[Lucky Boy]

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.

The game suggests what it thinks you should be using but gets it totally wrong.

It defaulted to medium on my pc so I changed it to 1080p on ultra and I average 30-50 fps depending on where I am with occasional dips to around 25 fps.(rarely happens).

[Ashley Clifft]

Does it ever default to Ultra? Skyrim doesn't demand much of my computer, not even on ultra (which I tried last night without any problem), so I can't see why it wouldn't have defaulted if my computer is currently a beast of a machine on today's market.

[Philip Lyon]

Does it ever default to Ultra? Skyrim doesn't demand much of my computer, not even on ultra (which I tried last night without any problem), so I can't see why it wouldn't have defaulted if my computer is currently a beast of a machine on today's market.

All Bethesda games have always gotten defaults wrong. It actually said once that I could max Fallout 3. On my dual core and 6670? I dont think so!

[Queen Bitch]

Interesting, thanks for the info.

[jodie]

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?

Ideally I'd like to keep it under ￡100 but I could go up to ￡150 at a push.

[Dawn Farrell]

If you're a UK buyer, this is a great PSU/GPU pair that can perform Skyrim well and reliaby:

http://www.dabs.com/products/sapphire-technology-ati-radeon-7750-hd-800mhz-1gb-pci-express-3-0-hdmi-7YHM.html?q=7750&src=http://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1350063-unofficial-will-my-pc-run-skyrim-thread-58-w-hardware-guide/16
http://www.dabs.com/products/xfx-550-watt-core-edition-full-wired-80--bronze-psu-7NSW.html?refs=55420000-50544&src=http://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1350063-unofficial-will-my-pc-run-skyrim-thread-58-w-hardware-guide/3

The 7770 is a little more but worth it if you want to raise the budget:
http://www.dabs.com/products/xfx-ati-radeon-7770-hd-1ghz-1gb-pci-express-3-0-hdmi-core-7YH2.html?q=7770&src=http://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1350063-unofficial-will-my-pc-run-skyrim-thread-58-w-hardware-guide/16

I wouldn't get any cheaper of a PSU btw. That 550w is about the cheapest PSU I would be willing to trust with a modern video card.

[Celestine Stardust]

Was told to come here for help. Heres my original post
Hello there community, I have been playing this game on the 360 since its release and its starting to bore me as i patiently wait for DLC to come. I am thinking of joing the PC community because of the mods that will shed a whole new experience on my skyrim adventure. Im not too computer smart on specs and everything so im a asking the community for help.

Here are my specs

• OS. Windows Vista Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002)
  
• System Model: Inspiron 530
  
• BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBios v6.00PG
  
• Processor: Intel? Core?2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz (4CPUs), ~2.4GHz
  
• DirectX Version: DirectX 11

i think thats all the specs i should put, but like i said im not too computer smart. Any tips or help will much be appreciated.

[Lexy Dick]

Need to know what your video card and/or GPU are before we can tell you anything.

And RAM.

[Jake Easom]

Need to know what your video card and/or GPU are before we can tell you anything.

And RAM.

Intel® G33/G31 Express Chipset Family
Ram:6132 MB

[Nana Samboy]

Intel? G33/G31 Express Chipset Family
Ram:6132 MB

On a 32-bit OS, which I'm assuming you've got since it's not specified, ~4 GB of your RAM is wasted. Also, that chip can't run much of anything.

[Richard Thompson]

On a 32-bit OS, which I'm assuming you've got since it's not specified, ~4 GB of your RAM is wasted. Also, that chip can't run much of anything.

Any help on what type of chip to buy to upgrade my pc? Preferrably a decent price theres no need to [censored] my bank account for a badass chip

[Amy Gibson]

Any help on what type of chip to buy to upgrade my pc? Preferrably a decent price theres no need to [censored] my bank account for a badass chip

Depends on what you define as "decent price", to be honest.

[Sophie Miller]

0-$500 price range which i assume is on the bottom on the totem pole of graphics cards

[Jamie Moysey]

0-$500 price range which i assume is on the bottom on the totem pole of graphics cards

0 - $500?

That just about covers all cards you could possibly get. Though, you'll need a good PSU, so the budget would drop to ~$380ish give or take.

