Editing System requirements

{{Short description|Environment needed to run software}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2019}}
To be used efficiently, all [[computer software]] needs certain [[Computer hardware|hardware]] components or other software resources to be present on a [[computer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techterms.com/definition/systemrequirements |title=System Requirements Definition |publisher=Techterms.com |access-date=2014-01-23}}</ref> These prerequisites are known as (computer) '''system requirements''' and are often used as a guideline as opposed to an absolute rule. Most software defines two sets of system requirements: minimum and recommended. With increasing demand for higher processing power and resources in newer versions of software, system requirements tend to increase over time. Industry analysts suggest that this trend plays a bigger part in driving upgrades to existing computer systems than technological advancements.  A second meaning of the term system requirements, is a generalisation of this first definition, giving the requirements to be met in the design of a system or sub-system.

== Recommended system requirements ==

Often manufacturers of games will provide the consumer with a set of requirements that are different from those that are needed to run a software. These requirements are usually called the recommended requirements. These requirements are almost always of a significantly higher level than the minimum requirements, and represent the ideal situation in which to run the software. Generally speaking, this is a better guideline than minimum system requirements in order to have a fully usable and enjoyable experience with that software.

== Hardware requirements ==

The most common set of requirements defined by any [[operating system]] or [[software application]] is the physical computer resources, also known as [[Computer hardware|hardware]], A hardware requirements list is often accompanied by a [[hardware compatibility list]] (HCL), especially in case of operating systems. An HCL lists tested, compatible, and sometimes incompatible hardware devices for a particular operating system or application. The following sub-sections discuss the various aspects of hardware requirements.

=== Architecture ===

All computer [[operating system]]s are designed for a particular [[computer architecture]]. Most software applications are limited to particular operating systems running on particular architectures. Although architecture-independent operating systems and applications exist, most need to be recompiled to run on a new architecture. See also a list of [[Comparison of operating systems#Technical information|common operating systems]] and their supporting architectures.

=== Processing power ===

The power of the [[central processing unit]] (CPU) is a fundamental system requirement for any software. Most software running on [[x86 architecture]] define processing power as the [[List of microprocessors|model]] and the [[Clock rate|clock speed]] of the CPU. Many other features of a CPU that influence its speed and power, like [[Front side bus|bus speed]], [[CPU cache|cache]], and [[Instructions per second|MIPS]] are often ignored. This definition of power is often erroneous, as different makes and models of CPUs at similar clock speed often have [[Megahertz myth|different throughput speeds]].

=== Memory ===

All software, when run, resides in the [[random access memory]] (RAM) of a computer. Memory requirements are defined after considering demands of the application, operating system, supporting software and files, and other running processes. Optimal performance of other unrelated software running on a multi-tasking computer system is also considered when defining this requirement.

=== Secondary storage ===

Data storage device requirements vary, depending on the size of software installation, temporary files created and maintained while installing or running the software, and possible use of [[Virtual memory|swap space]] (if RAM is insufficient).

=== Display adapter ===

Software requiring a better than average [[computer graphics]] display, like [[Graphics software|graphics editors]] and high-end [[Video game|games]], often define high-end [[Graphics processing unit|display adapters]] in the system requirements.

=== Peripherals ===

Some software applications need to make extensive and/or special use of some [[peripheral]]s, demanding the higher performance or functionality of such peripherals. Such peripherals include [[CD-ROM|CD-ROM drives]], [[Computer keyboard|keyboards]], [[pointing device]]s, [[Computer networking device|network devices]], etc.

== Software requirements ==
[[Software requirements]] deal with defining software resource requirements and prerequisites that need to be installed on a computer to provide optimal functioning of an application. These requirements or prerequisites are generally not included in the software installation package and need to be installed separately before the software is installed.

=== Platform ===

A [[computing platform]] describes some sort of [[Software framework|framework]], either in [[computer hardware|hardware]] or [[software]], which allows software to run.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techterms.com/definition/platform |title=Platform Definition |publisher=Techterms.com |access-date=2014-01-23}}</ref> Typical platforms include a computer's [[Computer architecture|architecture]], [[operating system]], or [[programming language]]s and their [[run-time system|runtime]] libraries.

[[Operating system]] is one of the requirements mentioned when defining system requirements (software). Software may not be compatible with different versions of same line of operating systems, although some measure of backward compatibility is often maintained. For example, most software designed for [[Microsoft Windows XP]] does not run on [[Microsoft Windows 98]], although the converse is not always true. Similarly, software designed using newer features of [[Linux Kernel]] v2.6 generally does not run or compile properly (or at all) on Linux distributions using Kernel v2.2 or v2.4.

