In an unexpected twist, the 12-year-old AMD FX-9590 CPU demonstrates it still packs a punch by running Battlefield 6 without significant issues, despite not meeting the game’s minimum specifications. This showcases the enduring capabilities of the chip, first launched in 2012 as a high-end processor.
Battlefield 6 and the Old-School Powerhouse
The AMD FX-9590, introduced as an 8-core powerhouse based on the Piledriver architecture, made headlines by becoming the first CPU to achieve a 5 GHz boost frequency. Although modern CPUs have surpassed this with speeds up to 6.2 GHz, the FX-9590 was a marvel of its time. The processor’s capability is highlighted by a YouTuber named Fully Buffered, who successfully ran Battlefield 6 on this legacy hardware. Despite being much older than the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel Core i5-8400 recommended by the game’s developer, DICE, the FX-9590 managed to perform decently.
Technical Feasibility and Performance
The AMD FX-9590’s success in running Battlefield 6 is attributed to its 990FX platform, which supports Secure Boot technology – a key requirement for the game, unlike the AMD Sandy Bridge platform. Fully Buffered’s setup included an ASUS FX990 motherboard paired with an AMD Radeon RX 5700 8 GB GPU, 16 GB of DDR3-1866 memory, and tested the game at 1080p. Performance metrics showed 30-35 FPS on large Conquest maps and 35-40 FPS in Rush mode.
An Impressive Showcase of Legacy Hardware
While Battlefield 6 is playable, there are occasional simulation issues, and the GPU is underutilized, leading to fan inactivity due to the CPU’s full utilization. Despite these limitations, Fully Buffered’s experiment illustrates the potential of legacy hardware like the AMD FX-9590 in modern gaming. However, for optimal experiences, sticking to recommended hardware specifications is advisable.