[emily grieve]

My notebook is a week old Gateway NV57H19h
Intel Core i5-2450M
NVIDIA GeForce 610M with 1GB VRAM
1000GB HDD
8GB DDR3 RAM

It runs Star Wars The Old Republic at Medium to Low-High(custom options), and a few others. I've been told on another forum that it probably won't run it, but I'm hoping people on here will have a better idea if it'll work or not. I currently play Skyrim on ps3, so I won't be totally devastated if I can't play it, but I would really like to play with some of the mods.

So what do you think?

[JeSsy ArEllano]

The GPU will be your primary issue. I believe that's a low end chip, though I haven't become too familiar with the 610M just yet. You'll have a hard time running on it, I believe.

[mollypop]

The GPU will be your primary issue. I believe that's a low end chip, though I haven't become too familiar with the 610M just yet. You'll have a hard time running on it, I believe.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-610M.63759.0.html

Pretty terrible little tinker toy, correct.

[{Richies Mommy}]

Oh well, I guess no mods for me

[Calum Campbell]

Oh well, I guess no mods for me

Of course, the link Gorath the Elder kindly provided does show that it will run Skyrim. I'd imagine it would be a matter of how inconvenient it might be to spend the money. Since the last patch my hd 3870 has been running at 25-30 outside. This is annoying but sitll playable.

[helen buchan]

Of course, the link Gorath the Elder kindly provided does show that it will run Skyrim. I'd imagine it would be a matter of how inconvenient it might be to spend the money. Since the last patch my hd 3870 has been running at 25-30 outside. This is annoying but sitll playable.

An HD 3870 is an ACTUAL, full-powered graphics card. The dinky little laptop excuse for a card is merely an afterthought compared to gaming quality graphics cards. The first post in this thread lists what works, and the 610m is like the 210 -- no better than an ancient Geforce 8400 GS, and worse in some ways.

READ that review next time, instead of just taking a cursory scan of it.

[Shannon Lockwood]

An HD 3870 is an ACTUAL, full-powered graphics card. The dinky little laptop excuse for a card is merely an afterthought compared to gaming quality graphics cards. The first post in this thread lists what works, and the 610m is like the 210 -- no better than an ancient Geforce 8400 GS, and worse in some ways.

READ that review next time, instead of just taking a cursory scan of it.

You are absolutely right. My remark was totally flippant. If I had one of those laptops, I'd probably try some steam games on it, but I certainly wouldn't trade my desktop for it. If the spell effects worked on the 3870 without fooling the game into thinking I had an nvidia, I'd be perfectly happy. Everytime we get a new patch, I think about replacing it till things speed up again. In particular the 6850's and 6870's are so cheap right now, I'm strongly tempted to buy one before they disappear. Thanks for all the work you've done keeping track of video cards and systems.

[steve brewin]

Anyone looking to upgrade their computers with a better video card, please consider your power supply (PSU). Do not simply check the minimum wattage requirement then order the cheapest PSU you can find with a number that big. You are asking for problems when you do that. Things to consider for PSU selection:

• PSUs can be either reliable or a time bomb depending on quality. When a PSU fails, it will deliver incorrect voltages to your components and can damage them beyond repair. Your PSU is responsible for the health of your PC and especially your video card - pick a good quality one! SeaSonic, XFX, and Corsair (TX, HX, and AX models, not GX or CX) are tier one in quality and are usually similarly priced to lesser options.
  
• Add %40 to the recommended wattage for your video card. PSUs degrade and fail over time, just like anything else, which means if you select a unit that needs to run at 100% capacity for you to play Skyrim then you're going to have problems as soon as it starts to degrade. Too much wattage is never a bad thing.
  
• Just because a PSU says "600w" on its side does not mean it can actually produce 600w. PSUs are tested in perfect lab conditions where it's brand-new and the temperature is low. In reality, the vast majority of PSU manufacturers build low-quality units that split their load across multiple 12v rails, do not produce clean/consistent power, and usually end up at 70% efficiency or less by the time you've got your games running regardless of their 80+ certification.

For most good cards, you can't go wrong with Corsair's TX-650, right now only $75:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

Good luck and please heed my advice. Don't be one of those disasters waiting to happen with a high-powered graphics card living off a junk PSU.

[sw1ss]

Upgrade worth it?

I currently have an AMD 1090t and HD 5850. I've had my eye on the 7800 series, but the price is still exorbitant. Will a 5850 to 7850 produce any meaningful difference in the amount of eye candy? Honestly, this is the most demanding game I play, after Mass Effect 3 and Dragon Age II.

[renee Duhamel]

I upgraded from a 6850 to a 6950 and got to go from high+ to maximum, but I can't say it was really worth all the money. It's nice to know I do have a very nice system now but your 5850 is more than enough to enjoy the game wth superior quality to what Xbox players get.

