industrian
will gently cradle you as time slowly ticks away.
Diesel or unleaded? Hybrid or electric? Manual or automatic? I just want to drive without worrying about the nerdy tech stuff.
It is 2014 and PC specs are still way too confuisng.
- Thread starter Alphahawk
- Start date
Diesel or unleaded? Hybrid or electric? Manual or automatic? I just want to drive without worrying about the nerdy tech stuff.
Mugatu
Member
But that's not the same - all those cars work on the same roads, they all have the same general controls and drive the same to the user. You need the same license to drive them all. That's not nerdy car stuff.
And realize that by defending these needless practices, you are not helping the industry one bit. I'm not here to argue, I've been PC gaming since the 1980s, but for it to grow it needs to attract people not only like me who don't have a problem with specs and enjoy them but also people who don't.
The end point is to play a game and enjoy it, that's what I want more people to experience and this holds them back from doing that.
CaptainGyro
Banned
so without doing any research people can look up the spec requirments of a game and know whether or not their gpu or cpu is good enough? I'm gonna call bullshit on that one
I always wanted there to be a universal PC game spec, like the Windows 7 performance score, but not bullshit. I understand this is the antithesis of PC gaming, but it would be great to be able to cross-compare my machine's performance value and get an idea of whether I'll be running at a low frame rate, etc.
This is not true. I've been denied refunds several times on Steam.
I had problems running Stalker: COP and was told by the community to ignore the listed specs, and Steam refused to refund me. I also tried to get a refund for The Witcher 2 and was told they would not allow this.
I use high-spec laptops because I need a portable setup, and I end up with guesswork as to which games will run correctly. I find performance results to be all over the place.
I've had too many miserable experiences with PC gaming over the last decade, and too many run ins with rude and angry PC gaming evangelists. I understand it as PC games are for desktop PC folk only, no matter your hardware spec.
This is not true. I've been denied refunds several times on Steam.
I had problems running Stalker: COP and was told by the community to ignore the listed specs, and Steam refused to refund me. I also tried to get a refund for The Witcher 2 and was told they would not allow this.
I use high-spec laptops because I need a portable setup, and I end up with guesswork as to which games will run correctly. I find performance results to be all over the place.
I've had too many miserable experiences with PC gaming over the last decade, and too many run ins with rude and angry PC gaming evangelists. I understand it as PC games are for desktop PC folk only, no matter your hardware spec.
Alex
Member
I don't really know of anyone who does look at system requirements. Outside of the recent hiccup with VRAM, which you can still pretty much ignore, it's become so effortless to overpower games it's silly. We're spoiled rotten compared to the days of old.
PC gaming is never going to be as casual as console gaming, but we've eliminated the severe bulk of roadblocks that almost anyone putting forth a very minimum amount of effort can jump aboard and reap great benefits.
industrian
will gently cradle you as time slowly ticks away.
Where did I do that? You make it sound like I'm still wanting them to write "IBM PC or 100% compatible" on their system requirements.
People should have the instinct to research any purchase, not just PC games. And in the OP's example, that comes from an old game's specs being copied & pasted into Steam from a game manual circa 2003. Steam should actively seek to modernise and standardise these specs for current eras. But even then it's dependent on the user doing basic research.
It's already on the path towards doing that, a lot of the recent software and hardware advancements have been geared towards raising the low-end and prolonging a PCs shelf-life, compatibility issues are barely existent compared to what they once were with everything being automatic these days. This ties into the market for prebuilt stuff, which is being invested in due to efforts by Dell (alienware) and Valve. All that's pretty much on-course, in 5 years the PC gaming market will be dramatically different than it is now even if only a few of these technologies work out.
At the same time we don't need a fourth console on the market, streamlining aspects at the expense of what makes PC gaming great is not going to be good for anybody. What needs to happen is already happening.
Brerlappin
Member
I havent even looked at system requirements in years. The general rule of thumb last gen was if you had a decent quad core, and at least an 8800GTX, you would be able to run any console port on high.
Same goes this gen, get a good quad core i7, and a decent graphics card (770 or better) and you should have to worry too much.
OP, stuff like 'requires shader model 3.0 compatible card' can be safely ignored. The last time i had a card that didnt run SM 3.0 was like, 2004.
Same goes this gen, get a good quad core i7, and a decent graphics card (770 or better) and you should have to worry too much.
OP, stuff like 'requires shader model 3.0 compatible card' can be safely ignored. The last time i had a card that didnt run SM 3.0 was like, 2004.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
PC requirements aren't hard. Just from using a PC over the years, I've gained the minimal knowledge it requires to know what these mean. You don't even have to know what they mean, just know that your specs meet the required specs.
