Baldur's Gate 3 was released for PC on the 3rd of August 2023 and comes backed with some of the most glowing early access reviews for gamers on Steam. With early access only containing approximately 1/3rd of the title's actual content, Baldur's Gate 3 offers a mountain of content as users look to experience the herald of the next generation of RPGs on PC in all its glory, with Larian Studios delivering on its promises with ease.
Baldur's Gate 3: System Requirements
Baldur's Gate 3 is available on Steam for PC which also publishes its current minimum and recommended specifications to allow for a smooth or ideal experience for gamers. Based on a cursory view, this seems to be fairly middle-of-the-road, which is to be expected for a title that has been in Steam Early Access since October 2020.
With a just 8GB of RAM and a DX11 (or higher) GPU with at least 4GB of VRAM in play, the minimum specifications seem to be reasonably low compared to most new titles from 2023, though the 150GB of SSD space requirement is a glaring distinction that is worth pointing out for gamers with limited storage or upgrade potential down the road (an SSD requirements and HDD users might have issues with the game due to slower read times)
- MINIMUM:
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Intel I5 4690 / AMD FX 8350
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GTX 970 / RX 480 (4GB+ of VRAM)
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 150 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD required
At the recommended end, however, there is a better CPU recommendation as well as a more mid-range GPU requirement that shows up in the form of an 8GB+ VRAM requirement and a beefier Nvidia/AMD GPU suggestion with SSD storage requirements remaining unchanged and relatively modest going into 2024.
- RECOMMENDED:
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i7 8700K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia 2060 Super / RX 5700 XT (8GB+ of VRAM)
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 150 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD required
Baldur's Gate 3 System Requirements (Source: The Steam Client)
What Do The Hardware Requirements For Baldur's Gate 3 Mean?
Baldur's Gate 3, unlike some other titles, had a playable game option on Steam as part of its early access offering for nearly 3 years, making it a much easier affair to verify whether the game is playable without issues on certain PC hardware. Considering the Windows 10 recommendation and the mid-range CPU, GPU, and memory requirements, users can expect most modern gaming PCs and laptops to be able to handle the title, with higher-end versions being able to take full advantage of the title, playing it the way the developer intended.
The emphasis on an SSD in both the minimum and the recommended specs does tend to cement the need for better, faster storage, but the 150GB recommended is hardly standard, pushing towards the higher end in terms of storage requirements for a title that otherwise is middling in terms of hardware requirements versus other titles releasing this year.
The team at Game ZXC is aiming to make the search for an ideal PC build easier by offering 3 balanced builds that cater to budget/minimum, recommended, and ideal hardware requirements for gamers looking for a smooth Baldur's Gate 3 experience out of the gate (pun intended).
The Best Gaming Laptops To Play Baldur’s Gate 3
Here are some of the best gaming laptops gamers can pick to play Baldur's Gate 3 without any compromises on the experience.
The Minimum Spec PC Build For Baldur's Gate 3
Estimated Build Cost: ~$747
Target Resolution: FHD (1920 x 1080), Medium/High Preset
-
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G 8-Core, 16-Thread CPU
The AMD Ryzen 7 8700G 8-Core, 16-Thread CPU is a powerful APU that delivers modest gaming performance for PCs that do not currently utilize a discrete GPU by using the fastest iGPU solution currently available to end users.
It comes bundled with a stock cooler, an octa-core CPU config, and a rated TDP of 65W, making it a great well-priced alternative to many budget CPU and GPU combos on the market currently.
The AMD Ryzen 7 8700G also happens to be one of AMD's first desktop CPUs that offers the AMD Ryzen AI engine built into the chip. -
MSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi
MSI B650 Gaming Plus is an excellent choice for AMD CPU users who are looking to get the job done without spending over $200. The 15-power phase VRM will be adequate for mid-range CPUs, while the multiple PCI-E slots will allow users to add various expansion cards. There are plenty of connectivity options too, including several fan headers, a built-in WiFi adapter, fast USB headers, and even troubleshooting options.
-
G.Skill Flare X5 Series (AMD Expo) 6000MHz 32GB (CL36)
The G.Skill Flare X5 Series RAM kits are DDR5 RAMs that operate at an overclocked 6000MHz sweet spot for AMD AM5 processors with a lower latency EXPO profile available to allow users to overclock their memory with a push of a button while costing significantly lower than the competition.
