need some advice on my PC.

[Christemo]

i am thinking of buying Modern Warfare 2 currently, hopefully for the PC (despite the butchering, simply because of the WAYYY better controls).

but i have one problem: can my PC render its graphics on High (the usual setting for PC graphics). i hate rendering graphics on Medium or Low (because it can make games look really ugly), and if i cant, ill get the ps3 version.

the requirements by Steam are as follows:

Processor: Intel Pentium 4 3.2 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 3200+ processor or better supported
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Graphics: 256 MB NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT or better or ATI Radeon 1600XT or better
Hard Drive: 12GB of free hard drive space

and this shows my PC´s power:

4 GB RAM.
17 GB of free space on my C-drive (Steam´s default installation drive).
(2.0 GHz, 667 MHz, MB L2 Cache)
HD 2400 XT Hypermemory.
IntelCore 2 Duo Processor T5750.

my current PC is the Acer model Extensa 7620G.

if any could advice me on this matter, i would appreciate it.

 

[Woodsey]

It's hard to tell with an integrated chipset. Although it's not like you're lacking elsewhere to not be able to handle it.

Get it I say.

 

[Sebenko]

Buy the console version. The shoddy PC version isn't worth the time.

 

[Christemo]

Buy the console version. The shoddy PC version isn't worth the time.

i am heavily thinking about getting the ps3 version instead (i dont want a bloody 360, i hate those controllers and the high price tags), but the PC version has 1 thing every other version lack: perfect controls. im not saying the ps3 controls are bad, im just saying that its way easier to aim on the PC.

 

[Abedeus]

Your GPU is really crappy. Also, you shouldn't install Steam games on your C drive.

On high? Your CPU is only 2.0 GHz and your GPU is, yeah, mediocre.

What I find strange is why I can't find recommended specifications. Even on CanYouRunIt, I did the test and got all the way to the end of the bar, but I'm not sure about the viability of this test. After all, it didn't test the recommended.

 

[mikecoulter]

I have the PS3 version. If you're unsure, I would just get that.

 

[Christemo]

I have the PS3 version. If you're unsure, I would just get that.

are the controls for the ps3 version good? if so, i might try and get it for christmas (my ps3´s coming by January).

 

[Sebenko]

I have the PS3 version. If you're unsure, I would just get that.

are the controls for the ps3 version good? if so, i might try and get it for christmas (my ps3´s coming by January).

Since IW showed what can only be called contempt for the PC version, the PS3 controls are probably better.

 

[Caliostro]

Buy the console version. The shoddy PC version isn't worth the time.

And the logic behind this is? Sure the PC version isn't worth the time for me, but the console versions are even less so. They have everything that's wrong with the PC AND more.


That said, OP, if graphics are important to you, if you can handle shooters with analogs, and based on your specs, I'd say PS3.

 

[DazZ.]

you shouldn't install Steam games on your C drive.

Why is that?

 

[mikecoulter]

I have the PS3 version. If you're unsure, I would just get that.

are the controls for the ps3 version good? if so, i might try and get it for christmas (my ps3´s coming by January).

I would say they're excellent. Feel really natural.

 

[Abedeus]

you shouldn't install Steam games on your C drive.

Why is that?

Because you should NEVER install games on your main drive.

You need a format, you lose all your games. Something screws up, you lose all your games. Your drive gets so full you can't do anything, you lose your games.

 

[DazZ.]

you shouldn't install Steam games on your C drive.

Why is that?

Because you should NEVER install games on your main drive.

You need a format, you lose all your games. Something screws up, you lose all your games. Your drive gets so full you can't do anything, you lose your games.

oh so depends on how precious your saves are.

That's not really a problem for me then. Not really going to fill my drive up either.

 

[fix-the-spade]

i am heavily thinking about getting the ps3 version instead (i dont want a bloody 360, i hate those controllers and the high price tags), but the PC version has 1 thing every other version lack: perfect controls. im not saying the ps3 controls are bad, im just saying that its way easier to aim on the PC.

Christemo, you will get used to the PS3 controls. The PC multiplayer really is catastrophic, on a good host it has roughly the same lag as consoles (120-250) but none of the optimisations. Console version has quite a clever auto aim/lock on system that more or less compensates for the discrepencies.

PC doesn't, 200ping takes some serious lag compensation and it's a pain in the arse. On a bad host you can forget getting under 300, as well as hitting anything. The host will always have 0 ping and a resulting advantage in every fight.

Nevermind switching between hosts, which takes bewtween 20-30 seconds before you get the 5-4-3-2-1 count in that IW insists is the only pause when finding a new host. It's basically the same as the console version but with none of the little optimisations that make it work.

PSN/Live have been built from the ground up towork in that kind of environment without too much disruption, PC has not. What I'm trying to say is... buy the console version.

