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Graphics Card and Processor for Gaming?

Tags:
  • Video Games
  • Gaming
  • Processors
  • X64
  • Windows 7
  • Graphics Cards
Last response: in Video Games
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December 9, 2013 9:22:29 PM

I have a Windows 7 Home Premium x64-based PC. I want to play a game that requires more than the default system specs are capable of, so how should I go about this? Steam indicates a minimum and recommended equipment list, but i'm not sure if i'll need both a processor and graphics card or simply a graphics card, because i'd rather not purchase more than necessary and I have a tight budget. I don't know anything about graphics cards and what not, so i'm hoping you guys could assist me.

Here is my system specs:

OS Name: Windows 7 Home Premium
Version: 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
System Type: x64-Based PC
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) II X2 245e Processor, 2900 MHz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Process...
Adapter: ATI Radeon HD 4270
Adapter RAM: 256.00 MB
Installed Physical Memory (RAM): 4.00 GB

Here is the list on Steam that indicates the minimum and recommended specs:

Minimum:

OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8
Processor: 2.4 GHz Dual Core Processor or higher
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 3870/NVIDIA 8800 GT or better
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Hard Drive: 8 GB available space

Recommended:

OS: Windows 7 SP1 64-bits
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 8200 / AMD Phenom X4 9950
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 4890 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 or better
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Hard Drive: 8 GB available space

More about : graphics card processor gaming

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December 10, 2013 2:52:22 AM

Hey man,

i have had a quick look for you and your current setup should just about run the game you want,
Your processor is better than the minimum required 2900mhz beats 2.4ghz and its dual core, also your graphics card is almost as good the recommended one.

are you having problems with the game, or are you just curious before buying it?

it should run okay, you may have to play on lower graphics but you wont get bad FPS or anything like that.

Your CPU is really old, you would want to replace that next, then your graphics card. then finally throw another 4gb of RAM in there and your golden!

hope this helps,

BTW, if the reason you asked this is because you are having trouble running the game, let me know whats happening and we'll try to figure it out :) 
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December 10, 2013 9:57:01 AM

Zombaholic said:
Hey man,

i have had a quick look for you and your current setup should just about run the game you want,
Your processor is better than the minimum required 2900mhz beats 2.4ghz and its dual core, also your graphics card is almost as good the recommended one.

are you having problems with the game, or are you just curious before buying it?

it should run okay, you may have to play on lower graphics but you wont get bad FPS or anything like that.

Your CPU is really old, you would want to replace that next, then your graphics card. then finally throw another 4gb of RAM in there and your golden!

hope this helps,

BTW, if the reason you asked this is because you are having trouble running the game, let me know whats happening and we'll try to figure it out :) 


It actually does run because I purchased it, but it has a severely slow frame rate. It's just very choppy. Do you have any suggestions on what to do or what to purchase to improve frame rate? Thanks for the help.
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December 10, 2013 5:09:02 PM

Your graphics card is the issue its not as good as the minimum requirements (its not even a card but integrated into the motherboard) you can get a Radeon 6570 for $60 which is the minimum I suggest but for more you can get better.
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December 10, 2013 8:02:56 PM

It says the minimum is a Radeon 3870 and the recommended is a Radeon 4890, so I don't see how a 6570 would be considered "minimum."

Can I get more suggestions from others please?
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December 11, 2013 1:02:49 AM

simon12 said:
Your graphics card is the issue its not as good as the minimum requirements (its not even a card but integrated into the motherboard) you can get a Radeon 6570 for $60 which is the minimum I suggest but for more you can get better.


Yeah,

sorry man i would probably agree with Simon on this one, i didn't realize at first but your Graphics are in fact integrated with that setup you have,

both of the recommended and minimum Cards are both actual graphics cards and not just on-board.

i always assume the higher the number the better the card, it seem my laziness got the better of me this time.

apologies.
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December 11, 2013 10:58:17 AM

GodOfEternity said:
It says the minimum is a Radeon 3870 and the recommended is a Radeon 4890, so I don't see how a 6570 would be considered "minimum."

Can I get more suggestions from others please?


Its on the same row as the 3870 on this hierarchy chart http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-car... so is at least roughly equal to the minimum. It can also be easily overclocked to the 6670 spec which is on the rung above.
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December 11, 2013 12:27:53 PM

Here is how you can tell whether upgrading the CPU or upgrading the graphics card will give you the best results:
If reducing graphical settings does not improve the framerate then the CPU is maxed out and could use upgrading.
If lowering the settings does improve performance then the GPU is maxed out and you should by a dedicated card.
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