Almost all computer software requires some features to be present on a computer system before it can be used with the computer. These necessary features are known as system requirements, and are often used as a guideline as opposed to an absolute rule. Often two sets of system requirements are given for an item of software: a minimum set of requirements (which must be satisfied for the software to be usable at all) and a recommended set of requirements (for maximum performance).

System requirements for software tend to increase over time, and have done so to a large extent over the last decade.

For instance, while StarCraft (1994) needed:

• Windows 95 or NT or superior
• Pentium processor at 90MHz or higher
• 16MB RAM
• 80MB available in the hard disk
• CD-ROM, 2x or higher
• DirectX 3.0 or higher

and Spider-Man (2002) needed:

• 3D Hardware Accelerator
• Windows 98/2000/NT/XP
• Pentium III processor at 500MHz or higher
• 128MB RAM
• 1.5GB available in the hard disk
• DirectX 8.1

Doom 3 needs:

• 3D Hardware Accelerator - 64MB of memory minimum
• Windows 2000/XP
• Pentium IV 1.5 GHz or Athlon XP 1500+ processor or higher
• 384MB RAM
• 8x Speed CD-ROM
• 2.2GB free hard disk space
• DirectX 9.0b compatible 16-bit sound card
• DirectX 9.0b

Not only computer games need these features, but any substantial programs such as Encarta, DVD players (on the computer), file managers and the like.

See also

• hardware
• computer
• operating system
• byte
• megabyte
• gigabyte