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 purportedly only containing approximately 1/3rd of the title's actual content, all eyes are on Baldur's Gate 3 as users look to experience the herald of the next generation of RPGs on PC in all its glory with a PlayStation 5 launch scheduled for early next month.

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 minimum spec of just 8GB of RAM and a DX11 (or higher) based GPU with at least 4GB of VRAM in play, the minimum specifications seem to be reasonably low compared to most upcoming titles in 2023 with the 150GB of SSD space requirement being something that is worth pointing out for gamers with limited storage or upgrade potential down the road (an SSD is part of the requirements and HDD users might have issues with the game)

• 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 in 2023.

• 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 (Via Steam)

What Do The Hardware Requirements For Baldur's Gate 3 Mean?

Baldur's Gate 3 has, unlike some other titles a playable game build on Steam as part of its early access offering for nearly 3 years on offer making it a much easier affair to verify if the game is playable without issues with certain PC hardware. With Windows 10 recommended and a mid-range CPU/GPU/Memory requirement, we 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, and 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 Rant is making the search for the 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 Minimum PC Spec Build For Baldur's Gate 3

• Intel Core i3-12100F

  $85 $100 Save $15

  The 4-Core, 8-Thread Intel Core i3-12100F processor is an entry-level contender from Intel's 12th generation that can handle today's games to a moderate level without bottlenecking and offers a path to upgrade to a faster processor by allowing you to build on an Intel 600 or 700 series motherboard.

  $80 at Newegg $85 at Amazon

• ASUS Prime H610M-E D4 Motherboard

  The ASUS Prime H610M-E D4 Motherboard is an M-ATX entry-level H610 chipset-based motherboard that came out with the 12th generation Intel CPU lineup, but has since received a bios update to support the 13th generation Intel processor lineup.

  $126 at Amazon $105 at Newegg

• Silicon Power Value Gaming DDR4 16GB (8GBx2) 3200MHz (PC4 25600) CL16 RAM

  $31 $35 Save $4

  The Silicon Power Value Gaming RAM is a DDR4 memory module engineered to enhance the capabilities of desktop PCs. It offers a memory size of 16GB and speeds of 3200 MHz. This RAM is designed to be compatible with Intel Coffee Lake processors and adheres to Intel Extreme Memory Profile (Intel XMP) standards, ensuring seamless integration with various systems.
  
  Equipped with an aluminum heat sink, the RAM efficiently dissipates heat while its 1.35V low voltage reduces power consumption for hardware components. These attributes contribute to maintaining swift and stable performance during extensive gaming periods or intensive workloads.

  $31 at Amazon

• PNY GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6 Dual Fan Graphics Card

  $150 $190 Save $40

  The PNY GeForce GTX 1650 is the ideal graphics card for gamers on a budget or building a compact power-efficient rig. This PNY graphics card maximizes the potential of the NVIDIA Turing architecture, with variable rate shading, mesh shading, and multi-view rendering. The PNY GeForce GTX 1650 requires a system running only a 300-watt or greater power supply.

  $140 at Amazon $150 at Best Buy

• 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.

  $45 at Amazon

• Crucial P3 Plus 1TB PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD

  $43 $100 Save $57

  The Crucial P3 Plus 1TB PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD is an advanced solid-state drive designed to deliver superior performance and storage capabilities. Harnessing NVMe (PCIe Gen4 x4) technology, it boasts impressive sequential read speeds of up to 5,000 MB/s, alongside random read/write speeds of 650K/800K IOPS. 
  
  The Crucial P3 Plus outperforms its competitors, performing up to 43% faster than the quickest Gen3 NVMe SSDs on the market. Its durability and reliability are evident in its rated mean time to failure (MTTF) of over 1.5 million hours, ensuring extended longevity. Additionally, the SSD offers backward compatibility with Gen3 systems, providing users with the flexibility to use the drive in a variety of setups without sacrificing performance.

  $43 at Amazon

• Zalman T7 ATX Mid Tower PC Case

  $55 $60 Save $5

  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. 

  $55 at Amazon

Estimated Build Cost: ~$500

The Minimum PC Spec Build For Baldur's Gate 3 pairs a much newer 12th generation Core i3 processor with a budget-friendly H610 ASUS motherboard adding 16GB of DDR4 memory and a PNY GTX 1650 to square off a build that costs as much as a PlayStation 5 while meeting or exceeding the minimum specs in general.