Also, make sure your PSU is reliable before you think about upgrading your video card. See two posts up.

[Josh Dagreat]

Upgrade worth it?

I currently have an AMD 1090t and HD 5850. I've had my eye on the 7800 series, but the price is still exorbitant. Will a 5850 to 7850 produce any meaningful difference in the amount of eye candy? Honestly, this is the most demanding game I play, after Mass Effect 3 and Dragon Age II.

See for yourself if it's worth it:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/549?vs=512

Depends on game, but looking to at least a 10% gain...often times over 20%.

I upgraded from a 6850 to a 6950 and got to go from high+ to maximum, but I can't say it was really worth all the money. It's nice to know I do have a very nice system now but your 5850 is more than enough to enjoy the game wth superior quality to what Xbox players get.

Also, make sure your PSU is reliable before you think about upgrading your video card. See two posts up.

While I myself am very active in suggesting to never overlook the PSU, if the member is already running a Radeon 5850 comfortably...think its rather safe to assume that the 7850 would be fine with the member's PSU. Plus it consumes less power than the Radeon 5850.

Also, wattage recommendations from video card vendors are greatly exaggerated to protect themselves from liability with the many junk PSUs out there. 40% over the calculated reality wattage consumption of the entire system is more on the lines of what I'd recommend. There are a couple calculators I find to be quite reliable:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1045231/phaedrus-quickndirty-psu-calculator

http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

[RaeAnne]

See for yourself if it's worth it:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/549?vs=512

Depends on game, but looking to at least a 10% gain...often times over 20%.




While I myself am very active in suggesting to never overlook the PSU, if the member is already running a Radeon 5850 comfortably...think its rather safe to assume that the 7850 would be fine with the member's PSU. Plus it consumes less power than the Radeon 5850.

Indeed. I have a Seasonic 850W. The Mack truck of PSUs.

I am aware of the Anand bench, but was wondering if any one had skyrim specific experience. I know the game does not always behave predictably on AMD architectures. Tom's said teh 7870 really does well with Skyrim:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7870-review-benchmark,3148-15.html

If I am too belive that review I am looking at a 20+ FPS increase!

[Samantha Wood]

How well would this run?

Processor: Intel Pentium Dual CPU E2160 @ 1.8 GHz
RAM: 2.00 GB
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GT 240

I believe the resolution is 1440x900.

I'm also running Windows Vista 32-bit.

[Hayley O'Gara]

I'd expect some sluggishness with that CPU...it's rather slow in this day and age. The minimal 2GB of RAM isn't going to help much either. I wouldn't say much more than medium considering resolution to be honest.

[Louise Dennis]

Is there anything I can do to fix it, preferably free? Atleast cheap.

[Jamie Moysey]

Is there anything I can do to fix it?

More RAM, better CPU (a new motherboard would probably be required as well), better GPU. Will most likely need a new PSU as well.

From the sounds of it, you're pretty much looking at a new computer.

[Alexandra Ryan]

Well that...svcks. How much would they cost? If I would consider getting one, I would want the best I could get. If it isn't too much to ask, could you link a few examples of computers to go by as well? Thanks.

[Campbell]

Well that...svcks. How much would they cost? If I would consider getting one, I would want the best I could get. If it isn't too much to ask, could you link a few examples of computers to go by as well? Thanks.

Not really the thread for these kinds of queries. Would much rather you post your PC request here:
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1358707-the-community-tech-thread-no-113/

However, if you're looking for a prebuilt PC...you're looking at spending at least $700 for something respectable. If you can build your own, that same budget can get you something better. If you want some suggestions, please read the first post in the linked thread and answer the questions regarding a PC suggestion when you post there.

Here's an example of a $700+ prebuilt PC:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227391

[Mike Plumley]

Here's an example of a $700+ prebuilt PC:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227391

Purchasing a pre-built computer for gaming is usually a bad idea and that one is no exception. They work for a while but companies like iBUYPOWER and CyberpowerPC always come with low-quality PSUs that no experienced builder should ever consider purchasing individually. If it's made of parts you wouldn't buy on their own, then it's not a good idea to buy it all put together

Building your own PC can be challenging but is very rewarding. There is a huge world of information on the internet out there to assist you with building, including individuals like myself. For my first build, I watched Newgg's tutorial videos and learned a lot from them. It's a three-part series that covers all the basics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPIXAtNGGCw&feature=player_embedded

Also, wattage recommendations from video card vendors are greatly exaggerated to protect themselves from liability with the many junk PSUs out there. 40% over the calculated reality wattage consumption of the entire system is more on the lines of what I'd recommend.

