we are more than a month away from the next major update, Square Enix has released the benchmark for Dawntrail so players can prepare their hardware and character appearances when the expansion comes out. Since the benchmark tests how well your PC will run Dawntrail, a benchmark score will help players learn if they need an upgrade. 

What is an FFXIV Benchmark?

Square Enix regularly releases benchmark apps right before new expansions go live. This software lets players see how well their hardware can run the upcoming major updates. The benchmark will test your device’s capabilities by running a series of cutscenes and footage while featuring a score for each instance. 

The score fluctuates occasionally, but a finalized result will be shown at the end. This mark will tell whether players can run Dawntrail or not. Fortunately, only one result will tell you if you cannot play the expansion since other scores will tell you that your device is compatible at varying degrees.

FFXIV Dawntrail Benchmark Scores

We have eight categories that show numerical ranges and how they rate your device. These scores will be displayed at the end of the cutscene, so you don’t have to do any calculations to figure out your mark. Each category will tell you how well your hardware will run the next expansion or if you need to make adjustments in-game. Here are all the Dawntrail Benchmark Scores:

Extremely High Performance

15,000+

PC can easily run the Dawntrail expansion on the max settings.

Very Hihgh Performance

11,000 to 14,999

PC can optimally run Dawntrail at higher resolutions.

High Performance

8,000 to 10,999

PC is capable of running Dawntrail at higher resolutions.

Fairly High Performance

6,000 to 7,999

PC can run Dawntrail, but the efficiency at running at higher resolutions will vary.

Standard Performance

4,000 to 5,999

PC can easily run Dawntrail on default settings.

Slight Lower Performance

2,000 to 3,999

PC can run Dawntrail but will occasionally experience slowdowns. In-game settings should prioritize performance.

Low Performance

1,000 to 1,999

PC can run Dawntrail but will experience significant slowdowns and need to adjust in-game settings to the minimum.

Insufficient Performance

Under 1,000

PC cannot run Dawntrail.

These scores are highly accurate, so players should not ignore the comments when they get a Slight Lower Performance or less. Those with an Insufficient rating shouldn’t attempt to launch Dawntrail because it might cause errors on their hardware.

How to Use FFXIV Dawntrail Benchmark

You can download and install the app by going to the FFXIV Lodestone site and searching for the official Dawntrail Benchmark post. After downloading the files, you can extract and send the ZIP file to your preferred location. Then, look for the "ffxiv-dawntrail-bench" application and launch it. 

Once loaded, you can run the app to test your hardware by using the default Warrior of Light model or creating your character appearance. If you choose the latter, you can use your pre-existing model from the FFXIV game by selecting the "load appearance data." Alternatively, you can also create a brand-new customized look, which includes a new female Hrothgar avatar. Before starting the benchmark test, you can tweak its settings depending on your preference.

What are the FFXIV Dawntrail System Requirements

We have the minimum and recommended hardware to run the game if you want to know the required specs before you get the benchmark app. Having either will let you play the upcoming expansion without any significant issues. Here are the recommended and minimum PC System Requirements for FFXVI Dawntrail:

Recommended Settings

  • OS: Windows 10 or 11 64-bit
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-9700 or higher
  • Memory: 16GB or higher
  • Available Disk Space: 140GB on SSD or higher
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA Geforce RTX 2060 (6GB), AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, or higher
  • Screen Resolution: 1920x1080
  • Sound Card: DirectSound supported sound card
  • DirectX: DirectX 11

Minimum Settings

  • OS: Windows 10 or 11 64-bit
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-7700 or higher
  • Memory: 8GB or higher
  • Available Disk Space: 140GB on Hard Disk or higher
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA Geforce GTX970 (4GB), AMD Radeon RX 480, or higher
  • Screen Resolution: 1280x720
  • Sound Card: DirectSound supported sound card
  • DirectX: DirectX 11

If you have the recommended setting or higher, Dawntrail will run without any problems. However, if you are running on the minimum specs, you may have to adjust the in-game settings to get optimal performance.