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PC Gaming Guide
Borderlands 4 PC Requirements 2026: What You Actually Need
Borderlands 4 is one of the most demanding looter-shooters ever released on PC. Here is exactly what you need to run it and which build gets you the best experience.
Updated April 2026
In This Guide
Borderlands 4 launched September 12, 2025 and immediately turned heads for two reasons: the looter-shooter mayhem is bigger than ever, and the PC requirements are significantly higher than any previous entry in the series. Built on Unreal Engine 5 with Lumen global illumination, Nanite geometry streaming, and a massive open world on Kairos, this game demands real hardware to run well. The minimum spec alone requires an 8-core CPU, an RTX 2070, and a 16GB RAM that is a high bar just to start.
This guide cuts straight to what matters: the official specs, what they mean in practice, and which builds from VRLA Tech are worth your money.
Already decided? Head straight to our custom PC builder or browse our gaming PC lineup to find the right build for Borderlands 4.
Borderlands 4 PC Requirements
Gearbox published two official tiers. Both require a 100GB SSD, Windows 10 or 11 64-bit, and DirectX 12. No exceptions on the SSD requirement:
| Tier | Target | CPU | GPU | RAM | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 1080p 30 FPS Low | Intel Core i7-9700 / AMD Ryzen 7 2700X (8 cores) | RTX 2070 / RX 5700 XT / Intel Arc A580 (8GB VRAM) | 16 GB | 100 GB SSD |
| Recommended | 1440p 60 FPS Medium | Intel Core i7-12700 / AMD Ryzen 7 5800X (8+ cores) | RTX 3080 / RX 6800 XT / Intel Arc B580 (12+ GB VRAM) | 32 GB | 100 GB NVMe SSD |
Two things stand out immediately. First, the recommended tier jumps to 32GB of RAM unusually high for a gaming requirement and a sign of how aggressively the game streams assets. Second, the 8-core CPU requirement at minimum is a genuine barrier: around half of Steam users run 6 cores or fewer. If you are on an older 6-core chip, plan for that upgrade.
Bottom Line
For a smooth Borderlands 4 experience in 2026 you want: 8-core CPU, RTX 5060 Ti or better, 32GB DDR5, and a fast NVMe SSD. That gets you 1440p at solid frame rates without compromising the open-world experience.
What Hardware to Prioritize
Borderlands 4 is built on Unreal Engine 5 and leans on the GPU for Lumen lighting and Nanite geometry. At 1440p and above, GPU is your primary bottleneck. At 1080p pushing higher frame rates or in dense open-world areas, the CPU becomes more critical because of how aggressively the game streams Kairos’s massive environments.
GPU: The RTX 5060 Ti is the sweet spot for 1440p in 2026 it exceeds the recommended spec and runs Borderlands 4 at 60+ FPS at medium settings without breaking a sweat. The RTX 5090 unlocks the full visual experience at 4K Ultra with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation enabled.
CPU: You need 8 cores minimum, full stop. The Ryzen 7 7700X is the right choice for most players fast enough to avoid bottlenecks at 1440p with no CPU-side frame drops in large combat scenarios. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D adds extra headroom in the densest loot-filled rooms where Unreal Engine 5’s Nanite streaming spikes CPU usage the hardest.
RAM: 32GB is the honest recommendation. Borderlands 4 at recommended settings wants it and you will notice the difference in large zones. Make sure your RAM is running at XMP speed slow RAM hurts UE5 asset streaming noticeably.
VRLA Tech PCs for Borderlands 4
Every VRLA Tech build ships from Los Angeles, fully assembled and tested, with Windows 11 and cable management included.
1080p / 1440p Build Titan Gaming PC AMD Ryzen 7 7700X · GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB · DDR5 · NVMe SSD Exceeds the Borderlands 4 recommended spec. The 7700X’s 8 cores meet the CPU requirement comfortably. Runs the game at 1080p and 1440p with smooth performance and room to spare. | 4K Ultra Build Premium Gaming PC AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D · GeForce RTX 5090 · DDR5 · NVMe SSD The 9800X3D handles Borderlands 4’s heaviest UE5 streaming loads without a hitch. The RTX 5090 with DLSS 4 MFG pushes 4K Ultra to frame rates that make Kairos look extraordinary. |
Want to spec your own? Use the custom PC builder to choose every component, or browse the full gaming PC lineup.
