v0.31:System requirements

v50.14 · v0.47 · v0.34 · v0.31.25 · v0.28 · v0.23 This article is about an older version of DF. More Info · V

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If you're looking for information on improving the performance of Dwarf Fortress on your computer, see Maximizing Framerate. For installation instructions, see Installation.

OS

• Windows requires XP SP3 or newer.
• Linux runs natively or using Wine.
• Mac needs Intel chip. (OS X Lion works, but requires a short modification to run)

Note: The 40d article has detailed info on Non-Windows OS' that is probably mostly still valid.

RAM

DF is not particularly RAM-hungry. Expect the process to allocate between 300 and 700 MB with medium regions. With 512MB you may be a bit on the short side, but 1 GB is absolutely sufficient. World Generation can eat up far more than that, but Generation will only be slower if less RAM is available. Otherwise the influence of RAM on game speed is limited, as DF is not loading and offloading big chunks of data much.

There are no detailed requirements per se. However, because simply saying the more RAM you have and the faster your CPU is the better is not all that helpful, here are some stats that users have experienced while playing this game on a variety of different environments. (Please note that ‘fast game-play’ and ‘slow game-play’ are subjective terms and not intended to relay anything specific or exact. What may be fast to one person might be slow to another). It's also essential that you mention the state of your fortress - how many dwarves there are, animals, terrain, speedups, and so forth.

What is SDL and Legacy version difference?

SDL is a cross-platform application framework. The SDL version of DF uses that framework and so runs on mac and linux, along with including Baughn's new opengl code, which should be faster, allows png files for tilesets, zooming with the mousewheel, etc. The SDL version is quite new, so isn't proven yet. It's also being actively worked on, getting features like "separate files for graphics and font", and true-type font support.

Legacy is Toady's old code, only kept in case the SDL version doesn't work for someone. There is no legacy version for mac or linux.

Experiential reports

Report format

Please read the report template page before contributing any reports

Reports

Configuration type: AMD based, full desktop PC

Game info

Game version: 31.08 - graphics

World size: Medium region (default, nonmodified)

Embark size: 5x5

Age of fort: 6 years

Number of dwarves: 140

Average fps: 6-14

Default/nondefault raws: nondefault, dwarven speed modified, some smelting recipes modified.

Tileset in use: Phoebus prebuilt version

Amount of stone dug: 8693 at the moment of measure

Amount of water and state: A brook, dammed and diverted into big cisterns for trap use, mostly static and pressurised.

Approximate amount of z-levels: Beyond 200 below the ground level, around 5 upwards from ground.

RAM usage of game: Around 1.25 GB when playing

Draw mode in init.txt: VBO

PC info

CPU: AMD 7750x2 BE @ 2.7GHz

MBO: Gigabyte GA-MA78G-DS3h

RAM: 4GB DDR2 800

GPU: XFX GTX260

OS: Windows 7 x64 Ultimate

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Game info

Game version: 31.12

World size: Smaller Region

Embark size: 4x4

Number of dwarves: 7

Average fps: 90-100

Default/nondefault raws: Giant Eagles can be everywhere. No aquifers, and one cavern layer.

Tileset in use: Ironhand.

Amount of stone dug: ~150

Amount of water and state: A dozen murky pools.

Approximate amount of z-levels: 40-50.

RAM usage of game: Unknown.

Draw mode in init.txt: 2D.

PC info

CPU: 1.6 GHz Intel Centrino.

MBO: Unknown.

RAM: 512 MB.

GPU: Unknown.

OS: Windows XP.

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Configuration type: Intel Based, Fairly clean copy of Windows, Defragged weekly and virus scanned daily at night.

Game info

Game version: .31.18 Graphics

World size: Medium

Embark size: 3x3

Age of fort: 3 years

Number of dwarves: 100

Average fps: ~95

Default/nondefault raws: Default raws

Tileset in use: Phoebus

Amount of stone dug: ~600 blocks

Amount of water and state: ~200 blocks, with river

Approximate amount of z-levels: 7 in use around 150-200 in all

RAM usage of game: 330 Mb.

Draw mode in init.txt: 2d

PC info

CPU: Core 2 Quad 2.6 Ghz

MBO: Asus P5N-D

RAM: 6 Gigs DDR2 (x2 1 Gig, x2 2 Gig)

GPU: EVGA Geforce Gtx 465 1 Gig

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64

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Configuration type: Thinkpad T42

Game info

Game version: v0.31.25

World size: Medium

Embark size: 4x4

Age of fort: 10 years

Number of dwarves: ~200

Number of animals: ~250

Average fps: 12-15

Default/nondefault raws: default

Tileset in use: default

Amount of stone dug: ~15000

Amount of water and state: 1 flowing river that splits and merges back, numerous murky pools

Approximate amount of z-levels: 20 in use, 45 total

RAM usage of game: 600-900mb

Draw mode in init.txt: VBO

PC info

CPU: Pentium M 1.8ghz

MBO:

RAM: 1gb

GPU: ATI Mobility Radeon 7500

OS: Windows XP Pro SP3

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Configuration type: Self-built PC from 2008

Game info

Game version: v0.34.07

World size: Small

Embark size: 4x4

Age of fort: 1 year

Number of dwarves: 15

Average fps: 100

Default/nondefault raws: default

Tileset in use: Mayday

Amount of stone dug: ~3000

Amount of water and state: About 15 murky pools, no river or stream

Approximate amount of z-levels: 10

RAM usage of game: 622 Mb

Draw mode in init.txt: 2D

PC info

CPU: Intel Core2Quad Q6600 @ 2,4Ghz

MBO: Gigabyte P35-DS3L

RAM: 4Gb DDR2 @ 800Mhz

GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD5850

OS: Windows 7 Professional x64

Archived reports

Older, incomplete reports can be found here.