Windows 7 - Is my PC any good?

My operating system is Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64 bit
I have 8 gigs of RAM
My CPU is an Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q8300 @ 2.50GHz
I have over 650 gigs of space (actually the local disk has a 698.6 gig size)
Video Card Memory is 3.76 GB and it is apart of the Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family

Bottomline, are those requirements good enough to play both Mass Effect's, Fallout 3 or even Bioshock if I wanted to play them? (Bioshock's demo lagged on me along with the sound disappearing but i'm not sure if I need to adjust settings)

No, the CPU is slow and a bottleneck and the GPU is junk. You will never play any games on it. Here is an example of the system I built:

Excellent gaming performance in 7

Only thing on it are benchmarks, games and drivers, along with the associated copy protection apps. No PDF reader nothing else. Minimizes compatibility problems and maximises performance.

As it stands now, not quite... You have a nice amount of RAM (although I can't tell from your post whether it's decent memory or not), but while running onboard graphics you'll be severely restricted.

What I'd suggest is to download a system analysis program (CPU-z will do for this: link), then check to see what motherboard you have and whether it can take a PCI-e (PCI Express) graphics card or not. If it can, then not all hope is lost.

If you get confused with what to look for with CPU-z; run it, take screen shots of the CPU, Mainboard and Memory tabs and then post them here in this thread, if I don't get to it first, then somebody will be able to tell you more about your hardware.

Your cpu is fine but you should as suggested on the above post check into getting a better graphics card. My q6600 running at 2.8 with a GTX 260 superclocked PCI-e card runs every game at high quality.Fabe

wtf lololol

I know, it just sounds wrong, but he's not far off the mark. It's not so much the cpu, but the graphics chip that's killing him. Basically, everything's got to be played, if it plays, at 800x600, with all settings set to low of off... in that context, it's really not worth playing games at all.

Laptop graphics controllers — Game playability on Microsoft Windows Vista*

Just upgrade your gfx chip and that system will be fine for running any game.

funny you say his CPU is to slow yet he has a core 2 quad at 2.5ghz - just checked your spec & yours is 2.8ghz not a big difference there m8 ill agree he needs to obtain a proper graphics card solution but as for telling him he will never play anything on his rig that's complete nonsense all he needs is a decent graphics card i can play bioshock at the absolute max settings & resolution (60fps) & my CPU is not as good as his (mine is 2.4ghz amd phenom quad core & his is 2.5ghz core 2 quad - better than mine) & yes your custom rig is very very nice but no one needs that much of a rig just to be able to play mid spec games like bioshock etc the guy just wanted some general advice not someone to completely insult all of his PC equipment - just remember not everyone is as lucky to have such a nice rig as you - just don't let it go to your head

Just get a proper graphics Card, and disable the built-in Onboard ones and you'll be ok.

Even something like a HD4850 will be good


Something to keep in mind is the Power Supply. If its a pre-built PC, it likely has a weak one, just barely capable of running what it has. (or at least most pre-built are like this)

So, youd have a choice of getting a graphics card that pulls all its power from the PCI slot --- (such as a HD4650)
this will get you started cheap, less that $70 im guessing,
& should be OK as long as you are playign at low resolutions (1440x900 for ex.) or smaller, but you will not be able to play with settings on high.
It will just get you by ..

best way for gaming:
getting a bit better PSU (dependign what you have now), and go with a 4850 or larger GPU and youll be able to turn up some of the visuals and play smoother.

WOW, way to put your system up while putting someone else down.


My sentiments exactly!


TeamDerka, I may have read your post wrong but it appears that you are trying to say that you have an onboard video card but you also have another one with 3.76GB of Ram, if that is so... can you give us the Brand Name and model? Also, is your sound onboard or dedicated sound card?

I am with the majority here when they say that all you may need is a good video card, your cpu is more than capable and with the newer games (or most anyways) being Console Ports, changinto or upgradng from your cpu to an i7 is just a waste of money in my book.

Good Luck