This is Ryse's req's.
OS: Windows Vista SP1, Windows 7 or Windows 8 (64bit) (Easy)
Processor: Quad Core or Six Core CPU (6+ logical processors) (Right click on my computer, click properties, look up your CPU if you don't know.)
Memory: 8 GB RAM (Easy, if you don't know right click on my computer, click properties.)
Graphics: DirectX 11 graphics card with 2 GB video RAM (This is probably the most difficult, because these can be expensive, and if you don't have a gaming PC you probably don't have this. Just look up 2GB graphics card on any PC part site like newegg.)
DirectX: Version 11 (If you have the above, you can just update this.)
Hard Drive: 26 GB available space (Easy)
Sound Card: DirectX compatible Sound Card with latest drivers (You probably have this already)
Or this. I bought a 4790K, and a GTX 780. I don't pay attention to PC requirements. Except when they're shoved in front of my face like Shadow of Mordor's. Which ended up being no problem.
This is Ryse's req's.
OS: Windows Vista SP1, Windows 7 or Windows 8 (64bit) (Easy)
Processor: Quad Core or Six Core CPU (6+ logical processors) (Right click on my computer, click properties, look up your CPU if you don't know.)
Memory: 8 GB RAM (Easy, if you don't know right click on my computer, click properties.)
Graphics: DirectX 11 graphics card with 2 GB video RAM (This is probably the most difficult, because these can be expensive, and if you don't have a gaming PC you probably don't have this. Just look up 2GB graphics card on any PC part site like newegg.)
DirectX: Version 11 (If you have the above, you can just update this.)
Hard Drive: 26 GB available space (Easy)
Sound Card: DirectX compatible Sound Card with latest drivers (You probably have this already)
Or this. I bought a 4790K, and a GTX 780. I don't pay attention to PC requirements. Except when they're shoved in front of my face like Shadow of Mordor's. Which ended up being no problem.
What I've always wanted is the following:
Basically there's no good reason why Steam shouldn't tell me roughly what frame rate to expect from Gone Home, or any other game, because they've sold copies to other people with similar machines.
- Valve polls people's machines for the performance of games on their system.
- Valve also polls your own system's performance of games.
- Valve compares the performance with other machines with similar spec + performance, to find similar machines.
- Game listings show performance for the game on the machines of others with similar spec.
Basically there's no good reason why Steam shouldn't tell me roughly what frame rate to expect from Gone Home, or any other game, because they've sold copies to other people with similar machines.
DOWN
Banned
It's hella different than learning about a console. PC not only takes learning about the services, programs, etc., but takes a technical knowledge, learning compatibility, and troubleshooting. Anyone can buy a Playstation and know all Playstation games work on it. They know they wanted it because they like Killzone and IGN says the resolution is higher. That's how most people like their products. A PC is nowhere near that easy. You basically don't have to do anything with consoles. It's like 3 steps and you are playing. A handful more if you never signed up for Live or PSN before, but the step by step makes it just like signing up for iTunes.
Consumers don't want to have an idea what teraflops or GPU CPU GPGPU Motherboard Cooling system OS is. Would you like LED's with that empty tower?
Nope. Getting a gaming PC isn't like those things. Getting a car is almost all about liking the design and interface, and the MPG. Buying my phone is as simple as liking how easy it is to tap on iPhone apps in that sexy glass and metal. Who even sells well-priced gaming PCs? I see people here saying Alienware is overpriced. So where do you go? How would consumers know what the go-to gaming PC source is? And why do those sites list a bunch of unheard of brands with a list of specs and card model numbers I've never heard of? Am I supposed to google every part now and find that as easy as reading features of the new iPhone or the list of games on PS4?
Why do my PC games list two sets of specs and none are quite like mine? How do I know if my graphics card is better than the example they list? How do I know it's not buggy with my config? Great, it keeps crashing and I have to be one of those people on GAF that scared me before asking for ideas instead of playing on their couch with a wireless controller that came with a working game and system. Where do I get the high res texture pack? How do I know what drivers are installed? Why do I need to overlock? Why do I need a monitoring program to get the max performance out of my rig?
And the list goes on for why consumers are all over consoles and why so many say they are hesitant to start on PC.
I didn't buy a Mac to play games. You missed the point, being that Apple and their high satisfaction ratings have a lot to do with how many people want the simple experience of buy and enjoy. Read 1 page of bullets on their site and their competitors, try the exact model in stores, and go in peace to love and browse the lore. Mac and PC have been aiming for years at letting people forget about specs in the mainstream market. That's why even PCs in Best Buy now just have that simple rating number of how smooth of a Windows experience you get on a scale from 1-10.
