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Borderlands 2 System Requirements
Written by: Felix
Published on: Jul-27 15:41

Key game: Borderlands 2
Related: Borderlands 2

Borderlands 2 Requirements - Click to Enlarge

A cartoony FPS? Gearbox Software took a design leap with Borderlands and to everyone’s delight, it paid off. The game stood out from the crowd. The stylised black outline around characters and backgrounds, seen traditionally in cartoons, was used to great effect. We are told that part of the reasoning behind this move was so they could push the visual boundaries of console hardware, while lowering the performance hit. Very smart.

What impact does that design choice have on PC gamers in the next game of Borderlands? Well Borderlands 2 system requirements are now available, so lets see shall we...

Borderlands 2 Minimum System Requirements

OS: Windows XP SP3

CPU: 2.4 GHz Dual Core Processor

RAM: 2 GB(XP)/ 2 GB(Vista)

HDD: 20 GB free

GPU RAM: 256 MB

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 8500 /ATI Radeon HD 2600

AUDIO: DirectX 9.0c Compatible

OTHER: Initial installation requires one-time internet connection for Steam authentication; software installations required (included with the game) include Steam Client, DirectX 9, Microsoft .NET 4 Framework, Visual C Redistributable 2005, Visual C Redistributable 2008, Visual C Redistributable 2010, and AMD CPU Drivers (XP Only/AMD Only)

Borderlands 2 Recommended System Requirements

OS: Windows XP SP3/Vista/Win 7

CPU: 2.3 GHz Quad Core processor

RAM: 2 GB

GPU RAM: 512MB

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 / ATI Radeon HD 5850

AUDIO: DirectX 9.0c Compatible

We had a chance to play the game first hand recently and it was a good laugh for sure, but whether it would require something as hefty as a GTX 560 to meet recommended we are not so sure. Chances are you will be able to play the game with a lesser GPU and a few things turned down a little.

Speaking of which, we took a picture of the graphics option screen, although a little blurry, you can see some of the options that will be open to PC gamers.

Click the image to expand it for a better view.


Add your comment, score and Frames Per Second (if you know it) by visiting our Borderlands 2 ratings page

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Discussion Page 1
Valric
22:50 Sep-16-2012

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I'm so conflicted. Do I get it for 360 and enjoy playing with all my friends, or can my system run it well enough to be worth a PC buy?
I don't know enough about PC graphics nowadays to say for sure, any suggestions would be appreciated!
sarathchelsea
13:49 Sep-19-2012

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I would suggest you to go for Xbox version . Your gpu is kind of low end for this game . So don't waste your money for pc version go for Xbox and enjoying it with buddy's
Cheers !
Chyper
15:46 Aug-01-2012

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yipee! all i had to do now is wait until the game released!
Raystlyn
20:02 Aug-03-2012

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6 looooong weeks :(
Chyper
18:02 Aug-04-2012

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awww man....at least that's the developer final decisions...no delay needed
Raystlyn
18:33 Aug-04-2012

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Yes agree, not like prototype 2 they made us wait till april, just to delay it to july, and darksiders 2 from june to august
Supercolleydog
17:06 Jul-31-2012

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Get paid on Friday! Preordering value hunters ed. :) ɛ
Tero
18:24 Jul-31-2012

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I think all those different editions are hoax. What do you get for paying extra? A single multiplayer map? TWO maps? :D
Supercolleydog
18:34 Aug-03-2012

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You get a load of real life stuff like Marcus bobbly head, weapon cheast etc. :)
gregsuarez
20:07 Jul-31-2012

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I pre-ordered it on Steam because if you have the first Borderlands in your Steam Library you get 10% off Borderlands 2. It also has a bunch of free extras in what they're calling a "Premiere Club Edition" (whatever the hell that means). This edition gives you extra loot, and free access to a fifth character class (the mechromancer) once she's released as DLC.
anch21
20:25 Jul-29-2012

