Can I Run BioShock® 2?
2K Marin · 2010
Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the halls of Rapture once again echo with sins of the past. Along the Atlantic coastline, a monster has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city of Rapture.
Can You Run BioShock® 2?
Pick your CPU, GPU, RAM and OS — we check each one against BioShock® 2’s official minimum and recommended requirements.
Your PC
You can run BioShock® 2 — and then some
Your PC meets the recommended requirements. Expect a great experience.
| Component | Your PC | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPU | GeForce RTX 4060 | NVIDIA 7800GT 256MB graphics card or better, ATI Radeon X1900 256MB graphics card or better DirectX®: DirectX 9.0c | NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB graphics card or better, ATI Radeon HD4830 512MB graphics card or better Other Requirements: Initial installation requires one-time internet connection; software installations required including Microsoft Visual C++2008 Runtime Libraries, Microsoft DirectX. |
| CPU | Core i5-13400 | AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3800+ 2.4Ghz or better, Intel Pentium 4 530 3.0Ghz Processor or better | AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Dual Core 2.60Ghz, Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 Dual Core 2.13Ghz |
| RAM | 16 GB | 2 GB | 3 GB |
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 | — |
Verdict compares your components against the game’s published requirements using our GPU/CPU benchmark database. Estimates — real performance varies with drivers, settings and cooling.
Estimated FPS at 1080p
GAMERSPECS ESTIMATEEstimated using the GamerSpecs performance model. Actual FPS may vary depending on drivers, cooling, power limits, background applications, and game updates.How is this calculated? →BioShock® 2 is a demanding action game from 2010. On a mid-range GPU like the RTX 4060 it averages around 91 FPS at 1080p, while budget cards manage roughly 41 FPS and high-end hardware pushes about 173 FPS. Plan on a dedicated graphics card and check the recommended specs below before buying.
Budget GPU
GTX 1650 / RX 6500 XT
~36–46 FPS
Low Performance
Mid-range GPU
RTX 4060 / RX 7600
~80–100 FPS
Playable
High-end GPU
RTX 4080 / RX 7900 XTX
~155–190 FPS
Excellent
Want your exact FPS? Enter your CPU, GPU and resolution.
Check My PC →Can I run BioShock® 2 on my graphics card?
Pick your GPU for a straight yes-or-no, an FPS estimate at every resolution, and the settings to run.
BioShock® 2 System Requirements
The official minimum and recommended PC specs for BioShock® 2, component by component.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 | — |
| Processor | AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3800+ 2.4Ghz or better, Intel Pentium 4 530 3.0Ghz Processor or better | AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Dual Core 2.60Ghz, Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 Dual Core 2.13Ghz |
| Memory | 2GB | 3GB |
| Graphics | NVIDIA 7800GT 256MB graphics card or better, ATI Radeon X1900 256MB graphics card or better DirectX®: DirectX 9.0c | NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB graphics card or better, ATI Radeon HD4830 512MB graphics card or better Other Requirements: Initial installation requires one-time internet connection; software installations required including Microsoft Visual C++2008 Runtime Libraries, Microsoft DirectX. |
| Storage | 11GB Sound: 100% DirectX 9.0C compliant sound card or onboard sound | — |
Show the full Steam listingHide the full Steam listing
Minimum
OS *: Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 Processor: AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3800+ 2.4Ghz or better, Intel Pentium 4 530 3.0Ghz Processor or better Memory: 2GB Graphics: NVIDIA 7800GT 256MB graphics card or better, ATI Radeon X1900 256MB graphics card or better DirectX®: DirectX 9.0c Hard Drive: 11GB Sound: 100% DirectX 9.0C compliant sound card or onboard sound
Recommended
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Dual Core 2.60Ghz, Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 Dual Core 2.13Ghz Memory: 3GB Graphics: NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB graphics card or better, ATI Radeon HD4830 512MB graphics card or better Other Requirements: Initial installation requires one-time internet connection; software installations required including Microsoft Visual C++2008 Runtime Libraries, Microsoft DirectX.
Requirements sourced from the official Steam store listing.
BioShock® 2 — FAQ
Can I run BioShock® 2?+
On a mid-range GPU like an RTX 4060 you can expect around 91 FPS at 1080p in BioShock® 2. Budget GPUs get about 41 FPS and high-end GPUs around 173 FPS. Use the checker on this page to test your exact CPU, GPU, RAM and OS against the official requirements.
What are the minimum system requirements for BioShock® 2?+
BioShock® 2 needs at least a AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3800+ 2.4Ghz or better, Intel Pentium 4 530 3.0Ghz Processor or better processor, a NVIDIA 7800GT 256MB graphics card or better, ATI Radeon X1900 256MB graphics card or better DirectX®: DirectX 9.0c graphics card, 2GB of RAM, 11GB Sound: 100% DirectX 9.0C compliant sound card or onboard sound of storage, running Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7.
Can BioShock® 2 run without a graphics card?+
No — BioShock® 2 is too demanding for integrated graphics. You'll need a dedicated GPU (minimum: NVIDIA 7800GT 256MB graphics card or better, ATI Radeon X1900 256MB graphics card or better DirectX®: DirectX 9.0c).
How much RAM does BioShock® 2 need?+
BioShock® 2 officially requires a minimum of 2GB of RAM, with 3GB recommended for smooth performance. 16GB is a comfortable amount for modern gaming overall.
More games to check
FPS values displayed on GamerSpecs are estimates. Actual game performance may vary depending on hardware configuration, drivers, cooling, power limits, background applications, and game updates.