Warframe was released back in 2013, but is still being supported by the developers and enjoyed by the community over 10 years later. It is a free-to-play online action RPG that has “Very Positive” reviews on Steam and a massive interplanetary system that lets gamers explore different regions andgrind for the best upgrades and gear. The game is available on almost every platform and runs smoothly on all of them, in part due to its fairly low requirements.
When it comes to running Warframe, even an older, mediocre system will be able to run the game just fine. Seeing as how it is over 10 years old, it does not demand thelatest and greatest processoror graphics card, but still looks pretty good and even compares to some of the newer launches. You can get away with a mid-tier GPU and still get an excellent gaming experience,depending on the resolution and FPSyou are targeting.
ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4080 SUPER OC
XFX Speedster QICK309 Radeon RX 7600XT Black
That being said, these are the minimum requirements for Warframe from developer Digital Extremes:
OS: Windows 10 or later
Processor: Intel Core i7 860, Intel Core i5 750, or AMD FX-4100 (SSE 4.2 support required)
Storage: 50 GB available HD space
Game Rant’s Picks for the Best GPU for Warframe
MSI GeForce RTX 4060 Ti VENTUS 3X 8G OC
The MSI GeForce RTX 4060 Ti VENTUS 3X 8G OC features 4352 CUDA cores and comes with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM. The GPU can reach 2565 MHz boost clock speeds and up to 2580 MHz in Extreme Performance mode. There is a triple fan cooler with Zero Frozr operation which means silent performance under certain loads.
While the real-world performance difference between theNvidia RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Tiis not as significant as gamers hoped, the Ti variant does offer up a few extra frames in Warframe, which is beneficial at high resolutions. With the MSI GeForce RTX 4060 Ti VENTUS 3X 8G OC, you can run Warframe not just at 1440p max settings, but also play the game at 4K with minor compromises on the settings. Of course, you will not be able to hit the 100+ FPS mark at 4K at max settings.
The MSI GeForce RTX 4060 Ti VENTUS 3X 8G OC, as the name suggests, comes with a triple fan cooler. These fans use the company’s TORX FAN 4.0 tech, where pairs of fan blades are connected with an outer ring to focus airflow on to the heatsink for better heat dissipation. The fans also have a 0 RPM mode where they only start spinning under a certain load. The GPU features a boost clock speed of 2565 MHz, which can be pushed even further via the MSI Center app and, in Extreme Performance mode, can hit 2580 MHz.
With this GPU, you get 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, three DisplayPort 1.4a ports, and an HDMI 2.1a port. It can be powered by a single 8-pin connector and isrecommended to use with a 550W PSUwhich is very reasonable and economical. There is also a VENTUS 2X dual-fan version for a slightly lower cost, but it is worth investing the extra amount for a better cooling system.
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4070 GAMING OC 12G
The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4070 GAMING OC 12G is a high-performing Nvidia GPU that supports the latest software and hardware technologies from the company. It features 12GB VRAM, higher than reference clock speeds of up to 2565 MHz and a triple fan cooling system.
If you are looking for the absolute best performance in Warframe, the RTX 4070 is the way to go. While you can invest more money and go for the RTX 4070 Ti Super, even the base RTX 4070 is kind of overkill for Warframe. You can max out the settings and switch to 4K resolution and the game will still run at over 120 FPS without any issues. This is essentially the best experience you can get in Warframe.
With the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4070 GAMING OC V2 12G, you get 12GB of GDDR6X VRAM, which is more than enough for even modern AAA titles. In terms of clock speeds, it has a higher than reference core clock speed of 2565 MHz, but despite all this performance, it only requires a single 8-pin connector for power. The company recommends using at least a 650W PSU with this GPU.
The cooling is handled by the company’s beefy WINDFORCE cooling system that includes three 90mm fans, four composite copper heatpipes, and some software tweaks. There is also a 0 RPM mode for silent cooling. The three fans also have an RGB ring around them and the colors can be controlled through the RGB Fusion software.
Some of the other features that GIGABYTE offers with a lot of its RTX 40-series GPUs include an extended heatsink with a metal backplate, dual-BIOS, and power indicators for irregularities coming from the PSU.
MSI GeForce RTX 3050 VENTUS 2X XS 8G OC
MSI Gaming RTX 3050 Ventus 2X XS provides a dual-fan RTX 3050 design that offers decent cooling and good 1080p gaming performance on a budget. With 8GB GDDR6 memory and 2560 Cuda Cores, the card is ready to take on some modern titles on high settings. With a low power requirement, it is compatible with most budget gaming builds and requires just a single 6-pin power connector.
Considering how tame the requirements for Warframe are, even an older generation mid-tier GPU can perform very well. The MSI GeForce RTX 3050 VENTUS 2X XS 8G OC is an excellent budget-friendly option that can run the game at 1440p and even 4K, while still delivering an over 60 FPS experience. It can also be found for under $200, making it a great low-cost option for Warframe.
The GPU features 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM and has a boost clock of 1807 MHz. It is powered by a single 6-pin connector and is rated for 115W of power consumption under load. The company recommends using a 500W PSU with this GPU. For connectivity, you get a DisplayPort 1.4a port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a DL-DVI-D port. Being an older generation, entry-level GPU, the connectivity options are fairly limited. It is still a PCIe Gen 4 GPU.
The cooling is handled by a dual-fan system with Zero Frozr cooling technology, which means the fans will only start spinning when the GPU is under a certain load. This leads to quiet performance for the most part. Even though it is a budget-friendly option, there is still a reinforced backplate for more rigidity and better aesthetics. The MSI Center app allows you to tweak certain settings and even overclock the MSI GeForce RTX 3050 VENTUS 2X XS 8G OC.
