Prison Architect: PC requirements and the PC you need
IndieSimulationStrategy
Cover artwork © the game's publisher.
About Prison Architect
Prison Architect is a building and management game from Introversion Software. You design and run a prison, from laying out cells, canteens and workshops to hiring guards and staff, while keeping the inmates fed and under control and stopping riots and escape attempts. It also lets you offer education and work to help prisoners reform. It is single player and supports Steam Workshop mods. It is rated PEGI 16. Only the minimum specs are listed and they are low, so any of our gaming PCs runs it easily.
What Prison Architect needs
In plain words: to play at all it needs not stated by the makers, with at least 6GB of memory.
| Part | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics card | Nvidia 8600 / Radeon equivalent (2009 era) | Not published |
| Processor | Intel Core2 Duo 2.4Ghz or Higher / AMD 3Ghz or Higher | Not published |
| Memory (RAM) | 6 GB RAM | Not published |
| Storage | 400 MB HD space | Not published |
From the Steam store page, checked 29 October 2026. The makers sometimes change these; their page is always right.
Will my computer play Prison Architect?
On most computers we find the graphics card for you. Add your processor and memory, and we will tell you if it plays, and what to upgrade if not.
A low-spec PC or a high-spec PC?
On a PC that only just meets the minimum, the game will start and play, but on low settings: simpler shadows and textures, shorter view distances and fewer frames each second, so fast moments can feel less smooth. A 1080p screen is the sensible match.
On a PC that meets or beats the recommended spec, you can turn the settings up: sharper textures, proper shadows and lighting, more detail in the distance, and a smoother picture. A stronger PC also lets you use a sharper 1440p or high-refresh screen.
Latest updates from the makers
- 🚀 New Bundle: The Last Starship x Prison Architect 🚀 (3 February 2026)
- Introducing the Prison Architect Sweater! (6 November 2025)
The newest official announcements for Prison Architect on Steam, checked every night. More games: this week's game updates.
Our PCs that meet the published spec
Refurbished1080p gaming
Sandbox Robin 3400G 1060 refurbished gaming PC
Ryzen 5 3400G + GTX 1060
Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 3400G (4 cores, 8 threads, built-in Radeon graphics) (tested)
- Graphics
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
- Memory
- 16GB DDR4 memory
- Storage
- 500GB WD Blue 2.5-inch SSD (tested) + 1TB 3.5-inch hard drive (tested) + 1TB hard drive
- Windows
- Windows 11 Home not included (optional extra, installed by us)
£579
Built to order
Games this PC plays
- Fortnite Plays well
- Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
- Roblox Plays well
- VALORANT Plays well
- Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
- League of Legends Plays well
- EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays on low settings
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays on low settings
- Marvel Rivals Plays on low settings
- Call of Duty® Plays on low settings
Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.
Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester
Refurbished1080p gaming
Sandbox Typhoon 1060X refurbished gaming PC
Ryzen 5 4500 + GTX 1060
Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 4500 (6 cores, 12 threads)
- Graphics
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
- Memory
- 16GB DDR4 memory
- Storage
- 256GB SSD + 1TB 3.5-inch hard drive (tested) + 1TB hard drive
- Windows
- Windows 11 Home not included (optional extra, installed by us)
£599
Built to order
Games this PC plays
- Fortnite Plays well
- Minecraft: Java Edition Plays on low settings
- Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
- Roblox Plays well
- VALORANT Plays well
- Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
- League of Legends Plays well
- EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays on low settings
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays on low settings
- Marvel Rivals Plays on low settings
Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.
Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester
Refurbished1080p gaming
Sandbox Jingle 3400G 1660S refurbished gaming PC
Ryzen 5 3400G + GTX 1660 Super
Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 3400G (4 cores, 8 threads, built-in Radeon graphics) (tested)
- Graphics
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB
- Memory
- 16GB DDR4 memory
- Storage
- 500GB WD Blue 2.5-inch SSD (tested)
- Windows
- Windows 11 Home not included (optional extra, installed by us)
£659
Built to order
Games this PC plays
- Fortnite Plays well
- Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
- Roblox Plays well
- VALORANT Plays well
- Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
- League of Legends Plays well
- EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays on low settings
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays on low settings
- Marvel Rivals Plays on low settings
- Call of Duty® Plays on low settings
Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.
Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester
Questions about Prison Architect on PC
What graphics card do I need for Prison Architect?
The makers say the minimum is Nvidia 8600 / Radeon equivalent (2009 era). In plain words: not stated by the makers for a good experience.
How much memory (RAM) does Prison Architect need?
At least 6GB. 16GB is the sensible amount for a gaming PC today.
Is Prison Architect multiplayer?
It is mainly a single-player game.
Can a gaming PC from Sandbox Computers run Prison Architect?
Our PCs meet the minimum spec. Ask us and we will suggest one that runs it well.
How we match: we compare the graphics card and the memory in each PC with the makers' spec, because those decide most of how a game runs. For very new or demanding games, ask us and we will check the processor too. More help: graphics cards explained, how much RAM, which screen.