The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition — System Requirements, FPS Estimate & Refund Help
2016 · Action, RPG · Bethesda Game Studios · ESRB Mature · Metacritic 74
Official PC requirements
Publisher-published Minimum / Recommended values via RAWG, retrieved 2026-08-21. Real-world performance varies with drivers, resolution and your full build.
| Spec | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Minimum: | Recommended: |
| Processor | OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit Version) | OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 (64-bit Version) |
| Memory | Processor: Intel i5-750/AMD Phenom II X4-945 | Processor: Intel i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 |
| Graphics | Memory: 8 GB RAM | Memory: 8 GB RAM |
| Storage | Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 470 1GB /AMD HD 7870 2GB | Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 780 3GB /AMD R9 290 4GB |
| DirectX | Storage: 12 GB available space | Storage: 12 GB available space |
Multi-GPU FPS estimate
Estimated average FPS by GPU at 1080p / 1440p / 4K, derived from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition's demand tier (tier 5, Moderate (mainstream GPU)) and published TechPowerUp-style relative-performance indices (RTX 4090 = 100), retrieved 2026-08-29. Planning estimates, not benchmarks.
| GPU | 1080p | 1440p | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 4090 | 150 | 99 | 57 |
| RTX 4080 Super | 135 | 89 | 51 |
| RTX 4080 | 129 | 85 | 49 |
| RX 7900 XTX | 144 | 95 | 55 |
| RX 7900 XT | 135 | 89 | 51 |
| RTX 4070 Ti Super | 115 | 76 | 44 |
| RX 7800 XT | 115 | 76 | 44 |
| RTX 4070 Super | 108 | 71 | 41 |
| RTX 4070 | 101 | 67 | 39 |
| RX 7700 XT | 104 | 69 | 40 |
| RTX 3070 | 94 | 62 | 36 |
| RX 6800 XT | 114 | 75 | 43 |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 83 | 55 | 32 |
| RX 6700 XT | 101 | 67 | 39 |
| RTX 3060 | 76 | 50 | 29 |
| RX 6600 XT | 86 | 57 | 33 |
| RTX 2060 | 69 | 45 | 26 |
| GTX 1660 Super | 57 | 38 | 22 |
| RX 580 | 66 | 44 | 25 |
| GTX 1060 6GB | 54 | 36 | 20 |
| GTX 1650 | 43 | 28 | 16 |
| Intel Arc A770 | 88 | 58 | 33 |
| UHD 770 (integrated) | 18 | 12 | 8 |
Method: a game's demand tier maps to a “GPU index needed for ~60 FPS at 1080p”; each GPU's relative index produces an estimate via a diminishing-returns curve, then scaled for resolution. Source: TechPowerUp GPU database (relative performance), 2026-08-29.
Frequently asked questions
Common pre-launch questions about The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, answered from official publisher and studio announcements (verified 2026-09-09). Configuration, fix and optimization guides are added after launch.
What are the system requirements for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Special Edition)?
Minimum: Intel Core i5-750 / 4 GB RAM / GTX 470. Recommended (1080p/60, editorial estimate where official numbers are unpublished): Intel Core i5-2400 / 8 GB RAM / GTX 780.
What is the best way to mod The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Special Edition)?
Use SKSE + Vortex / Mod Organizer 2; get mods from Nexus Mods. Mods are single-player only — never in online modes.
How do I fix The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Special Edition) crashing or not launching on PC?
Update GPU drivers, verify/repair game files, install community shader fixes where they exist, and disable overlays. See the Crash & Fix page.
How do I get better FPS in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Special Edition)?
Lower Shadows, Volumetrics and View Distance first; enable DLSS/FSR/XeSS; cap the framerate. See the Optimization page.
