Official System Requirements

Can anyone make a laptop recommendation that doesn't break the bank? I don't typically play big scenarios or large maps, I just want it to look nice on Standard and below.

Appreciated
 
@ a5ehren :goodjob: - thanks for having a look. Even more so when you consider that 17 posts in almost 5 years, you like to mull over a comment before you post it ;)

But as above, to me graphics are also a secondary issue when compared to gameplay and playability (or should that be tertiary issue?).

I always put the graphics options on low to squeeze as much out of the system as possible, and will be doing this for ciV, but happy that standard maps are good enough for me.
 
Can anyone make a laptop recommendation that doesn't break the bank? I don't typically play big scenarios or large maps, I just want it to look nice on Standard and below.

Appreciated

Look at page 5 - this is what you can get on newegg for PC (unless you really NEED notebook, PCs are better option because they have beter performance for lower cost).


Athlon II X4 630 Propus @2.8GHz ($99)
use a MSI 760GM-E51 motherboard+G.SKILL 4GB RAM Combo ($129)
PowerColor Radeon HD 5670 512MB ($89)
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound ($10)
Antec Three Hundred+Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ($100)
 
Thanks for the recommendation, that's actually pretty close.

I'd like to spend no more than $800-$900. I'd like to use the laptop for work, so portability is a plus but I know I might have to sacrifice that for a larger display.

Any other recommendations?
 
Thanks for the recommendation, that's actually pretty close.

I'd like to spend no more than $800-$900. I'd like to use the laptop for work, so portability is a plus but I know I might have to sacrifice that for a larger display.

Any other recommendations?

I work at Office Max, we have a dv7 from hp with a 17inch screen, an amd phenom quad core @ 1.6GHZ and a dedicated card. I forget which one (4650 maybe), but it will run ciV well I am sure. Its on sale until saturday (8/7) for 699, normally runs 869.99. Will go on sale again though. You can look it up at office max website. Free shipping on computers if you don't have one near you.
 
Getting back to single-core...

... I can't believe I cannot run the would be demo on my P4 Prescott 3.0GHz CPU,
with tiny map, low graphic setting... I still hope I can do... just one (hunderd) turn(s) ;)
 
Well all I know is that I think that if you can run Napoleon: Total War that you can run CiV. Is this correct Greg?
 
For those with specs below minimum, this setup will probably be able to run the game, though performance might be poor:

A 64-bit CPU (P4s might be able to run the game, but I doubt it. AMD64s should be fine)
2Gb RAM
Windows XP SP3 (If you do not have SP2 yet, upgrade it. Its free!)
A DirectX9c GPU with 256 Mb of RAM. The lower end cards might have a terrible performance, but a card like a 6600GT with 256Mb should be OK. I suspect that you will be able to run the game with a high-end 128 Mb card as well, but don't count on it.

The stated minimum requirements are very high for a turn-based game, BTW. Shame on Firaxis. Compare them to Starcraft 2's for instance:

* Windows® XP/Windows Vista®/Windows® 7 (Updated with the latest Service Packs) with DirectX® 9.0c
* 2.6 GHz Pentium® IV or equivalent AMD Athlon® processor
* 128 MB PCIe NVIDIA® GeForce® 6600 GT or ATI Radeon® 9800 PRO video card or better
* 12 GB available HD space
* 1 GB RAM (1.5 GB required for Windows Vista®/Windows® 7 users)
* DVD-ROM drive
* Broadband Internet connection
* 1024X720 minimum display resolution

PC Recommended Specifications:

* Windows Vista®/Windows® 7
* Dual Core 2.4Ghz Processor
* 2 GB RAM
* 512 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800 GTX or ATI Radeon® HD 3870 or better
 
For those with specs below minimum, this setup will probably be able to run the game, though performance might be poor:

A 64-bit CPU (P4s might be able to run the game, but I doubt it. AMD64s should be fine)
2Gb RAM
Windows XP SP3 (If you do not have SP2 yet, upgrade it. Its free!)
A DirectX9c GPU with 256 Mb of RAM. The lower end cards might have a terrible performance, but a card like a 6600GT with 256Mb should be OK. I suspect that you will be able to run the game with a high-end 128 Mb card as well, but don't count on it.

The stated minimum requirements are very high for a turn-based game, BTW. Shame on Firaxis. Compare them to Starcraft 2's for instance:

* Windows® XP/Windows Vista®/Windows® 7 (Updated with the latest Service Packs) with DirectX® 9.0c
* 2.6 GHz Pentium® IV or equivalent AMD Athlon® processor
* 128 MB PCIe NVIDIA® GeForce® 6600 GT or ATI Radeon® 9800 PRO video card or better
* 12 GB available HD space
* 1 GB RAM (1.5 GB required for Windows Vista®/Windows® 7 users)
* DVD-ROM drive
* Broadband Internet connection
* 1024X720 minimum display resolution

PC Recommended Specifications:

* Windows Vista®/Windows® 7
* Dual Core 2.4Ghz Processor
* 2 GB RAM
* 512 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800 GTX or ATI Radeon® HD 3870 or better