The Intel Core i3 12100F is a quad-core CPU, much like the Intel Core I5 4690 suggested for Baldur's Gate, but considerably faster than the recommendation. With a decent stock cooler and 16GB of Ram the minimum spec'd build exceeds requirements in all but the GPU recommendation, throwing in a decent 600W Thermal Take PSU as well as the Zalman T7 ATX Mid-Tower case with 2 pre-installed fans in tow.

Note: The GPU suggested is slightly underpowered compared to the recommended GTX 970 or RX 480 suggested by the developer, but it accounts for the fact that the title is more CPU-heavy than GPU-heavy at lower settings in addition to the fact that the GTX 1650 is a far more decent GPU compared to the aging GTX 970. If gamers want to get something better than the absolute minimum recommendation, Game Rant recommenda upgrading to at least an RTX 3050 for this title, which also offers 8GB of VRAM and considerably better performance under the hood.

Target Resolution: FHD (1920 x 1080), Medium/High Preset

The Recommended PC Spec Build For Baldur's Gate 3

• AMD Ryzen 5 7600X

  $245 $300 Save $55

  Gamers interested in upgrading to a newer CPU from Team Red will find the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X to be of spectacular value thanks to its high single-core performance, efficient hexacore architecture, and compatibility with newer technology such as PCI-E 5.0 and DDR5 memory. It also abandons AMD's AM4 design, going for a pin-less processor offering by moving them to the motherboard instead.

  $200 at Amazon $245 at Newegg

• GIGABYTE B650 AORUS Elite AX

  The Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX is a high-end motherboard featuring the B650 chipset that allows it to command a much lower price point, closer to AMD's more budget-oriented motherboard lineups. It is a capable entry that also offers a PCI-E Gen 5 M2 slot that should allow access to faster PCI-E 5.0 storage down the line.

  See at Amazon $230 at Best Buy $230 at Newegg

• Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith RGB Gaming 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL40 Memory

  The Silicon Power XPOWER Zenith RAM has faster frequencies, greater capacities, and lower voltages offering excellent gaming performance. In addition, the aluminum heat sink, available in black or white, quickly dissipates heat from the RAM and allows for long-term high performance.
  
   

  $85 at Amazon

• Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Black

  The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Black blends stunning looks with outstanding cooling performance at an attractive price for all PC builders. The Halo Black improves on Cooler Master's super popular Hyper 212 series with enlarged fan blades, and a black aluminum top cover design that fits in with almost any PC rig. The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Black offers dual-loop ARGB lighting effects, complimenting the most stunning-looking gaming PCs. The Hyper 212 Halo Black is compatible with AMD Ryzen AM5/AM4 and Intel LGA1700/1200 chipsets. 

  $40 at Amazon

• Sapphire Radeon Pulse 6700XT

  The Sapphire RX 6700XT Pulse is an excellent value-for-money mid-tier GPU offering that showcases a card that can go neck and neck with the Nvidia 3060TI while sporting an additional 4GB of VRAM, making it a much more well-rounded product than Nvidia's mid-range offering in the RTX 3060TI which it regularly beats in raw rasterization throughput while being beaten on Ray-tracing centric benchmarks.

  $330 at Amazon $330 at Newegg

• Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 650W PSU

  The Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 650W power supply unit (PSU) features a 256-color RGB-lit 140-millimeter Hydraulic-Bearing fan, designed to be low-noise while offering effective cooling performance. This is achieved through fan blades that have been optimized to enhance static pressure, thus promoting the cooling effect. Unique to this PSU, a lighting button at the back controls five different lighting modes, allowing users to select RGB Cycle, Red, Green, Blue, White, or turn the LED off entirely.
  
  Accredited with an 80 PLUS Gold rating, the Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 650W promises up to 90 percent efficiency.

  $90 at Amazon

• XPG 1TB GAMMIX S70 Blade SSD

  $60 $130 Save $70

  The XPG 1TB GAMMIX S70 Blade SSD is an excellent value-added SSD that offers some of the fastest possible speeds you can get on PCI-E 4.0 making it a great addition to both, your PC and your game console if you are looking to spruce up your PS5's storage this summer. With a heat spreader that the company states works well for the PS5 console and a powerful controller able to handle the highest possible read/write speeds you could need as a consumer, the Gammix S70 Blade is a complete package with a price you cannot argue with.

  $60 at Amazon

• 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. 

  $90 at Amazon $90 at Newegg

Estimated Build Cost: ~$1,125

The Recommended PC Spec Build For Baldur's Gate 3 doubles down on the recommended RAM spec, going DDR5 over DDR4 in this iteration while adding 32GB versus the recommended 16GB while going for a decent 6000 MHz pair of modules that do clock in at a slightly higher CAS latency of 40. Against its recommended Core i7 8700K/Ryzen 5 3600 spec, the much faster and newer Ryzen 5 7600X is paired with a dedicated air cooler in the shape of the Cooler Master Hyper 212.

