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Borderlands 2 PhysX performance varies by system and test scene: two 2012 reviews found anything from a modest change across PhysX tiers to a 15–19% frame-rate drop when PhysX was enabled. Those results explain why benchmark comparisons need the GPU, CPU, resolution, graphics preset, PhysX setting, driver context and tested scene—not just an FPS number.
What the Borderlands 2 benchmarks show
The available published results are useful as examples of how PhysX can affect performance, not as predictions for a different PC or a present-day GPU. TechSpot’s 2012 test covered 26 graphics-card configurations. At 1920×1200, its reported comparisons showed lower frame rates with PhysX enabled on both tested cards:
| Review and configuration | Reported result |
|---|---|
| TechSpot, 2012: Radeon HD 7970 at 1920×1200 | 72 fps to 61 fps with PhysX enabled; 15% lower in the review’s comparison. |
| TechSpot, 2012: GeForce GTX 680 at 1920×1200 | 74 fps to 60 fps with PhysX enabled; 19% lower in the review’s comparison. |
| Notebookcheck, 2012: GeForce GTX 680M, ultra settings, short test | 71 fps at PhysX low, 67 fps at medium and 65 fps at high; the review described this test as largely unaffected by PhysX. |
The two TechSpot comparisons show a substantial cost in those configurations, while Notebookcheck’s laptop test found a smaller difference between its PhysX tiers. The tests used different hardware and methods, so their figures should not be treated as a direct comparison with each other or with current systems. See TechSpot’s final thoughts and PhysX results and Notebookcheck’s benchmark report.
Why PhysX can affect FPS
PhysX quality changes effects including debris, fluids and particles. NVIDIA’s Borderlands 2 and The Pre-Sequel tweak guide warns that GPU-accelerated PhysX simulates many interacting particles and can have a sizeable performance impact compared with other settings. That is vendor guidance, not an independent benchmark result; the actual impact depends on the PC, settings and scene being tested.
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A quiet area and a scene full of simulated effects may not put the same load on a system. A benchmark from one short sequence therefore cannot establish a game-wide FPS penalty. When a review does not identify its test scene or repeatable method, treat its result as specific to that test rather than a universal figure.
How to compare Borderlands 2 benchmark results
To assess how much PhysX affects FPS, compare runs that differ only in PhysX setting and use the same repeatable scene. Record the following details alongside each result:
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- Hardware: GPU and CPU model, and whether the system is a laptop or desktop.
- Display and quality: resolution and graphics preset.
- PhysX: the named tier—such as low, medium or high—and whether GPU-accelerated effects are active.
- Test method: the same scene, duration and route or other repeatable procedure for each run.
- Performance measures: average frame rate and, when the test actually provides it, frame-time consistency.
- Software context: driver and operating-system details, particularly when interpreting older measurements.
For a useful comparison, hold the hardware, resolution, preset, driver and test scene constant while changing PhysX. If a second system is involved, report its results separately rather than attributing the difference solely to PhysX.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are the official PC requirements useful for choosing a GPU today?
Gearbox’s support page, listed as published April 14, 2025, gives legacy requirements for Borderlands 2. Its minimum lists a 2.4 GHz dual-core CPU and GeForce 8500 or Radeon HD 2600; its recommended configuration lists a 2.3 GHz quad-core CPU and GeForce GTX 560 or Radeon HD 5850. These are compatibility-era baselines, not current performance guidance or recommendations for buying a graphics card. The page describes the requirements in the context of Windows XP SP3-era compatibility: Borderlands 2 PC System Requirements.
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