Build Your Borderlands 4 PC
Every VRLA Tech system is built by hand in Los Angeles, stress-tested, and ships ready to play.
Best Borderlands 4 Settings for More FPS
UE5’s Lumen and Nanite are the two biggest performance drains. These changes make the biggest difference:
Lower These First
- Lumen Global Illumination Quality — Drop from Epic to High or Medium. The single biggest FPS gain in the game. The lighting still looks excellent at High.
- Shadow Quality — Set to Medium. Shadows carry a large GPU cost in UE5 and the visual difference between High and Medium is subtle in Borderlands’ stylized environments.
- Reflections — Lumen Screen Reflections on Medium or Low. The hand-painted art style means reflections have less visual impact here than in photorealistic games.
- Foliage Quality — Kairos has dense vegetation. Reducing this from Epic to High on large open maps provides consistent frame rate gains in exterior zones.
Keep These High
- Texture Quality — Keep on High if your GPU has 12GB or more VRAM. Borderlands 4’s textures are a core part of what makes the world readable and visually interesting.
- DLSS or FSR — Enable DLSS Quality on RTX cards or FSR Quality on AMD. Unlike older Borderlands titles, BL4 was built with upscaling in mind and image quality is excellent.
- NVIDIA Reflex — Turn on for any RTX system. Reduces input latency in co-op sessions where network and CPU load are both elevated.
Common Questions
Why does Borderlands 4 need an 8-core CPU?
Borderlands 4 runs on Unreal Engine 5 with Nanite geometry streaming and Lumen global illumination. These systems distribute workloads across CPU cores, and the game’s large open world on Kairos demands consistent multi-threaded performance for asset streaming. Players with fast modern 6-core CPUs like a Ryzen 5 5600X may still run the game, but expect dips in busy areas. 8 cores is the safe floor.
Why does Borderlands 4 need 32GB of RAM?
The recommended tier calls for 32GB because Borderlands 4 streams a massive, dense open world continuously. The game caches assets in RAM to minimize hitching during exploration and combat. Players on 16GB systems can run the game but may experience stutter in large zones when RAM fills up. 32GB DDR5 at XMP speed is the honest target for smooth play.
Does Borderlands 4 support DLSS and FSR?
Yes. Borderlands 4 supports NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation on RTX 50 series cards, DLSS 3 on RTX 40 series, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS. Unlike some games that use upscaling as a workaround for poor optimization, Borderlands 4’s UE5 foundation means DLSS Quality genuinely delivers excellent image quality. On RTX 50 series hardware, DLSS 4 MFG can double or quadruple the effective frame rate.
Is an SSD required for Borderlands 4?
Yes, an SSD is a hard requirement at all tiers. Gearbox explicitly states this in the system requirements. The game’s open world on Kairos streams assets continuously and a mechanical hard drive cannot keep up with the data transfer rates required. A 100GB NVMe SSD is ideal for the fastest loading and smoothest traversal.
Can I play Borderlands 4 in co-op without issues?
Yes. Borderlands 4 supports 4-player co-op and scales loot and enemies dynamically. Co-op adds CPU load because the game is tracking multiple players, enemies, and loot streams simultaneously. If you play co-op regularly, having the full recommended spec (8-core CPU, 32GB RAM, fast NVMe SSD) makes a more noticeable difference here than in solo play.
What PC should I buy for Borderlands 4 in 2026?
For 1080p and 1440p play, the Titan Gaming PC with Ryzen 7 7700X and RTX 5060 Ti exceeds the recommended spec and ships ready to play. For 4K Ultra with DLSS 4, the Premium Build with Ryzen 7 9800X3D and RTX 5090 is the definitive Borderlands 4 setup. Both ship from Los Angeles fully assembled and tested.
Ready to take on Kairos at full settings? Browse our full gaming PC lineup, pick your exact build with the custom PC builder, or go straight to the Titan if you want something ready to ship today. Every build comes fully assembled and tested from Los Angeles.
