Crysis 2 can run on a $600 PC

by Richard Mitchell on Mar 17th 2011 7:50PM

You've bought all the components, inserted tab A into slot B and tightened lord-knows-how-many thumbscrews. Your handcrafted PC is finished, and all for less than $600. "But can it run Crysis?" your friend asks? If you followed a handy guide from GeForce, the answer is yes.

Starting with its own $150 GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics card, the company has compiled a list of parts needed to competently run CryTek's GPU-hungry Crysis 2. Assuming you've got the basics covered (mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc), the whole rig will only run you $599.92. While this setup won't allow maximum settings, it still kicks out a decent frame rate using above average graphical configurations.

As a bonus, it should also shut your snarky friend up.

Via: Big Download
Source: GeForce

Tags: Crysis-2, crytek, ea, geforce, pc

Reader Comments (102)

Inb4consolehate >_

@JnRx ahh my eye o___o

@JnRx

Now i want to read ALL those complains of guys that write here who are always crying saying that they can´t get this game on p.c. because they need to invest 80,000.00 dollars to make it run.

@Hunter141072

so this 600$ rig can run full spec'd crysis 2? i dont think it was ever a question if a 600$ rig can RUN crysis 2, more of a matter of what is the price for a rig that can run a FULL SPEC crysis 2.

games on the PC should be played at its highest... thats why you game on a PC right?

same for the console versions... obviously it wont be as good as PC... but you want the game to be running at its best that each console can put out right?

@KiraXD If you click the links it leads you to a page that shows the performance. On max settings this rig ran it at 28.4 fps average @ 1680 x 1050. Didn't fare quite as well at 1920 x 1080 but was able to run it on advanced settings (step below max) with 36.2 fps average.

@Hunter141072

I've been asking this for weeks because I am genuinely looking to buy a new PC but I can't get a clear answer.

I want a pre built PC (I don't know how to make a PC. I don't want to spend the time researching and building either.) How much would it cost to run Crysis 2 at an above average resolution, Battlefield 3 at an above resolution ,and then Battlefield 4 at an above resolution 6 years from now without upgrading anything?

How much does that PC cost?

I'm not interested in building a PC for $600 that might not be able to run games that come out 6 years from now.

@eat it
For a rebuilt system $3,000 at least, prebuilt has alot and i mean ALOT of markup. If you built the same spec'd system yourself $1,500-$1000. Build it yourself get some help getting the right components (id even help you with that if you wanted) and follow a good online guide and you shouldnt have any problems.

@eat it it's not hard to BYOPC if you know what you need to do. And this guild should help with that!

http://lifehacker.com/#!5151369/the-first+timers-guide-to-building-a-computer-from-scratch

@eat it
You want to be able to play Battlefield 4 six years from now at acceptable graphics without an upgrade? That's practically like asking the the PS3 to play PS4 games six years from now.

If you do your research and build it right, you can get a ton of value out of a PC, even creating a simple upgrade path (like going from one to two graphics cards). But unless you are thinking of spending $3000+ for a pre-built machine, it's really hard to think it would play some potential game 6 six years from now with acceptable frames rates/resolutions.

@eat it

"I want a pre built PC (I don't know how to make a PC. I don't want to spend the time researching and building either."

A pre-built PC, on the surface, seems to be an ideal solution but it's honestly not worth it. You will need to spend some time researching components if for no other reason than completely understanding just how much bang you're getting for your buck. Some pre-built desktops have fairly good specs for their price; others are total and complete garbage that should be avoided at all costs.

If you find that unpalatable or overwhelming, don't worry; we'd be more than happy to provide any help you might need. If you gave us a budget, we could have a list of every component you'd need compiled in a day (most likely within an hour) and we could explain why we came to our decisions. As far as assembly is concerned...that's actually the least daunting part of building a new computer; with the exception of cable management, building a PC is really not that much harder than working on a LEGO kit.

@eat it

let me tell you this dude:

my p.c. has a quad, and a ati HD 3870 gfx card, both of this things can be bought for peanuts right now in the states, and i CAN AND HAVE played and finished the first crysis, with all the settings at high, i only set the shadows at medium and something else i don´t remember what. the thing runs perfectly fine, to this day i have played all the major titles and not ONCE i have faced any problems with speed, now imagine if i could get a gfx card which were a little bit better than the one i have, that´s why i always laugh when i read that you need to be a millionaire in order to play a game at the top quality on the p.c. and this note is the best proof of it.

