So, about those computer specs...

[PinballWizard]

I'm buying a new computer soon. More specifically, an Acer AM3910-U4012 Desktop.

Now, here are the specs:

3.2 GHz Intel Core I-3 dual core
1TB Hard Drive
6GB RAM
HDMI output

The thing that's worrying me though, is the video card, well lack of actually. It doesn't have one! Instead it has "Intel HD Graphics" built in. Now, I did a little research. Apparently, Intel has started to combine the video card and processor. If your processor is 2nd Generation, the hd graphics thing will work with most new games. But if it isn't 2nd generation, then your video card is bottom of the barrel low-end crap that can barely play age of empires 2. Well maybe not that bad. The amazon page for this model doesn't say 2nd generation, so does that mean my video card is no better than one of those early 2000s dell models? I don't want to spend $600 on a computer that can't play the latest and greatest games (like skyrim)

Should I keep searching?

[BootySweat]

Keep searching - for a 2011 desktop computer, there's no excuse for lack of dedicated graphics. What's your total budget?

if you buy the components yourself from somewhere like Newegg, for a total cost around $600-800 you will have a powerful gaming desktop, including the cost of 1080p monitor.

If you want to run Skyrim at 1080p, all settings maxed, you will need a graphics card at least equal to or better than NVIDIA GTX 460 or AMD 5770. You might be able to go a step lower, like the NVIDIA GTS 450, depending on how high of a framerate you want.

[PinballWizard]

The main reason i was attracted to that model was because I could get it for $400 refurbished. My budget is around $400 - $500. Is there anything that can run skyrim with these specs? Honestly, I don't want to spend an extra $300 just to be able to play it on a PC. I have a PS3. I might want to pick up Oblivion for my new computer though. What would you (or anyone else) recommend for a computer in that price range with around 4GB RAM or higher, 1TB Hard drive or higher, decent processor say around 3.0 GHz +, and a good enough video card that can play oblivion. Thanks.

[PinballWizard]

This one looks like a good choice - link

It has the 2nd generation core i3 with the built in Intel HD Graphics. Skyrim-usable? I would think. At least it'll be able to play oblivion.

3.1 GHZ
4GB RAM
1TB HD

Pretty much the same specs. A tiny bit lower. But hey, the faster processor will be worth it for the high-end games. And it's pretty cheap, I expected a computer to be around $900 to be able to play skyrim. Still going to do some shopping, but this is a good start i think.

[BootySweat]

The main reason i was attracted to that model was because I could get it for $400 refurbished. My budget is around $400 - $500. Is there anything that can run skyrim with these specs? Honestly, I don't want to spend an extra $300 just to be able to play it on a PC. I have a PS3. I might want to pick up Oblivion for my new computer though. What would you (or anyone else) recommend for a computer in that price range with around 4GB RAM or higher, 1TB Hard drive or higher, decent processor say around 3.0 GHz +, and a good enough video card that can play oblivion. Thanks.

Depends on the display resolution of your monitor.

If your monitor is really low quality, like 1024x600 for example, then you can probably run it very well with the integrated graphics.

However, IMO, anything below 1600x900 or 1440x900, you are really missing out on the visual experience, especially for a game like Skyrim that is designed with lots of panoramic vistas. Ideally you want to go with 1920x1080 or higher resolution.

BTW, do you know who the pinball wizard is?

[Spiney]

Uhh, you'd need at least an a i5, not an i3. And yes, get a graphics card. For highest settings, you'd need an ATI 6000series at least.

[PinballWizard]

The main reason i was attracted to that model was because I could get it for $400 refurbished. My budget is around $400 - $500. Is there anything that can run skyrim with these specs? Honestly, I don't want to spend an extra $300 just to be able to play it on a PC. I have a PS3. I might want to pick up Oblivion for my new computer though. What would you (or anyone else) recommend for a computer in that price range with around 4GB RAM or higher, 1TB Hard drive or higher, decent processor say around 3.0 GHz +, and a good enough video card that can play oblivion. Thanks.

Depends on the display resolution of your monitor.

If your monitor is really low quality, like 1024x600 for example, then you can probably run it very well with the integrated graphics.

However, IMO, anything below 1600x900 or 1440x900, you are really missing out on the visual experience, especially for a game like Skyrim that is designed with lots of panoramic vistas. Ideally you want to go with 1920x1080 or higher resolution.