PC building was quite annoying 5-7 years ago (when i built my first own PC) i had a lot of problems with drivers and OS(Windows XP) a lot of driver issues resolved with an Upgrade to Win 7 for me.
PC building has became quite easy thanks to the internet. If i have questions i google it or watch a tutorial. If you are remotely interested in building a PC you have everything installed withing a hour or two.
Always read on Gaf that console players don't want the extra work with drivers and such, funny thing atleast for Nvidia users is that Geforce Experience does everything for you if there is a new driver you hit install and its done. If you are not sure what the best settings are for some games you hit optimize and its done.
After a rather high entry price you save 20-50 per game compared to consoles.
PC building and finding a setting maximum for games games has never been easier than now, in my opinion.
PC building has became quite easy thanks to the internet. If i have questions i google it or watch a tutorial. If you are remotely interested in building a PC you have everything installed withing a hour or two.
Always read on Gaf that console players don't want the extra work with drivers and such, funny thing atleast for Nvidia users is that Geforce Experience does everything for you if there is a new driver you hit install and its done. If you are not sure what the best settings are for some games you hit optimize and its done.
After a rather high entry price you save 20-50 per game compared to consoles.
PC building and finding a setting maximum for games games has never been easier than now, in my opinion.
DOWN
Banned
I feel lucky to be on GAF for this reason. I know when I want to build a PC, there's guides here and I'll put in the work. If I panic or want to know what to do next, I'll ask. But most people don't have GAF. They have a Samsung HDTV and the guy at Best Buy says the PS4 works with it and they get home and the guy at Best Buy was right and they are playing Killzone.
But that's only like four variables, and every car will tell you what it is in clear english. Now if the manual said "This car's fuel efficiency is equal to the Nissan Leaf and takes the same gas type as the 95 Saturn" then we'd be talking.
Actually it is that easy. You look at the processor listed in the requirements, then you compare that to the model of the processor you own. Same with the GPU. You read, then you look and come to a conclusion.
Baldwin_the_First
Member
I still can't play that shitty port Dead Rising 3 on PC even tho I have the required specs for it. The specs are not even the sole reason I stopped playing on PC. Too much headaches.
CaptainGyro
Banned
well a quick search here shows that plenty of people do. Just type in system requirements for thread title search. That's just here, then there are shitloads of people elsewhere
Yeah, but they probably are happy with how Killzone looks, they don't care that they could play games at 4k on PC. High-end PC gaming will stay a "niche" for a long time unless hardware prices suddenly start to fall and you can buy high-end PCs for 400.
Lanrutcon
Member
I don't know what teraflops are, nor do I need to.
GPU is your screencard. It's probably gonna be pricey, and very shiny. It has a rather obvious, large slot where you just clip it in. It only goes in one way. You cannot fuck it up.
CPU is your processor. It's a little chip. It goes in the big green thing. You're probably going to cut yourself putting it in because you spend all your time on a couch eating Doritos. Have your smart non-CoD playing friend put it in for you. I know you have one. He's the guy that showed you how to unlock your little hand communicator (it's called a cellphone)
I don't know what GPGPU is, nor do I need to.
Unless you're building an enthusiast rig (and you're not, since LEDs scare you apparently), you don't have a cooling system. The fans on your GPU and inside your case are more than enough for you.
Your OS is Windows. If you can install a game you can install Windows. If you can't install a game then you should be legally barred from interacting with any kind of technology. You think I'm kidding.
All towers come with LEDs. You plug them in according to the little piece of paper that comes with the tower. Scary, I know. it's got a diagram. You'll be fine.
Your examples are fucking terrible. I get the point you're trying to make, but you're trying to make it by acting like simple, basic, EASILY GOOGLED shit is suddenly hardcore rocket science. Come on, man.
CaptainGyro
Banned
compare what? model numbers? so if somebody sees that the recommended gpu is a gtx 670, the person says something like " oh I have a 750ti, that's obviously way more powerful than a 670"?
DOWN
Banned
I don't know how good Nvidia models and processors are by heart. It's another Google search. And my processor says 2.2Ghz and then says 3.2Ghz. Turns out, the Ghz aren't straightforward either. Virtual cores or something. It's just more research volume than mainstream products ever require.
Great. Sites. Multiple sites that I don't know. Another hoop.
Even if you dont know how your card compares to another card there are enough sites that compare specs with requirements and tell you if you can run it.
