New Computer - How will I fare?

[sdtum21]

So I just bought a new computer. It's merely an interim thing as eventually I'd like to build one, but for the time being I've gone pre-built because reasons.

Obviously I need it for various things, but I'm also quite hyped at the prospect of being able to play Civ V again. I rather like the idea of a cozy afternoon sat playing Civ with a cup of tea. Marvellous.

However...

This comp doesn't have a proper graphics card or anything, and I'm utterly hopeless when it comes to knowing what graphics units can run what and how well. About the extent to my knowledge is Nvidia = good. What I have is not that.

I haven't unboxed the thing yet because further reasons, but the sticker on the side of the box says 'Intel HD graphics'. I know enough to know that that's circling the bottom of the barrel.

Here's a link to the page for the exact computer I have bought so that you might see the remaining specs - http://www.very.co.uk/acer-aspire-xc-605-intelreg-coretrade-i3-processor-6gb-ram-1tb-hard-drive-wi-fi-desktop-bundle--black/1389677556.prd

I'm aware that Intel HD comes in a few varieties, and the specific one I have will remain a mystery until I get round to setting my computer up, but I hope the above is enough info for you peeps to make some sort of judgment.

Thanks in advance for any info provided, and apologies if there's a more appropriate place for this to be posted.

... Oh yeah, and if either of the expansions to the game change how it runs at all then I have BNW and all DLC aside from those two new Scramble packs.

 

[Browd]

Moderator Action: Moved to Computer Talk forum

 

[Mr.WorldWide]

You should be able to play Civ 5 on that although not on high graphic settings I suspect.

 

[sdtum21]

Oh I'm used to having to turn stuff down after having spent years using abysmal laptops, so I don't mind that. Just so long as I can play outside of Strategic View with a framerate hovering around 30-ish.

 

[timtofly]

Do you have the specs of the last laptop that you have tried to play Civ 5 on? This system probably falls between minimum and recommended. However, you will get bogged down late game on large or huge maps with lots of cities and units. Vanilla will work the best, and you will see slow downs when you enable the expansions.

 

[sdtum21]

In the past I've never actually played it on my laptop as that thing was completely incapable. I always played it at a friend's, and the comp I used was a proper built desktop with a good graphics card and everything. Could comfortably play Civ V maxed out.

Edit: Computer is now set up, and it has Intel HD Graphics 4400. Says total available graphics memory is 1824 MB.

 

[Quintillus]

Oh, yeah, you ought to be okay with the 4400. That's a step up from the usual 4000. Not as good as the 4600 or the Iris Pro 5200, but it ought to play Civ5. Maybe not well, but it ought to play.

The graphics memory on Intel graphics is meaningless, though. It just borrows regular memory (the 6 GB in your case). So it can borrow up to 1824 MB of the 6144 MB you have (6 GB = 6144 MB). However, this is way more memory than the card could actually effectively use, which is why it's meaningless. There are many NVidia and AMD graphics card with 1024 MB of memory that are much more powerful than the Intel 4400 with 1824 MB, because the dedicated cards are powerful enough to actual make use of the memory that they have (and they also have much faster memory).

When you do eventually build a computer, it's also good to be aware that even among the dedicated cards, just because one has more memory doesn't necessarily mean it's a better card. It's relatively inexpensive to add extra memory to a graphics card, so it's not uncommon for manufacturers to take a mid-range card, double the memory, and sell it at a slight premium (but below high-end ones). Those midrange cards can't take advantage of the extra memory effectively, though, so it's not really worth it even if it sounds impressive to have twice the memory.

 

[GoodGame]

This package even has a discrete video card in it? I don't see mention of one.