BTW, do you know who the pinball wizard is?

I made this account in 2008, it was when i was into that music. Not anymore, classic rock is pretty generic. I'm up to 175, maybe 200 gigs of music now, and i love it all so much

Right now I'm using 1360x768, and that's through standard VGA onto an HD monitor (720P Dynex 19" TV). Once I get a new computer, I will be using an HDMI cable, and that'll put my resolution pretty high up there. I'm not so much worried about Skyrim anymore. Basically, which one of these will run oblivion?

1. Acer AM3910-U4012
2. Acer AM3970-U5022

The only thing that's really bothering me is how much of a difference will it make if i use a 2nd gen I3 compared to a standard I3? If it's only a small difference then I would really like #1 just because it looks better than #2 and is less expensive. But at the same time if that faster processor will let me play bigger and better games, I'd be stupid to take #1 just because it's $150 less, right?

Arrgggg.... too many choices.


EDIT: Since this is basically boiled down to processors, this might make it easier.

#1 has the Intel Core I3-550, GPU is 733 MHz, and has 1.7GB of VRAM
#2 has the 2nd Gen Core I3-2100, GPU is 1.1 GHz, and I can't find anything on its amount of video RAM, but i'm sure it's a ton, much more than the 128 or 256MB oblivion requires

This is really strange talking about processors having VRAM though. I thought that restricted to the video card. Changing times I guess. Will #1 run oblivion though?

Uhh, you'd need at least an a i5, not an i3. And yes, get a graphics card. For highest settings, you'd need an ATI 6000series at least.

If I were to get an desktop that comes with an i5 (1st gen), and uses the default built-in video card, combined thing, would that play skyrim? :\

[Spiney]

An integrated GPU won't play anything that has high shader versions, or high Direct X. For a game like Skyrim, a graphics card is a must.

[xopurrangaox]

i bought this http://tiny.cc/comp123 and i easy oblivion on max settings 1920x1080 ultra high settings, message me if u want to talk about it

[PinballWizard]

All right, forget skyrim. Can any of those play oblivion? 0.0

[BootySweat]

All right, forget skyrim. Can any of those play oblivion? 0.0

My suggestion is to look into whether either of those two systems have sufficient wattage and appropriate PCI-e slots to handle a video card upgrade in the future.

If so, then for as little as $90-100 you could upgrade to a card like the GTS 450 or AMD 5770 at some point, and either of those would be able to handle most games, including Skyrim at 1920x1080.

[PinballWizard]

Sorry, I'm really good with software, codes and the such (I run linux), but hardware is really not my strong suit (obviously)

It says: Expansion slots include 1 PCI, 2 PCI-E x1 (1 available), and 1 PCI-E x16 and by wattage do you mean like power supply? Three different sources gave me way backwards information on that. One said it had 11.1 V and 300W meaning it uses 27 Amps which is about as much as a refrigerator or an oven, so that can't be right. The other only said 48440 watts, which if I use the same amount of voltage I get around 4 amps, which sounds more realistic. The power supply sounds about normal than most other computers. And would installing a video card be hard haha?

[FaWa]

I was also wondering about this. I have a laptop with the i5 and the "built in graphics card" thing. I dont care about graphics, I just want it to be playable, even at low settings.

[PinballWizard]

Ok, here's the manual for the computer I'm looking at. http://i.walmart.com/i/rb/0009980231870.pdf Would either of the cards suggested (GTS 450 or AMD 5770) be able to be installed? Also is it possible to remove the integrated hd graphics thing?

[FaWa]

WAIT DOES THIS STICKER MEAN ANYTHING?

NVIDIA Optimus graphics

Is that good or bad?

[Pandamatak]

Keep searching - for a 2011 desktop computer, there's no excuse for lack of dedicated graphics. What's your total budget?

if you buy the components yourself from somewhere like Newegg, for a total cost around $600-800 you will have a powerful gaming desktop, including the cost of 1080p monitor.

If you want to run Skyrim at 1080p, all settings maxed, you will need a graphics card at least equal to or better than NVIDIA GTX 460 or AMD 5770. You might be able to go a step lower, like the NVIDIA GTS 450, depending on how high of a framerate you want.

Nvidia 460 to run at 1080p? Are you kidding me?

