PCGameBenchmarks
Need for Speed: The Run

Need for Speed: The Run

69/100
252 ratings2011Easy to run

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Estimated FPS across quality settings and resolutions

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Need for Speed: The Run 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

Need for Speed: The Run estimated FPS at 1080p across 14 GPUs and 4 quality presets
GPUlowmediumhighultra
RTX 5090999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4090999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RX 7900 XTX999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 5080999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4080 Super999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4070 Ti999 fps999 fps999 fps980 fps
RTX 4070999 fps999 fps999 fps840 fps
RX 7800 XT999 fps999 fps911 fps740 fps
RTX 3080999 fps999 fps886 fps720 fps
RTX 4060 Ti999 fps999 fps837 fps680 fps
RTX 3070999 fps954 fps763 fps620 fps
RTX 4060999 fps862 fps689 fps560 fps
RTX 3060923 fps738 fps591 fps480 fps
GTX 1660 Super669 fps535 fps428 fps348 fps

1440p performance

Need for Speed: The Run estimated FPS at 1440p across 14 GPUs and 4 quality presets
GPUlowmediumhighultra
RTX 5090999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 4090999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RX 7900 XTX999 fps999 fps999 fps999 fps
RTX 5080999 fps999 fps999 fps990 fps
RTX 4080 Super999 fps999 fps999 fps930 fps
RTX 4070 Ti999 fps999 fps905 fps735 fps
RTX 4070999 fps969 fps775 fps630 fps
RX 7800 XT999 fps854 fps683 fps555 fps
RTX 3080999 fps831 fps665 fps540 fps
RTX 4060 Ti981 fps785 fps628 fps510 fps
RTX 3070894 fps715 fps572 fps465 fps
RTX 4060808 fps646 fps517 fps420 fps
RTX 3060692 fps554 fps443 fps360 fps
GTX 1660 Super502 fps402 fps321 fps261 fps

4K performance

Need for Speed: The Run estimated FPS at 4K across 14 GPUs and 4 quality presets
GPUlowmediumhighultra
RTX 5090999 fps999 fps827 fps672 fps
RTX 4090999 fps960 fps768 fps624 fps
RX 7900 XTX999 fps862 fps689 fps560 fps
RTX 5080999 fps812 fps650 fps528 fps
RTX 4080 Super954 fps763 fps610 fps496 fps
RTX 4070 Ti754 fps603 fps482 fps392 fps
RTX 4070646 fps517 fps414 fps336 fps
RX 7800 XT569 fps455 fps364 fps296 fps
RTX 3080554 fps443 fps354 fps288 fps
RTX 4060 Ti523 fps418 fps335 fps272 fps
RTX 3070477 fps382 fps305 fps248 fps
RTX 4060431 fps345 fps276 fps224 fps
RTX 3060369 fps295 fps236 fps192 fps
GTX 1660 Super268 fps214 fps171 fps139 fps

Minimum Hardware

Graphics Card
Minimum required

ATI Radeon HD 4870

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Processor
Minimum required

3.0 GHzIntel Core 2 Duo

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Memory
Minimum required

3 GB

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Genres

About

Need for Speed: The Run, released in 2011, immerses players in an underground world of high-stakes racing where speed and strategy are key. The game is notable for its intense, cinematic racing experience that takes you across various terrains, from urban streets to treacherous mountain passes. With its engaging storyline and adrenaline-pumping challenges, it captures the essence of illegal street racing while featuring stunning visuals powered by DICE's Frostbite 2 engine.

When evaluating PC performance for Need for Speed: The Run, players should aim for at least an entry-level GPU with a minimum score of around 1309 for a smooth experience. The game is relatively accessible, making it suitable for users with budget hardware while still delivering a respectable FPS. For optimal performance across higher graphics settings, consider a mid-range GPU tier, which will enhance visuals and ensure smoother framerates, allowing players to fully enjoy the dynamic racing environment.

Should you play Need for Speed: The Run? With a rating of 69/100, it may not be a masterpiece, but its thrilling gameplay and genre appeal make it worth exploring for racing fans. If you're looking for an engaging racing experience with a compelling blend of story and action, this title could be a fun addition to your gaming library.

Performance profile

November 2011 release. Need for Speed: The Run 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.

Racing games like Need for Speed: The Run are latency-critical — input-to-screen responsiveness is everything. Target a locked 60 FPS minimum (ideally 120 FPS on a high-refresh display) with VSync off or G-Sync/FreeSync active.

Extremely light — Need for Speed: The Run 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

Jack Rourke, an experienced street racer, is in serious trouble with the Mob due to a massive debt with them. After narrowly escaping being crushed within his car at a scrapyard in Oakland, due to his failure to repay what he owes, Rourke evades his captors by stealing one of their cars. Heading to San Francisco, he makes contact with his friend Sam Harper, a fixer who arranges his entries into street races, who offers to help him deal with the mob on one condition - Rourke must enter an illegal, large-scale street race from San Francisco to New York City, for which she will front the entry fee, and win the race's cash pot of $25 million for her. Rourke agrees to her condition, knowing he will be allowed to keep 10% of the prize money for himself, and receives a tablet device from the race's mysterious organizer detailing the race's route. 4 hours later, Rourke selects a car from his garage and begins the race by completing three stages covering the route from San Francisco to Las Vegas, learning he must be in the top 150 before reaching the end of the third stage to stay in the race. In addition to dealing with other racers, seeking to win the cash prize, and the local police, who seek to stop and arrest the racers involved, Rourke finds himself attempting to defeat Marcus Blackwell - a family member of the Mob, who wants to ensure his defeat after he escaped his execution. Rourke manages to win all three stages but is caught out by a police roadblock, forcing him to evade the cops and secure a new vehicle for the next four stages of the race from Las Vegas to Chicago, learning he must be in the top 50 to keep in the race. As Rourke holds out against the increasing efforts of his rivals and police to stop him, he soon finds the Mob entering the race to stop him. Despite reaching Chicago in the top 50, the Mob catches him out with a roadblock, forcing him to lose them initially in a police cruiser. Upon securing a new car for the remainder of the race to New York City, Rourke contends with both the police, the Mob, and an armed helicopter along the next stage of the route, but evades both sides and reaches a garage that can supply him a new vehicle, at Harper's request, to compete against the top drivers. As the police step up their efforts, Rourke evades capture, overcomes his rivals, and defeats Blackwell in New York to win the race. Afterward, Rourke meets with Harper in a streetside diner, who reveals his trouble with the Mob has been dealt with. Harper gives Rourke a key to a safety deposit box containing his cut of the prize money and suggests that he takes time to relax, but upon seeing him question this, she offers him an opportunity to double his money, stating she got a call to another high-stake race.

Screenshots

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Need for Speed: The Run FPS Benchmarks — Can Your GPU Run It? | PCGameBenchmarks