If you were a fan of the revolutionary Ark: Survival Evolved, then you’re no doubt champing at the bit for the upgraded, more advanced world of Ark 2 slated for release in 2022. I don’t blame you; Ark is an easy way to spend hours of a weekend, and Ark 2 will probably have the same effect.
However, with advanced games comes the need for advanced hardware, so you’ll want to make sure your computer is up to snuff with the demands of the game. Otherwise, you’ll have waited a couple of years only to find that you can’t run the game you’ve patiently awaited.
To run Ark 2 on PC, you’ll likely need at least 8GB of RAM and 40GB of available disk space. For your GPU, you’ll want at least an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980, and for your CPU, you’ll want at least an Intel Core i5-6600K. For your OS, make sure you’re running at least Windows 7 64-bit.
Since Studio Wildcard has yet to release official system requirements, what you see here are predictions based on what we know of the game so far.
Let’s get into it.
Minimum Part Requirements for Ark 2 – Predicted
| Memory | GPU | CPU | OS | Disk Space |
| 8 GB | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 | Intel Core i5-6600K | Windows 7 64-bit | 40 GB |
These are the predicted minimum requirements for Ark 2. You’ll likely need 8GB of RAM at a minimum, and the game will need around 40GB of available disk space. That number may change by 10GB or so either way, but 40GB is a good estimate to roll with.
It’s predicted that you’ll need at least an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 for your GPU, and at least an Intel Core i5-6600K for your CPU. As for your OS, your system should be running Windows 7 or newer to meet launch requirements.
Recommended Specs and Top Build for Ark 2 – Predicted
| Memory | GPU | CPU | OS | |
| Recommended | 16 GB | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 | Intel Core i7-6700K | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Top Build | 32 GB | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | Intel Core i9-9900KF | Windows 11 64-bit |
Here are the predicted recommended specs for Ark 2 on PC. You’ll get better performance with 16GB of RAM, Windows 10 64-bit for your OS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 for your GPU, and an Intel Core i7-6700K for your CPU.
For the best gaming experience, though, I recommend going for 32GB of RAM. This game is sure to have a lot to load at all times, and the additional RAM will help with that.
I also recommend going the extra mile with your GPU and opting for the RTX 3060 over the 2060 for the performance it will grant your Ark 2 rig. Either way, you’ll get ray-tracing, but the 3060 is far more powerful.
For your CPU, I recommend going with an i9 to future-proof your rig for a good while and get the best performance out of your system. I also recommend going with Windows 11, but there is yet little difference between 10 and 11 beyond aesthetics.
Best Laptops for Running Ark 2
| Laptop | Memory | GPU | CPU | OS |
| HP Pavilion Gaming | 12 GB | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | Intel Core i5-9300H | Windows 10 Home 64-bit |
| Flagship Dell G3 15 3590 | 16 GB | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti | Intel Core i7-10750H | Windows 10 Home 64-bit |
| CUK HP Omen | 32 GB | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | Windows 10 Home 64-bit |
These are the three best gaming laptops for running Ark 2, based on the predicted system requirements and in descending order of cheapest to most expensive. All three laptops will give you the performance you need to run Ark 2 to varying degrees.
The HP Pavilion exceeds the predicted minimum specs and, priced under $1000, it’s the perfect budget laptop for casual gamers wanting a piece of Ark 2. It would be much nicer with a little more RAM, but you get what you pay for.
The Flagship Dell G3 laptop is a nice step up for not too much more money. It has 16GB of RAM and a more advanced GPU, as well as a later generation of Intel processor for better performance.
If you want the best gaming laptop for Ark 2, though, you’ll want the CUK HP Omen for sure. It comes with a whopping 32GB of RAM, a next-gen RTX 3070 GPU, and a Ryzen 7 processor. All great specs, and more than competent enough for Ark 2.
Does Ark 2 Work on Windows 10?
Yes, Ark 2 will work on Windows 10. It’s predicted to only need Windows 7 or later for launch requirements, so as long as you’re running that or above, you’re in the clear.
Note, however, that you’ll want to be running the 64-bit version of whichever Windows you prefer to avoid hampering your RAM utility.
How Much Space Does Ark 2 Take?
We aren’t entirely certain about the exact size of the game, but it will likely take around 40GB of disk space. That number might change a bit, but not by more than 10GB or so. You don’t need a whole 1TB HDD for the game, but you’ll want at least 512GB to be safe.
Why is Ark 2 Running So Poorly?
There are a few reasons why Ark 2 might run poorly on your system. It could be that your system only meets the minimum requirements, in which case you won’t get the same performance as you would with the recommended specs.
It could also be that some of your components are overheating, bottlenecking, or malfunctioning. In this case, run diagnostics to find the root of the problem. If neither of these is the problem, it might be that your game is stored on HDD rather than SSD, which would result in slower speeds.
FAQs
Can You Run Ark 2 on a Hard Drive?
Yes, you can run Ark 2 on a hard drive. However, it will run best on an SSD due to increased speeds.
Can an i5 Run Ark 2?
Yes, an i5 can run Ark 2. In fact, an i5 is the minimum requirement, so don’t try to use anything older than an i5 or Ryzen 5.
