[dlgn]

Hey all, I figured you'd probably be able to help me with this.

So I've heard good thing about The Witcher 3, and I was considering playing it. However, my computer doesn't fit the requirements. (Not surprising, considering that I sometimes get less than 20FPS running Skyrim.)

My computer is a standard Gateway NV570P25u. It has an Intel Core i5-3337u CPU, 6GB of DDR3 RAM, and Intel HD Graphics 4000. I'd considered replacing some parts (particularly the graphics card), but it's looking like I might not be able to even get it near playable, much less optimized, without paying hundreds of dollars—something that, as a soon-to-be college freshman, I obviously haven't got the money for.

Do you all have any advice, or am I simply right in my diagnosis of "impossible"?

Thanks,
~dlgn

[Nephalem]

30 hours in Witcher 3 Wild Hunt myself.

You might be able to play it, but a lot of the gaming experience in this game is admiring the beautiful scenery/landscape that you will not get the full use of. Not to mention the face detail of all the characters. It has amazing quest lines and characters that is still there for you.

Even though I consider my PC high end, I had to turn of NVIDIA hair-works down to pull it over 60fps on ultra.

Intel Core i7-4770K, GTX780, 8GB mem.

[Grelman]

I have not played witcher 3 yet, although I plan on playing it some time in the future, but I'm fairly certain that trying to play this game on your current rig would be a pretty wretched experience. I saw people with gtx 670s on twitch having their fps drop below 30 fps with witcher.

As for trying to swap out better parts into your current comp, I had a gateway for my first computer way back when, and when I tried to upgrade my RAM it wasnt compatible with many brands of memory. As for other parts of the computer I wouldnt think there'd be any difference with the restrictions there. Also if you are able to replace the gateway's parts I dont know how big your case is, so a modern day graphics card may or may not fit in it.

So its sad to say, but I think its fairly impossible to get a rig together that will run witcher on a small budget. That said I dont know if mine is exactly the best for witcher either, as my CPU is an outdated AMD. I want to replace it with an intel but cant do it without getting an intel compatible mobo. A pricetag of around 500-600 dollars. So yeah, PC gaming is not the cheapest of hobbies, especially for the graphics intense games of today.

Just a side note too, I've found that in steam the recommended computer specs really should be the required specs.

[Bu1ld0g]

Playing witcher on PS4 myself. Best RPG I've played in years and have absolutely no regrets it being on console either even though my rig is similarly specced to Red's. Using a 55" LED and it looks beautiful on that.

As others have mentioned, an upgrade would help but is your PSU capable of running a more demanding card?

[dlgn]

I should be able to run a better card—the current one is integrated graphics, so it's only natural that it sucks. However, the minimum graphics card costs $300, plus another $259 for the minimum CPU, so...yeah. Seems like it might be easier just to buy a new computer lol (which I don't plan on doing).

Oh, well. Thanks for the help!

[Bu1ld0g]

I should be able to run a better card—the current one is integrated graphics

This is also dependent on your power supply or PSU, if the PSU isn't powerful enough it can fry your rig/new card. If it's an integrated GFX then odds are the PSU will be pretty weak, no offence.

But yeah, short straw says you're probably better off building one from scratch or finding a decent pre-build with upgrade capabilities.
Or a PS4

Christmas is coming, plant the seed with your parents - tell them you need it for your further education.
Our eldest tapped us up for an iPad and they cost near enough the same as a mid/high-range PC these days.

[TechnoProdigy]

You can't add a GPU to 99% of laptops, yours included. Only one I know of that can is the Lenovo Y510P.

Only replaceable/up-gradable parts in a laptop is the RAM and HDD/SSD/ODD. And sometimes the battery and Wi-Fi card but those are usually BIOS locked-out.

You're going to have to either buy a more powerful laptop/desktop, or build your own PC.

[Bu1ld0g]

Wait, this is a laptop?
Should have googled it first shouldn't I - facepalm

Plan b then Deel, beg your parents

[TechnoProdigy]

Wait, this is a laptop?
Should have googled it first shouldn't I - facepalm

Plan b then Deel, beg your parents

Or get a job and buy it himself

[dlgn]

Can't exactly do that since I'm going to college this fall and already need to do a work-study job for that but thanks for all the advice!

One last question, just to be sure: would those who have experience with both say that the Witcher 3 for PC is more or less demanding than TES: Skyrim? Because I can generally run Skyrim (+Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn) at a pleasant ~30FPS average, with up to 60FPS in less demanding areas (but as low as 12FPS in the most demanding). I think a comparison between the two might be the best way of determining for certain if it's worth playing or not (since I'm not willing to buy it only to find that I can't run it).

~dlgn