Will I be able to run Skyrim? Lend me your knowledge! heh

[Zodzilla]

Hey you guys! I'd like an opinion from yall about what kinds of things I may need to upgrade in order to run Skyrim this november. Preferably on very high or max.

My specs right now are as follows:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @2.4 ghz
3gb ram
Windows 7 64 bit
Nvidia GeForce 9600 GT
1680 x 1050 resolution Monitor

I'm hoping the processor will be okay, I honestly don't have a clue on how to replace that. I have a feeling I'll need more ram and a different graphics card though.

On a somewhat related note, how difficult / expensive is it to change a fan in my PC? I have a feeling that the grinding sound it's giving off is not a good sign, heh

 

[zerocool84]

First we need to know what resolution you plan on running it at. To max it then yes you will probably need to upgrade but you need to wait until the game is released to know what you need to run it well.

 

[Zodzilla]

First we need to know what resolution you plan on running it at. To max it then yes you will probably need to upgrade but you need to wait until the game is released to know what you need to run it well.

Oh! I didn't think of including that. 1680 x 1050 is my monitors resolution, so hopefully that. I'll edit that into the OP

 

[SergeC]

The video card is the only thing you'd conceivably need to upgrade to run it at good detail at that resolution.

 

[Zodzilla]

The video card is the only thing you'd conceivably need to upgrade to run it at good detail at that resolution.

Thanks You've probably saved me a lot of money, had it all set in my mind I'd need to buy a whole new PC.

 

[SZLiao214]

It would also help greatly if you overclocked your cpu. I had the G0 stepping or whatever the newer one was and was able to run at 3.6ghz. The difference in performance was huge.

 

[KaOTiK]

Just get a new video card as the others mentioned, that is your only real weak link.

 

[Zodzilla]

Thanks guys

 

[OCNewbie]

Generally speaking, finding a better way to cool your CPU will not in any way require you to get a new power supply. You'd just need to find a good aftermarket heatsink/fan unit, hopefully on sale, that will be up to the task of nullifying the extra heat an overclocked CPU (especially yours) will produce. Will also depend if your motherboard is overclocking friendly or not. Hopefully it shouldn't cost you more than $20-25 for a nice cooler, and if all goes well, you'll get anywhere from a 33-50% boost in processing speed.

 

[Arkaign]

Btw, just put the $$$ aside, don't buy the videocard now. Wait until around a week before Skyrim due date is (make sure it's not getting pushed back), and get the best thing you can get for your $$. Eg; $150 right now might get you a 1GB 6850 or used 5870 or nice GTX460 or whatever, but in 5 months it might get something notably better. Perhaps a used 2GB 6950 or a GTX570 or something. Or a newer midrange card from either Nvidia or ATI (GTX6xx or AMD 7XXX series).

 

[Cheesetogo]

Btw, just put the $$$ aside, don't buy the videocard now. Wait until around a week before Skyrim due date is (make sure it's not getting pushed back), and get the best thing you can get for your $$. Eg; $150 right now might get you a 1GB 6850 or used 5870 or nice GTX460 or whatever, but in 5 months it might get something notably better. Perhaps a used 2GB 6950 or a GTX570 or something. Or a newer midrange card from either Nvidia or ATI (GTX6xx or AMD 7XXX series).

Yeah, you definitely don't want to buy anything now. By the time Skyrim is out, there will probably be newer stuff, and the current cards will most likely be a fair amount cheaper.

 

[shenglong]

hey i have a similar ish spec too

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 @ 3.0 ghz
6gb ram
Windows 7 64 bit
Nvidia GeForce 9600 GT
1920 x 1080 resolution Monitor
vector 2 60gb ssd

im going to do exactly like Arkaign said and wait just after/before release of skyrim to purchase a new gfx card ! really hoping for a 6950 at about £100 ish range as i heard they can be unlocked to perform similarly to a 6970 woot ! current price for 6950 is still £200 ish tho hmm, 100£ drop in 2 months ? wisful thinking perhaps lol


btw does anyone know about seasonal graphics card price drop times ? like before xmas or after or when new ones come out etc etc ? my usual method of ideal timing to buy is when a midrange gfx card has come out then the top class one is about to be released and when it releases prices are sorta restructured.....e.g. i waited for the 9800 to roll out before i bought the 9600 gt for only £99 and its done really well since march 2008 !

or do people just buy at a certain price range ? i used to previously do that where i always bought cpu at £200 + gfx card at £200, hdd at £100, memory at £50... i still get the constant urge to get a £200 gfx card tho haha even tho the £99 mid range far exceeded my expectations

 

[thespyder]

So I have the same question.

My current rig is

Core 2 Duo 2.40 GHz
4. GB Ram
Windows 7
DX 11
NVidia GeForce GTX 460

I am guessing the 460 won't be a problem, but the CPU might. What do you all think?