What exactly mean minimal system req?

[necudo]

So what kind of resolution/detail can i expect on minimal sys.req.?
Does it mean i can only play on lowest 640*480 on lowest detail or possibly 1024*768 medium settings?

*Probably every game is unique,but i mean just on average game.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

It means low settings in game and lowest resolution listed on the box.
I wish MS would do something with the experience index. They'd be the perfect company to finally set a performance number, they just don't seem interested in doing it.

 

[necudo]

Well,for example, new Tomb Raider2013 minimal req. is 8600gt and i've seen many people on youtube playing on 720p resolution.medium details? And also many other games like far cry 3 etc.

 

[BrightCandle]

The companies rarely specify what they mean with minimum spec. In my experience it often means 30fps at 720p like resolutions but there is no standard and if they don't list details in the spec you can't tell until you get the game.

 

[aigomorla]

i thought min spec was the machine the devs would use to run the first alpha on with min settings.

Well,for example, new Tomb Raider2013 minimal req. is 8600gt and i've seen many people on youtube playing on 720p resolution.medium details? And also many other games like far cry 3 etc.

face palm...

at least turn the hair on correct.
The game looks so much better when lara's hair is realisitic and not some one massive polygon uniform moving shit.

 

[moonbogg]

Min req means the game will load, but not much else. To get proper performance, I have learned that you generally need twice the power of the recommended req.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Minimum specs mean different things for different games. Some mean that you should be able to play the game at a reasonable resolution but with all settings turned down; others (Empire Total War, I'm looking at you) mean that you can load the opening cinematics but the game crashes when you try to actually load a level.

 

[Smartazz]

Minimum specs mean different things for different games. Some mean that you should be able to play the game at a reasonable resolution but with all settings turned down; others (Empire Total War, I'm looking at you) mean that you can load the opening cinematics but the game crashes when you try to actually load a level.

That seems like borderline false advertising. I don't try to game near minimum requirements, but I'm sure some people do.

 

[Attic]

It's somewhat unique to each game, but minimum system requirements are best looked at as being to low to enjoy the game. To enjoy the game the system should be close to recommended system requirements.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I think the min spec for graphics is probably more relevant to being able to run the game than cpu, at least in some RPGs. I think it was one of the Gothic games, min cpu requirement was 2.6 while mine was only 2.2 and the game ran quite well.

I do feel that you can run most games below min requirements, although it wont be a great experience. I had a 9800gt with an E4500, and actually there were several other games that had a min cpu requirement faster than mine and I still played them.