Fallout 76 is a hot title yet again thanks to the titular Amazon TV series being the subject of a lot of discussion and users hungry for more post-apocalyptic content. The title has seen significant interest in the last few days which saw it climb up sales charts including a free copy for all Amazon Prime members. This has, as a result, allowed users who have never experienced the world of Fallout to deal with both the expansive universe it offers and, the hardware requirements it comes with on PC.
Fallout 76’s PC hardware requirements are relatively low compared to more recent titles. This is because, despite numerous updates, the title itself was released in Nov 2018 and houses an updated Creation Engine from Bethesda that tends to work with a variety of hardware options, including last-generation consoles such as the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One lineup.
Fallout 76’s Hardware Requirements On PC
Bethesda has also published Fallout 76’s hardware requirements on Steam with 2 tiers in play for gamers looking to experience the title in all its glory:
As a result, the team at Game Rant has crafted 3 unique PC builds that cater to high-end maximalist users, mid-range users who want a smooth experience, and budget-conscious users who want an entry-level offering capable of playing Fallout 76 at a reasonable frame rate.
The Paladin’s Maxed-Out Gaming PC Build For Fallout 76
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.
MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360 Cooler
The MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360 Cooler will unlock the overclocking potential of AMD and Intel CPUs, with cooling that far surpasses any conventional fan/heatstink combination. Compatible with the most recent Intel LGA 1700 processors, the CoreLiquid S360 features a 7th generation Asetek pump, a 60 mm VRM fan to cool adjacent components, and 3 Silent Gale P12 fans. A beautiful 2.4-inch IPS display keeps gamers and system builders constantly aware of CPU temps, pump and radiator fan speeds, and much more.
ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero
ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero is an overkill board for any high-end Ryzen CPU and is best suited with flagship chips such as the Ryzen 7900X, 7950X, or the 3D variants. It boasts an incredibly powerful 18+2+2 power stage VRM, plenty of troubleshooting options, great connectivity, support for high-bandwidth components, and a mesmerizing RGB lighting zone on the I/O shroud.
G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB (AMD Expo)
G.SKILL Trident Z5 Neo RGB series is a specialized RAM kit for the AM5 platform with up to 6000 MT/s speed. The RAM kit brings exceptional RGB lighting on top of the heat spreaders and works at low latency. It’s decently stable at the advertised speed and makes an ideal choice for gaming builds.
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.
ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4080 SUPER OC
The ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4080 SUPER OC is an excellent aftermarket take on the RTX 4080 SUPER, offering a higher boost clock than the stock option even as it clocks in an additional $100 on MSRP. It offers excellent reliability, power delivery, and one of the best aftermarket coolers one can get for Nvidia’s higher-end RTX 4000 series GPUs.
ASUS ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II
The ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II PSU is one of the quietest and most efficient PSUs available in the market. It comes in a sleek package that houses arguably one of the best-looking PSUs in the market currently, somewhat compensating for its relatively high asking price. The PSU also features a mirrored side panel that houses an OLED display.
Lian Li O11 Vision
The most stunning-looking addition to the Lian Li O11 series of cases yet, the Vision mid-tower case features tempered glass on three sides of the enclosure. With a unique dual-chamber design, a PSU and cables are hidden behind a removable, adjustable motherboard tray. Because of the O11 Vision’s modular nature, builders have plenty of cooling options, including support for up to two 360 mm liquid cooling radiators and 11 fans. To maintain constant airflow into and out of the case, the chassis is raised further off a surface with extensive venting on its bottom panel.
For users wanting to play Fallout 76 at the highest possible preset, the build above does just that, pairing the fastest AMD CPU available to users for gaming with a high-end MSI cooler and a well-built ASUS motherboard that offers plenty of expansion, PCI-E 5.0 and excellent power delivery in a sleek package.
