While Bethesda’sStarfieldoffered a sizeable universe to explore when it was released, it also marked Bethesda’s first foray into a new IP in nearly 3 decades.
That meant that, unlike most of its other universes such as Fallout and Elder Scrolls, many users want more content and lore to get the most out of its latest open-world RPG offering.
Starfield: Shattered Spaceis the answer to those requests, building onto the lore of House Va’ruun and their home planet, Va’runn’kai while adding plenty of locations, characters, and enemies as it fleshes out an entirely different storyline that can be played without having to complete the main game’s storyline while complementing the universe it is a part of.
Starfield: Shattered Space Hardware Requirements Revisited
Starfield: Shattered Space has hardware requirements that are identical to the base game (source: Steam) with no major upgrades in play.
This means that most PC gamers with the base game might be inclined to purchase the DLC. Users preloading it currently need as much as an additional 12GB to download the DLC, but this might change with a day-one patch possibly in play.
Given Starfield’sgargantuan SSD requirements, it might now also be a good time to revisit its other requirements and upgrade or build a brand-new gaming PC that can handle Starfield’s hardware requirements with ease.
The team at Game Rant has put together 3 gaming PC build guides as a result, all of which cater specifically to Starfield’s hardware requirements, split into entry-level, mid-range, and high-end PC options below.
The Recommended Starfield: Shattered Space PC Build
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.
Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360L Core ARGB
The MasterLiquid 360L Core ARGB from Cooler Master is a 360mm AIO cooling system that features three 120mm ARGB fans that can ramp up to 1750 RPM. There is an RGB Cooler Master logo on top of the water block as well. It comes with premium CryoFuze thermal paste that has better thermal conducivity than regular pre-applied thermal paste.
G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB (AMD Expo)
G.SKILL Trident Z5 Neo RGB series is a specialized RAM kit for the AM5 platform with up to 6000 MT/s speed. The RAM kit brings exceptional RGB lighting on top of the heat spreaders and works at low latency. It’s decently stable at the advertised speed and makes an ideal choice for gaming builds.
NZXT N7 B650E Gaming Wi-Fi 6 Motherboard
The NZXT N7 B650E Gaming Wi-Fi 6 Motherboard is an excellent AMD socket AM5-based motherboard based on the 650E chipset with decent overclocking, excellent power delivery, and above-average expansion slots in tow. It comes in a white or all-black design that is enthusiast-friendly in terms of its design and feature set.
SAMSUNG 990 PRO NVMe 4.0 SSD 1TB
The Samsung 990 Pro is Samsung’s latest and greatest PCI-E 4.0 SSD endeavor. It delivers blazing-fast read and write speeds with a solid 5-year warranty and excellent software support in tow via the Samsung Magician software suite allowing for fine-grained control to users giving them the ability to tweak, benchmark, and customize how their SSDs function.
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC brings about 20% improvement over the non-Super edition for a slightly higher price and comes in a dual axial-tech fan design with factory-overclocked. Boasting a clock speed of 2550MHz in the OC mode, it provides a slight advantage to the Founders Edition along with a better cooling solution.
XPG Core Reactor 750W
The XPG Core Reactor 750W is an 80 Plus Gold rated ATX PSU that offers full modularity. It is an all-black PSU certified by Cybenetics for its efficiency and noise levels. It features a 120mm 2400 RPM fan with an FDB (Fluid Dynamic Bearing) design. XPG, which is a gaming sub-brand of Adata, has tuned the fan to stay at 660 RPM up till 50% load. Connectivity options on the XPG Core Reactor 750W include 1 24-pin connection, 2 ATX 12V 4+4 pin connections, 6 PCIe connections, 12 SATA connections, and 4 Molex connections.
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.
Target Resolution/Graphics Preset:2K Ultra or 4K High Preset
The build above incorporates both mid-range choices that currently dictate the market in terms of choices: the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Nvidia’s RTX 4070 SUPER in a cost-effective ASUS Dual trim.
The 7800X3D is adequately cooled by a tri-slot Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360L AIO cooler and an airflow-centric Lian Li Lancool 216 case that offer value for money and performance alike at their respective price points.
With 32GB of G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RAM clocked at 6000 MT/s and with a low latency of CL30 on offer, it delivers performance with the tighter timings that AMD’s Zen 4-based CPUs benefit from, even as the build incorporates 1TB of Samsung’s 990 Pro SSD storage to offer a fast and reliable medium for Starfield’s demanding needs in that department.
