Whether you're new to Norrath or you're a highly skilled veteran, things behind the curtain are constantly changing...like technology. EverQuest II has been alive and kicking for many years now, and one difference from when the game first launched is the availability of bigger and better hardware to support your playing experience. So to keep up with the changing times, we've updated the forum FAQ about hardware requirements.

What are the minimum hardware requirements for running EverQuest II?

Operating System: Windows 98/2000/ME/XP/Vista
Processor: 1.5 GHz
RAM: 1 GB
Video Card: DirectX 9 compatible; pixel shader and vertex shader compatible hardware with 128 MB of texture memory
Sound Card: DirectSound compatible audio hardware

What are the reccomended hardware specifications for the game?

Operating System: Windows 98/2000/ME/XP/Vista
Processor: 2 GHz or greater, dual core or higher
RAM: 2 GB
Video Card: DirectX 9 compatible; pixel shader and vertex shader compatible hardware with 256 MB or more of texture memory
Sound Card: DirectSound compatible audio hardware

What type of video card will I need for EQII?

You will need a card that supports DirectX 9 features, such as pixel and vertex shaders.

Will having a graphics card with more than 256 MB be worthwhile?

Yes, having 256MB of RAM on the card does make a difference. Basically, more memory lets you run higher-quality textures without swapping them, thus increasing performance.

How will I know what option settings to run the game with?

When you install the game, it examines your hardware configuration and sets the graphic options for you to balance visual quality with performance.

What components should I use to build the "perfect" EQII machine?

The simple answer is to use the best components you can afford. Keep in mind that we've designed our game with the future in mind. It will take CPUs and video cards that aren't on the market yet to be able to play our game with all options cranked up to full. The idea is that as computers get faster and faster, our game will look better and better without needing an engine overhaul.

That said, you will be able to run EQII on current hardware and have a very pleasing framerate with excellent image quality.

If you have questions, comments, or corrections to this FAQ, stop in to the Official EQII Forums and leave us your feedback.