Reviving old hardware to tackle modern gaming challenges is a fascinating endeavor, and the AMD FX-9590 CPU, launched over a decade ago, has once again proven its resilience. Despite not being listed in the minimum specifications for Battlefield 6, this 12-year-old processor can still manage to run the game without significant issues.
Defying the Odds: AMD FX-9590 in Action
Released in 2012, the AMD FX-9590 was a cutting-edge 8-core CPU built on the Piledriver architecture. It was notably the first CPU to achieve a boost frequency of 5 GHz. Although CPUs have since reached 5.5-6.0 GHz, the FX-9590 was a powerhouse in its time. While today’s improvements focus on core architectures and larger caches to enhance gaming performance, the FX-9590’s legacy endures.
- Pentium 4 (2002) – 3.0 GHz
- FX 4170 (2012) – 4.2 GHz
- FX 9590 (2012) – 5 GHz
- i9-14900K (2023) – 6 GHz
- i9-14900KS (2024) – 6.2 GHz
In a recent test, YouTuber Fully Buffered successfully ran Battlefield 6 on the FX-9590, even though the game’s minimum requirements cite an AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel Core i5-8400. The key to its success lies in the 990FX platform’s support for Secure Boot, an essential requirement, unlike the older Sandy Bridge platform.
Testing the Limits
Fully Buffered’s testing setup included an ASUS FX990 motherboard, an AMD Radeon RX 5700 8 GB GPU, 16 GB of DDR3-1866 memory, and gameplay conducted at 1080p resolution. The game achieved 30-35 FPS in the 64-player Conquest mode and 35-40 FPS in the 24-player Rush mode.
Despite the playable state, challenges remain, such as simulation issues and CPU-limited scenarios, where the GPU remains underutilized. This showcases the FX-9590’s capability to handle modern games, albeit with some limitations.
While it’s impressive to see old hardware in action, adhering to the developer’s recommended system requirements ensures the best gaming experience. For a deeper insight into Battlefield 6’s performance on contemporary hardware, check out our performance tests here.