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Wayfinder is now available to gamers looking to establish themselves before the official release, and it comes with a set of system requirements that will prompt many PC gamers to get upgrades or build a new gaming PC to experience the MMO as the developers intended.
Wayfinder: What Is Needed To Run It?
With the title currently in Early Access on PC, gamers can hop in and try out Digital Extremes' new, evolving title that also comes with large server queues in tow. It also comes with somewhat higher PC specs than most similar titles. This can partially be attributed to the fact that it is an Early Access title that will see significant upgrades down the line.
Wayfinder does currently already look better than many competing titles, and it does require a decent amount of power under the hood to run it at optimal levels with Digital Extremes publishing somewhat slightly demanding hardware specs for the title.
Wayfinder requires relatively modest minimum hardware requirements for gamers, asking for an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or a Core i5 6500 processor along with 16GB of memory and the entry-level AMD Radeon RX 5600XT or Nvidia GTX 1650 Super GPU. With 50GB of storage and Windows 10 as other asks along with a broadband internet requirement, most gaming PCs built in the last 5 years should easily qualify for the minimum specifications with ease. Some might, however, need a memory upgrade.
The game does step up significantly in both the CPU and the GPU department when it comes to recommended specs. In the CPU recommendations, the Ryzen 5 3600 is replaced by a considerably faster Ryzen 5 5600X, and the somewhat dated Intel Core i5 6500 sees the Intel Core i7 10700K take its place.
It is also important to note that Wayfinder specifies a storage requirement of 50GB. While that isn’t the smallest of space requirements, it does happen to be under that of most MMOs and recent AAA title releases, but it is anticipated that as content continues to be added to the game, its size will balloon over time, much like most similar titles that started off as much smaller Early Access builds. With gamers protesting load speeds on even SSDs in certain forums, an HDD drive is a no-go as an installation location for the title, even though the developer does not state this outright.
The GPU department sees the bulk of an upgrade in specifications, however, pushing to an AMD RX 6600XT and an RTX 3070 GPU requirement. This is quite curious considering the RTX 3070 is considered a tier above the RX 6600XT, often beating its higher-end RX 6700XT in most titles. This could be largely because of the game’s implementation of FSR allowing for more flexibility when it comes to the AMD recommendation.
Wayfinder currently supports AMD’s FSR 2.2 with potential (but unconfirmed) FSR 3.0 and DLSS support down the road which should allow for some possible relaxation regarding the hardware requirements for GPUs down the line.
Wayfinder’s current published hardware requirements on PC (Source: The Steam Store)
The Minimum Spec Build For Wayfinder
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a mid-range CPU, excellent for gaming setups. This is the fastest six-core AM4-based processor from AMD and features 12 processing threads. According to the company, the processor can deliver 100-plus FPS performance in the world’s most popular games. The processor supports DDR4 memory with a sweet spot of 3600MHz.It offers 4.6 GHz boost clock speeds out of the box with overclocking potential in tow, coupled with 35 MB of cache. This model comes bundled with a quiet and capable AMD Wraith Stealth cooler.
Gigabyte B550 UD AC ATX AM4 Motherboard
The Gigabyte B550 UD AC ATX motherboard perfectly rides the line of luxury features and affordable pricing. This motherboard supports all AM4 CPUs, although it is worth noting that users may need to do BIOS updates for Ryzen 5 CPUs. With 2 NVME M.2 connectors running at PCIe 4.0 speeds, you’re able to expect some blazing-fast read and write speeds from compatible SSDs.
TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z 16 GB DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory
The TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z 16 GB DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory is a tremendous value and is compatible with a wide variety of Intel and AMD motherboards. A streamlined cooling module and high thermal conductive adhesive keep the memory cool during intense gaming sessions. The TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z comes with a lifetime warranty.
LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 PC Case
The LANCOOL 216 is a mid-tower case with all-around mesh panels for optimal airflow. Thanks to its modular rear panel, it can be optimized for air or water cooling. It includes 2 x 160mm and 1 x 140mm pre-installed PWM fans and an innovative rear PCIe fan bracket to maximize airflow.
Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX PSU
The Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX is a power supply unit that is designed to provide reliable and efficient power for your computer. This unit delivers 600 watts of continuous output. It complies with both Intel ATX 12V 2.31 and EPS 12V 2.92 standards, ensuring compatibility with many PC builds.The SMART 600W ATX has received an 80 PLUS certification, indicating 80% efficiency under a typical load. This power supply supports two PCI-E 6 plus 2-pin connectors.
PNY GeForce RTX 3050 8GB GPU
The PNY GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is a graphics card built on the NVIDIA Ampere architecture. It features a core clock speed of 1552MHz and a boost clock speed of 1777MHz, enabling it to handle demanding games. This card is equipped with 8GB GDDR6 (128-bit) on-board memory, 2560 CUDA processing cores, and up to 224 GB/sec memory bandwidth.The card utilizes a PCI Express 4.0 interface for compatibility with various systems and includes DisplayPort 1.4a and HDMI 2.1 outputs for enhanced connectivity options.
Kingston 480GB A400 SATA 3 2.5" Internal SSD
The Kingston 480 GB A400 offers fast start-up, loading, and file transfers, making it an efficient choice for storage needs. With a slim 7 mm form factor, it easily fits into various systems, including thinner notebooks and devices with limited space. This SSD is more reliable and durable than a traditional hard drive, providing a long-lasting solution for storage requirements.Featuring a SATA 3 interface with backward compatibility to SATA 2, the 480 GB A400 offers read speeds of up to 500 MB/s and write speeds of up to 450 MB/s.
This minimum spec build is a beefed-up version of the minimum spec requirements, throwing in both a GPU upgrade and a much beefier CPU than the minimum requirements state. With a value-centric Ryzen 5 5600X in play in addition to an RTX 3050 to handle the game’s GPU needs, it exceeds the developer’s specs meaningfully without pushing into the recommended spec territory for a GPU.
It also pairs 16GB of low latency DDR4 memory clocked at 3200Mhz while throwing in a 480GB Kingston A400 SATA SSD into the mix to allow for faster loading than some older PCs. The B550 motherboard offers dual M2 ports and Wi-Fi AC out of the box while allowing for a CPU upgrade to up to a Ryzen 7 5800X3D down the line.
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Powered by a 600W Thermaltake PSU with a Lian Li Lancool 216 offering significant amounts of airflow, the minimum spec build offers plenty of power under the hood, delivering acceptable performance for gamers looking to adhere to a strict budget.
The Recommended Spec Build For Wayfinder
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
Gamers interested in upgrading to a newer CPU from Team Red will find the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X to be of spectacular value thanks to its high single-core performance, efficient hexacore architecture, and compatibility with newer technology such as PCI-E 5.0 and DDR5 memory. It also abandons AMD’s AM4 design, going for a pin-less processor offering by moving them to the motherboard instead.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo White CPU Air Cooler
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo White CPU Air Cooler is a budget CPU air cooler that considerably ups the ante on stock coolers while delivering solid air-cooled CPU performance potential in a small, inexpensive package that works well for most CPU’s thermal needs.
Asus PRIME B650-PLUS ATX AM5 Motherboard
While not the most flashy motherboard, the Prime B650-PLUS AM5 motherboard from Asus has an impressive feature set, making it a good home for budget-friendly and top-of-line components. This motherboard is ATX and has 4 DDR5 memory slots, 2 M.2 NVME connectors, and built-in 2.5 GB LAN.
Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith RGB Gaming 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL40 Memory
The Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith RAM has faster frequencies, greater capacities, and lower voltages offering excellent gaming performance. In addition, the aluminum heat sink, available in black or white, quickly dissipates heat from the RAM and allows for long-term high performance.
MSI MAG Forge 112R Case
The MSI MAG Forge 112R is an excellent affordable case for both gamers and content creators. Featuring 4 ARGB fans and an included controller box, the case lights up with some spectacular preset effects. A 4 mm tempered glass panel showcases the best components and is easily removed without tools. The case accommodates liquid cooling radiators and promotes efficient cooling through its mesh front panel.
Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 650W PSU
The Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 650W power supply unit (PSU) features a 256-color RGB-lit 140-millimeter Hydraulic-Bearing fan, designed to be low-noise while offering effective cooling performance. This is achieved through fan blades that have been optimized to enhance static pressure, thus promoting the cooling effect. Unique to this PSU, a lighting button at the back controls five different lighting modes, allowing users to select RGB Cycle, Red, Green, Blue, White, or turn the LED off entirely.Accredited with an 80 PLUS Gold rating, the Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 650W promises up to 90 percent efficiency.
ASRock Challenger D Radeon RX 6700 XT
The ASRock Challenger D Radeon RX 6700 XT is an excellent mid-range GPU that does justice to 1080P and 1440P gamers. While it can handle the bulk of modern games at a respectable frame rate at FHD or 2K resolutions, it also does so at a price point where it decimates Nvidia’s RTX 3060/3060TI offerings. It does offer Ray Tracing, but the performance overhead is significantly higher than Nvidia’s 2nd and 3rd gen RT-core enabled RTX 3000 and 4000 GPUs which tend to be at least a generation ahead of the 6700XT’s own implementation.
Crucial P3 Plus 1TB PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD
The Crucial P3 Plus 1TB PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD is an advanced solid-state drive designed to deliver superior performance and storage capabilities. Harnessing NVMe (PCIe Gen4 x4) technology, it boasts impressive sequential read speeds of up to 5,000 MB/s, alongside random read/write speeds of 650K/800K IOPS.The Crucial P3 Plus outperforms its competitors, performing up to 43% faster than the quickest Gen3 NVMe SSDs on the market. Its durability and reliability are evident in its rated mean time to failure (MTTF) of over 1.5 million hours, ensuring extended longevity. Additionally, the SSD offers backward compatibility with Gen3 systems, providing users with the flexibility to use the drive in a variety of setups without sacrificing performance.
This recommended spec build offers considerable power under the hood, leveraging the newer AMD Ryzen 5 7600X’s Zen 4 cores to drive what the developers are hinting is a CPU-bound title on Reddit. Pairing 32GB of DDR5 memory clocked at 6000Mhz to an ASUS Prime B650 motherboard coupled with a fast, but cost-effective PCI-E 4.0 SSD in the shape of the Crucial P3.
The AMD Radeon RX 6700XT continues to shine as one of the most capable and value-centric GPUs in sub $300 price bracket, and while it is considerably beefier than the 6600XT recommendation, the added VRAM and small cost bump along with far better performance make it an acceptable tradeoff for this build.
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In the cooling department, we see MSI’s Mag Forge 112R in a 4 ARGB fan spec coupled with a capable Hyper 212 Halo CPU cooler stepping in to address the lack of a CPU cooler in the box with the Ryzen 5 7600X. This, along with a decent 650W gold-rated Thermaltake PSU squares off an excellent, balanced build to handle Wayfinder in a way that exceeds all recommended specs by the developer.
The Ideal Spec Build for Wayfinder
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is AMD’s latest and greatest CPU when it comes to gaming. With an excellent and highly efficient gaming performance that tops the charts currently, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is here to stay and has a crown to claim thanks to its 3D V-Cache-enabled prowess when it comes to gaming on a PC.The octa-core CPU currently happens to be the fastest in the business for gaming even as it leads efficiency charts at the top, making it a very sought-after gaming upgrade.
MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360 Cooler
The MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360 Cooler will unlock the overclocking potential of AMD and Intel CPUs, with cooling that far surpasses any conventional fan/heatstink combination. Compatible with the most recent Intel LGA 1700 processors, the CoreLiquid S360 features a 7th generation Asetek pump, a 60 mm VRM fan to cool adjacent components, and 3 Silent Gale P12 fans. A beautiful 2.4-inch IPS display keeps gamers and system builders constantly aware of CPU temps, pump and radiator fan speeds, and much more.
v-Color XPrism 7200Mhz DDR5 32GB (CL36)
The v-Color XPrism 7200Mhz DDR5 32GB memory comes with a tight CL 36 CAS latency and great looks. This very promising and well-priced memory additionally offers a great XMP profile for clock speeds at up to 7200Mhz (or potentially higher in some cases) thanks to its Hynix A-DIE offerings.
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-F Gaming Wi-Fi
The ASUS ROG Strix X670E-F Gaming Wi-Fi is an amalgamation of what AMD enthusiasts, motherboard manufacturers, and system builders would approve of at a price that can be considered reasonable compared to the competition. The feature-rich motherboard supports up to 128 GB of DDR5 RAM, 4 M2 Slots, a PCI-Express x16 slot, and up to 17 USB ports, meaning that connectivity should not be an issue for most power users.
Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2
The Enthoo Pro 2 has been designed with extreme performance in mind, featuring Phanteks' innovative High-Performance Fabric that sets a new airflow performance standard in the PC enclosure industry. With an incredibly spacious interior, the Enthoo Pro 2 supports up to SSI-EEB motherboard, dual 480 and dual 360 radiator support simultaneously, dual vertical GPU support, and dual system/PSU support.
MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU
The MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU is built from the ground up to support the ATX 3.0 spec while also being PCI-E 5.0 compatible in a fully modular design without costing an arm and a leg unlike some of its nearest competitors, making it a viable contender for a gaming PC.
ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 4070 Ti OC Edition
The Asus TUF RTX 4070TI is a silent but top-tier performer that builds on the TUF lineup’s advantages while trading at a minor premium from Nvidia’s stock Founders Edition that brings no-nonsense overclocking to a very capable vapor chamber to maintain tight thermal control over excellent performance.
Samsung 990 PRO SSD 2TB
The Samsung 990 PRO is a top-tier solid-state drive designed for exceptional performance, featuring significant speed enhancements over its predecessor. It offers a massive boost in random read and write speeds that are 40% and 55% faster than the 980 PRO.In addition, it provides high input/output operations per second (IOPS) up to 1400K/1550K, and sequential read and write speeds that reach up to 7,450 and 6,900 MB/s, approaching the maximum performance of PCIe 4.0. This SSD is not only high-performing but also energy-efficient. It provides up to 50% improved performance per watt over the 980 PRO.
The ideal build for Wayfinder exceeds its hardware specs in all meaningful ways. It picks up the best in class for gaming, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU, pairing it with an ASUS ROG Strix X670E-F motherboard and 32GB of fast 7200MHz memory from V-color.
On the GPU end, the ASUS TUF RTX 4070TI comes into play as one of the fastest GPUs currently on offer under $1000, offering excellent rasterization performance. It also supports FSR2.2 which the game currently runs and has DLSS in play when the game potentially moves to Unreal Engine 5 down the road.
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On the casing end, the full-tower Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 allows for easier expansion down the road while comfortably housing the tri-slot MSI CoreLiquid S360 cooler and the 1000W MSI MPG A1000 PSU, allowing for plenty of customization and changes down the road if needed.
The ideal build is significantly faster than the recommended build but also spends considerable amounts of money on aesthetic gains for the PC with money spent on the motherboard, cooler, and case forming the bulk of it. It is quite well-balanced and easy to upgrade with a high-end motherboard, PSU, cooler, and case allowing for easy access to future upgrades down the line.
FAQ
Q: Where is Wayfinder currently available?
Wayfinder is available in Early Access on PC and PlayStation. An Xbox console version is expected to ship later. It starts at $20 for the base bundle that offers Early Access and goes all the way up to $150 for the Exalted Founder’s Bundle for gamers willing to splurge on Digital Extremes' new title.
Q: Does Wayfinder Support FSR?
Wayfinder currently supports FSR 2.2 as part of its early access offering with potential support for DLSS and FSR3 expected, but not confirmed down the line.