-
Kingston NV2 500G M.2 2280 NVMe Internal SSD
The Kingston NV2 500G SSD uses Gen 4x4 NVMe PCIe technology. This drive delivers read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s and write speeds up to 2,800 MB/s. It's designed for systems requiring fast performance, in both laptop and desktop builds. It is suitable for most applications thanks to the compact, single-sided M.2 2280 design. And the low power requirements mean that it produces minimal heat.
-
Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX PSU
The Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX is a power supply unit that is designed to provide reliable and efficient power for your computer. This unit delivers 600 watts of continuous output. It complies with both Intel ATX 12V 2.31 and EPS 12V 2.92 standards, ensuring compatibility with many PC builds.
The SMART 600W ATX has received an 80 PLUS certification, indicating 80% efficiency under a typical load. This power supply supports two PCI-E 6 plus 2-pin connectors. -
Zalman T7 ATX Mid Tower PC Case
The Zalman T7 ATX Mid-Tower PC Case features a front mesh panel for maximum airflow and a transparent side viewing window. The case includes 2 pre-installed 120 mm fans and accommodates ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards.
The Minimum PC Spec Build For Baldur's Gate 3 pairs the new AMD Ryzen 7 8700G APU with low latency DDR5 RAM and a mid-range MSI B650 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi motherboard to deliver excellent performance and a decent upgrade path to a better GPU down the line.
The octa-core Zen 4-based AMD CPU exceeds the suggested FX 8350 for Baldur's Gate 3 by a considerable margin. With a decent stock cooler and 16GB of DDR5 RAM clocked at 6000 MHz, the minimum spec build exceeds requirements in all but the GPU recommendation, throwing in a decent Bronze tier 600W PSU from SilverStone, as well as the Zalman T7 ATX Mid-Tower case with 2 pre-installed fans in tow.
On the GPU front, the Radeon 780M chip under the hood of the AMD APU delivers performance close to the RX 480 GPU while offering better driver support for the title than its aging alternative, making it a great option for gamers on a budget looking for a bare-minimum option to run the RPG smoothly without spending beyond their means. This build even throws in a capable entry-level SSD with 500G of storage into the mix.
However, if gamers want to get something better than the absolute minimum recommendation, Game ZXC recommends moving up to at least an RTX 4060 to avoid performance-related hiccups. Nvidia's new Ada Lovelace-based GPU also offers 8GB of VRAM and considerably better performance under the hood.
The Best Gaming PC Builds Under $2000
Need to build a PC on a budget? Here are the best builds you can make yourself for under $2000!
The Recommended Spec PC Build For Baldur's Gate 3
Estimated Build Cost: ~$1,535
Target Resolution: FHD (1920 x 1080) QHD/2K (2560 x 1440), High/Ultra Preset
-
Intel Core i5 14600KF 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU
$290 $295 Save $5The Intel Core i5 14600KF 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU is a powerful mid-range CPU that replaces the last generation Intel Core i5 13600KF with higher clocks on both its performance and efficiency cores.
Like all its siblings, it does offer better performance out-of-the-box versus its predecessors but replaces them at the same price points they sold last year. Unlike the Intel Core i5 14600K, this model trades at a small discount thanks to it skipping out on integrated graphics. -
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 A-RGB
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 A-RGB continues to enjoy the success created by the Freezer II 280 but now brings an upgraded VRM fan and mesmerizing ARGB LED lighting effects. It's the best-value AIO cooler when compared to other AIOs for its price tag and brings Intel and AMD contact frames for making good contact with the CPUs.
-
ASUS Prime B760-PLUS
ASUS Prime B760-PLUS is cheap yet brings a standard ATX form factor with satisfactory component support, good cooling, and adequate connectivity features. Compatible with Intel's 12th, 13th, and 14th gen processors, the B760-Plus provides an affordable option for locked processors from the latest gen families that excel in gaming and productivity.
-
CORSAIR VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 6400MHz 32GB
$110 $117 Save $7Corsair's Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM kit features dual RAM modules, each having 16GB memory capacity. It has built-in XMP 3.0 profiles, offering a blend of a high-rated frequency, low latency, and a reasonable price tag in tow.
