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Best PC for The Last of Us Part I in 2026
Looking for the best PC for The Last of Us Part I in the US? Steam: 16 GB, SSD 100 GB, GTX 970 min / RTX 3060 reco. 1080p + DLSS: about $800 to $1,000; 1440p closer to $1,000 to $1,200 (Newegg, Amazon.com). Not Part II.
Which PC for The Last of Us Part I?
- Steam Part I floor: RX 470 / 6500 XT / GTX 970 / 1050 Ti 4 GB, 16 GB (Steam min and recommended), 100 GB free, SSD Recommended (Steam) / SSD on PlayStation tiers.
- 1080p/60 high + DLSS/FSR: aim for $875 to $1,100 (16 GB, NVMe 100 GB+, RTX 3060 / RX 6600 XT).
- Comfortable 1440p: budget $1,100 to $1,300 (often 32 GB dual-channel).
- Best TLOU Part I value in 2026: the $875 to $1,100 tier, SSD before an RTX 4080.
- Not Part II (separate Steam page). HDD = 2023-launch stutter; NVMe non-negotiable.
The Last of Us Part I on PC: hardware guide and performance
Looking for the best PC for The Last of Us Part I in 2026? The remake (Naughty Dog / Nixxes, Steam app 1888930) follows Joel and Ellie: not *Part II*. On Newegg, Amazon.com, or Best Buy the floor is already steep: 16 GB RAM and 100 GB free. Steam marks SSD Recommended; PlayStation US lists 100 GB SSD on every tier. In practice, an HDD brings back the stuttery 2023 launch (hitches, pop-in).
Steam paper (current store): Minimum: Windows 10 1909+, Ryzen 5 1500X / Core i7-4770K, 16 GB, RX 470 / RX 6500 XT / GTX 970 / GTX 1050 Ti (4 GB), 100 GB, SSD recommended. Recommended (~1080p/60 high): Ryzen 5 3600X / Core i7-8700, 16 GB, RX 5700 XT / RX 6600 XT / RTX 2070 SUPER / RTX 3060 (8 GB), 100 GB, SSD. No R9 390X and no bare i7-4770 (it is the K) on the live store page.
Beyond the store: PlayStation adds a 1440p tier (often 32 GB, RTX 2080 Ti / RX 6750 XT-class) and 4K Ultra (RTX 4080 / RX 7900 XTX-class). The port ships DLSS and FSR 2.2: in 2026, Quality upscaling rescues mid-range builds more often than buying one more GPU step “for Boston.”
US tower budget (monitor separate): $875 to $1,100 for 1080p/60 high + DLSS/FSR (RTX 3060 / RX 6600 XT, 16 GB, NVMe 100 GB+). $1,100 to $1,300 if you want comfortable 1440p (32 GB dual-channel per PlayStation’s higher tier). Under $875, confirm 16 GB + 100 GB SSD before chasing a GPU brand.
Upgrade order: roomy NVMe, then 16 GB (or 32 GB for 1440p), then GPU with DLSS/FSR, then CPU. Without an SSD, the rest of the Newegg cart cannot fix texture streaming.
To cross-check The Last of Us Part I with God of War or other ports before you buy, open the PC4Games comparator.
PC4Games resources for buying a PC
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Best PC for The Last of Us Part I: Steam floor vs comfortable 1080p/60?
| Component | Minimum requirements | Recommended requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Ryzen 5 1500X / Core i7-4770K (Steam) | Ryzen 5 3600X / Core i7-8700 (Steam); 2026 comfort = R5 5600 / i5-12400F+ |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB (Steam min and recommended) | 16 GB dual-channel; 32 GB for PlayStation 1440p/4K tiers |
| Graphics card | RX 470 / 6500 XT / GTX 970 / 1050 Ti 4 GB (Steam; not R9 390X) | RX 5700 XT / 6600 XT / RTX 2070 SUPER / 3060 8 GB (Steam) + DLSS/FSR |
| Storage | 100 GB free, SSD Recommended (Steam) / SSD on PlayStation tiers | NVMe 120 to 150 GB+ (patches, cache, headroom) |
| Upscaling | Not listed on Steam minimum | DLSS, FSR 2.2 (PC port) |
| Operating system | Windows 10 version 1909+ | Windows 10 / 11 updated |
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How much should you spend on a The Last of Us Part I PC in the US?
1080p/60 high + upscaling: $875 to $1,100 (16 GB, NVMe 100 GB+, RTX 3060 / RX 6600 XT). 1440p: $1,100 to $1,300 with 32 GB if you follow PlayStation’s higher tier: the SSD is not optional. See also gaming PC $800, $1,000, and $1,200.
Frequently asked questions about The Last of Us Part I
What is the best PC for The Last of Us Part I in the US?
On Newegg / Amazon.com / Best Buy: 16 GB, NVMe 100 GB+, mid-range GPU + DLSS/FSR (RTX 3060 / RX 6600 XT). Ticket $875 to $1,100 at 1080p/60. 1440p: $1,100 to $1,300 (often 32 GB).
What are the real Steam specs for Part I in 2026?
Minimum: R5 1500X / i7-4770K, 16 GB, RX 470 / 6500 XT / GTX 970 / 1050 Ti, 100 GB, SSD recommended. Recommended: R5 3600X / i7-8700, 16 GB, RX 5700 XT / 6600 XT / RTX 2070 SUPER / 3060. Charts with R9 390X are wrong.
Is an SSD mandatory?
Steam says SSD Recommended; PlayStation US lists 100 GB SSD on every tier. In practice an HDD brings back launch-era hitching. On Newegg, a 500 GB / 1 TB NVMe covers TLOU and the rest of your library.
Is an RTX 3060 enough?
Yes: it sits on Steam’s recommended line for ~1080p/60 high. Use DLSS Quality. At native 1440p you are closer to PlayStation’s next tier (32 GB + a stronger GPU).
16 GB or 32 GB of RAM?
16 GB is Steam’s min and recommended. 32 GB shows up on PlayStation’s 1440p and 4K sheets. For 1080p vanilla, 16 GB dual-channel is fine; for 1440p high, 32 GB keeps you out of the page file.
DLSS or FSR?
Both ship (DLSS + FSR 2.2). Prefer DLSS Quality on RTX; FSR Quality on AMD. Upscaling usually beats manually nuking every shadow in downtown Boston.
Is this the same game as The Last of Us Part II?
No. This page is the Part I remake (Steam 1888930). Part II is a separate title with its own requirements.
Will an $800 PC run The Last of Us Part I in the US?
Yes for 1080p/60 high + upscaling if you have 16 GB, an NVMe 100 GB+, and a mid-range GPU (RTX 3060 / RX 6600 XT). Aim for $875 to $1,100. For 1440p: $1,100 to $1,300.
Do I need an RTX 4080 for The Last of Us Part I?
Not for 1080p. Steam recommended stays at RTX 3060 / RX 6600 XT. A 4080 mainly helps PlayStation 4K Ultra. Priority: SSD + 16 GB + DLSS/FSR before a flagship GPU.
How much storage for The Last of Us Part I?
Steam lists 100 GB. With patches and cache, plan 120 to 150 GB free on an NVMe. See also God of War.