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I know I will run it maxed out but I'm worrying how it will look compare to the first borderlands if it need such high spec for simple texture and made with the unreal engine 3 like the first one
gregsuarez
21:06 Jul-29-2012

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I think a big reason the devs are recommending a GTX 560 is because Gearbox threw in a ton of PhysX effects this time around to maximize the PC gamer's experience. Enough of those particles and soft-body physics effects going off at once, and that will tax a PhysX-enabled GPU (GeForce) quite a lot. If you throw the PhysX processing to the CPU, it will choke things up even more, and PhysX will not be used to full effect. If you have a 260 or 460, you'll be 100% fine to play this game with high settings if you set the PhysX effects to "low" or "off."
anch21
20:13 Jul-30-2012

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thanks for the answer, it make sense
Cazzo123
10:19 Jul-29-2012

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Can I run this with highest setting on my pc? Cause i dont know anything about system requirement. just a bit.
Raystlyn
13:20 Jul-29-2012

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with your resolution I think you can buddy :)
MrPerryTP
13:23 Jul-29-2012

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You can :)
ROGUExxASSASSIN
06:17 Jul-29-2012

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what will i be able to play on?
Raystlyn
13:20 Jul-29-2012

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Maxed out, nice rig :D
trossy998
03:24 Jul-29-2012

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snice im saving for the samsung galxy s3 which if my money saving goes correctly i should have it next week also i want this game but i might search cdkey places online as they get cheap discounts as im trying to minium my spending on games but this is on my wishlist on steam
gregsuarez
05:13 Jul-29-2012

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If you can hold on until December, it will probably go on sale for 25-50% off during Steam's Winter Sale. By then it should be fully patched and have at least one bit of DLC available.
CharlieWaflesBR
03:19 Jul-29-2012

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No Anti-Aliasing? The why are the requirements so high?
alt639
03:58 Jul-29-2012

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It appears that there are more video options above in the menu, or it may be that Gearbox chose to implement FXAA in the background.
gregsuarez
05:16 Jul-29-2012

I agree - if you look at the pic there's an arrow at the bottom of the screen, which (I'm assuming) is prompting the user to scroll down for more options. I would be SHOCKED if Gearbox didn't allow for AA in the game... that would be crazy talk! I think the requirements are higher because PhysX is used quite heavily in the game.
Tero
13:28 Jul-29-2012

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I don't use AA anyways so it's not a big deal ;)
mrrawwr
20:31 Jul-28-2012

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Hey guys, will i be able to run this well enough for a smooth framerate
TheNate
20:33 Jul-28-2012

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doubtful, but maybe on low. Could you play Borderlands 1? Its having a free steam weekend now, so if you havent already you should try it out and see how it runs
mrrawwr
21:06 Jul-28-2012

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Yeah it can play borderlands 1 fine on medium never really pushed it higher, ill see how it runs on high :)
could do with a demo of 2 just to check performance :/
TheNate
00:52 Jul-29-2012

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There could be one, but given the open world type gameplay its unlikely
Raystlyn
01:58 Jul-29-2012

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Well borderlands was open world too :D
DukeTwicep
09:46 Jul-29-2012

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Hopefully this one will be more open, because the first one didn't feel that open.
gregsuarez
16:12 Jul-29-2012

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I hereby declare mrrawwr as the best user name on GD!
TnT4blast
12:48 Jul-28-2012

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can i run Borderlands 2 on max settings with 50+ FPS ?
Raystlyn
12:56 Jul-28-2012

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Yes you can no doubt, nice rig :)
TnT4blast
13:05 Jul-28-2012

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Ok, thx for the fast answer
:)
Raystlyn
13:09 Jul-28-2012

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My pleasure :D
hammad5161
11:17 Jul-31-2012

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can i max this game out? not bf3 if so on lowest :( im worried if i can max out mw3 on this system and bf3 on lowest all low low low no AA or anything but mw3 on max.bf3 on lowest and tf2 on mid -high
Discussion Page 1
Username Felix
Rank 14
Title CEO
Views 1,345,223