For aesthetics, the RAM sticks look gorgeous as a result of the RGB LEDs on top of its dedicated aluminum heat spreaders. -
Samsung 980 PRO SSD
Whether it is for a boost in speed or just some extra storage for more games, the Samsung 980 Pro is a great way to do it. The 980 has read/write speeds of up to 7000MB/s and 5100 MB/s respectively, making it one of the fastest PCI-E 4.0 SSDs available in consumer markets, even as it proves to be one of the most reliable.
-
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC brings about 20% improvement over the non-Super edition for a slightly higher price and comes in a dual axial-tech fan design with factory-overclocked. Boasting a clock speed of 2550MHz in the OC mode, it provides a slight advantage to the Founders Edition along with a better cooling solution.
-
Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 750W
$95 $100 Save $5The Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 750W power supply is a fully modular offering in the long-running Toughpower series. It is an 80-Plus Gold-rated PSU with peak power of 750W, which is sufficient even for most high-end PCs. It features a PCIe Gen 5.0 connector to power GPUs with the new 12VHPWR cable. It also follows the ATX 3.0 standard for better power excursion and low-load efficiency. The 120mm fan has a Smart Zero Fan mode for silent operation.
-
MSI MAG Forge 112R Case
The MSI MAG Forge 112R is an excellent affordable case for both gamers and content creators. Featuring 4 ARGB fans and an included controller box, the case lights up with some spectacular preset effects. A 4 mm tempered glass panel showcases the best components and is easily removed without tools. The case accommodates liquid cooling radiators and promotes efficient cooling through its mesh front panel.
The Recommended PC Spec Build For Baldur's Gate 3 doubles down on the recommended RAM spec, going with DDR5 over DDR4 in this iteration, while adding 32GB versus the recommended 16GB. It also goes for a decent 6400 MHz pair of modules that clock in at a respectable CAS latency of CL36 while offering RGB lighting as part of the package. Against its recommended Core i7 8700K/Ryzen 5 3600 CPUs, a much faster and newer Intel Core i5 14600K is paired with a beefier Arctic Liquid Freezer III AIO cooler to keep things in check.
With a significantly better Gold-rated PSU recommendation than the 600W Thermaltake PSU in the entry-level model above, the PC builds around the newly-released ASUS RTX 4070 SUPER GPU that comes close to last year's RTX 4070 Ti's performance tier and also happens to considerably exceed performance guidelines for Baldur's Gate 3 provided by the developer.
With a fast Samsung 980 Pro SSD in addition to a decent mid-tower ATX case (MSI Mag Forge 112R) to house it all, this gaming PC should be able to handle Baldur's Gate 3 quite easily without costing a fortune, targeting maximum FHD and QHD quality presets with ease. Pulling it all together, the ASUS Prime B760 Plus motherboard delivers on I/O needs and provides a robust, yet inexpensive solution for gamers looking to play Baldur's Gate 3 the way the developer intended.
The Ideal Spec PC Build For Baldur's Gate 3
Estimated Build Cost: ~$2,759
Target Resolution: QHD/2K (2560 x 1440), 4K (3840 x 2160) High/Ultra Preset
-
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
$369 $450 Save $81The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is AMD's latest and greatest CPU when it comes to gaming. With an excellent and highly efficient gaming performance that tops the charts currently, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is here to stay and has a crown to claim thanks to its 3D V-Cache-enabled prowess when it comes to gaming on a PC.
The octa-core CPU currently happens to be the fastest in the business for gaming even as it leads efficiency charts at the top, making it a very sought-after gaming upgrade. -
MSI MAG Coreliquid E360 AIO Liquid Cooler
$124 $140 Save $16The MSI MAG CoreLiquid E360 AIO is a value-packed liquid cooler with a rotating water blockhead and three 120 mm ARGB fans. This cooling system benefits from an enlarged copper base which maximizes contact with CPUs for amplified heat exchange. The radiator also utilizes a split pathway design to distribute warm and cold liquid more effectively. Thanks to a water pump with a three-phase motor, the MAG CoreLiquid E360 can balance its cooling power with noise levels and avoid excess vibrations.
-
ASRock X670E Taichi Carrara
The ASRock X670E Taichi Carrara is one of the best-looking motherboards for AMD's latest Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. It also comes packed with features including excellent networking, storage options, and dual PCI-E 5.0 x16 slots in tow.
