Fallout 3 Has Gone Gold; PC Specs Revealed

[DoctorFinger]

Fallout 3, Bethesda's first outing with the cult favorite post-apocalyptic RPG, has Gone Gold. Bethesda has also released the hardware specs for the PC version of the game.

Minimum System Requirements:
* Windows XP/Vista
* 1GB System RAM (XP)/ 2GB System RAM (Vista)
* 2.4 Ghz Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent processor
* Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 256MB RAM (NVIDIA 6800 or better/ATI X850 or better)

Recommended System Requirements:
* Intel Core 2 Duo processor
* 2 GB System RAM
* NvidiaDirect X 9.0c compliant video card with 512MB RAM (NVIDIA 8800 series, ATI 3800 series)

Fallout 3 will be released for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC on October 28 in North America, October 30th in Europe and Australia and on October 31st in the UK. It is rated M for mature.

[Craigtheplague]

That's pretty hefty for video card requirements. I wonder if an 8600GT is on par with with the 6800 series. The 8600 is two generations newer but is marketed more to the mainstream than the 6800s.

[biosc1]

Most probably a PC purchase for me, though the thought of playing while relaxing on the couch has it's appeal as well...maybe it's time to attach my PC to my TV ;)

[Sazime]

I don't know that they're that hefty. Hell, my card has over 500MB of memory, and it was "high end" almost 2 years ago.

Considering everything else, looks like anyone who could run Oblivion can run Fallout 3!

[Johan]

I just want to say that my three-year-old stock PC, bought entirely for purposes OTHER than gaming, can run this game with the simple addition of a Radeon 4850 and a new PSU, for a gaming expense of $300.

Yup...PC gaming is so expensive! :rolleyes:

[Banacek]

360 purchase for me. Although I do have the PC to handle it.

[Evewalker]

While I'm more of a console guy, with my recent upgrade and the fact that I expect this to be modded like crazy, this is a PC purchase for me.

[Troggles]

I just want to say that my three-year-old stock PC, bought entirely for purposes OTHER than gaming, can run this game with the simple addition of a Radeon 4850 and a new PSU, for a gaming expense of $300.

Yup...PC gaming is so expensive! :rolleyes:

Or you can spend 300 dollars for a console that is 3 years old and can run it just fine too.

/devil'sadvocate

That said, I'm still getting the PC version when the time comes.

[Deadend]

Can I get it on Steam?

[Johan]

Or you can spend 300 dollars for a console that is 3 years old and can run it just fine too.

/devil'sadvocate

You've totally missed the point. Everyone knows you can run it on your console; the specs on consoles are ubiquitous across each particular generation of a product (excepting HDDs this generation for the 360, unfortunately).

The point is...many people claim keeping up with new PC releases costs an arm and a leg in terms of the latest/greatest hardware. That's bunk. I have a three-year-old stock PC and with $300 bucks I got it up to speed for minimums on every game out there right now, and recommended on virtually every game.

[crazyD]

360 purchase for me. Although I do have the PC to handle it.

Why? If you don't mind my asking. Personally, I thought Oblivion was broken without mods, and would never even consider getting a Bethesda game on a closed platform.

[Gitaroomaan]

You've totally missed the point. Everyone knows you can run it on your console; the specs on consoles are ubiquitous across each particular generation of a product (excepting HDDs this generation for the 360, unfortunately).

The point is...many people claim keeping up with new PC releases costs an arm and a leg in terms of the latest/greatest hardware. That's bunk. I have a three-year-old stock PC and with $300 bucks I got it up to speed for minimums on every game out there right now, and recommended on virtually every game.

Exactly. PC Gaming is not the cost-prohibitive past time it once was. I could easily build a computer with the recommended requirements for around $500-600. These days, paying anything over $1000 for a decent gaming PC is completely unnecessary.

[LarsenNET]

Can I get it on Steam?

No announcement so far, I'm guessing no.

[Vandabo]

I'm gonna gamefly this on 360, play through it once and send it back. Then I will probably buy it for PC once the devs release modding tools.

[Banacek]

Why? If you don't mind my asking. Personally, I thought Oblivion was broken without mods, and would never even consider getting a Bethesda game on a closed platform.

I just like playing games on my TV more. Most likely I'll do what I did with Oblivion and buy it for the 360 then a little down the road get it for the PC as well.

[Virtual Machine]

I'm still on the 360/PS3 fence - as i'd rather play on a 50" wide display with digital surround and thousand dollar speakers than on a 22" wide with 5.1 pc speakers.

[JayK47]

If I remember correctly, this is a single player only game (rare these days). I also know there will be hella mods for it in about 3 months. Definitely a PC purchase for me. Basically no good reason to get it on 360 for me. For some reason, I prefer sitting at my PC over sitting on my couch. I set up my fat wide screen TV for PC use, but have not done it.

[Wackman3000]

PC Purchase easily. I just don't see a controller being comfortable with a game that will need lots of hotkeys and precision mouse aim.

[Expugnare]

Originally, I was going with the 360 version but with my redent upgrade, making my PC pretty decent and beating Recommended by quite a bit, this looks like PC purchase.
Plus, I save $10

[Widgetcraft]

Sweet, I meet the recommended specs.

[MagGnome]

Curse Apple and the crappy video card in my iMac. I was planning on picking this up for PC by the end of the year, but it looks like I will have to either get it for 360 or wait until I have the cash to build a PC.

