Battlefield 4 showdown: PS3 vs mid-range PC visual comparison

Gamer Thumb compares a mid-range PC and a PS3 to see how well each handles the Battlefield 4 beta.

It’s already a given that gamers will grab BF4 for PC if they own a high-end machine: it looks amazing.

But what about the rest of the gaming population who has to grapple with slightly older or inferior hardware?

This comparison is aimed at helping those who are tossing up between the current-gen console and PC versions for fear that there mightn’t be much difference without some expensive PC hardware.

[fattyuk]

Much more interested in the next gen / PC comparisons tbh,

[Crazyglues]

That's why he did the PC at 1600 x 900 to kinda show you what it's looking like on PS4...

That's what the PS4 build at the show was running at, so that PC version should give you an idea of what what it might look like on PS4 - or nex gen consoles... it's going to be sweet. hopefully.. if they pull it off..

here's a better look at it running on the PS4 -->

http://www.jeuxvideo.com/re...

Just fast forward to about 00.40

.____........___...
.____||......||.......|___||
||.........___||............ ||

[PraxxtorCruel]

Delete comment.

[Ju]

I would rather hope the PS4 version will stomp all over that. It screen tears like crazy. OMG.

Not matter how many bullet points want to underline the PC superior version...for me personally it doesn't look so much better than the PS3 version but the frame rate is so much worse, it's not even funny. Why show something like that?

[Crazyglues]

@ ju

this is the beta, try not to judge it too hard, since it's indeed going to be improved and optimized....

.____........___...
.____||......||.......|___||
||.........___||............ ||

[ProjectVulcan]

It obviously looks better than the PS3 version with a bunch more effects and resolution, although he hasn't turned on vsync for whatever reason.

Its running on a laptop with a 750M GPU, which isn't even as fast as a now ancient GTX460 desktop card. Like the machine he is demoing it on is way slower than a modern $80 card like a GTX650.

The PS3 version will probably improve a little but the PC version has by far the most room to improve before its finished, largely because there will be better drivers as well.

It was kinda obvious even a laptop with a relatively weak GPU can beat up PS3. It is 2013 after all.

I don't quite get the comparison but hey.

[guitarded77]

He says the comparison is for those deciding between console, and a lower grade PC set-up version of the game... for those unsure of the reasoning.

I have the game pre-ordered for PS4, and played the beta on PS3. I was not impressed with the beta. The fire was horrible... in a lot of ways, it felt like a step down from Battlefield 3 on the PS3. Maybe it was partially the bland environment of the beta level. It's just so damn grey and boring... It's like everywhere you look is the same texture, and that texture makes everything look like 3D mesh models.

[ShinMaster]

And to think they're using HIGH settings on the PC version to compare to the PS3.

Not bad for a console over 7 years old.
Hell, I can't remember PC games looking this good in 2005/6 on PC.

[TekoIie]

@shinmaster

I dont remember console games looking that good back in 05/06 either.

But nice job leaving out 07 so I couldnt point out Crysis ;)

[Gamer1982]

Its stupid as PS3 version will be running at around 640p (BF3 ran at 1280 x 704 on consoles this will be less as the engines more powerful) upscaled to 1080p as per usual. Mid range Pc costing around £400 can run this at 1080p NATIVE. Thats the main difference here. If you ran a PC @640P with mid settings you could probably get that PC for the same cost as a PS3 if you tried. Though obviously you lose the up-scaling. But you get a cheaper copy and PC benefits..

People gotta realise about these comparisons they are comparing them all to 1080p PC WHY??? How about you comapre the correct resolutions? Like when comparing to PS4/XBONE compare BF4 running 720p. A £500 PC can easily run the game past the 60FPS mark on high @720P. Thats what the new consoles supposedly runs at NOT ULTRA.

[ShinMaster]

@ Pekolie

360 and PS3 launched around that time. Their hardware is around 8 years old and hasn't changed since. Crysis came out 2 years later for better hardware.
So unless you can prove that a PC under $500 with comparable hardware in 2005/6 had games that looked better at that time, I stand by what I said.

