Battlefield 3 Multiplayer Beta Plans, System Requirements
EA is launching an open multiplayer beta for Battlefield 3 next week, and has now provided the minimum and recommended system specs for PC gamers.
Electronic Arts is now inviting gamers to participate in the Battlefield 3 multiplayer beta which begins on September 29, 2011 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC. The beta will be set in Paris on the Operation Metro map and pit two elite tactical units against each other in the series’ popular Rush Mode. One side will take the offensive by attacking M-COM stations while the opposing squad will defend and protect.
"Gamers who pre-order the digital PC version of the game at Origin (powered by EA) will be granted early access to the beta starting on September 27, 2011," EA said Tuesday. "In addition, all customers that pre-ordered a Limited Edition of Medal of Honor will also receive early access to the beta starting on September 27, 2011."
In addition to the beta announcement, EA provided the minimum and recommended system requirements for the PC version, as seen below:
Minimum System Requirements:
- OS: Windows Vista (Service Pack 2) 32-Bit
- Processor: 2 GHz dual-core (Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or Athlon X2 2.7 GHz)
- Memory: 2 GB
- Hard Drive: 20 GB
- GPU (AMD): DirectX 10.1 compatible with 512 MB RAM (ATI Radeon 3000, 4000, 5000 or 6000 series, with ATI Radeon 3870 or higher performance)
- GPU (Nvidia): DirectX 10.1 compatible with 512 MB RAM (Nvidia GeForce 8, 9, 200, 300, 400 or 500 series with Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT or higher performance)
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible
- Keyboard and mouse
- DVD-ROM drive
Recommended System Requirements:
- OS: Windows 7 64-bit
- Processor: Quad-core CPU
- Memory: 4 GB
- Hard Drive: 20 GB
- GPU: DirectX 11 compatible with 1024 MB RAM (Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 or ATI Radeon 6950)
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible
- Keyboard and mouse
- DVD-ROM drive
"Gamers in the beta can also log onto Battlelog, the game’s free social media network that allows gamers to communicate and compete with friends, track their stats and share their progress," EA added Tuesday. "Battlelog extends the in-game experience to be accessible anywhere, whether on a PC, console or handheld device. Players are also invited to join the EA Gun Club for the latest shooter news, and to receive in-game benefits including access to the M1911 pistol and distinct badges in Battlefield 3. The M1911 pistol will also be available to registered Battlefield veterans."
For more information about the upcoming Battlefield 3 beta, head here.
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Ati 6950 as 'recommended', that is a bit steep. I wonder what enthusiast settings will be.
"Hard Drive: 20 GB"
At this rate, SSDs need to be a whole lot cheaper for them to ever get popular. BF3 still looking good.
Looks like it may be just as taxing on the system as people were saying, lets hope this definitely means theres no console-ish part to it.
6950, damn. Highest specs i've ever seen.
Hope my gtx 570 sli will work good lol.
The minimum requirements seems reasonable.
I'm glad I finally see my HD 5870 challenged (by Crysis 2 and BF3).
Nifty. Looks like I dont need to upgrade anything for this when it hits.
Looks like it may be just as taxing on the system as people were saying, lets hope this definitely means theres no console-ish part to it.
I bought a 60gb SSD planning on it being a boot drive, at this point ill just install bf3 on it and put fraps on the same drive.
im shure a 6870 will run this pretty well also .. although its making me think about getting another 6870 for crossfire.. hmm
yeah i'm hoping my HD4870 can play this @ 720p with medium ish graphical settings. looking foward to the BETA. Rendering Architect at DICE said the BETA is closer to the alpha build and will lack some features supports in Dx11. can't wait to play the final game on OCT 25th!!!!!
WOW, my 5850 for the first time is less than the recommended spec!

Well bring on the 7XXX series, I am bypassing the 6XXX this time as 5850 still plays everything at 1920x1080!
Pity though as I will not support EA so no BF3 for me
As expected, the hardware requirements are quite taxing but that's good news for advancement of PC gaming.