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Fix & refund help →Fixes & guides for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Focused performance, crash-fix and refund references for this title — each opens a dedicated guide.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Open →The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition System Requirements
Open →The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Best Mods
Open →The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Crash Fixes
Open →The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Optimization Guide
Open →The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Modding Order & Stability
Open →Can My RTX 4090 Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RTX 4080 Super Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RTX 4070 Super Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RTX 4070 Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RTX 4060 Ti Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RTX 3060 Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RTX 2060 Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Can My RX 7800 XT Run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? FPS Estimate & System Requirements (2026)
Open →Optimize The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition & build your refund case
Pick your GPU class and symptom for an ordered fix plan, then open the refund appeal generator for your platform. The fix plan and the appeal letter share one goal: get The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition running — or get your money back.
Refund eligibility & appeal
Informational consumer reference — not legal advice.
My appeal package — The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Refund window: under 2 hours played and within 14 days of purchase — no questions asked.
Appeal letter draft
Subject: Refund request — The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (Crashes / won’t start) Dear Steam Support, I am requesting a refund for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, purchased on [purchase date]. The game is game crashes at launch or during play, which makes it unusable for me. Purchase details: - Game: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition - Platform: Steam - Purchase date: [date] - Playtime: 1 hour(s) - Issue: game crashes at launch or during play This is a genuine technical issue rather than a change of preference. I have included my system information and steps already tried. Please process a refund or offer an alternative resolution. Thank you, [Your name] [Account/order number]
Evidence checklist
- Receipt / order confirmation with date
- Screenshot or clip of the issue (error code, crash, FPS counter)
- System specs (CPU, GPU, RAM, OS, driver version)
- Steps already tried (driver update, file verify, reinstall)
- Server-status screenshot if the issue is online/matchmaking
Generated at GameFixPro · 2026-09-10
Release & version notes
Official release date: 2016-10-27. Ongoing patches and version history are published by the developer — for the latest patch notes, see the official store or support page. GameFixPro summarizes the official release only and does not invent patch dates.
About The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is the 2016 reinstallment of the open world fantasy RPG, developed by Bethesda Game Studios. Following the original release of 2011, Special Edition focuses on reshaping every sword and ax, polishing every stone in the high castles and the suburbs of the low, overall bringing a renewed experience to its fans and newcomer players. After 5 years of the original’s glory, this collection of all the content, available with the game itself, offers to once again set foot on the snowy mountains of the Skyrim province of Tamriel. The magnificent open world, full of breathtaking environments and landscapes, welcomes all its players to embark on another journey. Explore the even more beautiful flora of Skyrim, fight the most dangerous fauna, and many more. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition now includes full support of community-made and developer-approved mods, allowing for even more exploration and experiments with the in-game contents. Continually expanding, the database of various new quests, characters, and locations not disappointing any player, while some modifications try to focus on enhancing the vanilla experience to the maximum.
For the complete specification sheet and an expanded multi-GPU FPS comparison, explore Full specs & performance data on GameFigs.
Sources & attribution
- Game metadata (release year, genres, platforms, system requirements, description, cover art) via RAWG.io, retrieved 2026-08-21.
- GPU relative-performance indices via TechPowerUp GPU database (relative performance), retrieved 2026-08-29.
- FPS estimates on this page are GameFixPro planning estimates from the demand-tier + GPU-index model — not benchmark results.
- Pre-launch intelligence (release windows, settings, editions, pricing, beta dates) is compiled from each title's official publisher / studio announcements and is source-linked per item with its retrieval date (2026-09-09). Where a detail is from reporting rather than a primary source, the item's source line states so. This is preview material, not an official specification.
- Refund verdicts summarize each platform's published policy (Steam, Epic, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo) and are not a guarantee of outcome.
How the The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition FPS estimate and refund verdict are computed
Each game is scored on a 0–9 demand tier from its published PC requirements (and a year/genre fallback when requirements are absent). The FPS estimate compares your selected GPU's relative-performance index against the tier's required index using a diminishing-returns curve, then scales for resolution. The refund verdict compares your playtime and purchase date against the platform's published window (14 days / 2 hours on Steam and Epic; discretionary on PlayStation; 14-day capped on Xbox; no-refund policy on Nintendo eShop for downloaded software) and weighs technical defects more favourably than preference changes. All outputs are planning guides — verify in-game with the built-in benchmark when available, and confirm policy with the platform before acting.