I hate to break this out again but would this work?:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 7/14/2010, 15:09:26
Machine name: STUDIO
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100226-1909)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Studio 1745
BIOS: Ver 1.00 A01
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T6600 @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 4056MB RAM
Page File: 2351MB used, 5760MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A42&SUBSYS_02EA1028&REV_07
Display Memory: 1695 MB
Dedicated Memory: 32 MB
Shared Memory: 1663 MB
Current Mode: 1600 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: LGD021D
Native Mode: 1600 x 900(p) (60.085Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumdx32,igd10umd32
Driver File Version: 8.15.0010.1808 (English)
Driver Version: 8.15.10.1808
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 6/2/2009 23:16:48, 5613568 bytes
 
I hate to break this out again but would this work?:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 7/14/2010, 15:09:26
Machine name: STUDIO
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100226-1909)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Studio 1745
BIOS: Ver 1.00 A01
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T6600 @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 4056MB RAM
Page File: 2351MB used, 5760MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A42&SUBSYS_02EA1028&REV_07
Display Memory: 1695 MB
Dedicated Memory: 32 MB
Shared Memory: 1663 MB
Current Mode: 1600 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: LGD021D
Native Mode: 1600 x 900(p) (60.085Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumdx32,igd10umd32
Driver File Version: 8.15.0010.1808 (English)
Driver Version: 8.15.10.1808
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 6/2/2009 23:16:48, 5613568 bytes

That system would meet the min spec except for that old intel integrated graphics chip. You would need a system with atleast the i3 intel graphics and that older chip isn't going to do the job. And since you just have a slightly old dual core CPU it can't really pick up the slack for the GPU at all.

You can try the demo and see what happens, maybe in 2D mode you can get away with that....

But really you need to buy an new stand a lone video card in the range that is in the recommended specs.

CS
 
I hate to break this out again but would this work?:

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T6600 @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM

Card name: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family

Display Memory: 1695 MB
Dedicated Memory: 32 MB
Shared Memory: 1663 MB
Current Mode: 1600 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)

My take on it is that if the Dell mentioned in Mannu's post above can run Civ5 then so can yours, but I can't say for certain. I think you'll want to be bringing the resolution down to 1024x576 however, or possibly lower if there are further reductions that stick with your aspect ratio.
 
For those with specs below minimum, this setup will probably be able to run the game, though performance might be poor:

A 64-bit CPU (P4s might be able to run the game, but I doubt it. AMD64s should be fine)
2Gb RAM
Windows XP SP3 (If you do not have SP2 yet, upgrade it. Its free!)
A DirectX9c GPU with 256 Mb of RAM. The lower end cards might have a terrible performance, but a card like a 6600GT with 256Mb should be OK. I suspect that you will be able to run the game with a high-end 128 Mb card as well, but don't count on it.

The stated minimum requirements are very high for a turn-based game, BTW. Shame on Firaxis. Compare them to Starcraft 2's for instance:

* Windows® XP/Windows Vista®/Windows® 7 (Updated with the latest Service Packs) with DirectX® 9.0c
* 2.6 GHz Pentium® IV or equivalent AMD Athlon® processor
* 128 MB PCIe NVIDIA® GeForce® 6600 GT or ATI Radeon® 9800 PRO video card or better
* 12 GB available HD space
* 1 GB RAM (1.5 GB required for Windows Vista®/Windows® 7 users)
* DVD-ROM drive
* Broadband Internet connection
* 1024X720 minimum display resolution

PC Recommended Specifications:

* Windows Vista®/Windows® 7
* Dual Core 2.4Ghz Processor
* 2 GB RAM
* 512 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800 GTX or ATI Radeon® HD 3870 or better

Well I'm no Starcraft2 expert, but I think the difference is the amount of 3D rendering that has to happen, Civ is a conquer the world game, and therefor all those pretty tiles and drifting clouds that are eyecandy have to be rendered in real time every time to scroll around. I don't think Starcraft has to do so much as the scenes are not so broad.

This only gets worse on large map sizes as not only does the GPU/CPU have to render the map and units, but it has to store all that in graphics and main memory.

CS
 
My take on it is that if the Dell mentioned in Mannu's post above can run Civ5 then so can yours, but I can't say for certain. I think you'll want to be bringing the resolution down to 1024x576 however, or possibly lower if there are further reductions that stick with your aspect ratio.

Well my computer will automatically change the screen and different aspects of the view to fit the game. It did that with civ 4. it reduced my resolution automatically and made it simpler. but the actual in gmae of civ4 was astoundingly smooth and pretty. High settings and everything.
 
As CiV on a 32-bit system won't be able to utilize even 3GB, don't worry unless you prefer ultra-uber large maps.

Crap, I do prefer ultra-uber large maps.
 
i am a bit confused, as to why they still state DX9.0c ... thats outdated like a million years (to speak in computer-time) ago ... still they use it as base ... strange.

Older Civ games always were lowspec, so that all the fans could run it in some way, but this sounds like a bit very over the top except the DX9.0c req ...

well, we´ll see what the Demo yield in performance, but i guess the final release will run better than the demo ...
 
i am a bit confused, as to why they still state DX9.0c ... thats outdated like a million years (to speak in computer-time) ago ... still they use it as base ... strange.

Because WinXP can max. handle DX9, DX10 is Vista, DX11 Win7.
That's it.
 
Jesus no way my computer will be able to run that, requirments higher than I thought, won't be able to play now until I get a new laptop :(
 
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