Games like BF3 aren't nearly as CPU intensive as MMOs though. If you had issues with BF3 with high end hardware, of course it would be an issue like overheating or faulty components/drivers. When you start playing an MMO, optimization is everything. I have a shit PC that I built 2 years ago for cheap, out of old parts, and I can turn any non-MMO game I play up to max settings and it plays like a champ.By the way, I used to have poor performance. Found out my CPU was overheating because of the additional stress this game causes. I can play BF3 with no issues. I used to think it wasnt my computer until I figured this out. I increased air flow and now I no longer have any problems. Sure its the games poor coding and resource management, but it was also my computer. Take that for what its worth.
But MMOs are a lot harder on your hardware.
2.8 Ghz pentium e5500 Dual Core
1x4GB Supertalent DDR3 @ 10600
ASUS ENGTS 450 1 GB DDR5 Direct CU
SWTOR also ran better for me in the Beta, especially WZs and FPs. Post launch, I'd get 30-60 FPS on highest settings while running around questing, then it would drop to 5-10 FPS in WZs and FPs even on low.
Definitely an optimization issue.