=== APIs and drivers ===

Software making extensive use of special hardware devices, like high-end [[Graphics processing unit|display adapters]], needs special [[Application programming interface|API]] or newer device drivers. A good example is [[DirectX]], which is a collection of APIs for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming, on [[Microsoft]] platforms.

=== Web browser ===

Most [[web application]]s and software depend heavily on [[World Wide Web|web technologies]] to make use of the default browser installed on the system. [[Microsoft Edge]] is a frequent choice of software running on [[Microsoft Windows]], which makes use of [[ActiveX]] controls, despite their vulnerabilities.

== Other requirements ==

Some software also has other requirements for proper performance. [[Internet connection]] (type and speed) and [[Display resolution|resolution]] of the display screen are notable examples.

== Examples ==

Following are a few examples of system requirement definitions for popular [[Personal computer game|PC games]] and trend of ever-increasing resource needs:

For instance, while ''[[StarCraft (video game)|StarCraft]]'' (1998) requires:
{{System requirements
|useminandrec=no
|align=none
|platform1=Windows
|os1=[[Windows 95]] or [[Windows NT 4.0|NT]] or superior
|cpu1=[[Intel P5|Pentium]] processor at 90&nbsp;MHz or higher
|memory1=16 MB [[Random Access Memory|RAM]]
|gpu1=[[DirectX]] 3.0 or higher
|media1=[[CD-ROM]], 2x or higher
|hdspace1=80 MB available
}}



''[[Doom 3]]'' (2004) requires:
{{System requirements
|useminandrec=no
|align=none
|platform1=Windows
|os1=[[Windows 2000]]/[[Windows XP|XP]]
|cpu1=[[Pentium 4]] 1.5&nbsp;GHz or [[Athlon XP]] 1500+ processor or higher
|memory1=384 MB [[Random Access Memory|RAM]]
|gpu1=3D Hardware Accelerator - 64MB of memory minimum DirectX 9.0b
|sound1=[[DirectX]] 9.0b compatible 16-bit [[sound card]]
|hdspace1=2.2 GB free space
|media1=8x Speed [[CD-ROM]]
}}



''[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed]]'' (2009) requires:
{{System requirements
|useminandrec=no
|align=none
|platform1=Windows
|os1=Windows XP SP3, [[Windows Vista]] SP2, [[Windows 7]]
|cpu1=[[Core 2 Duo]] or [[Athlon X2]] at 2.4&nbsp;GHz
|memory1=2 GB [[Random Access Memory|RAM]]
|gpu1=[[DirectX]] 9.0c compatible [[GPU|video card]]. 3D Hardware Accelerator - 256MB of memory minimum
|sound1=[[DirectX]] 9.0c compatible [[sound card]]
|hdspace1=8 GB of free space, 23.8 GB + 1 GB Swap File space
|media=8x Speed [[DVD-ROM]]
}}



''[[Grand Theft Auto V (re-release)|Grand Theft Auto V]]'' (2015) requires:<ref name="gtav">{{cite web|url=https://support.rockstargames.com/hc/en-us/articles/203428177-Grand-Theft-Auto-V-PC-System-Specs|title=Grand Theft Auto V PC System Specs – Rockstar Support|work=[[Rockstar Games]]|access-date=22 April 2015}}</ref>
{{System requirements
|useminandrec=no
|align=none
|platform1=Windows
|os1=[[Windows 8.1]] 64-bit, [[Windows 8]] 64-bit, Windows 7 Service Pack 1 64-bit, Windows Vista Service Pack 2 64-bit
|cpu1= [[Core 2 Quad]] Q6600 at 2.4&nbsp;GHz or [[AMD Phenom]] 9850 at 2.5&nbsp;GHz
|memory1=4 GB [[Random Access Memory|RAM]]
|gpu1=DirectX 10-compatible [[GPU]]: [[GeForce 9 series|GeForce 9800GT]] 1GB or [[Radeon HD 4000 series#Radeon HD 4800|ATI Radeon HD 4870]] 1GB
|sound1=[[DirectX]] 10 compatible [[sound card]]
|hdspace1=65 GB of free space
|media=[[DVD-ROM]] drive
}}

== See also ==

* [[Requirement]]
* [[Requirements analysis]]
* [[Software Requirements Specification]]
* [[Specification (technical standard)]]
* [[System requirements specification]] (SyRS)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:System Requirements}}
[[Category:Software requirements]]