CaptainGyro
Banned
so in other words you do research. I was saying it was bullshit that the system specs were straight forward enough that research wasn't even necessary
CannonO said:
I googled "can i run it" and found http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri took me about 10 seconds.
Gipsy Danger
Member
I feel like you think googling is way harder than the reality. Yes, sometimes things on PC can get a little confusing. But if you put the bare minimum of effort into researching it then it's not a problem. And if your using IGN to get your usual game coverage then you've already made a big mistake.
It just sounds like you refuse to learn about the platform, which is fine, but don't make it out to be this super difficult thing with hundreds of hoops to jump through when it simply is not true.
Lanrutcon
Member
Can you google: y/n?
yiepekaiyei
Banned
That's why it's cryptic...
CaptainGyro
Banned
yes, that is research. I never said it was hard to do, I'm commenting on the straight forwardness of the system requirements listed
CaptainGyro
Banned
can you stop being a smartass and read the thread? y/n?
SliceSabre
Banned
I've always found the the biggest thing for me when it comes to PC gaming is the fear of building one. I know self-built/custom is better than prebuilt.
I smart enough to at least know where to go to find the parts needed for a decent computer, but I'm terrified of fucking it up when I put it together because I ALWAYS fuck things up when I put them together and that would be an expensive fuck up.
Course I do realize that I could always pay some local computer shop to put it together, but that increases the cost.
I smart enough to at least know where to go to find the parts needed for a decent computer, but I'm terrified of fucking it up when I put it together because I ALWAYS fuck things up when I put them together and that would be an expensive fuck up.
Course I do realize that I could always pay some local computer shop to put it together, but that increases the cost.
Seriously, building a PC is idiot proof these days. Saying your terrified of building one because it might break is like saying you're terrified of driving because you might scratch your car, it's insane to me.
TheNamelessOne
Member
Of course it's confusing. If you don't read up on what everything means it's not gonna say you anything.
It is not hard though. Everyone can understand what you need to understand when it comes to PC specs, you just have to read up on it. It's not like it's an impentetrable wall keeping people from understanding.
I've built PC's for about 15 years and the building process back then was the same as now. Just that you've got infinitely more information and guides avalible now.
It is not hard though. Everyone can understand what you need to understand when it comes to PC specs, you just have to read up on it. It's not like it's an impentetrable wall keeping people from understanding.
I've built PC's for about 15 years and the building process back then was the same as now. Just that you've got infinitely more information and guides avalible now.
Well if you have questions about your build ask here. These guys are really helpfull when you have any questions.
Gipsy Danger
Member
Do what makes you feel good man. But slow your brakes on that second comment.
It's really hard to fuck up, if you have all the parts lying in front of you.
It's like lego.
The only "difficult"part where you could fuck up is getting the cooler on the socket.
If you are so afraid just try it with your current (or another old) rig.
SliceSabre
Banned
For many people their first time driving a car they were terrified of fucking and up and crashing/damaging it.
So yes, as a person who has never built a computer I'm terrified of fucking it up and breaking something my first go at it.
Did you ever consider that you're so far removed from those days or that its was never a consideration for you that you find it hard to understand my prospective?
EDIT: I remember Kotaku had a very good article about when one of their writers built her first computer and she was paralyzed in fear at one point while building it of screwing up and called over a friend.
Gipsy Danger
Member
I only got into building PCs about a year or two ago. It really is super easy. Unless you're being incredibly forceful when putting parts in, you won't damage anything.
CyanideFuse
Member
I expect most people's first time of driving a car is pretty scary.
People are bound to be afraid of ballsing up components on their first attempt however 'idiot proof' it may seem.
CharmingCharlie
Member
Been a PC gamer for 20 odd years and to this day I still find the "Recommended specs" thing a complete and utter Mystic Meg job. The main problem for me is that we still to this day do not have a standard for what Minimum and Recommended mean.
Traditionally a publisher will release a Minimum recommended spec but they don't tell us what that minimum recommended spec will allow us to run the game at. Does it mean "if you have this pc setup the game will start" ? Does it mean "if you have this minimum set up the game will start and run at 5fps" ?
The same goes for Recommended spec, does it mean "play the game at console quality" ? or does it mean play the game maxxed out at 1080p/1440p and 60fps ?
Personally I would like to see a standard set where by the Minimum Requirements = Xbone/PS4 quality. So if your PC meets the Minimum requirements you will experience the same graphical/resolution/fps as the consoles.
Recommended Requirements would equal you can max out all the settings in the game at 1080p and 60fps.
