Game hardware requirements

[boki]

Hello and welcome to this brief tutorial of how to check if your rig is up to the task for a specific game.

 

If you know your hardware, all you have to do is to follow this link and that's it. The usage is straightforward: you pick what you have in your machine, the page will do the rest. Some extra options are available for premium users. Now for the rest...

 

If you have no idea what your computer looks like from inside (considering hardware it consists of), please continue to read. Please don't do anything before you read the entire tutorial.

 

First you must know which operating system version you are using (32-bit or 64-bit version). In order to get that information, press WIN+PAUSE keys on your keyboard at the same time. A window will open where you can read which version you have installed on your machine (32 or 64 bit). Since some laptops don't have the "pause" key, but you can open the same window in a similar way, but with a few mouse clicks more: press WIN+E at the same time, find My Computer item in a tree on the left, right click on it, then left click on Properties (the exactly same window will open as if you have pressed WIN+PAUSE).

 

Loaded with information whether you run 32- or 64-bit operating system, follow this link (Hardware Info freeware), download the appropriate program version, unpack and install it. Ignore the DOS version, since ET is not capable of running in DOS environment. If you are still unsure which version to choose, 32-bit is always a safe choice. You can also download a portable version, which doesn't require installation (you just unpack and run it). This is practical if you want to have a program like this on USB stick.

 

After you run the program, ignore offered options like "sensors only" etc, just click on "OK". A window will appear with all relevant information about your system (parts model, maker, temperature etc.). The information you need for game requirements program is CPU maker (Intel or AMD), CPU model (like i5 750 2.67 MHz), GPU (VGA) model and RAM amount.

 

Now about RAM: I have seen some systems where 4GB of RAM is installed, but Windows can see only 3,6GB. This is because the 32-bit version of Windows OS is installed, and this is the OS limitation. Only 64-bit OS version can see more RAM. If you want to fully utilize all 4GB of RAM (or even more, if you have), you MUST install 64-bit Windows version (or whichever OS you want to have). Non-technical people often don't notice this, until they want to expand their RAM memory at some point later.

 

There is another case which can decrease an amount of available RAM to the operating system - integrated VGA card (on motherboard). Usually, integrated VGA card can take from 128MB up to 1GB of system RAM. This doesn't depend on operating system version you are using, VGA card will take the given RAM amount no mater which operating system you are using. This setting can be changed only in BIOS, if it's not fixed to certain amount. But BIOS exceeds the scope of this tutorial, so I will not explain how to get into BIOS and change settings there. All I will say: do not enter the BIOS and change settings there unless if you are absolutely sure what are you doing! Wrong settings can and will prevent your computer from booting or even permanently damage the system beyond repair!

 

Additional info:

RAM - Random Access Memory

VGA - Video Graphics Array

GPU - Graphics Processing Unit

CPU - Central Processing Unit

BIOS - Basic Input Output System

MB - Megabyte (Mb - Megabit)

GB - Gigabyte (Gb - Gigabit)