Guild Wars 2

I run the game at sub-par rendering to get steady fps. The processor can become a pretty stable quad core trough core unlocking. The graphics card is integrated. Can i play the game at native rendering quality with this PC or do i need to upgrade the video card?
This are my PC’s specifications:
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate (6.01.7600)
DirectX: 9.0c + 10 + 10.1 + 11
CPU name: AMD Phenom™ II X2 555 Processor
CPU speed: 3210MHz
Memory: 3838MB
Screen size: 1440×900 (32bits)
Video card: ATI Radeon HD 4290, 384MB
Video driver: aticfx64 (Version 8.850.0.0) (Catalyst 11.5) (4-19-2011)
Audio device: Realtek High Definition Audio
Audio driver: RTKVHD64.sys (Version 6.0.1.6037) (1-29-2010)

No, u won’t 4290 is a integrated chip, it is below game system requirements so u would be lucky, to run the game at any playable frames at the lowest settings. In the other hand u can buy a pretty decent videocard this days for 100$ that will allow u to play the game at 30+ FPS at high settings, u can get a Hd 7750 or a GTX 650, those would play the game just fine. Ur processor in the other hand, i believe u will get beter performance overclocking the dual core than unlocking it to a quad core, this is because GW2 basically do not utilize the CPU cores efficiently, so overclocking the dual core tp 4ghz will give u better performance than 4 cores at 3.0ghz.

That’s all i needed to know. I’ll look at the options for video cards later. Thanks for the tip on overclocking vs unlocking for Guild Wars 2, and in fact the game does actually run super stable in questing in all zones at 22 fps with lowest rendering and High Quality on character and environment.

Dont get ur hopes up with just upgrading the vid card.

GW2 is heavily influenced by CPU.

To be blunt ..ur rig is not capable of playing GW2 with ‘playable’ fps. You will need a new one.
Dont go cheap on the CPU with GW2 ..u need a intel 2nd or 3rd gen i5/i7 ..preferably a K version for overclocks.
GPU wise u can get a cheaper gaming model for around $150 and it will play GW2 fine.

GL

SolarNova.1052:

Dont get ur hopes up with just upgrading the vid card.

His dual-core Phenom II is low-end and will really hurt in WvW, but its good enough for him to get his foot in the door in PvE with reasonable performance.

I don’t think I’d even pay $150 for a video card for this machine; since I doubt you’re using a 1080p monitor with such a system and its probably got whatever garbage power supply it shipped with, recommending anything more than a ~$100 Radeon HD 7750 would be irresponsible.

Most 7750 models require no more power than you get from the PCI-e slot and can easily handle sub-1080p resolutions at native render sampling as long as you’re gentle with the shadows and reflections.

I was more advising on what to buy in addition to a new cpu/rig.
I wouldnt recommend getting a $150 GPU for his current rig ether ..becouse it wont utilize it all.
But i also dont think upgrading just 1 part of his current rig is worth it. he really needs a new rig. that one is to outdated.

SolarNova.1052:

I was more advising on what to buy in addition to a new cpu/rig.
I wouldnt recommend getting a $150 GPU for his current rig ether ..becouse it wont utilize it all.
But i also dont think upgrading just 1 part of his current rig is worth it. he really needs a new rig. that one is to outdated.

Yeah, I agree.

I’m sorry! I didn’t mean that comment about $150 cards as a shot at you, I know you meant that as a general statement that he shouldn’t spend much and that’s absolutely correct.

The dual core phenomII at 4ghz will play the game just fine during PVE/sPVP, and not many of us are really into WvW tbh, so i wouldn’t recomend and CPU/mobo expensive upgrade unless he is really into WvW.

SolarNova.1052:

Dont get ur hopes up with just upgrading the vid card.

GW2 is heavily influenced by CPU.

To be blunt ..ur rig is not capable of playing GW2 with ‘playable’ fps. You will need a new one.
Dont go cheap on the CPU with GW2 ..u need a intel 2nd or 3rd gen i5/i7 ..preferably a K version for overclocks.

GL

I bought this PC a year and a half ago, spent about 1500$, without buying a new monitor or accessories. I have no issues with the processor, and i think it will run fine if i get native rendering and medium quality on pretty much everything in WvW.
The processor has more cache memory(around 6mb) than anything in its price range, and i can safely say it’s paid it’s price.

“I don’t think I’d even pay $150 for a video card for this machine; since I doubt you’re using a 1080p monitor with such a system and its probably got whatever garbage power supply it shipped with, recommending anything more than a ~$100 Radeon HD 7750 would be irresponsible.”

I play it at 1440×900 resolution, anything less looks weird on the wide screen. The power supply is 600W.
A 100$-150$ video card seems indeed a sensible solution, but i’ll need to read more up on it before i buy one.