With a slightly better PSU recommendation than the base 600W model from ThermalTake in the entry-level model above, the PC is driven by an RX 6700XT that also happens to considerably exceed the performance guidelines for Baldur's Gate 3 by the developer. With a fast but cost-effective PCI-E 4.0 SSD in the form of the XPG Gammix S70 Blade 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 quite easily without costing a fortune, targeting maximum FHD and QHD quality presets with ease.

The added copy of Starfield Premium with the 6700XT only sweetens the deal further for a gaming PC that should easily be able to help enable PC gamers to play the title as the developers intended without making any compromises.

Target Resolution: FHD (1920 x 1080) QHD/2K (2560 x 1440), High/Ultra Preset

The Ideal PC Spec Build For Baldur's Gate 3

• AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

  The 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.

  $439 at Amazon $449 at Newegg

• MSI PRO X670-P WiFi Pro Series Motherboard

  $230 $299.99 Save $69.99

  The MSI Pro X670P is a capable middle-of-the-road X670 chipset-based workhorse coupled with support for high DDR5 OC clocks, EXPO support, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet 2.5G in tow

  $230 at Amazon $236 at Newegg

• G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO Series (AMD Expo) 64GB Kit CL30

  $210 $225 Save $15

  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.

  $210 at Amazon $218 at Newegg

• DeepCool Liquid Cooler LS720 360MM ARGB Liquid Cooler

  The DeepCool Liquid Cooler LS720 360MM ARGB Liquid Cooler is one of the best-looking ARGB liquid coolers available on the market, and it delivers excellent cooling that can handle some of the most powerful CPUs on the market without costing the part as some of the more premium ARGB liquid coolers.

  $140 at Amazon $140 at Newegg

• ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 4070 Ti OC Edition

  $818 $830 Save $12

  The Asus TUF RTX 4070TI is a silent but top-tier performer that builds on the TUF lineup's advantages while trading at a minor premium from Nvidia's stock Founders Edition that brings no-nonsense overclocking to a very capable vapor chamber to maintain tight thermal control over excellent performance.

  $818 at Amazon $850 at Newegg

• SAMSUNG 990 PRO w/ Heatsink SSD

  The Samsung 990 Pro is the fastest PCI-E Gen 4 SSD that Samsung has to offer, and it comes with a new, bold design on the heatsink that should blend in with most gaming PCs and allow the PlayStation 5 to use it optimally. Trading at an impressive discount over MSRP, the Samsung 990 Pro is pretty much the maximum performance that users can eke out on most modern gaming PCs from the 2TB SSD.

  $170 at Amazon

• MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU

  $193 $200 Save $7

  The 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.

  $193 at Amazon $200 at Newegg

• LIAN LI PC-O11 Dynamic Razer Edition PC Case

  The Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic Razer Edition PC Case is an ATX mid-tower case that perfectly combines style and function. Lian Li has customized its incredibly popular PC-O11 Dynamic Case to please fans of Razer gaming peripherals. The case features a dual chamber chassis design and front and side tempered glass for a modern sleep look. The Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic Razer Edition fully supports the Razer Synapse 3 RGB ecosystem to sync up case lights with Razer keyboards, mice, and headsets. 

  $169 at Newegg $167 at Amazon

Estimated Build Cost: ~$2350

The Ideal PC Spec Build For Baldur's Gate 3 goes overkill in all the departments it can possibly do so, bordering in overkill territory when it comes to gaming PCs, with the build easily able to handle the game at the highest settings while also being a competitive PC for other upcoming titles such as Starfield with ease.

Equipped with a liquid-cooled AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which currently leads performance charts for gaming CPUs, coupled with low latency AMD-specific 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 a large 2TB Samsung 990 Pro SSD with a heatsink to allow for expansive and blazing-fast storage in a neat package.

With an RTX 4070TI driving visuals powered by a capable 1000W Gold-rated MSI MPG PSU that has the newer 12VHPWR connector built-in housed in an expansive Lian Li O11 Dynamic casing, the PC should exceed all hardware specification requirements with ease for Baldur's Gate 3 but you might want to consider getting cooling fans for a case that can support as many as 9 of them (3 come as part of the DeepCool liquid cooler that is part of the build).

Target Resolution: QHD/2K (2560 x 1440), 4K (3840 x 2160) High/Ultra Preset

FAQs:

Q: When Does Baldur's Gate 3 Release for PlayStation 5?

A: Baldur's Gate 3 releases 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?

A: 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.