce volumetrics and shadows before touching textures.
Also remember that the game is built around cinematic pacing, not esports latency. You don't need 144fps to enjoy Joel's stealth, but you do need consistent frame pacing for aiming and camera movement to feel natural. Turn off motion blur if you want a sharper image, keep ambient occlusion enabled, and avoid Ultra unless you have the VRAM and performance budget to spare.
Bottom line: your PC can run The Last of Us Part I if it meets the official GTX 970-class minimum, but the experience becomes genuinely comfortable around an RTX 2060 or RX 6600 with a Ryzen 5 3600-class processor, 16GB RAM, and an SSD. For 1440p, step up to an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6700 XT. Let shaders finish, use sensible upscaling, and judge 1% lows—not a flattering average FPS screenshot. That is the real Steam answer.
For comparison, Steamoz also breaks down PC requirements in older games, explains performance settings in Far Cry 6, and covers how to rescue frame rates when a demanding port refuses to behave. The official Naughty Dog PC features overview is also worth checking for supported graphics features and accessibility options.