@eat it Honestly the cheapest way is to buy a midlevel prebuilt computer that has a PCI-E graphics slot, then just swap the video card for something that'll run Crysis 2. If you actually try to buy it high end from the factory they'll make you buy lots of stuff you really don't need to game at crazy markups.
Any Core i5-2 or i7-2 system with a PCI-E with a GTX 460/HD6870 or better tossed in there would be fine for most gaming.

@technomania

That's assuming he buys a mid-tower desktop that comes with a decent power supply; most of the pre-built computers I've had to work with from the likes of Dell, Acer, or HP come with cheaply constructed PSUs that barely meet their specified wattage and they come with relatively puny 12v rails. What good is a discrete card if he can't fit it in the case or, worse, the PSU isn't capable of running it? At best the card will refuse to work and at the worst he'll end up damaging his entire system. If he lived in Ottawa, I'd rather take an afternoon of my time and build the thing for the cost of a bag of pretzels and a diet Pepsi than come on here to read how his PSU died after putting in a decent discrete card and how it took out his entire system with it.

In other news, water is wet.

Still too much for something that is beyond awkward to game on.

@TraceurRyuk Part III

Also, obviously a $600 PC can run it on average settings. The whole idea was that it costs a lot for it to be run on the highest setting Crysis can go.

@TraceurRyuk Part III
What's awkward about it? Are $600.00 computers full of bees or something?

@TraceurRyuk Part III

You probably already own a computer. A basic PC is $400. So for $200 extra, you can play just about every PC game on the market (and this market stretches back 30 years). How is that any different from buying the $400 PC and a $300 PS3? Apart from the $100 you saved on the deal?

@Jovrick

Mmmm dual core honey...

@TraceurRyuk Part III I'll admit some games like plat-formers pretty much need a controller, but arguing fps' are awkward on the computer isn't even an argument.

Theres a reason consoles have to have aim assist, doesn't stop them from being fun. Controllers just aren't exactly precise equipment.

@TraceurRyuk Part III

If you already have a computer (this is likely), you could get the much better 560 Ti and an Intel Core i5 processor for these 600$. With that you could probably max out Crysis 2.

@TraceurRyuk Part III

Awkward to game on? You can use a 360 controller with computers...so I don't get your point. You can even use PS3 controllers if you install the right stuff. In addition to that you have a mouse and a keyboard.

I'm actually buying parts to build a computer now, and guess what? As soon as a game comes out that will challenge my parts (which, tends to happen with pc games since they move forward) I can just crossfire a videocard and my computer suddenly gets that much better. This will be my first computer built for gaming, and I am spending a lot on it, but I won't need an upgrade for years. And unlike consoles, I can play mmo's, rts's, and most mainstream games whenever I want, with my choice of any controller I feel like using.

I got my PC for $200, it has like 4gb ram and does everything I need it to do. And as for using a controller on PC. Yes, you can. But the majority of games were developed with a keyboard and mouse in mind.

@TraceurRyuk Part III

The majority of games have console versions as well, so I really don't get your point. If it's a pc exclusive than that means it should have great mouse and keyboard controls, especially mmo's and rts games.

@TraceurRyuk Part III Says you. I can even play fighting games on a keyboard just fine. Though I have been playing PC games far longer than you may ever in your whole life. : )

@TraceurRyuk Part III

Actually, my $250 PC runs it perfectly fine on max settings.

4GB RAM, ATi 5670, 3.2GHz Dual Core. I should also add that the case was $15 and I already had the RAM, DVD drive, and hard drive from another PC.

I'd say, if I were building said PC from scratch, the price probably wouldn't exceed $350-$400, but still, $200 is less than $600.

@TraceurRyuk Part III

Computer configuration is the same as tuning cars: it's a hobby. You spend a lot of money and put all your passion into fine tuning your car into you best bitch, we spend a lot of money and passion into building our computer into our best bitch.

@TraceurRyuk Part III

Why don't you just stick to your iPad and iSnark 2.

@TRONdll
I built a computer for 1k recently with a $250 monitor. I didn't buy a mouse or Keyboard. It can run Crysis 2 (atleast from the demo) Max settings. So about 750, with case cost and DVD drives, for me to run Crysis 2 max settings.

I'm wondering what $600 computer they built that can barely run it max settings with a GTX 550 Ti.

@NightlyNews
OMG YESS!!!! lol a joystick is not as accurate as a mouse! sure you can get used to like a man with two working legs can get used to a wheelchair but its just not full potential!

@TraceurRyuk Part III
600$ for a PC that can run current gen-games and every other game from the past 30 years and older console games. Now tell me, which other console lets you do that? That's right none.

As for the PC being awkward to play how can you even think that an FPS is weird to play on PC. It's common knowledge that Mouse/Keyboard > Controllers.