I think it just proves that even with static non-upgradable console hardware, games can improve on them.

[BattleAxe]

I played the PS3 beta at a friend's place lastnight, and I thought it looked pretty good. The map that they give you to play isn't really all that good though.

[Ju]

Don't give me this "not vsynch" crap. Because it obviously isn't. But this version simply is nowhere the "superior 60fps" nor is it anywhere close to 1080p we get hammered in here every day. The PS3 version runs absolutely smooth, the PC version doesn't. So, that said, you will need some power in your machine to be able to run this at 1080p@60fps - an this isn't even "ultra". And even "High" isn't that far above the PS3 version. The player count is the biggest difference here, because the maps are huge and will feel empty with less players. The worst in this game, however, is the "dust layer" which might be interesting from a technical perspective but makes this game ugly and grey. I liked the beta better than BF3. It plays faster and is a little bit more enjoyable, IMO. Still...I will probably skip it. Not enough since BF3 to charge me another $60...

[JsonHenry]

Even at medium settings and sub 1080p resolution this game looks great on PC. Console gamers are in for a real treat because it is gonna be on par or better than that on the next gen consoles.

[Neckbear]

It looks exactly just like BF3.

[somedude342]

this is what took them 2 years to make? some new maps and a spotting animation?

[Irishguy95]

Water and all that **** in multiplayer, BF4 is BF3.5 really, it's just catching consoles up to the BF experience.

[SilentNegotiator]

@irish

Like EA DICE wouldn't have stuck to a biennial release schedule anyway.

[dcj0524]

They had to get out all those awful glitches and better netcode too, flying mechanics feel different too. Probably took a few months to think "Hey guys lets not make the commander a overpowered POS this time!" And actually balance the guns (Hi BF3). And so far the Map layouts look a hell of a lot better than any BF3 map. I'd say even BF2 quality. Its a natrual sewual with natrual improvments. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 or Doom 2 was a step up but not a giant one.

[RedDevils]

Lol so much for the hype right? haha

[Gamer1982]

New ideas are hard to come by these days in the FPS genre I mean look at COD its the same game each year with new maps and guns. All they added this year is a dog and underwater level. Not much they can do especially with older consoles holding them back. Once the leash is off however and they have sold enough consoles so they don't have to make PS3/360 versions games can get a lot better.

[venom06]

if you think this looks exactly like BF3, you need you brain scanned for abnormalities... you might be sick and not know it..

[ShinMaster]

It probably has something to do with BF4 having the same bland, high contrast art direction as BF3.

[bumnut]

"It looks exactly just like BF3"

Not on PC, it looks amazing.

[JsonHenry]

The best part is not all of the visual effects are enabled on the PC beta. It's going to look even better on release when all the post effects are added in.

But visuals aside, this game just feels and plays "tighter" is the best way to describe it.

[Gamer1982]

Looks a LOT like BF3 PC Version on PC. I got both on PC. I also have BF3 on PS3 (to play with a friend online).

[Neckbear]

I played it on PC. Running it on Ultra at 1080p. It looked exactly just like the BF3 multiplayer.

Far from amazing, too.

[Qrphe]

Not right now since game runs at 15fps for most

[bumnut]

@neckbear

Maybe your eyes are not 1080 compatible, I think it looks great, so much more detail than BF3.

Its the little things that make the difference like the welding sparks from the repair gun, bullets hitting metal steps, textures are a lot better too.

EDIT @ above

It runs ok for me, my friend was complaining it ran like crap with SLI 570's, turned out he was hitting his VRAM limit. Its runs ok for me with a 780, not 60 fps but still very playable.

[1nsomniac]

I clicked this because I read it as PS4. Are u really comparing PS3 to PC!??

[pixelsword]

No kiddin'; I said "well, I guess a mid-range PC would be a good starting poi-- PS3?!"

