Blizzard Updates WoW Minimum System RequirementsOct 19th, 2010 at 12:29 PM by Togikagi

The new requirements coincide with the launch of patch 4.0.1 in preparation for Cataclysm.

We all know Azeroth will change completely in the wake of Cataclysm, but it looks like the expansion may have some real-world ramifications on your computer. In preparation for the launch of Cataclysm, Blizzard has updated the recommended minimum system requirements for World of Warcraft.

The new requirements correspond with the release of patch 4.0.1, so you may want to look them over if your performance is suddenly less than ideal. You can check out the new minimum system requirements after the jump. Have you noticed any changes in your performance since the update went live?

Minimum System Requirements

Windows® System XP/XP64/Vista/Vista64/7** OS (with the latest Service Packs or updates):

- Intel Pentium 4 1.3 GHz or AMD Athlon XP 1500+
- 1 GB or more of RAM
- NVIDIA® GeForce® FX or ATI Radeon™ 9500 video card or better
- 25.0 GB available HD space
- 4X DVD-ROM drive (Downloadable Installer also available)
- Broadband Internet connection
- Keyboard/mouse

Mac® OS X 10.5.8, 10.6.4, or newer:

- Intel processor
- 2 GB RAM or higher
- 25.0 GB available HD space
- 4X DVD-ROM Drive
- Broadband Internet connection

*Note: Due to potential programming changes, the Minimum System Requirements for this game may change over time.

Tags: News, WorldofWarcraft

Comments

Post Comment
Still working fine
QuoteReply
# Oct 20 2010 at 1:37 AM Rating: Decent
__DEL__1593366662986
15 posts
My home system is still well above the minimum spec (yeah - ok so i'm a bit lucky in that respect), but at work i'm on a 1.6G AMD Sempron, with 768Mb of ram and an aging Nvidia 6800 GeForce card. My modem is my mobile phone, giving me a connection speed of just over 0.350Mb.

The game is a bit jerky at times, and if I change zones the new textures can take a while to load, but on the whole the game is still playable. If things take a nose-dive in the future I may have to upgrade my phone :)


Edited, Oct 20th 2010 3:39am by Philburt

Edited, Oct 20th 2010 5:36am by Philburt
▲ Page top
well there goes the game :(
QuoteReply
# Oct 19 2010 at 10:59 PM Rating: Default
__DEL__1592344622547
Scholar
*
70 posts
I love wow but unfortunately i hate that they keep on upgrading the graphics. Wow is barely playable right now and i have my setting all the way down to basic on everything.

All i have to sat is yay for ******** over low income people who cant afford a good computer. im sure alot of people are going to have to leave and or quite due to graphics changes
▲ Page top
well there goes the game :(
QuoteReply
# Oct 21 2010 at 9:38 PM Rating: Default
__DEL__1591928496432
View User Forum
*
153 posts
If you can't afford to spend ~$300(USD) then you probably shouldn't be wasting $15 a month
▲ Page top
New Requirements
QuoteReply
# Oct 19 2010 at 8:51 PM Rating: Decent
__DEL__1645402623277
View User Forum
Sage
****
9,231 posts
I really hate it when they use the model numbers for graphics cards... the MB number is much easier to figure out.

I think it's funny that they say that that wireless networks are not recommended. I play on a wireless connection and it works just fine. In fact on the occasions I have plugged my ethernet cord into my laptop, there's absolutely zero difference in terms of latency. Granted I have a really good internet connection and I play about 6-10 feet from the wireless router.
▲ Page top
my performance
QuoteReply
# Oct 19 2010 at 3:08 PM Rating: Decent
__DEL__1673828376720
3 posts
Since the patch, I experience much lag, even with low milli-seconds. The main problem for me, however, is turning an/or running straight.

The easiest click of the buttons, to turn left or right turns 45-degrees at once. If I am running when I do this, it radically changes my aim on where I am running to.
I have to actually stop moving, re-aim, then start again, usually multiple times before I get where I want to be.
I have an Athlon 64 x2 dual core processor, and Nvidia GEForce 6150SE nForce 430. I do have 3GB RAM. Unfortunately, while I know how to find this info on my computer, I don't know if these are "up to spec" or if I need to change something.

Anyone?
▲ Page top
FPS
QuoteReply
# Oct 19 2010 at 2:57 PM Rating: Good
__DEL__1656893811484
View User Forum
Sage
****
8,272 posts
My FPS overall has been fine, the only issue I have had is there is something going on around the well in Dalaran that kills my FPS, but when I get past it/turn away from it it is fine.
▲ Page top
The blame game.
QuoteReply
# Oct 19 2010 at 1:23 PM Rating: Decent
__DEL__1593368246504
10 posts
Honestly, my performance, with the settings tweaked, has been better.

On my relatively older rig (still using a single-core Athlon 3500, 2GB of DDR1, and a 9600 GT), in ICC25 I'd sometimes get down to 2-5 FPS on certain bosses, even with settings relatively low.

Now, with my settings relatively high (dynamic shadows, high particle counts, etc.), I'm steadily getting about 10-30 FPS on those same encounters.

However, my room mate, who usually gets 150-300+ FPS, was having the worst issues. Some things cripple FPS, or completely freeze the computer. In particular, enabling water detail above "Fair" and sunshafts above the lowest settings resulted in texture freakouts like this: (link), and sudden drops to less than 1 FPS and huge freezes. On a very powerful rig, with all drivers updated, and all the Blizzard-supplied workarounds tried.

I don't think the "minimum" requirements are the problem. I think Blizzard just wrote some bad code that seems to be ******** people over, and they want to pass the blame off to the users for being out of date.
▲ Page top
Post Comment

Free account required to post

You must log in or create an account to post messages.
© 2024 Fanbyte LLC