The problem with that logic is the assumption that even on good-quality PSUs that the rated wattage output labeled on the unit realistically represents the wattage capabilities you can expect after several months of gaming. PSUs are tested and rated in near-perfect lab conditions, and will not account for the extra heat, dust, your particular outlet's own irregularities, and any irregular quirks in your particular build's power consumption after several months of gaming. PSUs will deteriorate over time just like any machine, and the harder you push your PSU the more quickly that will happen. This is why overshooting the wattage significantly, even when selecting a high quality unit such as a Corsair TX or SeaSonic, is important and why you can never really have "too much wattage." You're only purchasing more reliability.

How much you want to spend on reliability for your $700 or more new computer is at your discretion, but I will advise what I've learned to be the safest guidelines.

While I myself am very active in suggesting to never overlook the PSU, if the member is already running a Radeon 5850 comfortably...think its rather safe to assume that the 7850 would be fine with the member's PSU. Plus it consumes less power than the Radeon 5850.

His PSU wasn't stated, but it's possible he could have a dying Enermax in there just waiting to go bad on him. And in fact the longer a low-quality unit is being used, the more concern I would have for its reliability.

[Melly Angelic]

Thanks for all your help. I'll visit that forum you linked for further issues. Good to know the community is helpful.

[Elisha KIng]

I'm fairly technologically impared when it comes to hardware, but after extensive research I think that my graphics card is all that's holding me back. My current "rig's" (not that I would deem it worthy of that title) specs are (I'm going to copy most of this from dxdiag):

Windows 7 64 bit OS
Intel Core i3 CPU 550 @ 3.2GHz (4 CPUs)
3072MB RAM
347GB HDD space
Intel HD Graphics card (128MB)
1920x1080 display
DirectX 11

I think that should cover everything you need to know.

I realise that a 128MB graphics card is nowhere near good enough, but if I were to replace it with this:
Sapphire 11166-02-20R HD 5450 1GB DDR3 PCIE HDMI Graphics Card

then, given the rest of my spec, would I be able to run Skyrim, and what sort of quality/FPS should I expect?

Thank you very much for your time whomever reads this and I hope to hear a response soon.

[jeremey wisor]

Does the game default to high settings even if you have a machine capable of ultra?

(Win 7 64 bit, i7 2600k, 16GB 1866 RAM, HDD 1TB (900GB free) 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache, Radeon 5870)

[Janine Rose]

I realise that a 128MB graphics card is nowhere near good enough, but if I were to replace it with this:
Sapphire 11166-02-20R HD 5450 1GB DDR3 PCIE HDMI Graphics Card

then, given the rest of my spec, would I be able to run Skyrim, and what sort of quality/FPS should I expect?

Thank you very much for your time whomever reads this and I hope to hear a response soon.

The 5450 is no good for Skyrim (or any other modern game) the rest of your system is ok but you will need a better graphics card than that.

[Frank Firefly]

I'm fairly technologically impared when it comes to hardware, but after extensive research I think that my graphics card is all that's holding me back. My current "rig's" (not that I would deem it worthy of that title) specs are (I'm going to copy most of this from dxdiag):

Windows 7 64 bit OS
Intel Core i3 CPU 550 @ 3.2GHz (4 CPUs)
3072MB RAM
347GB HDD space
Intel HD Graphics card (128MB)
1920x1080 display
DirectX 11

I think that should cover everything you need to know.

I realise that a 128MB graphics card is nowhere near good enough, but if I were to replace it with this:
Sapphire 11166-02-20R HD 5450 1GB DDR3 PCIE HDMI Graphics Card

then, given the rest of my spec, would I be able to run Skyrim, and what sort of quality/FPS should I expect?

Thank you very much for your time whomever reads this and I hope to hear a response soon.

Your GPU is the one integrated onto your i3 processor. It's designed for Windows Media player and doesn't game well

There are a lot of mid-low cost video cards that can perform Skyrim very well, but it is critical that you have a sufficient PSU (power supply unit) if you plan to upgrade. If your machine is store-bought then it almost certainly has a very low-quality PSU that an experienced builder like myself wouldn't even use in a cheap-o build for my grandma. Take a quick read through the post I made earlier for PSU information:
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1350063-unofficial-will-my-pc-run-skyrim-thread-58-w-hardware-guide/page__view__findpost__p__20589406

To best assist you, can you tell me what budget you're able to work with?

[Kara Payne]

Does the game default to high settings even if you have a machine capable of ultra?

(Win 7 64 bit, i7 2600k, 16GB 1866 RAM, HDD 1TB (900GB free) 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache, Radeon 5870)

I ask because I want to know if I'm supposed to manually switch over to Ultra or if the game really thinks that High Graphics is what I should be playing.