GTX 260 216sp starcraft 2?

[megadelayed]

How well does the GTX260 216sp handle starcraft 2? because i've just brought a second hand build for my dad and he plays SC2 a lot, and if the 260 can't handle sc2 then could you give me a good suggestion?
btw he will be gaming on a 1920x1080 monitor

 

[Chainzsaw]

Hello,

What are the complete system specifications? Depending on the type of game played on SC2 (especially if it's a custom game like say Desert Strike) - SC2 can take a lot of total power to use. For example - my system set up - with everything set to ultra at 1920x1080P resolution - during intese games my FPS can dip to around 10-20FPS if there are tons and tons of units on screen.

 

[megadelayed]

Hello,

What are the complete system specifications? Depending on the type of game played on SC2 (especially if it's a custom game like say Desert Strike) - SC2 can take a lot of total power to use. For example - my system set up - with everything set to ultra at 1920x1080P resolution - during intese games my FPS can dip to around 10-20FPS if there are tons and tons of units on screen.

well the computer hasnt arrived yet but here is some of the spec
CPU: core i7-860
RAM:4gb ddr3-1333
mobo:i dont know but its a h57
HDD:500gb 7200rpm
sound card:x-fi gamer extreme??
gpu:ASUS ENGTX260 896MB SP216

 

[Chainzsaw]

Ok not a bad start. What is your max budget for a GPU?

 

[megadelayed]

Ok not a bad start. What is your max budget for a GPU?

i dont know tbh but i would like to spend the least amount possible

but im just wondering what settings i could run sc2 with the 260 smoothly?

 

[Chainzsaw]

Well according to this:

http://www.techspot.com/review/305-starcraft2-performance/page7.html

I don't know where or how they tested SC2 but it appears a GTX 260 should be able to play it fine at medium - to high detail, maybe even Ultra - however I would be inclined to say that at ultra resolutions with that set up - and depending on the type of game played Ultra might be a little slow.

Please note they overclocked their CPU (i7 920).

So you should be good to go...even with that GTX 260.

 

[Wyered1]

How well does the GTX260 216sp handle starcraft 2? because i've just brought a second hand build for my dad and he plays SC2 a lot, and if the 260 can't handle sc2 then could you give me a good suggestion?
btw he will be gaming on a 1920x1080 monitor

I think you're going to be okay with that card as long as he only plays SC2. It may not be great on Ultra, but I'm betting it will still get ~55FPS on Ultra (no AA) on a typical 1v1 game online. Very playable.

I think SC2 is more demanding of your processor than the video card, not saying you don't need a decent GPU, but it's not as demanding as say BF3 or Metro. I don't know a lot about the 260, but I think you'll still be ok.

If you are going to get a new card, and only want to play SC2, and only using one monitor, I wouldn't recommend spending over $100 on a new card. You simply won't need much for that.

My personal comparison comes from SC2 play on ultra at no less than 60FPS with SC2 on one monitor and two other monitors playing video and browser simultaneously, done with a sub $100 ATI 5770. If I have the right equivalent in Nvidia in my head, your 260 is a little slower, but comparable to that 5770 if you remove the other two monitors.

 

[nitrium]

I have i5 760 and GTX260 216 (it is a Gigabyte OC edition tho). This system runs basically every game (there are a handful of exceptions) at maxed out (or near maxed out) settings at 1920x1200. Including SCII - runs it just fine with all the graphical bells and whistles. Just make you stick to 2x or 4x AA. 8x AA brings this card to it's knees.

 

[megadelayed]

I think you're going to be okay with that card as long as he only plays SC2. It may not be great on Ultra, but I'm betting it will still get ~55FPS on Ultra (no AA) on a typical 1v1 game online. Very playable.

I think SC2 is more demanding of your processor than the video card, not saying you don't need a decent GPU, but it's not as demanding as say BF3 or Metro. I don't know a lot about the 260, but I think you'll still be ok.

If you are going to get a new card, and only want to play SC2, and only using one monitor, I wouldn't recommend spending over $100 on a new card. You simply won't need much for that.

My personal comparison comes from SC2 play on ultra at no less than 60FPS with SC2 on one monitor and two other monitors playing video and browser simultaneously, done with a sub $100 ATI 5770. If I have the right equivalent in Nvidia in my head, your 260 is a little slower, but comparable to that 5770 if you remove the other two monitors.

so im guessing then there isnt really any point in upgrading then? because my dad;s fine as long as sc2 runs at 1080 with a reasonable setting
btw my dad only uses 1 monitor

 

[megadelayed]

I have i5 760 and GTX260 216 (it is a Gigabyte OC edition tho). This system runs basically every game (there are a handful of exceptions) at maxed out (or near maxed out) settings at 1920x1200. Including SCII - runs it just fine with all the graphical bells and whistles. Just make you stick to 2x or 4x AA. 8x AA brings this card to it's knees.

thanks! so the gtx260 is still a quite decent card then i guess?

 

[Chainzsaw]

thanks! so the gtx260 is still a quite decent card then i guess?

Yes. Should be totally fine. If it doesn't play as expected you can dial down the graphics a little bit.

 

[nitrium]

thanks! so the gtx260 is still a quite decent card then i guess?

It's the only reason I haven't upgraded it for all these years! The fact is that most new games (e.g. Mass Effect 3, Skyrim, COD: MW3 etc) are effectively console ports (or developed with consoles as the primary platform) and run with everything on the max settings. A GTX260 is much, much faster than any current console. There are exceptions, such as The Witcher 2 and Metro 2033 which, while both still totally playable on this card, can't have all the options maxed out.

 

[Wyered1]

Looks like the question is answered. You are good to go for SC2.

 

[megadelayed]

Best answer selected by megadelayed.