Borderlands 4 PC Requirements Explained: What “8-Core or Equivalent” Really Means for Your Rig (2025)

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Borderlands 4 has finally landed on PC, bringing billions of guns, chaotic looter-shooter gameplay, and the sprawling open world of Kairos. But before you jump in, there’s one thing every Vault Hunter needs to understand: the PC system requirements.

The official specs list an 8-core CPU as the minimum, paired with cryptic wording like “or equivalent.” Many players are left scratching their heads: Does my rig cut it? Will I get smooth gameplay or frustrating stutters?

This guide breaks down the requirements, explains what they mean in real-world terms, and gives you optimized settings to enjoy Borderlands 4 without compromising your framerate or visuals.

1. Decoding the CPU Conundrum: “8-Core or Equivalent”

This is the single biggest point of confusion for PC players. Let’s demystify it.

Official Requirement vs. Reality

Gearbox lists the Intel Core i7-9700 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X as the minimum CPU. Both are true 8-core processors, which explains the strict wording. But the asterisk and “or equivalent” note mean that multithreaded performance matters more than core count.

What This Means in Practice:

  • Modern 6-Core CPUs Can Work: A 6-core/12-thread CPU like the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X often outperforms older 8-core/8-thread CPUs because extra threads handle the game’s workload better.

  • It’s About CPU Utilization: Even the official 8-core CPUs, such as the i7-9700K, can hit 100% usage in open-world areas, making CPU throughput a key factor.

  • Threads Over Cores: The “equivalent” likely refers to software threads. That includes older 4-core/8-thread CPUs (e.g., i7-7700K) and modern 6-core/12-thread CPUs.

Bottom Line: Modern 6-core/12-thread CPUs can likely run the game, though older 4-core/4-thread chips will struggle.

2. GPU Requirements: VRAM is King

Borderlands 4 PC Requirements Explained
While the CPU is important, GPU performance and VRAM are crucial, especially with Unreal Engine 5 and the open-world design.

Minimum vs. Recommended

  • Minimum (1080p/30 FPS on Low): NVIDIA RTX 2070 / AMD RX 5700 XT / Intel Arc A580

    • Key: 8GB VRAM requirement. Expect to use upscaling (DLSS/FSR) to hit stable framerates.

  • Recommended (1440p/60 FPS on Medium): NVIDIA RTX 3080 / AMD RX 6800 XT

    • Smooth high-resolution gameplay. 32GB RAM is essential for world streaming without stutter.

Real-World Performance

Even flagship hardware struggles:

  • RTX 5090 + Ryzen 7 9800X3D at 4K “Badass” settings averages ~40 FPS indoors; outdoors with DLSS Performance, ~80 FPS with occasional hitches.

  • NVIDIA benchmarks show DLSS 4 is nearly mandatory for high-framerate 4K gameplay.

GPU TierExpected Resolution & SettingsTarget FPSNotes
RTX 2070 / RX 5700 XT1080p, Low, FSR/DLSS30-45 FPSCPU may bottleneck
RTX 3060 Ti / RX 6700 XT1080p, Medium-High60 FPSGood 1080p experience
RTX 3080 / RX 6800 XT1440p, Medium, FSR/DLSS60 FPSIntended experience
RTX 4070 Ti / RX 7900 XT1440p, High60-90 FPSSmooth high-refresh
RTX 4080+ / RX 7900 XTX4K, High, DLSS/FSR60+ FPSHigh-end cards + upscaling
RTX 50904K, Badass, DLSS Perf80-100 FPSTop-tier, not perfect

3. The Non-Negotiables: SSD and RAM

Two hardware requirements are critical for a playable Borderlands 4 experience:

  1. SSD is Mandatory: The seamless open world constantly streams assets. An HDD leads to long load times, pop-ins, and stuttering.

  2. 32GB RAM Recommended: While 16GB is the minimum, 32GB prevents stutters and ensures smooth streaming in Kairos.

4. Optimized Settings for Smooth Gameplay

Based on community testing and NVIDIA guidance:

Priority Settings to Lower (FPS Gains)

  • Volumetric Cloud: Low → Huge FPS improvement.

  • Foliage Density: Medium/Low → Less GPU & CPU load.

  • Shadow Quality: Medium → Best visual/performance balance.

  • Motion Blur: Off → Clearer image + saves resources.

Priority Settings to Keep High (Visual Impact)

  • Texture Quality: High/Very High → Minimal impact if ≥8GB VRAM.

  • Lighting Quality: High → Maintains cel-shaded style.

  • Upscaling: DLSS/FSR/XeSS → Essential for high FPS.

Advanced Tweaks

  • Shader Compilation: First boot ~10 minutes. Clear shader cache if stutters persist.

  • Disable Overlays: Turn off Discord, Steam, and GeForce overlays to prevent crashes.

5. Troubleshooting Common Launch Problems

Crashes on Intel 13th/14th Gen CPUs: Update motherboard BIOS for stability.
Game Won’t Launch/Stutters:

  • Verify game files (Steam/Epic).

  • Update GPU drivers (NVIDIA 581.29+, AMD Adrenalin).
    Low FPS: Likely CPU bottleneck. Close background apps for best performance.

Conclusion: Realistic Expectations for Your Rig

Borderlands 4 is a generational leap for the franchise. Key takeaways:

  • CPU: “8-core or equivalent” emphasizes threads and modern architecture. 6-core/12-thread modern CPUs perform well.

  • Upscaling: DLSS/FSR/XeSS is mandatory for smooth FPS.

  • SSD + RAM: SSD is required; 32GB RAM recommended for seamless world streaming.

  • Patience: Launch issues are expected; Gearbox has released patches and will continue optimizing.

Even if your rig isn’t top-tier, dial down settings and enjoy the core Borderlands experience: guns, humor, and loot await. Vault Hunter, it’s time to conquer Kairos!

Share your rig and performance tips in the comments to help fellow players!   

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