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 EVO OC Edition
The Asus Dual RTX 4060 EVO OC Edition is selling like hotcakes due to its competitive pricing in the budget GPU category. Providing excellent performance at 1080p resolutions and unmatched Ray Tracing potential for around $300, the RTX 4060 sits as the best and most selling latest Nvidia GPU. The Asus Dual OC edition brings a dual fan design and a factory overclocked board that enhances the performance even further
For less money than the RTX 4060 Ti, you can get about the same performance but with a less beefy cooling system and overclocking headroom, with the ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 EVO OC Edition. With its 8GB GDDR6 VRAM and boost clock speed of 2535 MHz, you can play Warframe at up to 4K resolution with high settings and still get over 60 FPS. This 2.5 slot GPU is powered by a single 8-pin connector.
The Axial-tech fan design, which includes a smaller hub and longer blades, increases downward air pressure for ideal heat dissipation. They also have a 0 RPM mode, and the GPU comes with a dual-BIOS which allows for easily switching between Performance Mode and Quiet Mode. There is also an aluminum backplate that adds rigidity and makes the card look more premium than it is.
ASUS has also put the Dual GeForce RTX 4060 EVO OC Edition GPU through a 144-hour validation program to ensure that it is compatible and performs reliably in the latest games. This compact GPU is a great value option for enjoying Warframe with over 60 FPS at 4K. It also supports the latest Nvidia technologies, like third generation RT cores and DLSS 3, although the game itself, being an older title, does not take advantage of these technologies.
The ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4080 SUPER OC is an excellent aftermarket take on the RTX 4080 SUPER, offering a higher boost clock than the stock option even as it clocks in an additional $100 on MSRP. It offers excellent reliability, power delivery, and one of the best aftermarket coolers one can get for Nvidia’s higher-end RTX 4000 series GPUs.
The RTX 4080 Super stands as an excellent gaming GPU thanks to the large VRAM, high CUDA core count, and its support for the latest Nvidia technologies. The ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER OC Edition comes with a price tag of over $1000, but it has the performance to back it up.
The ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER OC Edition comes with 16GB GDDR6X VRAM, 10,240 CUDA cores, a triple-fan cooler, and can boost up to 2640 MHz in OC mode. You get two HDMI 2.1a ports and three DisplayPort 1.4a ports for connectivity. With even the RTX 4070 being overkill for Warframe, this RTX 4080 Super can dominate pretty much every modern AAA title at 1440p and, in some cases, even 4K.
The three Axial fans take care of the cooling, and they are quite efficient. ASUS uses its automated Auto-Extreme Technology for manufacturing, which ensures reliability and consistency. The TUF series card comes with a rugged build that is reinforced with a metal exoskeleton and military grade capacitors. The ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER OC Edition is a beast of a GPU, but you will need to be careful about pairing it with a lower-end CPU, which could bottleneck its performance.
XFX Speedster QICK309 RX 7600XT Black edition provides a triple fan cooling solution to help the GPU retain higher clock speed for a longer duration. The RX 7600 XT is an excellent alternative to the RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti for a much fairer price. With 16GB of VRAM, it is capable of removing any memory-related bottlenecks and provides noticeable performance uplifts in modern titles.
Sticking with budget-friendly GPU options for Warframe, the Radeon RX 7600 XT is the ideal AMD GPU for Team Red fans. At just over $300 (less if you’re lucky), you’re able to get an excellent 1440p and even 4K experience with the XFX Speedster QICK309 Radeon RX 7600 XT. It comes with 16GB GDDR6 VRAM, which is more than any of the Nvidia offerings on this list. This not only makes the card great for Warframe, but also other heavier AAA titles that require a lot more VRAM.
Its base clock speed of 2029 MHz may seem low compared to the competition, but this GPU can boost up to 2810 MHz, which is quite impressive. Furthermore, there are three fans to keep the GPU cool, but it still only takes up 2.5 slots, making it one of the slimmer RX 7600 XT GPUs on the market. For connectivity, there are three DisplayPort 2.1 ports and one HDMI 2.1 port.
The XFX Speedster QICK309 Radeon RX 7600 XT is targeted towards 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it excels. But in Warframe, it can do 4K without the user having to make a lot of adjustments to the settings, whenpaired with the right CPU, of course. The card has an all-black design and a reinforcing backplate, with a cutout for hot air to escape.
Factors to Consider When Looking for the Best GPU for Warframe
Before choosing a new GPU for Warframe, take into account the following factors:
Brand: Both Nvidia and AMD have low to mid-tier offerings that are capable of delivering an excellent gaming experience in Warframe. So, any Nvidia GPU above the RTX 3050 should be sufficient to run the game well, but it is ideal to stick with the newer RTX 40 series cards. Similarly, AMD’s Radeon RX 7600/XT are entry-level offerings but more than sufficient for Warframe.
Budget: Seeing how the game is over 10 years old and does not have strong CPU and GPU requirements, spending too much on the GPU would be a waste. you may have an excellent gaming experience in Warframe with a $300-$400 GPU or even less. However, getting a much more powerful GPU like the RTX 4070 or RTX 4080 Super would ensure great performance on any AAA title, as well as on many upcoming titles.
FAQ
Q: Is Warframe graphic intensive?
While the game is known to be GPU-intensive, it is not a graphically demanding title. The game can run on low to mid-tier gaming PCs and does not require the latest and greatest CPUs or GPUs to run at 4K.
Q: What GPU gives best FPS?
In terms of just FPS, the Nvidia RTX 4090 takes the cake, as this high-performing GPU stands as the most powerful graphics card on the market.