With excellent 24+2+1 power phases, high memory overclocking support, and RGB lighting on the motherboard itself, it should please gamers, enthusiasts, and power users looking beyond simply the excellent aesthetic it has on offer. -
G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO Series (AMD Expo) 64GB Kit CL30
The G. Skill Trident Z5 NEO sticks are a pair of 32GB RAM sticks that conform to AMD's more stringent EXPO memory requirements for overclocking. With tight timings and a CAS latency of just 30-40-40-96.
With a subtle RGB effect and a premium feel, the Trident Z Neo is one of the best premium RGB RAM sticks money can buy that is designed for AMD-based systems. -
ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4080 SUPER OC
The ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4080 SUPER OC is an excellent aftermarket take on the RTX 4080 SUPER, offering a higher boost clock than the stock option even as it clocks in an additional $100 on MSRP. It offers excellent reliability, power delivery, and one of the best aftermarket coolers one can get for Nvidia's higher-end RTX 4000 series GPUs.
-
Teamgroup T-Force Z540 M2 PCI-E SSD 1TB
$150 $190 Save $40The Teamgroup T-Force Cardea Z540 SSD offers some of the fastest PCI-E Gen 5 SSD speeds money can buy in 2024 while throwing in a thin, patented graphene-based heatsink to keep things low-profile by design.
It offers a whopping 11,700 MB/s sequential read and 9,500 MB/s sequential write speeds with decent random read/write speeds in tow,
With a 3,000,000-hour MBTF and 700 TBW rating along with a comprehensive 5-year warranty in tow, the Teamgroup T-Force Cardea Z540 SSD delivers on its promise as a premium PCI-E 5.0 SSD in 2024. -
MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU
$160 $200 Save $40The MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU is built from the ground up to support the ATX 3.0 spec while also being PCI-E 5.0 compatible in a fully modular design without costing an arm and a leg unlike some of its nearest competitors, making it a viable contender for a gaming PC.
-
Lian Li O11 Vision
The most stunning-looking addition to the Lian Li O11 series of cases yet, the Vision mid-tower case features tempered glass on three sides of the enclosure. With a unique dual-chamber design, a PSU and cables are hidden behind a removable, adjustable motherboard tray. Because of the O11 Vision's modular nature, builders have plenty of cooling options, including support for up to two 360 mm liquid cooling radiators and 11 fans. To maintain constant airflow into and out of the case, the chassis is raised further off a surface with extensive venting on its bottom panel.
The Ideal PC Spec Build For Baldur's Gate 3 aims to exceed expectations in every measurable performance category with a focus on aesthetics as well. As a result, it ends up bordering on overkill territory for Baldur's Gate 3 when it comes to gaming PCs. This build is easily able to handle the game at the highest settings, while also being a competitive PC for other upcoming RPG titles such as Dragon's Dogma 2.
Equipped with a mid-range tri-slot liquid cooler from MSI keeping an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (which currently leads performance charts for gaming CPUs) in check, coupled with low latency AMD-optimized EXPO memory in a 64GB configuration, memory requirements and CPU bottlenecks are not something that should concern this gaming PC for the foreseeable future. It also packs in one of the fastest PCI-E NVMe SSDs money can buy in the shape of the Teamgroup T-Force Z540 1TB, which offers PCI-E 5.0 compliant read speeds of up to 11,700 MB/s.
With ASUS's TUF RTX 4080 SUPER OC driving visuals powered by a capable 1000W Gold-rated MSI MPG PSU that has the newer 12VHPWR connector housed in a relatively new, but expansive, Lian Li O11 Vision case, this PC may exceed all hardware spec requirements for Baldur's Gate 3, but users might want to consider getting more cooling fans for a case that can support as many as six of them, as only three come with the MSI liquid cooler that is part of this build.
The Best Builds To Play Palworld On PC
Palworld can be a dangerous place without the right PC hardware to back up players' reflexes in real-time
FAQ
Q: When Does Baldur's Gate 3 Release for PlayStation 5?
Baldur's Gate 3 was released on the 6th of September for PlayStation 5 with the Digital Deluxe Edition enjoying 72 hours of early access for players who preorder via the PlayStation Store.
Q: Is an SSD Required For Baldur's Gate 3?
Yes, an SSD is explicitly stated as a requirement for Baldur's Gate 3 as part of its hardware requirements by Larian Studios for both minimum and recommended specs.