It's just sad that my computers won't even meet the minimum requirements anymore
Recommended System Requirements:
OS: Windows 7 64-bit
Processor: Quad-core CPU
Memory: 4 GB
Hard Drive: 20 GB
GPU: DirectX 11 compatible with 1024 MB RAM (Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 or ATI Radeon 6950)
Sound Card: DirectX compatible
Keyboard and mouse
DVD-ROM drive
Lets try to think about this.
First, they ask for a quad core, and dont even specify speed (so we asume its optimized for 4 cores?! yeah sure...
Second, 64 bit system (what is that even better for?)
Third, 560 or 6950 (you mean 560 Ti i guess, or did they just randomly chose a good gpu?)
That might be fun. If it really needs that much, wow, that would be great assuming they use the engine well.
What i find strange is... they say that a GTX 560 (non-Ti) is the recommended Nvidia GPU while the 6950 is the recommended AMD/ATI gpu.
Unless it's some sort of mistake, it seems that the engine will hugely favour Nvidia's architecture (like HAWX 2). I mean, a 560 is essentially an overclocked 460, right? That's like mid range card vs a high end one...i know it's a TWIMTBP title...but the contrast...
^ enjoy your hissy fit while I enjoy me some godly fps action
First, they ask for a quad core, and dont even specify speed (so we asume its optimized for 4 cores?! yeah sure...Second, 64 bit system (what is that even better for?)
First: They say 2 GHz dual core is minimum, so it's pretty obvious that the AI doesn't need any more. A Quad core would not hold back the high-end graphics, maybe handle a little physics (the rest goes to the card), is better able to run AI scripts, etc, etc.
Second: For the recommended 4GB RAM. Duh
These specs make me excited. Gonna have to pass on Origin though
^ enjoy your hissy fit while I enjoy me some godly fps action
true but its all up to the architecture.
These specs make me excited. Gonna have to pass on Origin though
yay for you. keeping shooting yourself in the foot. it entertains me.
finally a game to use some power of graphics haha recommended is 560 i got 2 of theese in Ti 2 weeks ago lets make em work for the money BF3. hope well c bulldozer soon daddy needs a new pairs of 8cores ;b
Darn, I wonder if my ATI HD 5970 will work ?!?!?!?
Third, 560 or 6950 (you mean 560 Ti i guess, or did they just randomly chose a good gpu?)That might be fun. If it really needs that much, wow, that would be great assuming they use the engine well.
Actually, the 560 does exist. Tom's even did an article about it when it came out. Just a bit less power than the TI but still obviously more powerful than the 550TI.
hope it's NOT like bad company!!
plz plz plz let there be a last man stand i dont like respawn to much 60% more fun on i death 1 game its about the only reason i play cod cuss bf2 dont use it
You have to get it from their Origin service for the PC, no thanks EA. It looks great, as long as I don't have to join EA's Origin service to play the retail box or some other draconian DRM scheme I will be buying it. If not I will stick with BF2.
Nifty. Looks like I dont need to upgrade anything for this when it hits.
Same here
Second, 64 bit system (what is that even better for?)
On 32bit systems, BF3 can only address 3GB of memory. On 64bit Windows 7 it can address 4GB. (A lot more if it's a proper 64bit application.)
Will BF3 use all that memory? I doubt it.
Purpose written x86-64 applications should also run faster because they can use twice as many registers that are also double the size.
It's very unlikely however that they'll actually make a 64bit version of their game.
I like the DVD-ROM drive tacked on at the end of the requirements... I wonder how many people will actually be buying a hard copy.
You have to get it from their Origin service for the PC, no thanks EA. It looks great, as long as I don't have to join EA's Origin service to play the retail box or some other draconian DRM scheme I will be buying it. If not I will stick with BF2.
Any word if EA and steam have shook hands and it will be on both services?
i have to wait for amd hd 7000 series which is delayed to release in 2012.
So "NO BF3 FOR ME".