Member Avatar for Darren Orloff

Hi, if a game requires at least a pentium 4 1.2 ghz and i have pentium 3 1.2 ghz, will that ultimately make a big difference and if so what could i do to fix that problem
Here is the system requirements of the game:
recommended: 1.8 ghz pentium 4 ,512 MB Ram 128 video card
minimum: 1.2 ghz pentium 4, 256 mb ram, 64 video card
Here is my comp: pentium 3, 1.2 ghz, 259 MB ram

PLease help!!!

i Bought the game and i havent opened yet because im not sure if it'll work

thanks

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Dani AI

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As has discovered, the safe answer is the one given by and : an older-generation machine that only just matches a game's listed minimum is likely to struggle. Clock speed alone is a poor comparison — later CPU designs, memory subsystems and graphics hardware all matter, and many mid-2000s titles rely on features and driver support that older systems lack.

Practical checks before opening the retail box:

  • Gather a system report (Windows' dxdiag is quick) to note the exact CPU model, available RAM, GPU model and driver version, OS and DirectX level.
  • Compare those specifics to the publisher's official requirements and look for community threads or demo reports for Civilization IV describing playability on similar hardware.
  • Confirm whether the machine uses an integrated GPU or a discrete card, and whether the power supply and expansion slot type would accept a better card if an upgrade is considered.

If the hardware is marginal, the least-invasive fixes are software first: install the latest graphics drivers and any official game patches, close background programs, and use the lowest graphics and resolution settings. If better performance is still needed, upgrades that typically give the biggest practical gains on older rigs are more RAM (if the board supports it) and a compatible discrete graphics card; swapping the CPU often means changing the motherboard and can be costlier than replacing the whole PC.

Given an unopened purchase and little desire to tinker, returning the game is the most straightforward option. For those willing to experiment, gather the dxdiag report and check community guides for Civilization IV low-end settings and patch notes before making hardware buys.

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Member Avatar for caperjack

Trying to use a game at minimum requirements is never a good idea ,also you don't mention you Video card Ram size ,My opinon don't open it take it back !!!

Member Avatar for jbennet

Sorry, i doubt it will run and if so, probably not to a satisfactory level. I have a machine with the same specs and it wont run very much at all. What is it you are trying to run excatly ?

Member Avatar for Darren Orloff

thanks for the response, i want to run civlization 4 ......my favorite copmuter series

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