We’re fast approaching the business end of the gaming year, with all the major releases set to explode over two short weeks. One of the games I’m most looking forward to is Far Cry 4. I distinctly remember Far Cry 3 putting my PC through its paces when it launched, so how much more juice will this year’s sequel actually require?
By the looks of it, not that much actually. That’s when you take other recent spec lists into consideration. So many games are quick to fling out massive video card memory requirements, but not Ubisoft’s open-world shooter.
Minimum System Requirements
- Operating system: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8/8.1 (64bit versions only)
- Processor: Intel Core i5-750 @ 2.6 GHz or AMD Phenom II X4 955 @ 3.2 GHz
- Memory: 4GB
- Video card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 or AMD Radeon HD5850 (1GB VRAM)
- Direct X: Version 11
- Hard Drive: 30 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card with latest drivers
Recommended System Requirements
- Operating system: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8/8.1 (64bit versions only)
- Processor: Intel Core i5-2400S @ 2.5 GHz or AMD FX-8350 @ 4.0 GHz or better
- Memory: 8GB
- Video card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 or AMD Radeon R9 290X or better (2GB VRAM)
- Direct X: Version 11
- Hard Drive: 30 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card with latest drivers
So, a few things. Firstly, how is Nvidia’s suggested card a GTX 680 while an R9 290X is suggested for AMD users? There’s a pretty massive performance gap between the two cards, so does that say something about optimisation on the green team’s hardware? Far Cry 4 is utilising Nvidia Gameworks technology, but I have yet to see it give Nvidia users this much of an advantage.
And while Far Cry 4 might not be pushing video memory that much, you should be keeping an eye on RAM. Nothing less than 4GB and a 64-bit operating system are going to work here, although if you’re gaming on PC you should’ve passed this milestone fairly long ago. It’s also not the most expensive upgrade, if that’s something you’ll need to consider.
Ultimately, Far Cry 4 seems really tame on PC hardware. That could be because of the game’s cross-generation nature, with most current-gen only titles really pushing the boundaries on PC as well. Or it could just be a case of decent optimisation. Either way, I’ll definitely be riding elephants using a mouse and keyboard; will you?
Last Updated: November 6, 2014
Ghost In The Rift
November 6, 2014 at 09:05
This is why i dont know which Graphics card i should buy,always nvidia this amd that:-|please make it stop!
Uberutang
November 6, 2014 at 09:10
team green forever
Ghost In The Rift
November 6, 2014 at 09:15
Me 2,never used amd,but green SO much more expensive for the same performance as red!!!
Uberutang
November 6, 2014 at 09:38
my gtx970 disagrees
rob ross
February 5, 2015 at 15:54
+1
theseasonswither
November 6, 2014 at 09:40
1 thing to take into consideration is Mantle.
But how prevalent it is at the moment is another thing to ask…
RustedFaith
November 6, 2014 at 09:55
Here is the lit of current confirmed mantle supported games, Mantle is definitely getting a better uptake than Nvidia Physx and its not even out a year yet.
Battlefield 4
Civ V: Beyond Earth
Dragon Age: Inquisition
GTA V
Dying Light
Star Citizen
Mass Effect 4
Mirrors Edge 2
The Sims 4
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Battlefield Hardline
Battlefield 5
Battlefront 3
Thief
Star Conroll (The new one)
OVG
November 6, 2014 at 09:06
I only want FUN. If this game is not 900p then Im not interested.
Runs…
Skoobaz
November 6, 2014 at 11:32
What happened to 1080? I mean that’s the min right? We ALL run 4k shizzle now anyway, don’t we, DON’T WE??
OVG
November 6, 2014 at 11:36
NO!!! We need the extra memory to make mammary 😛
Skoobaz
November 6, 2014 at 11:54
MOAR RAM!
Dutch Matrix
November 6, 2014 at 09:10
They discussed Far Cry 4 at the dinner table again…
http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130111224615/simpsons/images/6/66/Snore.png
FoxOneZA
November 6, 2014 at 09:13
Whereas Far Cry, the first one, was the Crysis of it’s generation.
Viking Of Divinity
November 6, 2014 at 09:14
Umm…. It’s the same Engine as Farcry 3 isn’t it? so why would the requirements skyrocket?
OVG
November 6, 2014 at 09:26
Far Cry 3 was 720p the GPU requirement for 1080p is now doubled.
Alex Anderson
November 19, 2014 at 03:56
Because there is more stuff in the game world, and at least some of that stuff is going to be more detailed on max settings. There probably are also some additional features being utilized, and the “engine” may not be exactly the same.
Ray Watson
November 6, 2014 at 09:14
Have had both Nvidia and Amd cards …. Team Green for the win.
b1nd3r
November 6, 2014 at 09:21
“with most current-gen only titles really pushing the boundaries on PC as well” day made Master race is please
Admiral Chief 0
November 6, 2014 at 09:31
“day made Master race is please”
Eh? How doth thee English?
RinceThis
November 6, 2014 at 10:00
0_O
b1nd3r
November 6, 2014 at 10:03
happens when i run out of coffee o.0
Admiral Chief 0
November 6, 2014 at 10:20
Terrible!
NURSE GET THIS MAN A MOCHA!
Skoobaz
November 6, 2014 at 11:33
Slowly, very very slowly
b1nd3r
November 6, 2014 at 10:03
l2 engrish bro >.<
Mark Treloar
November 6, 2014 at 10:32
Not really pushing the boundaries when you consider recommended specs are quite dated for PC.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 6, 2014 at 09:25
So now they’re making typos to go with their stupid specs as well. Should someone tell them that if the recommended gfx card needs 2GB VRAM, that’s a 270X, not a 290X which has 4GB?
RinceThis
November 6, 2014 at 09:59
I need another job to pay for the PS4 and all these awesome new games. Sigh.
Admiral Chief 0
November 6, 2014 at 10:21
I need a new minion here at the office, but you will have to call me SIR, and I don’t think your ego can handle that 😛
Mark Treloar
November 6, 2014 at 10:33
you forgot ownership of a gaming PC is a requirement.
Admiral Chief 0
November 6, 2014 at 10:38
Indeed, and a minimum 10hr a week PC gaming proof
Ryanza
November 6, 2014 at 10:30
Damn I should have stopped commenting. But yet again no1 is going to mention it.
Gameworks uses DLL’s that some developers don’t get access to the codes to optimize themselves. Those DLL’s will as an example, render stuff in the background and other times over render stuff on AMD cards so that when tests are performed Nvidia cards looks good compared to AMD. That is how Nvidia is playing dirty.
Anyway don’t mind me. I am not needed here.
Skoobaz
November 6, 2014 at 11:34
That for real?
Wow…
Ryanza
November 6, 2014 at 11:46
I have been labeled a troll. So the value in what I say and my opinions, stands at minus zero. So I can’t even believe in what I write anymore.
It’s just a different point of view that no1 on here will mention. So when I mention something, it has now been established that it’s trolling.
Sorry if you thought my comment was for reals.
Skoobaz
November 6, 2014 at 11:54
I think I just confused myself…
FSR
November 6, 2014 at 12:05
“Don’t support DRM” – me with Stockholm syndrome (your post didn’t seem complete without it)
“I want to play the good games and I don’t particularly like The Witcher” – me IRL
Anthony
November 17, 2014 at 03:14
Does this mean that it is possible for amd to make the game run well, yet it will take a while, so a patch for it will be released in future driver updates??? I myself have an r9 290 and are pretty annoyed that nvidia say that a 680 is better!!