On the connectivity front, NZXT’s N7 B650E motherboard offers plenty of ports, Wi-Fi 6E, and an all-black or white-themed design in the same spec, catering to users wanting either color offering of the motherboard.
The build also leverages a capable and reliable gold-rated XPG Core Reactor PSU to get the job done as it offers upgrade potential for a GPU up to an RTX 4080 SUPER for users wanting to upgrade down the line.
The Ultimate High-End Starfield: Shattered Space PC Build
Intel Core i9 14900KF 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU
The Intel Core i9 14900KF 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU is Intel’s highest-end 14th generation CPU sans an iGPU and offers the highest boost clocks for a consumer-grade CPU from Intel to date, clocking in at an impressive 6 GHz natively.It trades at a small discount over the 14900K while skipping an iGPU under the hood, requiring a discrete solution for system builders and end users to provide a functional PC experience.
CORSAIR Dominator Titanium RGB DDR5 7200MHz CL36
CORSAIR Dominator Titanium RGB DDR5 7200MHz CL36 is a highly stable RAM kit that boasts a crazy good clock speed of 7200MHz with low latency. Perfect for Intel platforms, the Dominator Titanium also provides the new 24GB memory configuration and is ideal for overclockers and productivity enthusiasts. The new design features a decent-sized heatsink over the module with beautiful RGB LEDs.
ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler
The ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler is ASUS’s latest premium tri-fan AIO that offers better cooling, an upgraded LCD, and a new Asetek 8th generation pump as some of its salient features. Thanks to a thicker radiator and a new cold plate, it can reduce temperatures drastically versus both its predecessor and its competition.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II Motherboard
The ROG Strix Z790-A GAMING Wi-Fi II from ASUS is a beautiful-looking white motherboard, perfect for all-white gaming setups. Compatible with Intel’s LGA1700 socket, the motherboard boasts a 16+1+2 phase power design. The I/O shield and most of the panels covering the various connectors are white and there is a screen that shows the RGB ROG logo.
Crucial T700 2TB PCIe Gen5 SSD
The Crucial T700 2TB PCIe Gen5 SSD is a blazing fast latest generation SSD that can reach read speeds of up to 12,400 MBps and write speeds of up to 11,800 MBps. It is one of the fastest SSDs on the market and has a solid endurance of 1200TB TBW. Crucial also offers a 5-year limited warranty with this SSD.
XFX Speedster MERC310 AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX Black 24G
AMD’s Flagship RX 7900XTX is a behemoth that trades blows with Nvidia’s RTX 4080 and sometimes the RTX 4090 and regularly comes out ahead versus the former.With 24GB of GDDR6X memory and the latest in connectivity thanks to support for Displayport 2.1 backed by one of the best cooling designs we have seen on a GPU, the XFX Speedster MERC310 AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX Black 24G is a force to be reckoned with.It is a marked improvement on everything that makes the 7900XTX such a potent performer, but better and faster than the stock unit.
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.
Fractal Design North Chalk White
The North by Fractal Design is a stylish and sophisticated PC case, which uses real wooden accents to turn the average PC into a centerpiece. The North can be further customized, with the option of a tempered glass or mesh side panel. This case fits all motherboard sizes up to the standard ATX and is an excellent choice for both air-cooled and water-cooled systems, with radiator support up to 360 mm.
Target Resolution/Graphics Preset:4K Ultra Gaming Preset
The build above takes advantage of its larger allocated budget by opting for a CPU that is decidedly faster than AMD’s offerings when it comes to Starfield (Intel’s Core I9 14900KF) while relying on AMD’s significant FSR-infused strength on the GPU front, opting for AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX from XFX.
On the cooling front, where Intel’s CPU is known to be demanding when running under load, the ASUS ROG Ryujinn III AIO offers an expensive, but aesthetic choice that delivers performance that matches most high-end coolers without compromise to match the capable ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A motherboard that functions as the build’s centerpiece.
With 32GB of Corsair’s Dominator Titanium RAMs with 7200MHz of XMP-rated speeds, a Crucial T700 SSD in a 2TB trim that offers PCI-E 5.0 speeds to the user, the build pulls out all the stops when it comes to storage and memory alike.
