What Should I Upgrade?

Hey guys, I'm looking to run SC2 on the lowest settings with a consistent 60fps (roughly). With my current setup I start at 20-30, down to 1-10 late game. I was wondering what I should upgrade to get a solid 60fps on the lowest settings. Here is my current specs:

OS: Vista Home Premium 6.0
Processor: Intel Pentium Dual CPU E2200 @ 2.20GHz (2CPUs), 2.2GHz
Memory: 2046MB RAM

NVIDI GeForce 7300 LE
889MB
1024x768 (32 bit) (60Hz)

I don't know much about computer specs, if you need anything else just let me know and Ill do my best to find it.

Thanks.

MisterFred United States. June 14 2012 12:39. Posts 1815

Profile #

SC2, particularly if you don't mind playing on lowest graphics settings, is almost wholly dependent on CPU power. Also, it can't use more than 2 cores, so speed per-core is at a premium. Moreover, in end-game fights and particularly in team games, basically anytime there's a ton of units on the screen, hundreds of zerglings or whatever, even the fastest processors on the market will slow down somewhat. So you can't really count on a consistent 60 fps no matter what CPU you get. However, any modern Intel CPU will play the game smoothly in 1v1s & 2v2s, and will have only moderate slowdowns even in late game 3v3 & 4v4 scenarios.

What CPU you get depends largely on budget. A pentium g840 or thereabouts + a cheap H61 board + 4gb of RAM will run you about $160. An unlocked quad-core suitable for overclocking & a decent mobo, etc., could run you a little 2-3 times as much.

And if you want to run the game on maximum graphics settings, you should get something like a 6770 for your video card (unless you also play other games where you want more oomph - non-Blizzard games tend to be much more demanding on GPU). That should be enough to run everything on ultra no problem. But again, that's less important than CPU.

"The victor? Not the highest scoring, nor the best strategist, nor the best tactitian. The victor was he that was closest to the Tao of FFA." -.Praetor

iTzSnypah United States. June 14 2012 14:06. Posts 1212

Profile Blog #

A Pentium G620+H61 board is only ~115$ and is probably better. The recommended requirements for SC2 is a 2.4Ghz Dual-Core and this was a generation ago. An extra 500Mhz that the G850 provides over the G620 just isn't worth it considering the i3-2100.

Team Liquid needs more Terrans.

Dymond Canada. June 15 2012 07:11. Posts 132

Profile #

So http://ncix.com/products/?sku=61144this is what I need to run 1v1's around (I guess starting at, as long as there is no huge spikes during late game) 60fps on lowest possible settings?

Wabbit United States. June 16 2012 00:06. Posts 1003

Profile #

On June 15 2012 07:11 Dymond wrote:
So http://ncix.com/products/?sku=61144this is what I need to run 1v1's around (I guess starting at, as long as there is no huge spikes during late game) 60fps on lowest possible settings?

Yes, as MisterFred explained so well, you can run the game very smoothly at lowest settings starting with that CPU. And even its integrated graphics will help a bit as it is better than your current GeForce 7300 LE.

It WILL still drop below 60 FPS in big battles, but nowhere nearly as much as with your E2200. Maybe to ~30-40 if you play on lowest, but it's still very playable and easy to micro.

If you want guaranteed 60+ FPS in 1v1's, you need to spend at least $400 to get an i5 2500K or 3570K and overclock it extremely high. Even then, I think it'll still hit 50s

Last edit: 2012-06-16 00:09:18

[QUOTE][B]On July 29 2011 13:35 R1CH wrote:[/B] 575W PSU for $25? ಠ_ಠ[/QUOTE]

ILOVEWAR Netherlands. June 16 2012 00:39. Posts 63

Profile #

you need at least 30 fps...
even with my demi-godlike E3-1230... i have lag in HUGE fights. (4z v 4z)...

Just get a normal cpu (i3/X4), and some ram (4-8gb) and 100 euro/bucks gpu. And besides GF 7300LE with a E2200 is dinosaur already

If you dont like war, go play tetris...

Dymond Canada. June 16 2012 05:12. Posts 132

Profile #

On June 16 2012 00:06 Wabbit wrote:

Show nested quote +

Integrated graphics, does that mean it comes with a new graphics card? Yeah, 30-40 is definitely alright, I can barely hit that right now, even in 800x600 res playing toss

Wabbit United States. June 16 2012 05:24. Posts 1003

Profile #

LGA 1155 CPU's have a graphics processor also in their silicon die. Most LGA 1155 boards can use that (those with the following chipsets: H61, H67, B75, H77, Z68, Z77). It'll be noticeably better than the graphics chip that is currently integrated into your motherboard.

EDIT: Here's what the CPU silicon die looks like: http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2011/01/intel-sandy-bridge-review/sandy-bridge-die-map.jpg

EDIT #2: And 30-40 FPS would be minimum in big battles; most of the time you should be around 60.

Last edit: 2012-06-16 05:30:44

[QUOTE][B]On July 29 2011 13:35 R1CH wrote:[/B] 575W PSU for $25? ಠ_ಠ[/QUOTE]

MisterFred United States. June 16 2012 05:25. Posts 1815

Profile #

Integrated graphics is graphics card-like ability in the CPU itself. Basically the CPU has a crappy graphics card attached to it so you can run the computer without adding a graphics card in at all. You can also, of course, add a real (discrete) graphics card and use that instead. You plug the monitor into the motherboard connection for the on-board integrated graphics or plug it into the graphics card connection for using a discrete card. You'll probably just use the integrated. Wabbit tells us it's a little better than your current card.

Speaking of which, make sure the H61 motherboard you buy has the right connector for your monitor (probably DVI), otherwise you'll have nowhere to plug it in!

By the way, you can get a g630 for $66 at canada computers, and since all the canadian retailers price match with each other, no reason to pay $80 for the g620 you linked.
http://canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=4_65&item_id=20039Q

Last edit: 2012-06-16 05:27:31

"The victor? Not the highest scoring, nor the best strategist, nor the best tactitian. The victor was he that was closest to the Tao of FFA." -.Praetor

Please log in or register to reply.