"Minimum" System Requirements

"Minimum" System Requirements
By: Scott Hendison � Published: May 1999

About 15 months ago, when I started writing this column, most of the computers we sold had only 16 megs of Ram, and 2 gigabyte hard drives As an avid computer enthusiast, I owned a 166mmx, with 32 megs of Ram, and a 1.6 gig hard drive. I was happy, and I could run any software out there, no matter how intensive the graphics. I had a perfectly adequate machine that could run the internet, word process, send and receive e-mail, and play games.

As last year passed, I upgraded my computer not once, but twice, trying to keep up with the latest software. I now have a PII-400 with 128 megs of ram. In keeping with my own philosophy, I still run a few months behind the "state of the art". I firmly believe that this is the way to get the most bang for your buck. I like to be able to buy any software that I want, and not have to worry that it won't run well. Recent software releases though, have pushed the envelope of what is considered to be minimum performance levels.

Every piece of software has a description of what the system requirements are in order to run it on your computer. Unfortunately, these requirements appear to be written by the marketing department instead of the software developers themselves. In an effort to sell the product to as many people as possible, these "system requirements" have become quite unrealistic. Around the store, we frequently refer to these as the "see what you're missing" requirements.

Many of the manufacturers are now actually putting two sets of system requirements on the boxes. The "minimum", and the "recommended". Well I'm here to tell you to save your money folks. Very few programs will perform at an acceptable level with those "minimum" requirements. If there is another set of "recommended" requirements, rest assured that they are really the minimum, and only buy the software if you meet the higher standard. This was not the case a year ago, but it's a fact now.

So what are your options? Do you need to upgrade? Well, if your computer seems fast enough to you, then it is. If your computer runs all the software you want it to, then don't upgrade it. If you don't get impatient waiting for your word processor to open, then you probably have all the computer you need. Don't upgrade until you think you need to, and you'll get the best value for your money.

On the other hand, walk the software aisles at your favorite computer store. Look at some of the system requirements on the boxes. Do you meet or exceed them on things you are likely to buy? Are there programs that interest you, but you don't have the horsepower to run them?

If you own a 486, you really can't find any new software that will work anymore. If you own anything below a Pentium 166mmx with 32 megs of ram, your options are getting limited. If you don't have at least a Pentium 266, with 64 megs of ram, plus a 3D hardware accelerator card, then there are already lots of games and programs that you cannot run. More are headed our way every day.

While the system requirements keep going up, at least the price of the hardware keeps going down. Upgrading my computer has gotten to be like cleaning my gutters, mowing my lawn, or maintaining my car. It's just something I've gotta do.