General Computers

Don't Always Go By Minimum Requirements

SUMMARY: Plan on purchasing software, such as a game, and using it on a computer that barely meets the software's minimum requirements? It may not run as well as desired.

Note that this is only from personal experience - your mileage may vary.

When purchasing a software package, such as a game, you may be given two sets of system requirements - the minimum requirements and the 'optimal' or 'recommended' requirements.

I've gotten burned several times by purchasing software that can work on a 'minimum requirements' machine and have been severely disappointed. Usually such software runs very slow, if at all. The graphics may not look as nice as the screenshots, and advanced features may not function.

I know not everyone can have the best souped-up machine. However, if you are planning on purchasing a piece of software, especially as a gift, that looks like it just barely will run on your/their current setup, think twice before plunking down your hard-earned money towards the purchase. Wait until you (or your recipient) have a machine that can comfortably meet the requirements of a piece of software and you (or your gift recipient) will enjoy the software that much more.

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