@ BeCivilized
If you want to play high-spec games then you will need to replace your hardware or upgrade it which is cheaper as you I'm sure are well aware every 2-3 years, if you want to play medium spec games then possibly an older computer will last longer, but the older and more out of date your computer the slower it will play any game coming around 2 years down the line compared to a newer modle. If you don't want to replace your computer for 6 years you will indeed struggle to play "next-gen" games as they are supposed to be designed to be at the top end of spec's when they come out. While you may think "why is Civ a next-gen/high spec game" I personally am happy it is, If I wanted to play games to the specs of a 5 year old machine I would play Civ4. Or new games that come at the low-spec end of gaming, cheaper games for instance, or indie games, if you want to play the top of the line products you will need a machine capable of handling them.
Nobody should have to replace their machine if its only 2 years old though to play a next-gen game, thats asking a bit much, it should still work on lower settings, as for Civ5, we have been told it should run even on low spec old machines, in low settings and maybe a little on the sluggish side would be my guess, I would say test out the Demo on your machine, if you can run that then you should be able to run the full version too. The "minimum specs" are probably a little on the high side, as the game will legally have to run on those publicised specs (you dont want customers buying your product and returning it because it doesnt work even though they were told it would), also a game should run well on "minimum specs" not run at the highest standard because thats whats Recommended is for, but even under minimum, you may still get it to work. Give it a go. Even if you buy the full version of the game and it doesn't work, you can just put Civ5 on your shelf for another 2 years to collect a tihnk layer of dust, and then when you get your new high spec PC, dust that baby sparkling clean, have a little cough from the dust entering your lungs and it can be the first game you play on it. It won't be out-dated to you (even if all of us have moved onto PS4's and 20-core PC's playing the New Virtual Reality softwared Civ6 Extreeme Edition.) You still playing old games will have no experience of such things, so still being used to graphics like Civ4. Then you will play Civ5 in two years time on your new machine, and think, Damn! It was worth the wait! This looks amazing, why didn't I strip the kid's college funds and splash out on a high-spec gaming machine two years ago!!!, sure playing "one more turn" every night till 6am and then getting up to work at 8am and coming home at 6pm to go right to playing on Civ again till 6am again for the 17th day in a row would have cost you your marriage and the legal right to see your children, but DAMN! would it have been worth it.
So anyway it may work on your current system on low specs (I haven't actually looked at your specs, but if its only two years old its not going to be an antique), the Demo should be a good indicator, good luck, hope it works well enough to play on.
