System requirements

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(C) (1994) needs:

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

Spider-Man(C), 2002, will need:

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

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

See also

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