Halo 3
Can your GPU run this game?
Estimated FPS across quality settings and resolutions
Search for your GPU above to see a full FPS breakdown at every quality and resolution.
Halo 3 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 | 867 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 915 fps | 743 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 999 fps | 999 fps | 806 fps | 655 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 999 fps | 980 fps | 784 fps | 637 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 999 fps | 926 fps | 740 fps | 602 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 999 fps | 844 fps | 675 fps | 549 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 953 fps | 762 fps | 610 fps | 495 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 817 fps | 653 fps | 523 fps | 425 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 592 fps | 474 fps | 379 fps | 308 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 | 929 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 876 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 823 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 999 fps | 999 fps | 800 fps | 650 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 999 fps | 858 fps | 686 fps | 557 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 944 fps | 755 fps | 604 fps | 491 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 919 fps | 735 fps | 588 fps | 478 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 868 fps | 694 fps | 555 fps | 451 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 791 fps | 633 fps | 506 fps | 411 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 715 fps | 572 fps | 457 fps | 372 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 613 fps | 490 fps | 392 fps | 319 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 444 fps | 355 fps | 284 fps | 231 fps |
4K performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 915 fps | 732 fps | 595 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 849 fps | 679 fps | 552 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 953 fps | 762 fps | 610 fps | 495 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 898 fps | 719 fps | 575 fps | 467 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 844 fps | 675 fps | 540 fps | 439 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 667 fps | 534 fps | 427 fps | 347 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 572 fps | 457 fps | 366 fps | 297 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 504 fps | 403 fps | 322 fps | 262 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 490 fps | 392 fps | 314 fps | 255 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 463 fps | 370 fps | 296 fps | 241 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 422 fps | 338 fps | 270 fps | 219 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 381 fps | 305 fps | 244 fps | 198 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 327 fps | 261 fps | 209 fps | 170 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 237 fps | 189 fps | 152 fps | 123 fps |
Where to buy
Halo 3
affiliate
Minimum Hardware
* Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Genres
About
Halo 3, released in 2007, is a first-person shooter celebrated for its engaging gameplay and iconic balance of weapons, grenades, and melee combat. This installment in the Halo franchise offers players intense combat scenarios both on foot and in vehicles, enhancing the tactical depth and variety of the gaming experience. With a score of 85/100, Halo 3 remains a notable title in the genre, attracting both new players and veterans alike.
When considering hardware for optimal performance, Halo 3 is relatively accessible, requiring only an entry-level GPU with a minimum score around 506 and a CPU score of approximately 6804. For smooth FPS performance, a system equipped with at least 8 GB of RAM will suffice. To achieve high graphics settings while maintaining a solid frame rate, GPUs from the mid-range tier, such as the NVIDIA GTX 950 or the AMD Radeon RX 560, are recommended to enhance your gaming experience.
Whether you’re a long-time fan of the series or new to the franchise, playing Halo 3 is a compelling choice. With its strong rating and engaging shooter mechanics, it's a must-try for anyone who enjoys immersive gameplay and competitive multiplayer action.
Performance profile
September 2007 release. Halo 3 targets mid-2000s-to-early-2010s hardware — any modern entry-level GPU (GTX 1650 tier or newer integrated graphics) handles it at 1080p Ultra without breaking a sweat.
Halo 3 is latency-sensitive: a high refresh-rate monitor (144 Hz+) and consistent 1% low framerate matter more than raw averages. Aim for a GPU that delivers 20–30% more headroom than the "just 60 FPS" tier to keep frame pacing smooth during intense fights.
Extremely light — Halo 3 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
After the events of the comic tie-in Halo: Uprising, the Master Chief crashes in eastern Africa, where he is found by Johnson and the Arbiter. The Chief, Johnson, and company fight Covenant in the jungle and arrive at a UNSC outpost. Here, Keyes and Lord Hood plan a final effort to stop the Covenant leader, the High Prophet of Truth, from activating a Forerunner artifact uncovered outside the ruins of the city of New Mombasa. The Chief clears anti-air Covenant defenses so Hood can lead the last of Earth's ships against the Prophet, but Truth activates the buried artifact, creating a slipspace portal which he and his followers enter. A Flood-infested ship crash-lands nearby; Elite forces arrive and vitrify Flood-infected areas of Earth, stopping the threat. Following a message Cortana left aboard the Flood ship, the Chief, Arbiter, Elites, Johnson, Keyes and their troops follow Truth through the portal. Joining them is 343 Guilty Spark, who aids the Chief as he has no function to fulfill after the destruction of his ringworld. Traveling through the portal, the humans and Elites discover an immense artificial structure known as the Ark, far beyond the edges of the Milky Way galaxy. Here, Truth can remotely activate all the Halos. The Flood arrive aboard High Charity in full force, beginning to infest the installation. Truth captures Johnson, as he needs a human to use Forerunner technology. Keyes is killed attempting a rescue, and Johnson is forced to activate the rings. Gravemind forges a truce with the Chief and Arbiter to stop Truth. The Arbiter, Master Chief, and Flood forces arrive and overwhelm Truth's guards, rescuing Johnson and halting the installations' activation. After the Arbiter kills Truth, Gravemind turns on the Chief and Arbiter. The Chief, Arbiter and Guilty Spark discover that the Ark is constructing another Halo to replace the one that the Chief previously destroyed. The Chief decides to activate this Halo; the ringworld would eliminate the Flood infestation on the Ark while sparing the galaxy at large from destruction. To activate the ring, the Chief rescues Cortana, who has the Activation Index of the destroyed Halo, from High Charity and destroys the city. Arriving on the new Halo, Cortana warns that Gravemind is trying to rebuild itself on the ring. The Chief, Arbiter, and Johnson travel to Halo's control room to activate the ring. Guilty Spark explains that because the ring is not yet complete, a premature activation will destroy it and the Ark. When Johnson ignores his warning, Guilty Spark fatally wounds him to protect "his" ring. The Chief destroys Guilty Spark, activates the ring, and escapes the ring's self-destruction on the UNSC frigate Forward Unto Dawn. However, the force of Halo's blast causes the slipspace portal to collapse, resulting in only the front half of Forward Unto Dawn, carrying the Arbiter, making it back to Earth. A memorial service is held on Earth for the fallen heroes of the Human-Covenant war, during which the Arbiter and Lord Hood briefly exchange words regarding the fallen Master Chief. After the memorial service, the Arbiter and his Elite brethren depart for their home planet, Sanghelios. Meanwhile, the rear half of the Forward Unto Dawn drifts in unknown space. Cortana drops a distress beacon, but acknowledges it may be many years before they are rescued. The Chief enters cryonic sleep, telling Cortana to "wake me, when you need me." If the game is completed at the Legendary difficulty level, the scene continues to show the piece of Forward Unto Dawn drifting towards an unknown planet, revealed in the sequel to be known as "Requiem", the primary setting of the campaign of Halo 4.
