Is my X4500 powerful enough for Starcraft 2?

[godofguitar666]

Hey,
I just bought a new computer, and I was wondering if the graphics card was good enough to handle Starcraft 2 when it comes out. The only game I will be playing on it will be Starcraft 2, for everything else I have an Xbox 360. I'm fairly certain that the computer will be able to handle it, I'm just curious about the graphics card. I've read that the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500 is kinda shitty, but I thought I'd put a thing on here and ask anyway. Here's the computer specs:


Processor Type Intel Core2 Quad Processor Q8400
Processor Speed 2.66GHz
RAM 8GB DDR3
Hard Drive Speed/Capacity 1TB
Graphics Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500
Pre-loaded Operating System Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
Dedicated Video Memory No
Shared Video Memory Up to 1695MB Total Available Graphics Memory
Video Memory 32MB Shared Graphics Memory
DVI Output Yes
HDMI No
VGA Output Yes
Available AGP Slots Not Applicable
Processor Cache 4MB L2 Cache
System Bus 1333MHz Front Side Bus



I am willing to spend $100-$300 roughly on a new card if the X4500 is not enough. (Though I would rather not if I don't have to)

So please give me some advice.

Thanks!

 

[Bluescreendeath]

You don't have a graphics card. The X4500 is an integrated GPU that uses your system RAM and CPU to render graphics. Even an old GPU from 4 years ago would be better than integrated GPU.

Starcraft 2 won't require a lot of GPU power.

Here's a list of good GPUs and their price range and my prediction of gfx settings:
$90: 4830/9800GT - SC2 on high, medium AA
$110: 4850, 4770, GTS250 - SC2 on high, increased AA
$125: 4870 512mb - SC2 on high, AA nearly maxed out, high resolutions
$150: 4870 1GB or 5770 1GB - SC2 on high, AA nearly maxed out, highest resolutions
$200: 4890 1GB -SC2 on high, AA maxed out, highest resolutions
$300: 5850 - same as a 4890, except you can probably run multiple games at once on multiple monitors

 

[wa1]

^+1
But make sure u have enough power from PSU to run that card...
So, what is your PSU? brand? model?

 

[lazyj78]

I have the same integrated GPU. I can run dragon age origins on lowest setting. With 800x600 butt ugly resolution about 24fps avg.

You will need a new graphics card. I bought a prebuilt as well recently. Opened my case only to see a stupid cmos battery sticking vertically blocking the 2nd slot next to the pci-e slot.

Now i can only buy single slot gpu. Never again will i buy prebuilt.

 

[godofguitar666]

Ok, so I got this new computer. Been testing it out. I installed Fallout 3 on it to give the graphics a test.... No dice. Doesn't work. I did get it to work on my old ass laptop tho with graphics settings on low lol. OK. Installed Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 and tested it. Works on lowest settings. Anything higher it gets way choppy and its basically unplayable. Also have Dragon Age Origins but haven't tried it yet. Am expecting it to be similar. AutoCAD 2010 is even a little choppy when I try to use it. As for PSU, it says Bestec ATX0300D5WC: 300W ATX Power. I read on another site that the PSU would probably need to be upgraded to power a new GPU. I read that this one would work: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016 . As for that list that Bluescreendeath posted, I read on a bunch of sites that the 5850 is solid. So in and around that range, which would be a better direction to go in, a ATI Radeon 5850 or an equivalent nVida? Those seem to be the 2 big names. I have the feeling it's personal preference.


Here's the guts:

 

[godofguitar666]

Here, I went on the HP website and found the computer specs page. If this helps....

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01959726&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=ca&product=4120267&lang=en