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

Exactly, it would be a nice down to earth comparison, because most people don't have that killer high end PC and may be wondering about get the game on next gen consoles or on their current PCs or even if they're getting a next-gen console at all.

[deSSy2724]

mid-range LAPTOP/NOTEBOOK, NOT desktop PC.

The GPU inside the laptop is weak compared to most desktop low-midrange GPUs.

[Funantic1]

This game sucks on the beta. I went 7 whole minutes without seeing one enemy. When I finally did see one enemy my whole team shot him up cause he had no support. The trailers always look great until you play the real game and get disappointed...huge letdown. There's just not enough action and excitement. Furthmore what's with all the gliches on the beta. This is the worst beta ever. It's so unpolished and rushed. No way am I gonna spend my money on this trash. Maybe the PC at maximum settings will do it justice visually but still won't help the dull action. Look at the video above yourself and count how enemies you see get shot. The guy has to hunt down the action. The maps are too large. Erasing BF4 beta right now.

[dazzrazz]

7 minutes wow you must suck at this game hardcore

[tristanwerbe]

This game does suck just like bf3 sucked

[Blastoise]

Are you playing on PC? I'm playing on PS3 and at times the level just turns into a ghost town and completely winds down. I assumed it would be more frantic on PC

[bumnut]

Thats because 24 players is nowhere near enough for a BF game.

[SharnOfTheDEAD]

you must be playing it wrong, I've had plenty of fun with just 24 players on Xbox and not even had 64 player experience yet, also the BF4 beta has no way near as many glitches as the BF3 beta....

[Allsystemgamer]

So. You watch PC footage and then complain when you play the console version....logic right there....

[FITgamer]

Depends on what you are playing it on. PS3 version only has 3 objectives half the map, and 24 players. They PC version has 6 objectives, twice as much map, and 64 players. It's alot more fun on PC and looks way better, this video doesn't do it justice. Like i said in a previous post anyone planning on getting this on current-gen are going to be really disappointed.

[dcj0524]

Lol. Man. Sorry but you have to try REALLY HARD to sucks that hard. I just got done playing the beta on ps3. Whole team locked down alll objectives except for C and the enemy team made a crazy last push. Pulled out all then vehicles. my squad was just inside killing everyone and I was supporting them with my heli. It was too epic. Your doing something wrong man.

[kevnb]

i see the promise, but the beta is kind of messy right now. But to put this in perspesctive, the laptop used has a mid range laptop gpu, not desktop but laptop.

[infamous-butcher]

well at least its a messy beta and not a messy retail version.

[Shane Kim]

Skipping this and buying KZ:SF instead.

[ssj27]

Smart move!

KILLZONE SF

All MP maps dlc are free

Very well balanced MP, KZ2 MP director is back! With costum rooms and very hardcore harsh community that will give you a challenge, no 13years old COD/Battlefield (yes battlefield is full of noobs) noobs.

1080p 60fps MP

[Hufandpuf]

Buying BF4 and Titanfall. There's always room for both.

[forcefullpower]

BF4 beta on PS3 is pretty poor. At the point of cancelling pre order for PS4 and just keeping killzone.

[Haules]

BF4 feels like the players are sliding on ice skates holding paper guns lol
The gameplay is over the top fast paced and it feels so unrealistic.

I don't see why people are exited for BF4, maybe the over hyping that it gets from the media...

[PSnation4]

battlefield 3 beta was better than this lol.. im not a pc gamer so i will just wait for ps4 bf4

[I_am_Batman]

PC version is set on 1600x900 and the video is uploaded in 720p? Also it doesn't even look like 720p probably because of compression. Impossible to compare with that quality.

[TechMech2]

I'll just wait for Star Wars battlefront for my next dice game...thanks anyway

[cunnilumpkin]

ps4 version equals pc version set to medium at 900p

pc version can be low, medium, high, very high and finally ultra

pc version will be a generation beyond ps4 when maxed out!

