Help me out, will my computer run GalCiv2????

from GalCiv2 Forums
Hey all,


Sorry for the stupid post but I'm dying to play this game and I'm not sure if I need to buy a 3D card or not. Here are the specs from the sticker on my comp:

ATI radeon express 200

AMD 2.2 GHz Athlon 64 processor

512mb DDR SDRAM


From what I've read in the FAQ it seems my processor and RAM are OK but I don't know about the video card. I'm confused as to whether a "video" card and "3D" card are the same thing. Can I atleast play the game with crappy graphics and get a better card later?

This will be the first game I've bought in years (MOO2 is the only game I own) because I got rid of all my video games to concentrate on school and music but this game looks too AMAZING to pass up. It has everything a sci-fi geek like me could want. Great job Stardock!!!!!!!!

Appreciate it guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!
18,897 views 16 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I've got the same amount of RAM and less GHz and had no problems with the Beta. As for the graphics card, I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for on a quick google tour, but I don't think you'll have problems. Most (if not all?) modern gaming graphics cards are 3D I think, but maybe others will fill this gap for me.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
System Requirements:
Minimum Requirements
Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista, Pentium III 600 MHz or equivalent, 128 MB of RAM, DirectX 9.0, Compatible Video Card with 64 MB of VRAM
Recommended Requirements
Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista, Pentium 4 2GHz or equivalent, 512 MB of RAM DirectX 9.0 Compatible Video Card, with 128 MB of VRAM
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Why dont you just try if it works? otherwise by a new graphic card
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

It will probably run, but it might run in software mode so you'll get lower framerates than if you had a more powerful video card. 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
With all the recommended requirements, but a 1.86 Processor on a laptop, what settings should I use graphically (256MB graphics, 1GB RAM)
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
dude you could buy a video card thats about 50X more powerful for 50 bucks! look into it!
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Express 200 is integrated graphic so it pretty much very low end. I agree, even a $50 card is better than integrated graphic cards. I have the same card on my motherboard. This is all you need for anything but running games on your pc.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Arstal, you may need to turn off anti-aliasing if you notice that you're getting jerkiness, but other than that, you should be fine since you have lots of VRAM and system RAM. 
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
I've got a laptop with 64MB Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller.
Will it run GalCiv 2???
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks for the help guys. Guess I'll have to save up to get a decent card.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
ignuss: It should.  My wife's ThinkPad R50E has that and it works.
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Im planning on getting a new computer some time into the future...
what im trying to get is a $500-800 Computer (new).
Intel 4 Pentium HT(it comes mostly standard in Dell and alienware now)
intel's Graphics Media Acclerator 980 or somthing(integrated...)
516 RAM (want to get a 1 Gig since of the high-end games out now...)
80 GB HD(essentially standard...)
Stuff like that...im trying to get those items....
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Lowa, I would spend the extra money and get a video card that isn't integrated or you'll quickly end up with a card that can't run the latest games because Intel isn't releasing any new drivers for it. Also, RAM is very easy to upgrade so if you skimp on that, you should be able to find upgrade RAM much cheaper from a website like www.chiefvalue.com and install it yourself. Also, if you're looking for a budget gaming machine, you're better off not getting an Alienware because Alienware is inevitably overpriced.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
Okay how do I know what kind of graphics card I have? All I know is that I have an AMD Sempron Processor 2500+ 1.40 GHz, and 512 MB of RAM. Anyone help?
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
Yomish . In the Start menu click on run then type 'dxdiag' when it finish loading click on 'display' which show your graphic card infor.
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
Lowa,

Check out http://www.ibuypower.com for reasonably priced gaming machines. You can get a Athlon 64 3500+, 1gig ram, and 256MB nVidia GeForce 6600 card for $750. Free shipping, also.