Does my computer limit what games I can play?

I have a Vostro 1500 with the following specs:

> T5470 Core 2 Duo processor

> 2 GB memory

> 120 G 5400RPM hard drive

> Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 graphics card

I know I am maybe somewhat limited since the graphics card is low end. What type of games would not work well with this system?

On a tangent, can I play games with a S-video connection to a television. If not an S-video connection, is there another connection I can use.

IS

 

Yes you are very limited. You gpu is integrated and weak for today's games.

Anything released 1+ years ago you might be able to play at low-medium settings. But anything released in the past year you'll barely be able to play even at the lowest of settings.

 

You probably won't be able to play MOST new-gen games on anything but ultra-low settings (for example, Bioshock would make your system cry like a 3-year-old girl who had just fallen and skinned her knee after having her lollipop stolen by a man who told her that her mommy kills babes for fun and her daddy likes strangling kittens). You can, however, play games using the S-video connection. The best way to do it is to set the display to clone mode, even though that will make the laptop display VERY ugly.

 

It is actually my Aunt's computer. She doesn't need to play any graphic intensive games. Is there anything I should look for in the requirements listed by a game that would make it a red flag to avoid? Or what should I look for in the requirments that I would know it is compatable?

KLA

 

Most games do not even list Intel cards as being supported...they are that weak.

If you want to get an idea of if something will work, Intel (should) still maintain a Games Compatibility List on their website. You can check that too.

Or, you can ask here...

 

We got a hold of a Mario Brothers PC game that a novice programmer created. The graphics are not sharp at all. I thought it was just the game itself. Is it possible that if we had a better graphics card, the graphics would look better?

KLA

 

If the game was coded to have multiple graphics settings (if there is an option to change settings), then yes, a better graphics card would make a difference. If not, well then you're stuck with bad graphics.

 

Try this website. Select a game and click the button to see if you can run a specific game.
http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest

 

Thanks.

KLA

 

Also, be sure to have the lastest drivers. They unlock the hardware lightning transformations & pixel shader (so you can play DX8.1 & 9.0C games) on the X3100.

The next drivers is supposed to unlock DX10 on it

 

Esoteric for me. Right now, that website above says I can't play Madden '08. Will those updated drivers give me the minimum requirement to play the game.

KLA

 

Most RTS games should play fine on it. Older FPS's like Tomb Raider Anniversary (not real old, but ran well on ATI Xpress 1100), Far Cry, any Source Games (i.e. Half-Life 2).

 

Far Cry will probably have to be run on low spec. Source games, though, are nicely scaleable enough to run on MOST hardware.

 

Listen listen....if a graphic card is integrated and weak....can u using S-video connection make any difference?

 

Well, since s-video is so low res, forcing it to display through an S-Video output (if you can disable the primary laptop display) might help the frame rate, but it's easier to just drop your notebook's res to 800x600 or 1024x768

 

I'm tangent! And yes, thats gunna be limited to older games.

 

you might find something that she likes at www.reflexive.com

most games listed there are light on system requirement, but pretty good.