I'll probably just hold off, as I have a lot of games to play as is. Still, testing out my new HDTV would be nice. I just don't like paying $60 for a game that I know will be better on the PC and cheaper to boot.

[KingGorilla]

That's pretty hefty for video card requirements. I wonder if an 8600GT is on par with with the 6800 series. The 8600 is two generations newer but is marketed more to the mainstream than the 6800s.

No, that is pretty much on the weak side. It is rare to find a game with specs supporting a SM 2.0 card.

Supported Video Card Chipsets:

* NVIDIA GeForce 200 series
* NVIDIA Geforce 9800 series
* NVIDIA Geforce 9600 series
* NVIDIA Geforce 8800 series
* NVIDIA Geforce 8600 series
* NVIDIA Geforce 8500 series
* NVIDIA Geforce 8400 series
* NVIDIA Geforce 7900 series
* NVIDIA Geforce 7800 series
* NVIDIA Geforce 7600 series
* NVIDIA Geforce 7300 series
* NVIDIA GeForce 6800 series
* ATI HD 4800 series
* ATI HD 4600 series
* ATI HD 3800 series
* ATI HD 3600 series
* ATI HD 3400 series
* ATI HD 2900 series
* ATI HD 2600 series
* ATI HD 2400 series
* ATI X1900 series
* ATI X1800 series
* ATI X1600 series
* ATI X1300 series
* ATI X850 series

This supports most of the most popular integrated cards as well, the 7300 and X1300 lines.
What I see as puzzling is that more and more games are leaving the 9800 and 9600 ATI cards in the dust. Still viable, fine cards in their own right.

[Virtual Machine]

It's funny, all the doom and gloom about the pc market, and this is one game that i could certainly see selling like gangbusters on the PC. Like up there with the console sales.

[Crowe]

Buying a PC hasn't been this cheap in a long time if ever. My friend just put together a system for under 1000$ Aus, thats the 4 main components (He's keeping the case and other peripherals from previous computers) and he will be cranking this game as high as it can go and on his 40 Inch LCD. It's going to play very well for several years so he won't be upgrading until then.

After seeing how much he payed for his new system I wont be far behind and plan on getting one early into the new year. The release of the PS3 was $1000Aus, hell its still think it might be 5 to 6 hundred dollars. The PC may end up being a little more expensive in the long run but it serves many purposes.

But we might not get any games by the time I have one, the P in PC stands for Pirates and developers are sick of their games not selling as many as their console counterparts. Laugh out loud.

*Edit* PS3's are actually still retailing closer to $700, $686 from EB Games or Gamestop as most would know it.

[protagonist]

This truly has been one of the most reasonably priced eras of the pc market. I've built 3-4 computers per year for casual clients and they're all extraordinarily priced. And decent in specs to boot. You may not be able to run at the highest fps with everything dialed up but for the most part everything is playable. A far cry from even the late 90's.

[KingGorilla]

Seriously, where are all the anti-PC trolls? This place is starting to scare me.

[Troggles]

Seriously, where are all the anti-PC trolls? This place is starting to scare me.

Hell, I only made my anti-PC comment just to keep things fresh. I love my PC, and I totally agree with everyone's points in favor of them in here.

[KingGorilla]

I am still leery about Bethesda dodging why there will not be an SDK at launch, and then refusing to say when it would be, if ever.

[Johan]

I am still leery about Bethesda dodging why there will not be an SDK at launch, and then refusing to say when it would be, if ever.

This is why I will not be buying until they do release mod tools.

Also, I'm cheap. Older/cheaper games are just fine for me.

[Craigtheplague]

I found out these specs are very similar to Bioshock's which runs at about 30fps on my laptop. Pretty shabby, but playable.

[MagGnome]

I had a dream last night in which I got an early copy of Fallout 3, and the game rocked. I was on here bragging to you guys about how I was playing the game early, and several of you had early copies as well.

Now I'm really, really pumped for this game! I can't remember the last time I actually had a dream about a particular title, especially one I haven't actually played before.

[Dukefrukem]

So what platform is everyone buying this on? I'm stuck.

[crazyD]

So what platform is everyone buying this on? I'm stuck.

PC. filled

[Phades]

I had a dream last night in which I got an early copy of Fallout 3, and the game rocked. I was on here bragging to you guys about how I was playing the game early, and several of you had early copies as well.

Now I'm really, really pumped for this game! I can't remember the last time I actually had a dream about a particular title, especially one I haven't actually played before.

My buddy works at Microsoft and got a copy of the game a few weeks ago (pre-gold version obviously). He said it's fantastic. I haven't wanted to go over and try it because I want to play the final version only.

[Shadowstorm]

So what platform is everyone buying this on? I'm stuck.

PC, baby.

10char.

[Dukefrukem]

Sadly, I think my PC has reached it's limits and won't be able to run this game. I think I'm getting it for PS3. L4D will the last game I buy for the PC. :( Time to upgrade! :)

[KingGorilla]

Pricws on parts are sickly low right now. My X-mas gift to me will be a fresh build. Also, F3 PC all the way.

[Nikjitsu]

I'm glad I have a 360, but I would LOVE to play that on PC

[Lance Uppercut]

If the mods for this game are half as good as Oblivion's, then I'm definitely getting this for PC.