How powerful of a graphics card do these games need?

Yes I've looked at the system requirements for the games but I don't know how to interpret the graphics card requirement. I have a pretty new computer with a Nvidia G100 card which runs some newer games like Left 4 Dead good enough for me to have bought the PC version over the console version, while other games like Bioshock do not. So the games I am wondering if I should get the PC version of are: Borderlands, Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origins, Fallout 3, and Oblivion.

Some other examples of how powerful my PC is are: COD4 would be playable but is choppy enough not to buy the PC version, COD2 runs well, F.E.A.R. runs pretty well but not maxed out, L4D runs well on medium settings most of the time, Orange Box runs fantastic, Crysis doesn't run well unless it is on low settings, Bioshock can be played on medium settings but is still pretty choppy.

Thanks

Yes I've looked at the system requirements for the games but I don't know how to interpret the graphics card requirement. I have a pretty new computer with a Nvidia G100 card which runs some newer games like Left 4 Dead good enough for me to have bought the PC version over the console version, while other games like Bioshock do not. So the games I am wondering if I should get the PC version of are: Borderlands, Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origins, Fallout 3, and Oblivion.

Some other examples of how powerful my PC is are: COD4 would be playable but is choppy enough not to buy the PC version, COD2 runs well, F.E.A.R. runs pretty well but not maxed out, L4D runs well on medium settings most of the time, Orange Box runs fantastic, Crysis doesn't run well unless it is on low settings, Bioshock can be played on medium settings but is still pretty choppy.

Thanks

baryjayne

minimum i would walk into most of those game with is significantly better than your dell "took the eays way out" nivida g100 its about on par with a geforce 8400gs (underclocked) which means its wonder you pull off what games you do. YOUVE BEEN LUCKY YOU COULD GET FEAR OR LEFT 4 DEAD AT ALL.

the most basic gpu i would approach those with is a mild step up the ati hd 4550 or hd 3650. from the nivida side of the table its would translate into the 8600gt or 9500gt(it was rebranded the gt220 or gt315 if you cant find one)

but that would be the BARE minimum.

if you can invest the 75 bucks i HIGLY approve the hd 4650 or 9600gso

The computer was a birthday present and it will be difficult to upgrade. What I am trying to figure out is based on what it does run decently, which of the games I asked about will also run decently with what I currently have.

The computer was a birthday present and it will be difficult to upgrade. What I am trying to figure out is based on what it does run decently, which of the games I asked about will also run decently with what I currently have.

baryjayne

oblivion, rainbow 6 vegas if you have it, painkiller franchise is a must aquire. half lfie 2, quake 4, battlefield 2/2142, code of honor: desperate measures, just cause, cs:source, dawn of war classic, guildwars, moto gp2, alien shooter: vengance, portal

Sorry, you misunderstand me. Out of the following list of games which would I be better off buying a console version of rather than the PC version due to the limitations of my graphics card: Borderlands, Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origins, Fallout 3, and Oblivion.

Sorry, you misunderstand me. Out of the following list of games which would I be better off buying a console version of rather than the PC version due to the limitations of my graphics card: Borderlands, Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origins, Fallout 3, and Oblivion.

baryjayne

off that list none of the above. though your pc could run oblivion the console would run it better

Thanks for your help.

Anyone else have a second opinion?

his card gets a score of 240 in 3dmark vantage. lol ferret-gamer

[QUOTE="ferret-gamer"]his card gets a score of 240 in 3dmark vantage. lol baryjayne

Long story short, it's bad. Very, very bad.

I know the games will run smoother on the console, the issue is that for some of these games the PC version is better. I heard enthusiastic recommendations of the PC version of Dragon Age and to a lesser extent Mass Effect. The other games I'm asking about like Borderlands are First Person which as you all know control better with a mouse. So for example it was worth getting the PC version of Left 4 Dead even though it doesnt runs as smooth as the console version because of controls, free DLC and mods etc. So I'm wondering if the PC versions of these other games would be better on my system than a more stable but not as good controls console version.

Get an ati 5970 with a 1000w PSU. You will be able to play all those games.d-rtyboy

For serious gaming, bare minimum I'd start out with a Radeon 4670 512 MB. For many people including myself, it's a powerful enough card to run almost all the games out there maxed out or just plain good enough at least at 720p level rendering. Many older games like BF2, FEAR, CoD4, etc run wonderfully at 1080p with no AA maxed out quite nicely. Crysis runs in DX9 mode at all high settings at 1440 x 900 pretty well too. Overall it's a great card, one of the best values. While I now use a 5850 (which is absolute overkill for most of what I play), honestly I really didn't need it quite yet, and I'm keeping my 4670, as well as all the other parts that have been replaced by upgrades to build another computer for the fun of it.