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by Michael Gray 
Oct 19th 2010 at 6:30PM
The minimum system requirements for World of Warcraft are:
Windows XP 32bit (SP3), Windows XP 64bit (SP2), Windows Vista 32bit (SP1), Windows Vista 64bit (SP1):
Windows XP 32bit (SP3), Windows XP 64bit (SP2), Windows Vista 32bit (SP1), Windows Vista 64bit (SP1):
- Intel Pentium 4 1.3 GHz or AMD Athlon XP 1500
- 1GB or more of RAM
- NVIDIA® GeForce® FX or ATI Radeon™ 9500 video card or better
- DirectX-compatible sound card or motherboard sound capability
- 25 GB free hard drive space
- A keyboard and mouse are required. Input devices other than a mouse and keyboard are not supported
- You must have an active broadband Internet connection to play
- Intel Core Duo processor
- 2 GB RAM
- 25 GB free hard drive space
- A keyboard and mouse are required. Input devices other than a mouse and keyboard are not supported.
- You must have an active broadband Internet connection to play
The recommended system requirements for World of Warcraft are:
Windows XP 32bit (SP3), Windows XP 64bit (SP2), Windows Vista 32bit (SP1), Windows Vista 64bit (SP1) Windows 7:
- Dual-core processor, such as the Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 X2
- 2 GB RAM (2 GB for Vista users)
- 3D graphics processor with Vertex and Pixel Shader capability with 256 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600 or ATI Radeon™
- 2600 or better DirectX-compatible sound card or motherboard sound capability
- Broadband Internet connection
- Multi-button mouse with scroll wheel recommended
- Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor
- NVIDIA® GeForce® 9600M GT or ATI Radeon™ HD 4670 or better
- 4 GB RAM
- 3D graphics processor with Vertex and Pixel Shader capability with 128 MB VRAM such as an ATI Radeon X1600 or NVIDIA 7600 class card or better
- Multi-button mouse with scroll wheel recommended
For more tips on putting together a computer system that works for your gaming and your budget, visit our special series by guest blogger Derek Day:
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it; nothing will be the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion (available Dec. 7, 2010), from brand new races to revamped quests and zones. Visit our Cataclysm news category for the most recent posts having to do with the Cataclysm expansion.Filed under: News items, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 12)
Hih Oct 19th 2010 8:41PM
If you want to play with shadows and the new water effects on though, you need a much better system.
But it's *nice* that WoW can run on "limited" machines. I tried playing the FFXIV open beta, and I was getting probably 1 frame per 2 seconds, and that's NOT a hyperbole. It was taking me a good 10-15 seconds just to mouseover a button because I had to wait for the cursor to move and be careful not to overshoot it. Needless to say, I didn't play long.
Gamroc Oct 20th 2010 11:57AM
Should I run my four slot toaster on the bagel setting or is the normal toast setting ok for WoW?
Jade Oct 20th 2010 12:17PM
Sayyy......
Anyone like any toast?
How 'bout a Muffin?
No? Aah, so you're a waffle man.
martamius Oct 19th 2010 6:35PM
LOL That's a tiny motherboard in a big case.
Guy Oct 19th 2010 6:52PM
Or an average motherboard in an enormous case.
Schadenfreude Oct 19th 2010 7:14PM
HEY HEY HEY.
His girlfriend thinks it's cute.
PapaPurple Oct 20th 2010 12:45AM
I think he just called your girlfriend fat?
Sanitycrusher Oct 20th 2010 2:16PM
Looks like an Intel Atom mini-ITX motherboard and case.
An ITX rig would run about $300 and about 8 lbs.
choco Oct 19th 2010 6:36PM
"Input devices other than a mouse and keyboard are not supported."
I hope that doesn't mean "not allowed" >.
VioletArrows Oct 19th 2010 6:42PM
You can try and use whatever it is, but if it doesn't work, they can't help you.
bennet Oct 19th 2010 6:50PM
Tell me about it. I'm not sure I could function in raids without my Nostromo...
Llifebane Oct 19th 2010 7:43PM
keep in mind that devices such as the n52 and G13 are keyboards. Oddly shaped keyboards, perhaps, but keyboards none-the-less. The "other devices" they're referring to (i think) are things like touch screens and light pens.
Jay Oct 20th 2010 3:00AM
Gamepads, joysticks etc
Dinger Oct 19th 2010 6:37PM
looks like my GF's system and my desktop wont meet the video card requirement...
My Laptop should, meaning she will probably try stealing that to raid
lazymangaka Oct 19th 2010 9:53PM
What sort of specs are you working with? I've found alot of older machines can be saved by using OpenGL instead of DirectX. Also, a little RAM goes a long way.
PrincessRosario Oct 19th 2010 6:40PM
Well crap, looks like I'll have to quit the game come December. I just can't afford to buy a new computer. =(
*mumbles about stupid expensive university*
Matt Oct 19th 2010 6:54PM
If you can play now, I don't see why you can't play the xpac. I think all the under-the-hood changes were made in this most recent patch, including graphical updates.
Eirik Oct 20th 2010 4:35PM
... and the removal of support for PowerPCs.
jslim419 Oct 20th 2010 5:40PM
"If you can play now, I don't see why you can't play the xpac."
if the minimum requirement is an FX card that means 2.0 pixel shaders are required to even run the game. if you have a card that say only has 1.3 pixel shaders then you cannot play.
for me anyways one of the only reasons that i stuck with WoW is because it was one of the few games that would run on my old system. if i have to build a new system to play it then i'm just not going to waste my time with it and play one of the hundreds of better games that have came out in the past 6 years that i haven't been able to play.
VioletArrows Oct 19th 2010 6:40PM
*check her laptop; meets/exceeds all recommended requirements; stops herself too late after noticing she's doing the troll cheer* XP