 

[Christemo]

i am heavily thinking about getting the ps3 version instead (i dont want a bloody 360, i hate those controllers and the high price tags), but the PC version has 1 thing every other version lack: perfect controls. im not saying the ps3 controls are bad, im just saying that its way easier to aim on the PC.

Christemo, you will get used to the PS3 controls. The PC multiplayer really is catastrophic, on a good host it has roughly the same lag as consoles (120-250) but none of the optimisations. Console version has quite a clever auto aim/lock on system that more or less compensates for the discrepencies.

PC doesn't, 200ping takes some serious lag compensation and it's a pain in the arse. On a bad host you can forget getting under 300, as well as hitting anything. The host will always have 0 ping and a resulting advantage in every fight.

Nevermind switching between hosts, which takes bewtween 20-30 seconds before you get the 5-4-3-2-1 count in that IW insists is the only pause when finding a new host. It's basically the same as the console version but with none of the little optimisations that make it work.

PSN/Live have been built from the ground up towork in that kind of environment without too much disruption, PC has not. What I'm trying to say is... buy the console version.

okay, thanks mate, ill stick with that. i have been criticizing the constant cockslaps on the PC version that IW constantly refuses as butchered, but recently, the games prettiness and weapons seems to have seduced me.

 

[Rock 'n' Soul]

Buy the console version. The controls won't be a huge issue over time, and with the PS3, you know what you're going to get.

 

[Abedeus]

you shouldn't install Steam games on your C drive.

Why is that?

Because you should NEVER install games on your main drive.

You need a format, you lose all your games. Something screws up, you lose all your games. Your drive gets so full you can't do anything, you lose your games.

oh so depends on how precious your saves are.

That's not really a problem for me then. Not really going to fill my drive up either.

I think I would be quite angry if by an error or a mistake my 45GB of Steam games got deleted. It would take me few days to get it back. But I wouldn't be able to get back my 4 year old Guild Wars screenshots or all the Neverwinter Nights hackpacks I've collected since the release.

 

[BaldursBananaSoap]

Your GPU is terrible, but I'm pretty sure it would just work. I'm not suggesting you pirate it but maybe to see if you can run it?

In fact, just ditch it and play Counterstrike.

 

[Treblaine]

i am thinking of buying Modern Warfare 2 currently, hopefully for the PC (despite the butchering, simply because of the WAYYY better controls).

but i have one problem: can my PC render its graphics on High (the usual setting for PC graphics). i hate rendering graphics on Medium or Low (because it can make games look really ugly), and if i cant, ill get the ps3 version.

the requirements by Steam are as follows:

Processor: Intel Pentium 4 3.2 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 3200+ processor or better supported
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Graphics: 256 MB NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT or better or ATI Radeon 1600XT or better
Hard Drive: 12GB of free hard drive space

and this shows my PC´s power:

4 GB RAM.
17 GB of free space on my C-drive (Steam´s default installation drive).
(2.0 GHz, 667 MHz, MB L2 Cache)
HD 2400 XT Hypermemory.
IntelCore 2 Duo Processor T5750.

my current PC is the Acer model Extensa 7620G.

if any could advice me on this matter, i would appreciate it.

Short answer: probably not.

Your graphics card is fairly good for a Laptop but will have a hard time with a game like Modern Warfare 2, which is puts more stress on machines than COD4.

Though you will only be running at 1440x900 (your laptop's maximum resolution) all COD games are extremely fast paced that means you will need a VERY HIGH frame rate.

Note on frame-rate: 25-30 frames/sec is considered the absolute minimum for a video game, and slower than that and the illusion of smooth motion is lost, it should be noted that cinema film and video record at about this speed.

This is fine for relatively slow paced games like GTA4, but as the action gets more intense 30fps is just not enough, it is mostly a subconscious effect but as you aim you can only make adjustments at 1/30th of a second interval and you may not notice it but that does have a tangible effect. You should aim for 60fps

There are no detailed benchmarks (thats where they test out your graphics card) but you could do a your own analogous test:

Buy COD4 for PC (it should be cheap now) if you don't already have it
Download FRAPS from a reputable source (use google)

FRAPS is a very easy to use program, if you can install itunes, you can install this. It will run in the background as any Computer game is played but will overlay in yellow numbers in the top corner of your screen (still visible in game) and tell you EXACTLY what framerate you are getting.

Use that with COD4 and if you can't get the desired framerate (preferably 60fps) with that then you almost certainly won't get it with Modern Warfare 2.

A few notes on running on PC:

Set the anti-aliasing to as high as you can = this smooths out the edges of the game, it is very important to make it looks good.
Lock the "v-synch" or "Wait to synch" = this will further smooth out each frame, as long as you can get a high frame rate.

Good luck with all that but IMHO you should invest in a proper Desktop PC. You can get a machine for around £500 that can max out every game's quality and still play in 1080p resolution at a rock solid 60fps.

 

[King CoN]

Is there not a demo you could download first?

Alternatively, and probably easier, would be to check here: http://cyri.systemrequirementslab.com/srtest/