The System Chip is a basic electronics component in Subnautica 2, built at a Fabricator and required for several early- and mid-game craftables, including the Tadpole submersible. It is a self-contained system-on-a-chip described in-game as a compact, energy-efficient mobile computer.
System Chip recipe and materials
The recipe is short, but it depends on a Wiring Kit, which itself requires you to gather copper-based components first. Quartz is the simpler half of the equation, found as clusters on the seafloor in shallower biomes.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | Electronics |
| Source | Crafting |
| Crafted at | Fabricator |
| Materials | 1× Wiring Kit, 2× Quartz |
What the System Chip is used for
The System Chip is an ingredient in tools, base modules, vehicle upgrades, and the Tadpole itself. You will end up making several over a playthrough, so it is worth keeping a small Quartz and Wiring Kit reserve at your base.
| Station | Item | System Chips needed |
|---|---|---|
| Fabricator | Rebreather | 1 |
| Habitat Builder | Scanner Station | 1 |
| Modification Station | Engine Efficiency module | 1 |
| Modification Station | Tadpole Depth Module Mk. 1 | 1 |
| Vehicle Fabricator | Tadpole | 1 |
How to make a System Chip
Step 1: Collect 2 Quartz. Quartz appears as translucent, hexagonal crystal clusters on the seafloor and can be picked up by hand without special tools.
Step 2: Craft a Wiring Kit at a Fabricator. The Wiring Kit is the bottleneck ingredient, so make sure you have the copper-based components it requires before heading back to base.
Step 3: At any Fabricator, open the Electronics category and craft the System Chip using 1 Wiring Kit and 2 Quartz. The finished chip will appear in your inventory and can be slotted directly into any recipe that calls for it.
Once you have a stable supply line for Quartz and copper, the System Chip stops being a gating resource and becomes routine. Keep at least two or three on hand before attempting to build the Tadpole or your first depth module, since you will burn through them quickly across the vehicle and its early upgrades.