Quick Answer

The RTX 5070 runs Baldur's Gate 3 at 1440p averaging 95–115 FPS on Ultra without DLSS, and 130+ FPS with DLSS Quality enabled. Act 3's Lower City stays above 80 FPS even with all crowds visible, making the 5070 the value sweet spot for 1440p BG3 in 2026.

RTX 5070 Performance at 1440p

Baldur's Gate 3 isn't a benchmark queen, but Act 3 in Lower City is famously brutal due to dense NPC counts and complex lighting. Tested with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D and 32GB DDR5-6000, the RTX 5070 results came out as:

  • Act 1 (Druid Grove): 130 FPS Ultra, 165 FPS DLSS Quality
  • Act 2 (Shadow-Cursed Lands): 115 FPS Ultra
  • Act 3 (Lower City): 95 FPS Ultra, 130 FPS DLSS Quality
  • Combat encounters with full party + summons: 105 FPS

Frame times stayed flat with no notable spikes outside save loading. The 12GB VRAM buffer never filled past 9.5GB at 1440p Ultra.

Optimal Settings for 1440p

For best balance of fidelity and frame rate, configure your settings as follows:

  • Preset: Ultra
  • DLSS: Quality (resolution scale 67%)
  • Vsync: Off, use G-Sync or FreeSync at monitor refresh
  • Anti-Aliasing: TAA
  • Shadow Quality: High (Ultra costs frames, looks identical)
  • Model Quality: Ultra
  • Detail Distance: High

Larian's engine responds well to DLSS, and Quality mode produces almost no perceptible difference from native 1440p, while giving 25–35% extra frame rate.

Why the 5070 Hits the Sweet Spot Locally

At around R12,999 on Evetech, the 5070 sits in the sweet spot for SA gamers building 1440p systems. It pairs cleanly with a R10,000 27-inch 1440p 165Hz monitor and a R9,000 Ryzen 7 7800X3D for a complete enthusiast rig under R45,000. NSFAS allowance stretches further on a 5070 build than chasing a 5080.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the RTX 5070 do 4K Baldur's Gate 3?

Yes, with DLSS Performance mode you'll see 70–85 FPS at 4K Ultra. Native 4K Ultra dips into the 50s in Act 3, so DLSS is genuinely needed there.

Is ray tracing worth enabling in BG3?

Baldur's Gate 3 doesn't have full RT yet, only screen-space effects. The 5070's RT cores aren't strained by this game, so leave settings on Ultra without worrying about RT.

How does the 5070 compare to the 5070 Ti for BG3?

The 5070 Ti adds roughly 15% performance for around R3,500 more locally. For BG3 at 1440p that's overkill, save the cash unless you're also doing heavy Cyberpunk RT or 4K work.

Ready to Find Your Perfect Match? Pick up an RTX 5070 for the perfect 1440p Baldur's Gate 3 rig. Browse graphics cards