Can I Run Mass Effect: Andromeda?
The first step towards establishing whether your PC is up to the task of running Mass Effect: Andromeda is figuring out what components it has under the hood, mainly the RAM, CPU, and GPU.
You can do this yourself or refer to our easy to follow guide right here. The next step is cross-referencing the specifications to the minimum and recommended specifications for Mass Effect: Andromeda, which you can find below.
We’re looking to release a new tool that automatically scans your PC for its specifications then matches them to specific games. It’s still under wraps at the moment as we apply the finishing touches. Check back regularly, as we’ll be sure to make an announcement once it’s ready for our readers to use.
Mass Effect: Andromeda Game Details
- Release Date: 21th March 2017 (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
- System Requirements: Medium-High
- Genre: Action-role playing game
- Developer: BioWare
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
Mass Effect: Andromeda is an action-RPG from esteemed developer BioWare – the fourth in the long-running Mass Effect franchise – that takes players to the far reaches of the known universe to the Andromeda galaxy, as the name implies. The action takes place in the 29th century, and as a novice pathfinder, you’ve just awoken from a 634-year slumber – the time it takes to reach Andromeda.
As a pathfinder, a member of an elite squad of combattant-come-explorers, you’ll lead the first humans to Andromeda and fight to establish a new colony to secure humanity’s long-term presence in this galaxy far away from the relative comfort of the Milky Way.
Mass Effect: Andromeda features a rich progression tree teeming with customization options, weapons, powers, and technology. Unlike previous entries, Mass Effect: Andromeda anchors more on exploration aspects borrowing from the open-world school of games, while revamping the combat of predecessors with a more mobile and responsive feel.
Every decision has an impact on humanity’s fate in the uncharted Andromeda galaxy as you vie for dominance in the face of hostile aliens and otherworldly creatures such as the Kett and the Remnant. It’s an epic galactic opera where political intrigue and gritty combat merge into a compelling narrative about what it means to be the invading alien force.
Mass Effect: Andromeda: Minimum Requirements
- CPU: Intel Core i5 3570 | AMD FX-6350
- RAM: 8 GB RAM
- HDD: 55 GB available space
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 660 2GB | AMD Radeon 7850 2GB
- OS: 64-bit Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10
- Screen Resolution: 800×600 or better
- DirectX: DirectX 11
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
Mass Effect: Andromeda: Recommended Requirements
- CPU: Intel Core i7-4790 | AMD FX-8350
- RAM: 16 GB RAM
- HDD: 55 GB available space
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1060 3GB | AMD RX 480 4GB
- OS: 64-bit Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10
- Screen Resolution: 800×600 or better
- DirectX: DirectX 11
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
Optimal Hardware Suggestions
The minimum specifications are a good start but don’t expect much. Mass Effect: Andromeda is notorious for being badly optimized, and although it’s possible to hit some decent FPS with a rig matching the minimum specifications, the settings will need to be toned down heavily.
The game itself isn’t the most visually alluring to start, and low settings strip the game of any character leaving it looking barren, underwhelming, and simply lacking graphical depths with hazy textures and painfully downgraded character models. The low settings are quite simply horrible to witness and detract too much from the game. Not something you’d expect from a AAA title. As such, we’d recommend aiming higher than the minimum specifications for a decent experience. A high FPS count is great, but if the game world just suffers too much to make it enjoyable.
Powering up a recommended spec machine with settings turned up to ultra, and at 1440p, you’ll struggle to hit a solid FPS anywhere above 30 FPS. And that’s with 16GB of RAM and a more than decent GTX 1060. Once again, you’ll have to balance visuals with performance, but medium-high settings at 1080p represent a happy medium between the two at a steady 60 FPS.
It’s possible to get an incremental performance boost by toying with the settings, especially ones like lighting, resolution scaling, and ambient occlusion. Every PC will behave differently, so don’t be afraid to play around to find parameters that work best for you.
What Gaming PC Do We Recommend?
Mass Effect: Andromeda is a power-hungry title, and at such you really need to push the boat out to get optimal performance. It won’t come cheap, but the following setup will hit above 60 FPS at 1440p on ultra settings. As a side note, any of the newer NVIDIA RTX cards a good bet to get the game running well, so if tracking down a GTX 1080 proves too hard, there are options available.
- CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K
- RAM: 16 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1080
We’d recommend investigating our $1000 build if you’re tempted. It packs a decent punch and is compatible with quite a few other demanding games. You’ll also be future-proofing as well with an excellent foundation for future upgrades.