MSI’s MPG A1000G PSU offers plenty of power for future expansion needs or GPU upgrades of up to an RTX 4090 down the line, even as the white-themed Fractal Design North case in a Chalk White offering rounds of what would be an excellent color-specific build sans the GPU - For those wanting to match the GPU in terms of color, ASROCK has a great optionthat offers a white theme but adds an $100 premium to the overall costof the build recommendations versus its XFX alternative.
The Starter Entry-Level Starfield: Shattered Space PC Build
AMD Ryzen 5 7600
The Ryzen 5 7600 is the entry-level, yet very capable, gaming CPU from AMD that features 6 cores, 12 threads, and 32MB of L3 cache. It has a base clock speed of 3.8GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.1GHz. The Ryzen 5 7600 is an unlocked processor with a default TDP of 65W. It also has integrated RDNA 2 graphics and is the cheapest offering in the lineup with an iGPU.
MSI PRO A620M-E Pro Series Motherboard
The MSI PRO A620M-E Pro Series Motherboard is a budget motherboard that can easily handle entry-level AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series CPUs.It supports overclocked DDR5 RAM, a single M2 PCI-E slot, and 6 USB ports, allowing users to build both, an entry-level PC and an HTPC with a newer Socket AM5-based CPU.While it is marketed as a business line product, users can easily use it to get budget PC gaming builds going without any tweaks needed.
Kingston NV2 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe Internal SSD
This internal solid-state drive from Kingston has 1 TB of digital storage capacity. The NV2 series SSD is designed to be compatible with laptops. It operates on PCIe 4.0 Gen 4x4 technology, features an M.2 2280 form factor, and delivers read speeds of up to 3,500 MB/s. It has lower power requirements, generating minimal heat, which makes it perfect for compact devices.
MSI GeForce RTX™ 4060 VENTUS 2X BLACK 8G OC
The MSI GeForce RTX 4060 VENTUS 2X BLACK 8G OC is an excellent GPU offering as far as RTX 4060 offerings go. It offers an excellent, balanced take on Nvidia’s entry-level Ada Lovelace-based RTX 4000 series, offering low power consumption, a compact design, and a single 8-pin power connector to handle its power needs, making it a silent performer that delivers on its promise.
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.
ANTEC AX61
ANTEC AX61 is a gorgeous mid-tower that is priced much lower than cases with similar functionality. It features a spacious interior that is clearly visible through the tempered glass panel and has 4x 120mm RGB fans pre-installed. The front panel is fully meshed and results in a balanced airflow inside the case for better heat dissipation.
Target Resolution/Graphics Preset:2K High or FHD Ultra Preset
For users looking to get started in the world of Starfield or to go for upgrades to an existing PC once the new DLC is in play, the build above gets the job done even as it pushes just above the preorder cost of a PS5 Pro currently.
It leverages the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 CPU which comes with its own stock cooler, an MSI RTX 4060 GPU, and cost-effective PCI-E 4.0 storage from Kingston to get the job done, even as it remains a capable budget-friendly option on other fronts.
With 16GB of DDR5 RAM from Patriot and an entry-level 600W PSU from Thermaltake to keep costs low, the build also cuts corners by opting for an MSI Pro A620M-E motherboard to connect all its peripherals.
All of this is housed in an excellent Antec AX61 case that delivers value for money even as it is considered a relative splurge on a build that otherwise runs an extremely tight spending regimen while offering users the ability to play Starfield at a reasonable frame rate at FHD or QHD resolutions.
Starfield: Shattered Space
WHERE TO PLAY
Shattered Space is the first upcoming DLC for Bethedsa’s space RPG Starfield, due Fall 2024. It expands the core story, adding a horror-like twist as players head to the homeworld of House Va’ruun.
FAQ
Q: How Much Space Does Starfield: Shattered Space Require?
While preloads of Starfield: Shattered Space on PC and console point to a 12GB download, it must be noted that it does not exist in a vacuum - the base game (which requires 125GB of storage space) is required play. Users must also account for a potential day 1 patch and ideally have spare storage to allow for faster patching on the Steam platform.
The team at Game Rant recommends having at least 150GB of free space for those users who are installing Starfield: Shattered Space from scratch as a result.
Q: How Much Does Starfield: Shattered Space Cost?
It is also a component of the Starfield Premium edition and the Premium Upgrade DLC which users who already have the base game can purchase to get the DLC and other extras including:
- Constellation Skin Pack: Equinox Laser Rifle, Spacesuit, Helmet and Boost Pack
