Can I run Crysis well on this setup?

I need to buy a new PC, mainly for gaming. I really want to be able to run Crysis on Very High, these are the specs:

Intel Q9400 2.66Ghz Quad Core, 4GB RAM, 1GB GTX 280 graphics.

Will this be able to run it on very high? I know it won't manage it on 1920x1200, and with AA on high and stuff, but at lower res. will it manage it at a comfortable frame rate? (Just looking for an estimate, I know there's no calculations to these things)

If not, what do I need to upgrade to get a higher performance? Thanks.

Most highend cards will run crysis well.

And your rig will do just fine, yes it's a demanding game but you should be able to run V-high settings.

SLI is a waste rigth now, a single GTX280 will get the best of most games a good time ahead, and when it don't you can put in a new better card for a small amount of money.

I can run with no anti-aliasing with everything on medium except for shaders and, shadows? which are on high @ 1440x900

Heres my rig:

Core 2 duo @ 2.66 Ghz (yours will be good, it just won't be using the extra 2 processors)

Nvidia 8800GT (Yours is better, so depending on your resolution, you should get better results)

6 Gigs of RAM (But I'm running Windows Vista 64bit, so I'm using 1.4 just for the operating system, between 2 and 3 when I game Crysis. Consider 2 or 3 on XP or normal vista)

I can run with no anti-aliasing with everything on medium except for shaders and, shadows? which are on high @ 1440x900

Heres my rig:

Core 2 duo @ 2.66 Ghz (yours will be good, it just won't be using the extra 2 processors)

Nvidia 8800GT (Yours is better, so depending on your resolution, you should get better results)

6 Gigs of RAM (But I'm running Windows Vista 64bit, so I'm using 1.4 just for the operating system, between 2 and 3 when I game Crysis. Consider 2 or 3 on XP or normal vista)

voodoothe2nd

Why do I get the impression that people think that Crysis can only run on best rig out there :P.Luminouslight

Im only going by what ive seen and read as I have not personally played crysis for long enough to find out whats what and with my rig as it is at the moment ive not a hope in hell of kicking crysis on good settings with good FPS unless I use DX9 mode then I reckon I still couldn't max it, so much to my m8 reckoning he can max that game out with an 8600GT, A64 X2 6000+ & 2GB ram.

2 GTX 260's in sli would be a waste, a single GTX280 would be your best option if you want to stay cheaper.

Not sure how good these charts are but ties in with what people say so have a look at these and make your own mind up

1680x1050 0AA Trilinear High Quality

thats what I reckon you should aim for with that setup, reckon a cpu overclock would help you a little bit but if you dont want to do that fair enough OC'in aint for everybody.

Other charts to look through at your will

There a lot of PC configurations that can max Crysis.

THE CATCH IS AT WHAT RESOLUTION YOU MAX IT AND HOW MANY FPS YOU GET.

Had a look at that, hmmm... It is very good, but around 30FPS, only on high settings (not very high), with no AA, that's a little disappointing. I would have expected atleast 40 - 50FPS, and around 30 when the graphics are bumped up to very high. I reckon dual 260's are the best option for me. BTW do you know the specs of the rig used in that benchmark?patano16

Not the foggiest to be honest, it does seem a little low though to be honest with you, the GTX280 is the best card to run Crysis (arguably the best card around at the moment, 4870x2 is meant to be best but tends to have driver issues) so I wouldn't take too much notice of them benchmarks, but there are plenty more around, I reckon them benchies were probably done on the most hectic bits of Crysis when most people take a performance hit anyway, as a few people have said if you use 1440x900 or 1680x1050 you should be able to max it surely, you should even get good fps on your res.

http://www.hardware-infos.com/bild.php?bild_datei=img/startseite/gtx280_sli_performance_results.gif&bild_name=Nvidia+Geforce+GTX+SLI-Performance-Ergebnisse

Just found that, looks like the SLI 260's can handle Crysis at 1920x1200, on very high settings and even AA turned on. Compared to a single 280 it looks far better. But as you said, the processor is the main thing I'm concerned about. 2.66ghz isnt exactly very fast, and it might reduce performance. That said, buying a dual core now is a waste IMO, I expect this PC to last me 4-5 years.

Do online companies like Alienware and Dell have sales after Xmas? I'm hoping that this weekend they might have cheaper prices, so I might be able to get a better rig for the price. Anyone know if they do drop their prices after Christmas?

I know this has nothing to do with what you are asking, but becuase you are mentioning so much Crysis @ 1920x1200, very high

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-gaming,2061-7.html

http://www.hardware-infos.com/bild.php?bild_datei=img/startseite/gtx280_sli_performance_results.gif&bild_name=Nvidia+Geforce+GTX+SLI-Performance-Ergebnisse

Just found that, looks like the SLI 260's can handle Crysis at 1920x1200, on very high settings and even AA turned on. Compared to a single 280 it looks far better. But as you said, the processor is the main thing I'm concerned about. 2.66ghz isnt exactly very fast, and it might reduce performance. That said, buying a dual core now is a waste IMO, I expect this PC to last me 4-5 years.

Do online companies like Alienware and Dell have sales after Xmas? I'm hoping that this weekend they might have cheaper prices, so I might be able to get a better rig for the price. Anyone know if they do drop their prices after Christmas?

patano16

Yeah that sure shows 2 GTX260's been better so maybe thats the setup for you.

If your wanting 4-5years then yes a dual maybe a waste, I reckon 2-3years and duals will be on there way out, I have a quad at 2.6ghz (AMD Phenom 9950BE) and it is quick enough at the moment but if your wanting to last 5years maybe 3ghz would be better if you can afford it.

Most places have sales after xmas and with credit crunch its highly likely they will do, but is a pre built the best option you can save some serious cash building your own especially over the prices of Dell and Alienware for sure

I know this has nothing to do with what you are asking, but becuase you are mentioning so much Crysis @ 1920x1200, very high

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-gaming,2061-7.html

glez13

Pity that doesnt show normal Intels cpu's over the very very highly priced Extreme series

Yeah, haha I've heard a lot of people advise me to build it myself. I would consider it, but I'm a bit busy with work and things this year, plus I have absolutely ZERO knowledge about PC's, so building one would take a lot of time to learn etc. I think ill go with a company, but yeah maybe Ill wait till the prices drop.

Infact, after thinking about it, maybe its best to just go for a 1GB 280, and up the processor. I could always add another card later on, but the processor should probably be as high as possible when buying, I need to get quite a few years out of it.

Looking at this, http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-q3-2008/Crysis-v1-21,749.html

all you need is one GTX 280 to play the game at 1920x1200 on high, so i wouldn't waste my money on sli, 31fps is more than enough, but of course i'm not spoiled (looks at post below of someone saying 30fps isn;t playble...)

Thats fine, but that benchmark looks really odd. Why is the 'GTX 260 SLI' LOWER than the normal single 260? Can't be right.

But I guess thats playable, btw what specs is the rig thats being tested on? I hope its not a 3.0GHz extreme or sumthing crazy