Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Assassin's Creed minimum PC requirements is insane!


This is one of the game that I have been waiting for its PC version. For console version it was already been released couple months ago.
From Wikipedia: "Assassin's Creed is a third-person stealth game in which the player assumes the role of Desmond Miles, an average bartender who is the last descendant of a long family line of assassins. Desmond has been taken to a facility where he is forced to use the Animus, a machine that traces and recreates the memories of his ancestors during the Third Crusade. Through these memories, the player controls Altaïr Ibn La-Ahad (الطائر إبن لا احد, Arabic, "The Flying One, Son of None"), a member of the Assassin Brotherhood. Altaïr's objective in the game is to slay nine historical figures propagating the Crusades in the year 1191. (According to Ubisoft developers, all of the main character's targets are historical figures who died or disappeared in 1191, although not necessarily by assassination.)".

The developer, Ubisoft recently published its minimum PC requirements. And here are the gory details:
In order to play this game properly, your PC MUST meet or exceed these minimum requirements:
  • Supported OS: Windows XP / Vista (only)
  • Processor: Dual core processor 2.6 GHz Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ or better recommended)
  • RAM: 2 GB (3 GB recommended)
  • Video Card: 256 MB DirectX 10.0–compliant video card or DirectX 9.0–compliant card with Shader Model 3.0 or higher (512 MB video card recommended) (see supported list)*
  • Sound Card: DirectX 9.0 or 10.0 compliant sound card (5.1 sound card recommended)
  • DirectX Version: DirectX 10.0 libraries (included on disc)
  • DVD-ROM: DVD-ROM dual-layer drive
  • Hard Drive Space: 12 GB
  • Peripherals Supported: Keyboard, mouse, optional controller (Xbox 360 Controller for Windows recommended)

*Supported Video Cards at Time of Release: ATI RADEON X1300-1950 / HD 2000 / 3000 series NVIDIA GeForce 6600-6800 / 7 / 8 / 9 series.
Laptop versions of these cards may work but are NOT supported. These chipsets are the only ones that will run this game.
NOTICE: This game contains technology intended to prevent copying that may conflict with some disc and virtual drives.
( Source)

Let's compare it with my pc specifications:

  • OS: I'm using Windows XP Pro SP2, so that will be fine.
  • Processor: It needs minimum dual core technology???!! WTF! I only have Athlon XP 3000. I wonder if my mobo (DFI Lanparty UT2) can be used with Athlon X2 processor.
  • RAM: 2GB??!! Another WTF! It might be the first PC game with minimum 1 Gb RAM needed to play it properly. I have been invested in RAM with my 1Gb (2x512) Twinmoss Speed Premium (wich cost me alot back then, it was a premium RAM Hardware with low lat) and now I need to buy a new RAM. Heck, I think I should go with mediocre RAM instead this time. Anyone want to buy my old RAM?
  • VGA: Altough my VGA Card is listed as supported card (mine is 6600GT) but my card only have 128Mb memory. The game need minimum 256Mb pluck in it.
  • The rest: no problems.

So how much do I have to spend my money to play this game?

  • My old Athlon XP 3000 valued around 300.000 IDR. The new Athlon X2 64 +3800 is around 550.000 IDR. That means I need about 250.000 to 300.000 IDR to get the new processor.
  • My old RAM might be around 250.000 IDR. The new 1Gbx2 cost me about 500.000 IDR. So that means I need another 250.000 to 300.000 IDR for new RAM.
  • I could not find the price for my MSI 6600GT 128Mb, but based on other type price I think it should be around (another) 250.000 IDR. I could not find local computer webstore that still sell 6600 series so I'm thinking about 7300 series wich cost around 500.000 IDR. That means I need 250.000 to 300.000 IDR for new VGA card. This whole 250.000-300.000 IDR keeps popping around it starts to give me a creep :)

So in the conclusion, to be able to play Assassin's Creed properly I need money as much as 900.000 IDR!! Well it is still cheaper than buy a new Sony PS3 :)

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