I've heard that it can also run on a $200 360.

But, that could just be a nasty rumor. =/

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze
It'll also look the same as a $200 PC.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze Wow, and you need a TV to run that on as well!

: /

@Lucky48

The same way you can use a computer to... y'know, do everything a computer does?

@Lucky48
But not always. HD broadcasting hasn't really taken off in the UK yet. The only reason I bought a huge 1080p TV was *just* for games.

So for me it was
Xbox - £180
PS3- £220
3DTV- £1800
£2200+online service subscriptions

Whereas my maxed out 27" PC cost me £1700. Plus the games are cheaper and it's free to play online (unless it's an MMO).

Due to the fact that the main focus of CryEngine3 was adding in Console support there was very little improvement done to graphical fidelity, rather focus was put on optimization.

You don't need a new computer for Crysis 2, if your computer already runs Crysis then it will run Crysis 2 just as well, or better (Mine falls in the 'better' group)

can do it cheaper without the lol550, one of the least competitive graphics releases in a while, get a 460 if u wanna run crysis cheap, or even a 5770

@ShadowSoldier89

I just bought a 460GTX off newegg last month for $130 after all the rebates.

Best video card purchase ever, considering my 8800GTX was $280 before the original Crysis.

@LordPoncho I also just bought a GTX 460. It is definitely a great investment. Only $130 and I went from playing Starcraft 2 on medium settings at 3/4 native resolution to all ULTRA settings in 1680x1050 (or whatever it is).

It also came with software in the box to overclock it, and I have it running at over 40% its default power with no problems.

Amazing card.

Powerful PC Crysis myth BUSTED

@VeeDeeVee Crysis is a game known for graphical fidelity. The game itself is the most generic shit ever. Why are you playing it if you can't max it out?

I know for a fact that you can't max this game on a PC for that cheap.

@Ellimem
I wouldn't say that. The story was the best generic alien invasion story EVAR and also the fact you could play it any way you wanted was brilliant I thought. I've done 2 play throughs so far each one with a different play style and I'm surprised at how different the game feels.
Stealth was the most fun.

@Ellimem
Actually it's funny. I find games like Gears of War, Halo, God of War, Call of Duty games all to be generic and bog standard. Crysis was a bit too but at least it had the gameplay options so it could be a generic stealth game or generic twitch shooter.

but can it run crysis

Glad to see joystiq's not spreading the $3000 pc misinformation.

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/crysis-2-vs-crysis-2-pc-and-xbox-visuals-compared/

The 550 got decent reviews-its performance wasn't too great in some games but at $150 it had a lot to offer. I wonder how it fared in SLI...

Why would you buy a GTX 550ti when a cheaper GTX 460 is faster and cheaper? Obviously, nVidia is trying to sell their overpriced new mid-end videocard. By the way, the GTX 550ti is a overclocked GTS 450 with a slightly higher memory bandwith thanks to the upgrade to 192 bit memory interface from 128 bit memory interface of the GTS 450. With other words buying a GTX 550ti is wasting money. Go for GTX 460 or AMD's HD6850 which has a similar if not lower pricetag.

@TCman

How is nVidia?

@TCman One argument, could be lower power requirements. If you happen to have a not so great 500w psu with only 1 6-pin connector, this is an upgrade. But one can easily go for a 5770 as it offers almost the same performance.

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Crysis 2

Crysis 2 can run on a $600 PC

Reader Comments (102)

Posted: Mar 17th 2011 7:51PM JnRx said

Posted: Mar 17th 2011 7:51PM JnRx said

Posted: Mar 17th 2011 9:15PM Hunter141072 said

Posted: Mar 18th 2011 2:58AM KiraXD said

Posted: Mar 18th 2011 8:19AM DAmwake said

Posted: Mar 18th 2011 11:02AM eat it said

Posted: Mar 18th 2011 11:34AM Thanat0s said

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Posted: Mar 18th 2011 12:33PM Rax Dakkar said

Posted: Mar 18th 2011 3:21PM jackal said

Posted: Mar 19th 2011 2:08AM Hunter141072 said

Posted: Mar 19th 2011 7:21AM technomania said

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Posted: Mar 17th 2011 7:56PM TraceurRyuk Part III said

Posted: Mar 17th 2011 7:57PM TraceurRyuk Part III said

Posted: Mar 17th 2011 8:10PM Jovrick said

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Posted: Mar 21st 2011 10:08AM VeeDeeVee said

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Posted: Mar 17th 2011 9:05PM WiNGSPANTT from TopTierTacticsco said

Posted: Mar 17th 2011 8:01PM VeeDeeVee said

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