Personally, I'm torn between a GTX 560 Ti 2 GB edition and the GTX 560 Ti with 448 cores but less VRAM. I recommend either one of those with a Corsair PSU that, preferably, exceeds the recommended wattage of the cards.

However, that's assuming it will fit in your case. Prebuilts are notoriously small.

Edit:

Also, make sure you're using a 64-bit OS. Preferably, Windows 7 as it handles memory better than Vista.

[Lucky Girl]

Processor: Intel Core i7-2670QM processor 2.2 GHZ (6 MB Cache) (2.9 GHZ Turboboosted, Quad-Core)
GPU: NVIDIA? GeForce? GT555M Discrete Graphics
RAM: 6GB DDR3 memory
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit

Any help would be awesome

[http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Ideapad-08623TU-15-6-Inch-Laptop/dp/B006M9ZW0Q/ref=sr_1_2?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1334544292&sr=1-2]

[Charity Hughes]

Was told to come here for help. Heres my original post
Hello there community, I have been playing this game on the 360 since its release and its starting to bore me as i patiently wait for DLC to come. I am thinking of joing the PC community because of the mods that will shed a whole new experience on my skyrim adventure. Im not too computer smart on specs and everything so im a asking the community for help.

Here are my specs

• OS. Windows Vista Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002)
  
• System Model: Inspiron 530
  
• BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBios v6.00PG
  
• Processor: Intel? Core?2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz (4CPUs), ~2.4GHz
  
• DirectX Version: DirectX 11

i think thats all the specs i should put, but like i said im not too computer smart. Any tips or help will much be appreciated.

Your store-bought computer (OEM) comes with a low-quality PSU that must be upgraded if you intend to purchase a video card (which is normal for OEM machines).

Your $500 budget is much more than you need. If you go any higher you might as well just build a new computer!

It's highly recommended that you only purchase a high-quality, dependable PSU. You don't want to risk having problems with your new video card. Here's an excellent PSU/GPU combo that fits in your budget comfortably:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125419

The 7850 can handle Skyrim on Ultra with ease. You may experience some CPU and/or RAM bottlenecking, however. You can replace those with time.

One last thing - your case may be too small for any upgrades. OEM machines are not designed to be customized. You will most likely need to replace the case. Here's an inexpensive but highly recommended Cooler Master case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227

You're better off getting a case with good ventilation anyway. Video cards can get pretty warm. And don't worry, it's not actually all that hard to move everything into a new case. It's a lot of work, but as long as you take the necessary precautions of avoiding static shock and working in clean conditions you should be fine. There are dozens of excellent youtube videos to guide you through the building process.

[Joanne Crump]

• Intel? Core? i7-3820 Processor
  
• 8GB DDR3-PC1600 RAM
  
• NVIDIA GTX570 1.2GB Video
  
• Gigabyte X79 USB3 & SATA3 MB
  
• 2TB SATA3 7200 RPM HD
  
• 24X DVD+-R/+-RW Drive
  
• NZXT Tempest 210 Mid-Tower Gaming Case

would this work to run skyrim and some mods?
thanks!
Oh, and it is called the mega special iv if that helps.

[Cedric Pearson]

You'll be fine as long as you're using a 64-bit OS, methinks.

[Lizbeth Ruiz]

So what are the absolute minimum specs to be able to boot up the game?

[Ernesto Salinas]

• Intel? Core? i7-3820 Processor
  
• 8GB DDR3-PC1600 RAM
  
• NVIDIA GTX570 1.2GB Video
  
• Gigabyte X79 USB3 & SATA3 MB
  
• 2TB SATA3 7200 RPM HD
  
• 24X DVD+-R/+-RW Drive
  
• NZXT Tempest 210 Mid-Tower Gaming Case

would this work to run skyrim and some mods?
thanks!
Oh, and it is called the mega special iv if that helps.

It would work extremely well, but that processor is far and beyond overkill. An i5-2500k is even overkill. My CPU is only $125 and I max the game out with constant 40+ fps.

The most wasteful spending in that build is the x79 motherboard. You can get a high-quality ASUS or Gigabyte z68 with all the features you need for less than $150.

