Tell me if my computer meets base requirements for a game

[habbymeal]

I don't have a gaming computer. I have had multiple experiences where I think a game looks cool and I buy it, only to realize that my computer doesn't meet the base specs to play it, so i have to return it. I think it would be cool if Steam had a way for me to input my computer's specs (like CPU, GPU, and RAM) and have it tell me if I meet the base requirements for a game I am looking at. It would also be cool if I could filter my store searches based on what my computer can run. That way, Steam gets more purchases from me that I don't have to return, and I have an easier time buying!

[Crazy Tiger]

It would be a wonderful feature if it could actually be accurate. The various canirunit sites show that it isn't accurate, they can't even get the same results across the board.
In addition Microsoft has a sort of "compatibility" check in their store and that too is inaccurate. I've rechecked my standard example (Microsoft Flight Simulator and my wifes Elitebook) and it still clears that laptop as compatible, even though that it's CPU is underpowered and it doesn't have a dedicated GPU.

It's also not helped that listed specs aren't standardised. Minimum specs can mean "boots up", "decently playable" or "whatever I had". Take this game, for example:

Look at the minimum specs. The developer mentioned they put those minimum specs in because that's the lowest machine they had. I've played the game on a laptop that had a GT 745M as GPU and it ran fine on that.

Learn your specs and how they compare. My advice, based on years of gaming on a potato laptop, always is to use 3 of those canirunit sites and take the average result/advice as a guideline (at best). In time you'll learn to make educated guesses.
I've played quite some games on that potato laptop that all those canirunit sites said wouldn't work. Don't trust such systems, trust your own guts.

[Start_Running]

Not quite feasible since PC's are such a hodgepodge in terms of parts and not all of them scale linearly. Trust me you aren't the first with this idea and companies have tried it over the years. They have yet to succeed. EVen microsoft couldn't get it to work reliably.

[habbymeal]

Originally posted by Smuggy:

Or, you could just check the requirements on the store page. Learn to adult buddy, don't expect someone to hold your hand...

No need to be rude. I am just not a computer expert and I don't know what all those GPU names and numbers mean and if mine is better than them. other, nicer people have explained why it's not possible.

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by habbymeal:

Originally posted by Smuggy:

Or, you could just check the requirements on the store page. Learn to adult buddy, don't expect someone to hold your hand...

No need to be rude. I am just not a computer expert and I don't know what all those GPU names and numbers mean and if mine is better than them. other, nicer people have explained why it's not possible.

You'll get used to it. Therre are sites that do GPU comparissons. Just use them to see where your GPU stacks performancewise up in terms of the recommended GPU. CPU, etc. They're not perfect but its a good way to develop a ballpark understanding as to where your system stands.

[Thermal Lance]

You'll get to know your hardware over time. We all do.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by habbymeal:

Originally posted by Smuggy:

Or, you could just check the requirements on the store page. Learn to adult buddy, don't expect someone to hold your hand...

No need to be rude. I am just not a computer expert and I don't know what all those GPU names and numbers mean and if mine is better than them. other, nicer people have explained why it's not possible.

Go to YouTube.
Type the name of the game, the cpu, and the gpu. Look at the results, they usually have it by resolution and settings.

Other than that, you need to get used to your hardware and expected performance. Different things can also vastly affect performance such as low ram, unstable oc, wrong system settings, too many running tasks/background tasks etc.


Knowing your own system and how it's running, how much it's running etc is a useful start.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

You mean match your specs with the open text field where they can enter whatever they want?

Example...



Sure.

[FOXDUDE69]

Sound's like a great idea that'll make browsing for games a lot smoother for certain types of users.

Steam already knows what kinda PC you're rocking, especially if you allowed them to collect stats, so they can very easily take those specs and compare them to the system requirements for you to have a better idea of how well a game will run.

It probably should come with a disclaimer that Steam's calculation should not be seen as a guarantee that the game will perform well, since PC gaming can be iffy at times because of the near infinite amount of possible setups. But for the most part, it should be pretty reliable.