Then there would be a third category called "Ultra" and if you meet the specs you would be able to run the game at max settings at 1440p running at 60fps.
But one thing is for sure the whole "minimum/recommended" systems requirement needs to change to make it more informative. But I am pretty jaded these days and my personal view is that the spec requirements publishers put out are nothing but a damn con job to get as many people to buy the game as possible. There have been too many occasions where publishers have completely understated the hardware needed to run a game.
Traditionally a publisher will release a Minimum recommended spec but they don't tell us what that minimum recommended spec will allow us to run the game at. Does it mean "if you have this pc setup the game will start" ? Does it mean "if you have this minimum set up the game will start and run at 5fps" ?
The same goes for Recommended spec, does it mean "play the game at console quality" ? or does it mean play the game maxxed out at 1080p/1440p and 60fps ?
Personally I would like to see a standard set where by the Minimum Requirements = Xbone/PS4 quality. So if your PC meets the Minimum requirements you will experience the same graphical/resolution/fps as the consoles.
Recommended Requirements would equal you can max out all the settings in the game at 1080p and 60fps.
Then there would be a third category called "Ultra" and if you meet the specs you would be able to run the game at max settings at 1440p running at 60fps.
But one thing is for sure the whole "minimum/recommended" systems requirement needs to change to make it more informative. But I am pretty jaded these days and my personal view is that the spec requirements publishers put out are nothing but a damn con job to get as many people to buy the game as possible. There have been too many occasions where publishers have completely understated the hardware needed to run a game.
I was kind of scared with my first PC aswell but nowadays the only thing you can fuck up is with placing the cooler on the socket. Unless you throw your hardware around PC building is mostly like building a lego house.
Lanrutcon
Member
Those days weren't that long ago, I think the first PC I built from scratch was only 2012 or something. It's just not something that entered my mindset. Seriously, it's no more difficult than setting up an IKEA product. "Paralyzed with fear"? Jesus, I just don't understand it haha.
SliceSabre
Banned
Here's the article I was talking about: http://kotaku.com/the-terrifying-experience-of-building-a-pc-for-the-firs-1586099346
It hit on a lot of my fears.
It hit on a lot of my fears.
Nikodemos
Member
Yeah, they should include a small tech blurb about the game's settings. Ex. Minimum: 720p, detail low, shadows low, particle effects low, 30 fps. Recommended: 1080p, detail high, shadows medium, particle effects high, 2x AA, 60 fps. Or something like that.
samurai1226
Member
Some people really overthink the whole pc gaming. Just check this website to check if you can run any specific game out there: http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri
Keeping your drivers up to date is not more complicated than getting an update message on console. Buying DLC or additional stuff is on steam or origin as easy an using the marketplace of a console.
When you buy your hardware you get all the cds with all the drivers you need (its just run that program and klicking ok and yes until its done). from that point on they will keep themself up to date. There even are manuals for every friggin thing you could need to know.
And you dont have to worry about overclocking or anything like that. Its not necessary. When you buy a car you dont worry about installing performance enhancement either, do you?
I sometimes feel that console fanboys just dont want to buy a pc and make up silly points in which way consoles are better. Its annoying when people start arguing that they want to play with a controller on the tv from the couch and how they couldnt to that with a pc *facepalm*
Keeping your drivers up to date is not more complicated than getting an update message on console. Buying DLC or additional stuff is on steam or origin as easy an using the marketplace of a console.
When you buy your hardware you get all the cds with all the drivers you need (its just run that program and klicking ok and yes until its done). from that point on they will keep themself up to date. There even are manuals for every friggin thing you could need to know.
And you dont have to worry about overclocking or anything like that. Its not necessary. When you buy a car you dont worry about installing performance enhancement either, do you?
I sometimes feel that console fanboys just dont want to buy a pc and make up silly points in which way consoles are better. Its annoying when people start arguing that they want to play with a controller on the tv from the couch and how they couldnt to that with a pc *facepalm*
Yeah I guess I'm different there, it was pretty exhilarating for me.
I don't know what cables he is talking about?
The only cables i have in my PC are the PSU ones and plugging them in is quite easy when you look how many pins there are on each plug.
The only part I'm "scared" of is the CPU as its the most delicate part. I'm glad I've not had to change it in 5 years. One time removing the fan from an old Pentium 4 yanked the chip out with it and could have easily broken it. I've been wary ever since. I fear making an expensive mistake as I'm a bit of a clutz at times.
Well I don't know about that article, sounds overly dramatic to me. In my experience you can be as cavalier about it as you like, it's not going to break unless you get a faulty HDD or something.