Can You Really Run It?

Joseph Plazo | May 06, 2009 | Comments


Played something cool like Left For Dead? How about Far Cry?lfd

I like visiting  the PC stores to buy games. The games are not always for me, mind you. Often, they’re for my cousins or friends. Giving the gift of games is almost guaranteed to elicit a wide smile. (In contrast, try gifting someone with Encarta)

It’s imperative for game buyers like myself to consult the minimum system specs required for potential software. This tends to minimize dissatisfaction. Nothing can be more frustrating than installing a$49 game and finding it unplayable. Now this tact worked for awhile until game manufacturers started lowering the stated system specs on the boxes.  They’d rate their game as playable on, say a P4 2Ghz instead of a Core2Due 2Ghz. That’s a world of difference. Try running the latest iteration of C&C  on a P4 and you”ll see what happens.

I suspect that this calculated move is designed to draw in more buyers. Not everyone has high end PCs. A lot do own midline units, however. Sell the game to these midline owners and you got chachings at the cash register!

More than once, I’ve been had by misleading spec requirements. I bought software that made it appear the target PC not only exceeded minimum mark, but rested in the waters of “Recommended capabilities” It gets  worse when store clerks are less than happy to accept a returned game. Some have the nerve to even point to a “No return No exchange sign”.

These days I no longer refer to system specs that are self-serving. The numbers there are meaningless. Instead I mosey over to The System Requirements Lab (http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest). Here is one totally free site that evaluates your PC in real time and informs you whether it can run a specific game of choice.  In just seconds, it tests your processor speed, system memory and video capabilities. The output is a concise recommendation: the game can be/cannot be played.

Try it. You’ll save cash on your next purchase!


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About the Author: Joseph Plazo is a recognized persuasion expert ... but can't persuade his business partners and clients to leave him alone.He is the author, co-author or creator of several best-selling persuasion, attraction and influence resources. You simply can't be persuaded to miss out on his massive library of free Mind Power downloads.

  • I got caught out by this so many times with my old PC, I'd spend ages installing a game and then sit there as it ran at snails pace or told me I didn't have sufficient system requirements to finish installation - v annoying!

    I learnt tho and bought a faster PC but I still check the system requirements on the back of the box like a religion!
  • Is there a way to check my system specs without using a website? I need to know if my computer can run a video game:-P
  • I don't game much anymore (kids) but I would think the specs on the game box should tell you if you can run it.
    I would guess that this could really be an issue during a windows launch since each new operating system always seems to require a new computer to handle it.
  • Not really a game but a fun app where users create their own videos from dubbing two youtube videos together.

    http://ytdub.com
  • That's a good site.

    I used to have this problem but nowadays I find that my computer can run almost all the games I want it to, though maybe not at the highest specifications but gameplay is more important to me than graphics.
  • I believe it would be a great help to those PC games buyers. I am going to buy a pc game for my nephew though. Thanks for the links.
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