[Tito Shivan]

As in other threads where this has been suggested, theres some few drawbacks that make this feature unreliable.

From most to least problematic these would be:

1 - There's no standard on what 'minimum' and 'recommended' means in regards software performance
2 - The hardware fields are free text which menas there's no standard as how the information is set up by the developer. This makes any attempt to query it a nightmare
3 - It dumps liability on the Store if the system says a game 'runs' in your machine but turns out it doesn't
4 - The Store is device agnostic. You can browse and buy games from devices different than your gaming setup, which can lead to confusion.

[Icecream1973]

Originally posted by habbymeal:

Originally posted by Smuggy:

Or, you could just check the requirements on the store page. Learn to adult buddy, don't expect someone to hold your hand...

No need to be rude. I am just not a computer expert and I don't know what all those GPU names and numbers mean and if mine is better than them. other, nicer people have explained why it's not possible.

That is not rude mate, he is simply telling you: it is what it is.

Acquiring knowlegde is part of becoming an adult, mate.

Eventually there will be nobody to hold your hand or wipe your @ss for you.... so the sooner you are able to stand on your own 2 feet & have the capability to make your own decisions, the better.


PS: get ready to know the 'specs' of your car, your phone, your internet, your mortgage, your energy bill, all your insurances, your taxes, your job contract, your rights as a citizen of your country etc etc etc etc etc Or simply choose to keep being ignorant & prepare to get scr*wed over & over your entire life.

[Brian9824]

The idea is good, just no actual way to implement it.

Originally posted by FOXDUDE69:

But for the most part, it should be pretty reliable.

Completely false. In fact Microsoft tried it years ago and quickly abandoned it as they realized that it wasn't remotely reliable as they had no clue how hardware would work on other people's games. Even the developers often don't know and it was wrong more then it was right without in depth scanning of people's PC.

[Crazy Tiger]

Originally posted by brian9824:

The idea is good, just no actual way to implement it.

Originally posted by FOXDUDE69:

But for the most part, it should be pretty reliable.

Completely false. In fact Microsoft tried it years ago and quickly abandoned it as they realized that it wasn't remotely reliable as they had no clue how hardware would work on other people's games. Even the developers often don't know and it was wrong more then it was right without in depth scanning of people's PC.

Abandoned? The Microsoft Store still has it. In the Microsoft store app the part where the system requirements are has a compatibility check, it mentions whether the system meets the requirements or not.

It still doesn't work properly, that's true. As I mentioned, my wifes Elitebook with underpowered CPU and no dedicated GPU gets a green checkmark for Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is flatout wrong. (I checked it yesterday before making my previous post)

But it's not abandoned.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

Originally posted by brian9824:

The idea is good, just no actual way to implement it.



Completely false. In fact Microsoft tried it years ago and quickly abandoned it as they realized that it wasn't remotely reliable as they had no clue how hardware would work on other people's games. Even the developers often don't know and it was wrong more then it was right without in depth scanning of people's PC.

Abandoned? The Microsoft Store still has it. In the Microsoft store app the part where the system requirements are has a compatibility check, it mentions whether the system meets the requirements or not.

It still doesn't work properly, that's true. As I mentioned, my wifes Elitebook with underpowered CPU and no dedicated GPU gets a green checkmark for Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is flatout wrong. (I checked it yesterday before making my previous post)

But it's not abandoned.

Ah I stand corrected, they had something years ago and it was removed, must have been brought back in another form at a later date. But yeah, its not really reliable and honestly surprised no one has tried suing them over it with how sue happy people are these days....

[FOXDUDE69]

Originally posted by Icecream1973:

Acquiring knowlegde is part of becoming an adult, mate.

And facilitating purchases is part of being a successful store. The suggestion falls in line with Steam's prios.
Every single game store page already has minimum and recommended specs, the suggestion simply makes it easier for casual gamers to make a better decision.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by habbymeal:

It would also be cool if I could filter my store searches based on what my computer can run.

Don't hold your breath OP, its a very unlikely scenario in part because its so nebulous. For instance for you what is your criteria for being able to run a game?