Most people worry about Baldur's Gate 3's graphics. The real surprise is waiting in Act 3, and it has nothing to do with your GPU.
Below you will find Baldurs Gate 3's official minimum and recommended PC requirements pulled from our database, three concrete build tiers mapped to real hardware, and the cheapest verified price we are tracking right now. Want a one-click answer instead? Check whether your PC can run Baldurs Gate 3 with our free comparison tool.
Baldurs Gate 3 system requirements (minimum vs recommended)
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel I5 4690 / AMD FX 8350 / Snapdragon X Elite | Intel i7 8700K / AMD r5 3600 |
| GPU | Nvidia GTX 970 / RX 480 / Intel Arc A380 / Qualcomm Adreno X1 (4GB+ of VRAM) | Nvidia 2060 Super / RX 5700 XT / Intel Arc A580 (8GB+ of VRAM) |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 150 GB | 150 GB |
| DirectX | 11 | 11 |
Source: official store-listed requirements, normalised in the DealNest hardware database. Benchmark-based build suggestions below are estimates to guide buying decisions, not guaranteed performance figures.
What actually matters for running Baldurs Gate 3
BG3 is comfortable on the GPU side — a recommended-tier card holds 60 FPS at 1080p without drama. The twist is the CPU. The city of Baldur's Gate in Act 3 simulates a huge number of NPCs, and that single-threaded load drops framerates on otherwise capable rigs. If you only meet the GPU recommendation but skimp on the processor, Act 3 is where you will feel it.
Three PC builds for Baldurs Gate 3
Each tier below pairs a real graphics card and CPU from our benchmark database to the game's targets. Treat them as reference points — comparable parts at the same performance level work just as well.
Entry build — clears the minimum (1080p)
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1650 or equivalent
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or equivalent
- RAM: 8 GB
Recommended build — smooth 1080p/60
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3060 or equivalent
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X or equivalent
- RAM: 16 GB
High build — 1440p headroom
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060-TI or better
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600 or better
- RAM: 32 GB
Settings and optimisation tips for Baldurs Gate 3
Most of BG3's beauty survives a drop from Ultra to High with almost no visible loss, so start there. In Act 3, cap your framerate slightly below your monitor's refresh to smooth the CPU-bound dips, and make sure you are on 16 GB of RAM. Cloud shadows and SSAO are the cheapest sliders to ease if you need a few more frames in the city.
Will your current PC run it?
Rather than eyeball the table above, let the tool do the maths. Our Can I Run Baldurs Gate 3 page compares your exact CPU and GPU against these requirements and tells you pass or fail for both minimum and recommended, with the bottleneck highlighted.
Where to buy Baldurs Gate 3 cheap
BG3 rarely discounts as hard as older titles, which makes cross-store price comparison genuinely worth it — a few dollars saved on a key buys you the RAM upgrade Act 3 actually wants. The lowest verified price we are currently tracking is from $11.30. Prices move fast across keyshops, so see the live, store-by-store breakdown on the Baldurs Gate 3 deals page before you buy.
FAQ
Can I run Baldurs Gate 3?
Meet the recommended GPU, but do not cheap out on the CPU — Act 3 is a processor test disguised as a city. To check your specific PC, use the Can I Run Baldurs Gate 3 tool.
Why does Baldur's Gate 3 slow down in Act 3?
Act 3's lower Baldur's Gate is CPU-bound from NPC simulation, not GPU-bound. A faster processor and 16 GB+ of RAM matter far more here than a bigger graphics card.
How much does Baldurs Gate 3 cost right now?
The cheapest verified key we track is from $11.30. Check the Baldurs Gate 3 deals page for the current lowest price across all stores.