All of this is powered by a powerful factory-overclocked RTX 4080 GPU from ASUS’s TUF lineup that holds its own in most, if not all titles at resolutions as high as 4K without breaking a sweat. On the memory and storage front, 32GB of AMD-specific RAM with an EXPO profile built-in by G.Skill and 1TB of fast PCI-E 5.0 storage lead the way, allowing users to have a fast, but consistent experience across the board when it comes to navigating the wasteland in 4K.
Powering all of this is a highly efficient but capable ASUS ROG Thor P2 1000W PSU that also comes with the native 12VHPWR connector needed with the entire system housed in a well-designed Lian Li O11 Vision case that adds a glass top to maximize its aesthetic value in 2024.
The Settler’s Mid-Range Gaming PC Build For Fallout 76
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.
DeepCool Liquid Cooler LS720 360MM ARGB Liquid Cooler
The DeepCool Liquid Cooler LS720 360MM ARGB Liquid Cooler is one of the best-looking ARGB liquid coolers available on the market, and it delivers excellent cooling that can handle some of the most powerful CPUs on the market without costing the part as some of the more premium ARGB liquid coolers.
MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi
MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi holds several PCI-E slots for adding various kinds of expansion cards at the same time. Its support for highly clocked memories, Intel’s 12th/13th/14th gen CPUs, and fast storage is commendable. At an affordable price, it is one of the few motherboards that come with EZ Debug LEDS for easy troubleshooting.
CORSAIR VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 6400MHz 32GB
Corsair’s Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM kit features dual RAM modules, each having 16GB memory capacity. It has built-in XMP 3.0 profiles, offering a blend of a high-rated frequency, low latency, and a reasonable price tag in tow.For aesthetics, the RAM sticks look gorgeous as a result of the RGB LEDs on top of its dedicated aluminum heat spreaders.
XPG 1TB GAMMIX S70 Blade SSD
The XPG 1TB GAMMIX S70 Blade SSD is an excellent value-added SSD that offers some of the fastest possible speeds one can get on PCI-E 4.0 making it a great addition to both PCs and game consoles for those looking to spruce up their PS5’s storage this summer. With a heat spreader that the company states works well for the PS5 console and a powerful controller able to handle the highest possible read/write speeds one could need as a consumer, the Gammix S70 Blade is a complete package with a price no one can argue with.
MSI RTX 4070 SUPER 12G Gaming X Slim
The MSI RTX 4070 SUPER 12G Gaming X Slim is an excellent tri-fan take on Nvidia’s newest RTX 4070 GPU that offers a high boost overclock, the new Tri-Frozr 3 cooler to keep temperatures low and a metal backplate.It also features a dual-slot design, making it an excellent GPU for gamers looking to fit one in their PC without covering the bulk of their motherboard or case area in addition to keeping temperatures low thanks to its tri-fan offerings.
Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 750W
The Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 750W power supply is a fully modular offering in the long-running Toughpower series. It is an 80-Plus Gold-rated PSU with peak power of 750W, which is sufficient even for most high-end PCs. It features a PCIe Gen 5.0 connector to power GPUs with the new 12VHPWR cable. It also follows the ATX 3.0 standard for better power excursion and low-load efficiency. The 120mm fan has a Smart Zero Fan mode for silent operation.
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.
For users needing a more balanced PC that can still handle Fallout 76 at QHD or 4K resolutions with ease, a more balanced build that costs half as much as the option above leverages the cheaper Intel Core i5 14600KF CPU, a cheap but performant tri fan liquid cooler from Deepcool, and a mid-range MSI B760 motherboard to form the backbone of a value-centric build in 2024.
It builds around MSI’s tri-fan take on the recently released RTX 4070 SUPER GPU paired with fast, low-latency Corsair Vengeance RGB RAM and a PCI-E 4.0 SSD from XPG as it aims to keep costs under control without compromising on one’s experience while playing online. A powerful 750W Gold-rated PSU from Thermaltake and a Lian Li Lancool 216 case bring up the vanguard to make for a powerful, well-balanced approach to exploring post-war Appalachia without any performance hiccups in tow.