I'm currently running Oblivion with Qarl's Texture Pack 3 + Better Cities Full on 1920*1200 with an 8800 GT and I'm getting perfectly smooth framerates. Look at the Xbox for comparison - I know that when Skyrim comes out, I'll be able to play it on settings drastically better than the defaults on Xbox.

OT: I would say get a 9800 GTX+, it will surely suit all your needs and if it doesn't, just get another one and use SLI.

[Rhcpftw]

Yeah...Yeah I don't understand any of this. Why the hell do these components have such strange names? Couldn't they just name them...I don't know...Imba 1, 2 or 3?

Anywhooooooo, I guess a computer from 2001 can't handle Skyrim? Then Xbox it is!

[PinballWizard]

All right, I decided on what I'm getting...

1. Acer AM3910-U4012

2. XFX ATI HD 4670 graphics card, since the system requirements for oblivion says it can run it on ''extremely high''. The computer has an open PCI-e 16 slot and a room for an extra video card via expansion slot.

3. Antec EA500D power supply, because that graphics card needs 400W of power, and the built-in PSU is only 300W. This one has 500W, great for if I ever want to add another hard drive or any other kind of modification.


I think this will run oblivion VERY nicely. I'm excited.

[OtherworldOdd]

This is exactly why I have a dedicated gaming system... called xbox. x.x.

I don't understand any of this stuff.

[BootySweat]

How much are you paying for the AMD 4670?

You can get an AMD 5770, NVIDIA GTS450, NVIDIA GTX 460 for between $90 - 150 on newegg. Those three cards are the cheapest DX11 cards available on the market that can get excellent framerates at 1080p for most games. They will run Skyrim very well in the event you decide to upgrade your monitor to 1080p in the future.

[PinballWizard]

50 bucks.

Yeah, $120 plus the $50 for the PSU makes it go much higher than I wanted. I can always upgrade my card in the future since my other specs can handle skyrim. And by that time I'm sure things like the 5770's price will drop. I don't mind for now.

Plus, things like the 5770 use around 600 watts, meaning I would have to get an even bigger PSU, which means all of this sets me back an extra $200. 0.0

Maybe one day.

[BootySweat]

50 bucks.

Yeah, $120 plus the $50 for the PSU makes it go much higher than I wanted. I can always upgrade my card in the future since my other specs can handle skyrim. And by that time I'm sure things like the 5770's price will drop. I don't mind for now.

Plus, things like the 5770 use around 600 watts, meaning I would have to get an even bigger PSU, which means all of this sets me back an extra $200. 0.0

Maybe one day.

Sounds like a great plan, although keep in mind the recommended PSU for single 5770 (you can't do crossfire anyways with that mobo), is only 450 watts, not 600 watts.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... =BESTMATCH

450 Watt or greater power supply with one 75W 6-pin PCI Express® power connector recommended

600 Watt and two 75 watt 6-pin connectors for ATI CrossFireX™ technology in dual mode

If you get a 450 watt PSU now, in the future, you can save money down the road whenever you want to upgrade your card, without having to buy a new PSU.

[PinballWizard]

Ah, I didn't know that it was 450w. I think I typed in 5770 power supply and got someone talking about 600w for something else probably. Found a 450w PSU made by antec on amazon for $40.

Cheers, and thanks for the tip!

[BootySweat]

Ah, I didn't know that it was 450w. I think I typed in 5770 power supply and got someone talking about 600w for something else probably. Found a 450w PSU made by antec on amazon for $40.

Cheers, and thanks for the tip!

Great - yeah you need 600w PSU if you want to run dual 5770s in Crossfire mode, but for a single it's only 450w.

[the Savage Hippie]

This one looks like a good choice - link

It has the 2nd generation core i3 with the built in Intel HD Graphics. Skyrim-usable? I would think. At least it'll be able to play oblivion.

3.1 GHZ
4GB RAM
1TB HD

Pretty much the same specs. A tiny bit lower. But hey, the faster processor will be worth it for the high-end games. And it's pretty cheap, I expected a computer to be around $900 to be able to play skyrim. Still going to do some shopping, but this is a good start i think.

Be sure to buy that one without an operating system. Acer grants you a lot of unnecessary bonus programs... so does HP...

I would think this one would be able to run Skyrim very well, but it's ridicoulsly expensive (if you don't think of the hardware, but just think of it as a regular computer) and looks very LOL

- I just discovered that 1899.99 isn't as much as I thought and if what I just discovered is right I'd actually say it isn't that expensive... anyway...