Half-Life
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Estimated FPS across quality settings and resolutions
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Half-Life FPS by GPU
Estimated framerates for 14 reference GPUs · pick a resolution and quality
Full benchmark grid · 14 GPUs × 4 qualities × 3 resolutions
1080p performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 838 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 884 fps | 718 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 999 fps | 974 fps | 779 fps | 633 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 999 fps | 947 fps | 758 fps | 616 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 999 fps | 895 fps | 716 fps | 582 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 999 fps | 816 fps | 653 fps | 530 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 921 fps | 737 fps | 589 fps | 479 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 789 fps | 632 fps | 505 fps | 411 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 572 fps | 458 fps | 366 fps | 298 fps |
1440p performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 898 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 847 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 999 fps | 999 fps | 979 fps | 795 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 999 fps | 967 fps | 774 fps | 629 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 999 fps | 829 fps | 663 fps | 539 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 913 fps | 730 fps | 584 fps | 475 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 888 fps | 711 fps | 568 fps | 462 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 839 fps | 671 fps | 537 fps | 436 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 765 fps | 612 fps | 489 fps | 398 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 691 fps | 553 fps | 442 fps | 359 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 592 fps | 474 fps | 379 fps | 308 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 429 fps | 343 fps | 275 fps | 223 fps |
4K performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 884 fps | 707 fps | 575 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 821 fps | 657 fps | 534 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 921 fps | 737 fps | 589 fps | 479 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 868 fps | 695 fps | 556 fps | 452 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 816 fps | 653 fps | 522 fps | 424 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 645 fps | 516 fps | 413 fps | 335 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 553 fps | 442 fps | 354 fps | 287 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 487 fps | 389 fps | 312 fps | 253 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 474 fps | 379 fps | 303 fps | 246 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 447 fps | 358 fps | 286 fps | 233 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 408 fps | 326 fps | 261 fps | 212 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 368 fps | 295 fps | 236 fps | 192 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 316 fps | 253 fps | 202 fps | 164 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 229 fps | 183 fps | 147 fps | 119 fps |
Where to buy
Half-Life
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Genres
About
Half-Life, released in 1998, is a groundbreaking action game that changed the landscape of first-person shooters. Players step into the shoes of Dr. Gordon Freeman, a silent protagonist embroiled in a gripping narrative that unfolds through immersive environmental storytelling rather than traditional cutscenes. The game is notable for its innovative gameplay mechanics, engaging level design, and a compelling plot that keeps players on the edge of their seats.
When it comes to PC performance, Half-Life is quite accessible, able to run on a wide range of hardware thanks to its low minimum GPU requirement of an entry-level graphics card with a benchmark score of around 600. As a result, even older systems can achieve smooth FPS at higher graphics settings. For optimal performance, players may want to consider mid-tier GPUs that allow for enhanced visuals and consistent frame rates without straining modern systems.
Should you play Half-Life? With an impressive rating of 88/100, this title is a must-try for action game enthusiasts and anyone looking to experience a seminal piece of gaming history. Its unique storytelling, combined with solid gameplay mechanics, ensures that it remains enjoyable even decades after its release.
Performance profile
Released in November 1998, Half-Life predates modern GPU acceleration as we know it today. It runs effortlessly on virtually any current hardware, including integrated graphics and entry-level laptops — framerate is limited by the engine, not the GPU.
Action titles like Half-Life reward high framerates for visual clarity during combat. A mid-range modern GPU at 1440p 60–120 FPS is the practical sweet spot; VRR (G-Sync/FreeSync) smooths out drops during heavy effects.
Extremely light — Half-Life runs at 60 FPS 1080p on any integrated GPU (Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon Graphics) or a decade-old discrete card like the GTX 1050. A current-gen RTX 4060 pushes 4K Ultra without effort.
Storyline
Dr. Gordon Freeman arrives late for work at 8:47 am in the Black Mesa Research Facility, using the advanced Black Mesa tram system that leads through the facility. He arrives at the Anomalous Materials Lab, his work place, and he is informed by the security officer that the scientists have a special experiment today, so he goes to the locker room and puts on the hazard suit. He goes to the lab's lower levels, and arrives at the Anti-Mass Chamber, where he is instructed that the specimen to be used that day is the rarest and also the most unstable specimen. He is tasked with pushing the specimen into the scanning beam of the Anti-Mass Spectrometer for analysis. However as soon as he pushes it, it explodes, and creates a sudden catastrophe called a "resonance cascade", opening a portal between Earth and a dimension called Xen. Freeman is apparently teleported to an alien planet and catches glimpses of various alien lifeforms, including a circle of Vortigaunts, shortly before blacking out.