Most importantly, you did not list the power supply. The PSU is the most important part of a gaming computer. If you're going to sink that much money into high-performance components, it would be very unwise to pay little attention to the quality of the PSU you select. Feel free to ask about any PSU you're thinking about buying.

EDIT: if that is a pre-built computer you're looking at, I would advise you stray from it. Pre-built computers rarely come with quality component selection. It would be much wiser to build custom and ask online for guidance in the process.

So what are the absolute minimum specs to be able to boot up the game?

I couldn't tell you for sure, but it's probably around Bethesda's listed requirements. If you're interested in building a new computer, you could build something capable of running the game decently on low-medium for about $400 using one of AMD's new "Llano" processors. Their integrated GPUs are good enough to game on without buying a video card.

[anna ley]

All Bethesda games have always gotten defaults wrong. It actually said once that I could max Fallout 3. On my dual core and 6670? I dont think so!

And skyrim says my GPU can only run on medium. Yea right, I set on ultra and it goes for 30-60 fps in cities and outside.
Maybe Skyrim did not detect the ati Powerplay feature, because without it, skyrim barely runs on Ultra/High. With it, Killer GPU.

@the dragon slayer, i wont be going for the absolute minimum, because after skyrim there is a high chance you might want to play other games. Often these games are new and require the latest cpu/gpu etc. I say aim for High-end rigs.
If you are looking to buy a prebuilt computer, stay away from HP/dell/Acer. I recommend not buying one, since all of them come with junk and garbage software that you dont really need, not to mention the specs are not that good yet the price is a ripoff.

Remember for computers, look for quality, not the money. Would you rather have a $400 HP laptop that can run the latest games extremely well, but suffer serious issues and crap assistant supports and the laptop dies after 3 weeks due to overheating, or a $1500 Laptop that runs cool and rarely or never comes with hardware issues, even though it isnt as powerful as the $400 one?

[Bitter End]

I just upgraded to a AMD HD 7850 which only works with Catalyst 12.3.

When i run skyrim i get this (refailed to initialize renderer) And in skyrim display options where is nothing under (Resolution).

I have spent a hole night looking on every forum look for a fix and found zip.
Every other game on my PC works fine, Only Skyrim is the problem.

I can't beleve if i want to play skyrim i will have to put my old card back in....This svcks

OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
Version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
System Manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel® Core™ i7-2700K CPU @ 3.50GHz, 3801 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 8.00 GB

[k a t e]

I just upgraded to a AMD HD 7850 which only works with Catalyst 12.3.

When i run skyrim i get this (refailed to initialize renderer) And in skyrim display options where is nothing under (Resolution).

I have spent a hole night looking on every forum look for a fix and found zip.
Every other game on my PC works fine, Only Skyrim is the problem.

I can't beleve if i want to play skyrim i will have to put my old card back in....This svcks

OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
Version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
System Manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel? Core? i7-2700K CPU @ 3.50GHz, 3801 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 8.00 GB

Wrong thread, man. This thread is to see how well it'll run, not for general support.

[Misty lt]

I just upgraded to a AMD HD 7850 which only works with Catalyst 12.3.

When i run skyrim i get this (refailed to initialize renderer) And in skyrim display options where is nothing under (Resolution).

I have spent a hole night looking on every forum look for a fix and found zip.
Every other game on my PC works fine, Only Skyrim is the problem.

I can't beleve if i want to play skyrim i will have to put my old card back in....This svcks

OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
Version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
System Manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel? Core? i7-2700K CPU @ 3.50GHz, 3801 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 8.00 GB

That's weird, the 7850 is supposed to be an excellent Skyrim performer.
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/AMD-Radeon-HD-7870-2GB-and-HD-7850-2GB-Pitcairn-Review/Elder-Scrolls-V-Skyr-0

Try deleting skyrimprefs.ini and starting up the game.

[Ymani Hood]

Just got this machine a week ago, want to know how well it'd run Skyrim.

CPU: Intel Core i7-2600 @3.4 GHz (four cores)
GPU: AMD Radeon HD 6670 1GB GDDR5
HDD: 1TB @7200RPM
RAM: 8GB DDR3 Dual-channel