Spec requirements not accurate?

[Island_Universe]

Apologies if this isn't in the right section to post; I'm new to discussions; please point me in the right direction.

Long story short, I am not very familiar with computer specs, or PC gaming in general. Right now I only have a Surface Book 2 with the following specs (hope I'm not missing anything):

Intel Core i5-7300 U CPU @ 2.60 GHz 2.71 GHz
8.00 GB Installed RAM
64 bit Operating System, x64-based processor
Intel HD Graphics 620

I play some lower-requirement games (Don't Stave, Hotline Miami, Stardew Valley, etc) however...

My question is this: I went to System Requirements Lab to check, and it said I was unable to run XCOM: Enemy Unknown at all, even with minimum requirements.

However, I bought it anyways when it was on sale, and I have been able to play it just fine, without having to adjust any settings. (Granted, it isn't THAT graphics-heavy of a game..)

So how can I tell what I can actually play on this laptop, regardless of what SRL says? There are a bunch of games I used to play on my 360 I want to get on this computer, but worry that they are too heavy to run on this laptop i.e Skyrim (which I found out earlier I can't run at all), Bioshock, and others.

Thanks for any advice!

[Zekiran]

Googling is your friend.

If you believe that the minimum spec requirements listed on a store page are actually inaccurate, flag the game's page, I *believe* that's how you can also say in a text box WHY you'd flag it. Or, shoot an email to the publisher, as they're the ones who set their store page info up. Some games have been out more than long enough that their minimum or recommended specs are COMPLETELY wrong, indeed, and honestly ought to be fixed - but sadly that is not something that Steam can do: the store pages are not controlled by Steam as a company.

[Island_Universe]

Hey - Thanks a lot for the info! I had no idea that minimum specs could become outdated! I wasn't trying to imply that XCOM/any other game's posted spec requirements were incorrect/ needed to be flagged. SRL (a website I've seen pop up a few times) said it wouldn't work on my computer. I just wanted to see if there was a way to bypass that website (google, duh), that could tell me otherwise. I just always seem to find mixed answers on Reddit and through other sources when I search on my own. Sounds like I just need to educate myself better on computer gaming (was a console snob through my teenage years)!!

[Zekiran]

:) Yeah PC gaming is a very different beast.

Generally there are a few good sites that have hardware comparisons and benchmarks. When in doubt look for 'your video card model/number here' and 'benchmark' or 'compare' and you'll find some nice lists which show other models right side by side with your own. Naming and numbering conventions are also confusing as heck, so... you're not alone :D

But yeah as time goes on and a game that is popular enough to still be played by a good number of people, often gets upgraded and updated by the developers to exploit new technologies. So it's entirely possible that a game might be well beyond the minimums, certainly, if it's been out for like 5 or 6 years that's much more likely. (Of course then there's the 'and then they stopped updating it and our computers give the game trouble... but that's not generally this issue lol)

[cinedine]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Zekiran:

Googling is your friend.

If you believe that the minimum spec requirements listed on a store page are actually inaccurate, flag the game's page, I *believe* that's how you can also say in a text box WHY you'd flag it. Or, shoot an email to the publisher, as they're the ones who set their store page info up. Some games have been out more than long enough that their minimum or recommended specs are COMPLETELY wrong, indeed, and honestly ought to be fixed - but sadly that is not something that Steam can do: the store pages are not controlled by Steam as a company.

There is no reason to flag a game for running below the minimum speccs.
That is the minimum the manufacturer guarantees the game to run reliable. If it works below, good for you. If not, you have been warned. Requirements are never accurate and always depend on what the game was tested on as well as the individual machine.

[tacoshy]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από cinedine:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Zekiran:

Googling is your friend.

If you believe that the minimum spec requirements listed on a store page are actually inaccurate, flag the game's page, I *believe* that's how you can also say in a text box WHY you'd flag it. Or, shoot an email to the publisher, as they're the ones who set their store page info up. Some games have been out more than long enough that their minimum or recommended specs are COMPLETELY wrong, indeed, and honestly ought to be fixed - but sadly that is not something that Steam can do: the store pages are not controlled by Steam as a company.

There is no reason to flag a game for running below the minimum speccs.
That is the minimum the manufacturer guarantees the game to run reliable. If it works below, good for you. If not, you have been warned. Requirements are never accurate and always depend on what the game was tested on as well as the individual machine.

Wrong, there is no standard what requirements mean. Minimum requirement are the requirements at the lunch of the game that the game starts, not that it actually is playable.

But again since there is no standard to it, it could mean in 720p or 1080p which is totally up to the developer.

Also you have a side note that requirements can change any time.

As the requirements listed are no guarantee that have any legal rights to it, it can just be looked as guidance.

[Zekiran]

^^ It's a guideline. Not a hard and fast rule.

I mean, just this month there was that massive idiotic thread about how terrible it was that one game didn't advertise that it used Vac. It's entirely up to the company to keep their store page accurate - and if they don't want to, at least they can be *made aware of it* via a report or three.

When those of us who hang around here a lot have to say "well I don't really know if this game's page is up to date enough to warrant telling a new customer to look at the specs", ... that's a problem. Why my formula of "check minimums and publication dates... add accordingly" seems to be about the only thing left.

[Start_Running]

Simply consider the requirements accurate and take buying games that exceed your specs as a risk. It is worth noting that devs tend to highball the specsjust for an extra margin of safety.

[Island_Universe]

Hi all, thanks for all the replies! In retrospect, I probably could've used a better title. I didn't mean to sound accusatory towards anyone other than the website that scanned my hardware and said (incorrectly) that I couldn't run a certain game. I'll just have to git gud and learn myself some PC hardware/graphics!

[Start_Running]

You can't even blame the website... PC hardware follows very few standards interms of progression or naming conventions. so its damned tricky to figure out. Best I can advise as you learn is to pick out the salient features of the hardware.

Ity's easier than it sounds really and honestly you'll get to a poiknt where just the screen shots and trailkers will tell you enough.

[StarayKorga]

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