Yes, dual-core processors can run GTA 5 smoothly.
Yes, dual-core processors can run GTA 5 smoothly.
You're checking if GTA 5 will work on your Pentium E5300 at 2.6 GHz. It should run, but expect performance to be limited compared to modern systems.
Run should start the game. It’s likely to function well in playable FPS settings. There’s no doubt it will work.
You're likely to face challenges and even struggle to make it work. In my opinion, to enjoy GTA5 smoothly you should aim for at least the minimum requirements: around 60GB of free space on an SSD, a large game size, fast disk speeds, a modern quad-core processor, and a powerful GPU like an R9 280x or 960 with at least 3GB VRAM. For handling high-resolution textures, you'll need about 8GB of RAM. If you can meet those specs, you'll get a solid experience. If you exceed them? It will be amazing.
I previously owned a Pentium G3258 at 4.2ghz paired with an MSI gaming R9 290. The game became extremely difficult to play. I managed around 60fps but experienced frequent drops, skips, and noticeable lag. There were also texture issues—especially on roads and buildings—that would suddenly vanish, even when running high settings. Lowering the settings might improve performance, but I hesitated because my GPU was quite powerful. This experience pushed me to upgrade to a 4790k and highlighted how many modern games now demand more than two CPU cores.