Gears of War

Alright I want to buy Gears of War soon when it comes out. What exactly will I need to run it? Here's what my computer is...

4 CPU 2.80 GHz
2.79 GHz, 504 MB of RAM

What would I need to run this game and how much will it cost in total to get all the things needed to play the game?

Thanks.

 

This is way too vague a question. For one, you didn't mention what type of CPU you have, though I assume it's a Pentium 4. Furthermore, it would be my guess, based on the "504MB of RAM figure" you have 512MB of RAM and Intel integrated graphics, though you haven't mentioned your GPU specifically. If you're talking about a laptop, you haven't got a snowball's chance in hell of playing Gears of War on it - the GMA 900 (or Intel Extreme, or S3 Unichrome, or whatever you have) is terrible beyond words, and can't even cope with several-year-old games, much less upcoming ones. If you could tell us what your GPU is, what OS you're running, whether it's a laptop or a desktop, how many open slots you have if it is a desktop, etc. we could help you, though let me caution you that any way you go about it you're looking at a pretty penny.

 

Is there a demo out for it? I would test out the demo before buying the actual game.

I hope they do a good job porting the game to PC (compared to Halo series). Halo required good gaming rigs to be able to play them on PC. Lets hope its not like that for Gears of War for PC.

 

I'm sorry, I really don't know much about computers at all. I just loved Gears of War and since it's coming out for the computer I thought I'd ask if I knew what I needed to run on my computer.

This is a desktop that I'm talking about running it on. I don't know how to find out what my GPU is either, but my guess it's not good at all.

Right now I'm running XP, but I can get Vista if that will help out a lot, and if it's really needed.

Not sure how many open slots I have open, how would I find that out?

Sorry again about the vagueness, I just really don't know about mine or any computers at all...

 

Start -> Run -> "dxdiag" (no quotes). On the "Display" tab it will list your GPU.

Getting Vista will most definitely not help. First, you need to literally quadruple your RAM. You also need to find out how large your power supply is and if you have any open graphics expansion slots. The only way to do these, really, is to open up your case and look. The PSU's wattage and amperage should be on the side. If you have a PCI-E slot, it'll be a long black slot at the top of the regular, tan PCI slots that is set back further. AGP slots are usually brown and are set back differently. Either one will be labeled, most likely, so check the little writing around the slots. Also, see how your RAM is installed (eg, 1x 512MB stick, 2x 256MB sticks, 4x 128MB sticks) and how many free slots you have.

Chances are your power supply isn't sufficient to support the type of GPU Gears of War would need to run well and look nice. You definitely need a lot more RAM. And you need a new GPU, since I'm assuming you have Intel integrated. So here's a quick breakdown of pricing:

Nice new 550 watt PSU - $60
2GB DDR2 RAM - $100 (assuming a. you use DDR2 and b. your existing configuration is such that you need two new sticks)
GeForce 8600GT - $150
- or, if you can afford it:
GeForce 8800GTS 320MB - $290

Total cost: $310 - $450

And no matter what you do, that P4 is going to hold you back. But with the 8600GT and 2GB of RAM, you should be able to pull off acceptable framerates at 1024x768, medium settings.

 

Alright thank you. Really expensive stuff...it'd probably be cheaper to just buy a 360 huh?

 

Haha...yes, it would be. High end PC gaming is costly. A lower end PC capable of running Gears is basically the same as a 360. Furthermore due to Microsoft's involvement, you're likely to see many PC games share 360 support such as Medal of Honor: Airborne and Bioshock.

 

yeah man just get a 360, it's not a bad thing trust me.

i have both and use both a lot so i don't favor one or the other but you won't be disappointed by the graphics on a 360, esp paired with an HDTV or PC monitor.

 

From the sound of it, you would need a completely new computer, well not need but it would make the most sense.


Otherwise if you have an HDTV or a Monitor that can accept HD cables or the VGA cables for the 360, you would be better off doing that. Otherwise you'd have to buy a nice a HDTC so you'd be spending 1000$+- either way.

 

Yeah I figured I would have to spend a lot for a new PC. I'm not going to do it...I really only want Gears of War, no other games really. See the thing is my friend has a 360, and pretty much it stays at my house because I have a HDTV in my room. I really just wanted to buy the game so I can play it on my PC when he's playing it on his 360 so we'd both be able to play Ranked Matches without having to take turns. All that money though, for one game, wouldn't be worth it.

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

Go for the 360. Gears of War on the 360 plus HDTV will make you want to SLAP YO MAMA! It doesn't have the same "feel" as PC gaming but it's worth it. Also Halo 3 came out and HL2:Orange Box will be released next Tuesday for the 360, not to mention Oblivion: GOTY. Make sure you get a 360 with the HD though if you really want to enjoy it.

 

Gears on PC = Higher Resolution (and maybe DX10 support? not sure about that part).

Of course, you will need a high end computer to support it beyond 1080 vertical. A 360 is far cheaper.

 

Lol I've already played 360 on a HDTV. Really awesome. See though I'm not into Halo or Half Life, etc. just Gears really so I just wanted the one game for my PC, so I wouldn't have to go out and buy a 360 for one game...

 

I don't think it would work how you want it to work. For example if you mean you can play against or with him cross-platform, I don't believe that is possible. Gears, if I remember right, is not a "games for windows" product, and also I don't know of any games out right now that currently allow PC players to play against 360 players. If there are some, they would be very few.

You might just want to get a second xbox and set it up there or perhaps set up a split screen which you might be able to do in unranked matches.

 

Gears of War on pc will make use of DX10 I believe.

 

Actually there is a game out that allows PC players to play 360 players. I don't remember which one it was but I remember hearing about it on X-play. I think it may have been Shadowrun but I could be wrong about that.

 

Yea I was thinking Shadowrun too. Definitely only a few games at best though, and I don't think Gears of War is one of them.

Now just imagine buying a high-end PC only to learn you can't play cross-platform That would be bad.

 

No I know you can't play players on Xbox Live, it's already been confirmed. I'd just like to be able to play ranked while he's playing ranked and not have to do a split screen. It would be much cheaper to just get Gears PC for $60 then 360 for $400, Gears $60 and Live for $50. But since I know my PC wouldn't be able to handle Gears on PC, it'd be cheaper to get a 360. That's too much money though...I might have to wait till 360 drops in price or something.

 

You might be able to find one for $250 or so. How much is the core version going for now? I think your pricing is the elite one.

 

Looking...The Premium is $350, forgot that it dropped in price. The Elite is $450. Still pretty expensive for the Premium since I have a PS3 already.

 

Just FYI, PC gaming isn't nearly as expensive as people make it out to be. You can get Dell's XPS 410 in the outlet for around $400, and add a high end GPU to it for maybe $250 (or an 8600GTS series for half that), and you'll end up with something more a lot more powerful than a 360. That's not to say getting a console is a bad option either, just that it's a myth you need some kind of crazy $3000 PC to run games well.

Also note that the PC version of Gears of War is being graphically upgraded significantly over the already impressive 360 version. (Note that Vista wouldn't help it graphically since it doesn't support Direct X 10.)