The Wastelander’s Budget-Centric Gaming PC Build For Fallout 76
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.
MSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi
MSI B650 Gaming Plus is an excellent choice for AMD CPU users who are looking to get the job done without spending over $200. The 15-power phase VRM will be adequate for mid-range CPUs, while the multiple PCI-E slots will allow users to add various expansion cards. There are plenty of connectivity options too, including several fan headers, a built-in WiFi adapter, fast USB headers, and even troubleshooting options.
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.
TEAMGROUP MP33 512 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME SSD
The TEAMGROUP MP33 512 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME SSD utilizes the latest generation of 3D flash memory for speeds up to 3 times faster than SATA III. Compact and blistering fast, the TEAMGROUP MP33 can achieve read/write speeds of up to 1700/1400 MB/s. This SSD supports the latest M.2 2280 storage specification of next-generation Intel and AMD motherboards.
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 Gaming OC
The Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 Gaming OC is a triple-fan dual-slot graphics card that brings Gigabyte’s effective WINDFORCE cooling technology. It has three 80mm fans with alternate spinning that work alongside the five composite copper heat pipes that directly touch the GPU. The GPU uses the highest-grade metal chokes, 2oz copper PCB, lower ESR solid capacitors, and lower RDS(on) MOSFETs, among other features.
XPG Core Reactor 750W
The XPG Core Reactor 750W is an 80 Plus Gold rated ATX PSU that offers full modularity. It is an all-black PSU certified by Cybenetics for its efficiency and noise levels. It features a 120mm 2400 RPM fan with an FDB (Fluid Dynamic Bearing) design. XPG, which is a gaming sub-brand of Adata, has tuned the fan to stay at 660 RPM up till 50% load. Connectivity options on the XPG Core Reactor 750W include 1 24-pin connection, 2 ATX 12V 4+4 pin connections, 6 PCIe connections, 12 SATA connections, and 4 Molex connections.
GAMDIAS ATX Mid Tower Gaming Computer PC Case
The GAMDIAS Aura GC2 is another great mid-tower ATX PC case. It comprises a tempered glass casing through which users can view all the components inside. Besides enabling users to view inside, the PC case is suitable for RGB connection with a compatible motherboard. It has four built-in 120mm ARGB fans, which help cool down the PC while working hard during gaming sessions. Also, unlike other PC cases that require tools during installation, this case is completely tool-free.
Due to Fallout 76’s relatively low hardware requirements in play, one could argue that a gaming PC can be built for as low as $500 while meeting Bethesda’s requirements with ease, but given Fallout 76’s surge in popularity and the ability of the Creation Engine to scale better at higher resolutions, even in 2024, it might make sense to get a more future-proof low-end model in 2024 for users just getting started with the Fallout universe.
The build above leverages AMD’s entry-level AM5 CPU offer, the Ryzen 5 7600, which comes with its own thermal solution out of the box. It throws in a mid-range MSI B650 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi motherboard into the mix along with low latency AMD Expo RAM from G.Skill to build a viable, yet powerful alternative to its more costly siblings above.
With 512GB of PCI-E 3.0 storage and a tri-fan Gigabyte RX 7600 Gaming OC GPU, the PC above should be able to hold its own even as it leverages an excellent PSU and a balanced, budget-friendly case into the mix to keep things humming in 2024 and beyond for users interested in exploring beyond the wasteland in 2024.
FAQ
Q: Can I Play Fallout 76 Offline?
No, Fallout 76 is a multiplayer game that requires a persistent online connection. Users can, however, buy a Fallout 1st subscription that allows them to play on a private server. This is available in both, a monthly and a yearly package.
Q: Can I Play Fallout 76 On a Hard Drive?
While users are recommended to use an SSD for games like Fallout 76 due to the immense amount of data being loaded every second, it does happen to be a playable affair on an older mechanical hard drive at the time of writing.
