What's up with the extreme system requirements?

[hardcore_gamer]

I showed this to my supermodel girlfriend (I get loads of girls, a different one every week practically) and she was so impressed she took me straight to bed with her and kept me up all night.

Photos or I call Bullsh**

 

[Venereus]

Photos or I call Bullsh**

Riiiiight... That's you entirely honest reason to ask for pictures...

 

[civ_king]

I showed this to my supermodel girlfriend (I get loads of girls, a different one every week practically) and she was so impressed she took me straight to bed with her and kept me up all night.

pics or it didn't happen

 

[zarakand]

The "extra" memory you see is real enough. Not being an expert, a GFX has integrated memory for fast access (which is the 512 MB, 1 GB, etc) that you see marketed on the box. Then it has additional memory for just general run of the mill stuff.

Now, in regards to these requirements, if you can't run Civ5, do yourself a favour and buy a new PC. Seriously, you only need 3-400 dollars if your upgrading old hardware. Twice that if you're building your own.

3-400 dollars is not a lot of money. I am a student. I study. I don't even work. So stop being niggardly and either upgrade your ancient hardware or don't buy the game.

*edit* Oh and stop cluttering the forum with these topics.

Your judgement on what is a lot of money is valid for you, but not for everyone else. Take into consideration that everyone has different financial burdens and may not be able to justify $3-400 for a leisure item.

 

[Unclescam777]

And a 1.8 GHz Quad Core CPU recommended WTH I am not trying to run Crysis!

Your Phenom II X2 550 is actually a locked quad core. Have you tried unlocking your other two cores yet? There are no guarantees (they're locked for a reason), but some people get lucky and end up with a perfectly stable quad core CPU.

Well googling the mx17 shows nothing is really new about it, but then again his is heavily upgraded.

2.0GHz Intel Core2 Quad Q9000 Processor
* 4GB System Memory
* 320GB Hard Drive; Dual Layer DVD Burner
* 17.0" Display; Dual NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M - SLI Enabled
* Windows 7 Home Premium Operating System (64-bit)

I am surprised to see your CPU only running at 2.0GHz since dual graphics cards are bottlenecked by slow CPUs. Frankly, I don't know why Intel and AMD decided to screw things up and confuse people by releasing such slow quad cores in the consumer market. Quads running at 1.8GHz, 2.0GHz, etc. are meant for servers.

A lot of software for the desktop/laptop market tends to be poorly optimized for multiple cores, and usually distribute tasks unevenly. Having a quad doesn't help much if the software is placing most of the load on only one or two cores. It basically turns your CPU into a 2.0GHz dual core, which sucked in 2005 and sucks now.

 

[hardcore_gamer]

Your Phenom II X2 550 is actually a locked quad core. Have you tried unlocking your other two cores yet? There are no guarantees (they're locked for a reason), but some people get lucky and end up with a perfectly stable quad core CPU.

I don't want to mess with my hardware. But its still a fine CPU despite that isn't it, I mean it should still handle Civ 5 just fine right?

 

[May Day 10]

256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT

will that work?

 

[silentknight111]

256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT

will that work?

Video: 256 MB ATI HD2600 XT or better, 256 MB nVidia 7900 GS or better, or Core i3 or better integrated graphics

That's minimum, so you should be ok for low settings.

 

[May Day 10]

ah, thanks. I think maybe Ill upgrade as I would like the full performance.

 

[Drawmeus]

Can't you get 2 GB of RAM for less than the price of Civ V now? I'm a little shocked to see 4 GB of RAM being a problem for anyone.

 

[PeterWimsey]

Can't you get 2 GB of RAM for less than the price of Civ V now? I'm a little shocked to see 4 GB of RAM being a problem for anyone.

You can buy 2GB for around $40, although you may need to buy 4GB, even if you already have 2G installed (i.e., if you have 2GB consisting of 2x1GB sticks (which I think is prevalent), you would need to buy 2x2GB sticks, which would run around $80 or so. (And leave you with two leftover 1GB sticks).

 

[ZimbuTheMonkey]

Site doesn't make sense...

I got an E8500 OC'ed to 4.01ghz and it says I've failed the CPU test.

 

[Guardian_PL]

Site doesn't make sense...

I got an E8500 OC'ed to 4.01ghz and it says I've failed the CPU test.

Yes, it's been said a hundred times already that this site sucks, but unfortunately many large gaming sites recommend using it for performance tests, so droves of ignorant kids keep pushing it to other people.
I had pretty much same result as you Zimbu, passed the CPU but failed "CPU speed" test

 

[aziantuntija]

A lot of software for the desktop/laptop market tends to be poorly optimized for multiple cores, and usually distribute tasks unevenly.

This might be true, however it most certainly doesnt mean that Dual cores would perform better than Quad cores in modern day applications.

Having a quad doesn't help much if the software is placing most of the load on only one or two cores. It basically turns your CPU into a 2.0GHz dual core, which sucked in 2005 and sucks now.

Well if the application only uses two cores, then still with quad core you got two extra cores in reserve to perform other extra duties in the backround while you are playing with your other two cores. Also clock per clock quads perform better than dual cores in almost every test. So i would choose the 2.0GHz Quad core over 2.0GHz Dual core in every day of the week.


EDIT: Im not saying people need to have Quad core PCs to be enable to enjoy civ5, im just saying that Quad core is overall faster and better than Dual core.

 

[Guardian_PL]

EDIT: Im not saying people need to have Quad core PCs to be enable to enjoy civ5, im just saying that Quad core is overall faster and better than Dual core.

How much faster&better then? I'm still holding on to my E6600, the only expense I'm thinking about would my graphics card - I'm totally in love in GTX460 GS 2GB, but right now don't want to spend 200GBP, and will have to keep using my GF9600GT for a bit longer...

 

[Tylerryan79]

I am surprised to see your CPU only running at 2.0GHz since dual graphics cards are bottlenecked by slow CPUs. Frankly, I don't know why Intel and AMD decided to screw things up and confuse people by releasing such slow quad cores in the consumer market. Quads running at 1.8GHz, 2.0GHz, etc. are meant for servers.

A lot of software for the desktop/laptop market tends to be poorly optimized for multiple cores, and usually distribute tasks unevenly. Having a quad doesn't help much if the software is placing most of the load on only one or two cores. It basically turns your CPU into a 2.0GHz dual core, which sucked in 2005 and sucks now.

That's not my CPU, or anyones here as far as I know. I suspect it runs at 2.0 because it's a quad on a laptop, and to conserve battery life. I have an i7 860 @ 3.80ghz, and a desktop not a laptop.

 

[civ_king]

That's not my CPU, or anyones here as far as I know. I suspect it runs at 2.0 because it's a quad on a laptop, and to conserve battery life. I have an i7 860 @ 3.80ghz, and a desktop not a laptop.

Intel's Mobile CPUs top out at 2.13 GHz and 2 GHz is also EE

 

[VainApocalypse]

As has been pointed out numerous times before, the Recommended specs they're asking for are standard now days. Don't believe me? Look at the other new releases. Keep up with the times. As for the minimal specs, they give you a four year buffer, for Sid's sake.

And you call yourself hardcore? Seriously? You're using a video card that's three generations behind. No. This is what hardcore looks like:

Spoiler :

PS. Don't make comparisons to Crysis. The game isn't that demanding anymore.