Computers & Electronics

This good enough for SC2?

  • Last Updated:
  • Aug 4th, 2010 1:45 am
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17 replies
Jr. Member
Oct 19, 2009
113 posts
6 upvotes
Markham
It's good enough but it is such an inefficient use of money.

SC2 doesn't need 6gigs, 4 gigs is enough for most games.

ATI Radeon HD 5450 is a low-end card, but still 5000 series.


What I mean to say is, if you build your own pc, it would be better.
Deal Addict
Aug 25, 2006
3686 posts
1007 upvotes
SC2 is just a side bar. Need a new computer anyway and at $699, price is right. Any other thoughts before I pull the trigger?
Jr. Member
Jan 13, 2008
128 posts
3 upvotes
You probably don't need 6 cores.
Jr. Member
Oct 19, 2009
113 posts
6 upvotes
Markham
Dual/Quad is fine, heck, most apps don't take advantage of quad yet.
Deal Addict
Aug 25, 2006
3686 posts
1007 upvotes
Sounds like for $699, this is a decently spec'ed machine. How is the brand and buying from FS?
Deal Guru
Sep 9, 2003
10592 posts
4839 upvotes
Burnaby
Starcraft 2 uses 2 cores and that's it.

A fast dual core will outperform a slower clocked quad+
Newbie
Aug 2, 2010
21 posts
Ontario
Minimum:

128 MB PCIe NVIDIA® GeForce® 6600 GT or ATI Radeon® 9800 PRO video card or better

>> You should have no major problems running it at low settings with a 5450.


Recommended:

512 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800 GTX or ATI Radeon® HD 3870 or better

>> You will need a 4670/5670, or (if your budget allows) 5770.

or green team equivalent GT 240 G/DDR5




Source: http://us.blizzard.com/support/article. ... cale=en_US


Good luck!
Deal Addict
Aug 25, 2006
3686 posts
1007 upvotes
SLX4 wrote: definitely worth the extra 50$, you'll have to really turn down settings to play sc2 with the future shop computer
Yup, it's between the Vostro and the HP at the moment. I like the 8 Gigs of RAM in the Dell actually. What do you mean by turn down?
Deal Addict
Aug 25, 2006
3686 posts
1007 upvotes
Jimboski wrote: Yep, The computer can handle SC II, Just you can get better stuff for the $ your paying on this computer.
Where can you get better parts / a computer for $699 with the OS?
Deal Guru
User avatar
Jul 15, 2008
10543 posts
4141 upvotes
Toronto
I don't think you'll be able to play the game on high/ultra with that card. SC2 on High/Ultra is quite demanding if you're looking at that level of detail. But it should be able to run it fine on low/med.
Deal Addict
User avatar
Jul 29, 2006
1543 posts
301 upvotes
Not even medium I think. Low settings I would think.

http://www.techspot.com/review/305-star ... page6.html

Not much to go on, but the above it at medium settings.

http://www.techspot.com/review/244-ati- ... page4.html

Different game but similar fps, the 5450 is a third as fast as a 5670.

Seems like with medium you would get choppy FPS.
Feel the wraith of the Old English Sheepdog.
Deal Addict
Aug 25, 2006
3686 posts
1007 upvotes
sheepdogexpress wrote: Not even medium I think. Low settings I would think.

http://www.techspot.com/review/305-star ... page6.html

Not much to go on, but the above it at medium settings.

http://www.techspot.com/review/244-ati- ... page4.html

Different game but similar fps, the 5450 is a third as fast as a 5670.

Seems like with medium you would get choppy FPS.
Just in case this can help others out there, medium and high runs fine on a Quad Core with GT 240 (which is lower end). FPS seems ok as it's nice and smooth. I think the Dell with a GT 220 should work well as well.
Deal Fanatic
User avatar
Oct 8, 2006
5666 posts
656 upvotes
Toronto
I think my computer isn't the greatest but it plays sc2 on high easily...

3ghz e8400 (not oced)
4gb ram
8800gt 512mb
Deal Fanatic
Apr 15, 2009
6858 posts
5573 upvotes
M-Arkham
killoverme wrote: I think my computer isn't the greatest but it plays sc2 on high easily...

3ghz e8400 (not oced)
4gb ram
8800gt 512mb
It's the videocard and high CPU clock speed, and that's what matter in the end for gaming.

That futureshop computer got all the cpu power and ram you would ever want, but if it doesn't have the videocard to quarterback it, it's still gonna fail miserably in games.

I can have a Dual Core Phenom II X2 555 3.2ghz running with 4gb of DDR2 RAM and a GTX 260 on vista, and it'll still outperform that 6 core desktop in Starcraft 2 easily at high setting if not max.

Overall, That desktop is a great deal for what you get out of it, but it's still not ready for gaming. If and after you get that machine, I would highly recommend you sell the 5450 in it then upgrade the PSU and the videocard. Get a 500W+ PSU, then buy an ATI 5770 or a GTX 460 for your gaming performance. Then, only after that, will you have gaming machine that's decent.
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Deal Fanatic
User avatar
Oct 8, 2006
5666 posts
656 upvotes
Toronto
Brewmeanie wrote: It's the videocard, and that's what matter in the end.

That futureshop computer got all the cpu power and ram you would ever want, but if it doesn't have the videocard to quarterback it, it's still gonna fail miserably in games.

I can have a Dual Core Phenom II X2 555 running with 4gb of DDR2 RAM and a GTX 260 on vista, and it'll still outperform that 6 core desktop in Starcraft 2 easily.
yeah i just looked up my vid card, didn't know it was better then that one. I thought it was obsolete now lol. its in the top 35 still (based on some ranking) and that card is at 69

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