[elhebbo16]

not sure why people are disagreeing with you, theres a huge difference between playying at 1440p/ultra settings and 900p/medium settings...

but people believe what they want to believe.

[bumnut]

It takes a monster PC to play on ultra at 1440p.

I have an i7 950 (old but still good) and a GTX 780, I don't get close to 60 fps on ultra.

[saint_seya]

I tried today the game for the first time on my pc and with textures in ultra and and deferred antialiasing off, and i get 43 fps #on 1920x1080 with 64 players.
But idk if is the map or what, but i thought the bf3 maps looked better #but then again i played bf3 with all in ultra so idk.
It looks good, but i can imagine that with all in ultra in higher resolutions should look a lot better.

[EastBayPunk]

Fail video is fail

[dillhole]

These videos make almost no sense when the Youtube quality is so low and the frame rate can go no higher than 30fps. I played the PS3 beta and it performs just as BF3 did - average. It'd be nice to see Youtube offer a 60fps option at some point in the future.

[Shaungamerthumb]

I've updated with some screenshots

[JohnS1313]

Comparisons of betas are dumb.

[Ohlmay]

God damn the PS3 version looks terrible.

[ThatCanadianGuy514]

You should see the 360 version lol
http://n4g.com/news/1367718...

[Ohlmay]

PS3 looks to have slightly sharper textures, but both look god awful, thank god I own a PC.

[ThatCanadianGuy514]

"Slighty sharper textures"
Now that is one hell of an understatement.

[kratos_TheGoat]

cod ghost for X1 & bf4 for ps4

[GinkgoID]

Interesting. I played the PS3 version of was disappointed at the visuals. However, looking the mid-range PC stuff here, it doesn't look significantly/noticeably better.

Was expecting much more. Hmm, will wait and see PS4/high-end PC before passing judgement.

[tommygunzII]

That is a $1200 laptop. You could buy 4 PS3's and a couple of games at that price.

[WheatBread]

$400 x 4 + $120 = $1720 (before taxes)

[Ju]

PS3 is $199

[kevnb]

ps3 isnt a laptop.

[seanpitt23]

I just think after bc2 which was a amazing game dice has gone down hill from there I want everything to be destructible not just odd thing here and there and a set piece that's what bf is all about destructibility

[Thunderhawkxbox]

Woow it never gonna stop now cod fans bashing bf fans lol just play your game or buy your favorite console and stop talking trash about games or consoles at end of the day u not gaining anything do u ?

[Rageanitus]

"The PC version is graphically superior even on middle-range hardware"

[TomahawkX]

Pointless comparison. Is there any need to point out the obvious? It's just beating a dead horse.

Why not compare this game with N64 Duke Nukem 3D while you're at it?

[badvlad]

playin 360 version... it looks like poo =( picked up the scar and iron site looked like a block of cement

[srd4484]

Do people understand that this is a Beta version?

[Firestorm]

This is a bit of a strange comparison - the results are exactly as one would expect.
The laptop used costs around twice as much as PS4, nevermind the outgoing ps3.
What I would like to see is a comparison of how well (if at all) a high end PC from the time of PS3's release could run it.

[thawind]

What about a gtx 780m with 4gb of gddr5 ram can it do a higher resolution and framerate than the card their using in this article?

[Allsystemgamer]

That's exactly what I'm using. I get between 60-75 fps on ultra

[thawind]

Thanks

[BLKxSEPTEMBER]

Do you? Maybe u have a much better mother board than me cause I'm getting shit fps. Maybe its my configuration.

[Allsystemgamer]

mine is a sager custom build. im not entirely sure what MOBO i have.

[BLKxSEPTEMBER]

im using a 7950 hd oc edtion and im having issues running this game on high! ill just go with the next gen version. i dont have the time to screw around with config i just wanna play!

[Allsystemgamer]

Or just wait for the optimized version to be released?

[Bakkies]

The game is going to be fun, but I'm not going to say it looks exceptional on any platform in comparison to graphics powerhouse titles of this gen and PC.