Has anyone tested Beta on an older computer?

[Chawana-altar-of-storms (Chawana)]

Moreso interested in a direct comparison to retail, since it’s using the same engine but will clearly have less complex models or whatnot.

If anyone has tested large-scale PvP or dungeons on a potato computer or even just an older computer, please let me know the comparative results. Thanks.

Editing in relevant comments below:

@Åpocalypse-illidan

My computer is technically below BfA requirements and had the minimum required processor for Legion.

I have to run BfA on medium settings or lower, and frame limit myself to 30 fps to avoid freezes /crashes from having a browser window active in the background too.

Meanwhile classic, runs buttery smooth on highest settings, with 5 browser tabs open and a YouTube playing (for non game music while leveling)… Gotta remember, the entire classic client is less data than most people have in ram, now a days. Computers have come a long long way.

@Chroesire-bleeding-hollow

Probably. I’m running it on an i6700k + 980Ti with all settings maxed (including AA, shadows, and liquid) and get a rock solid 60FPS @ 2560x1440 with vsync.

@Chroesire-bleeding-hollow

Just ran the Classic beta on that Mac Mini I mentioned earlier. Turns out it’s a 2012 model (thought it was 2014). Specs:

• 2.3Ghz Core i7 (3615QM, Ivy Bridge)
• 128GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD
• 4GB RAM
• Intel HD4000 integrated graphics

Running around Elwynn averaged 50FPS at 1080p with Classic Settings and vsync enabled. Quite playable, if not buttery. Knowing this, I’m pretty confident that anything even the slightest bit newer or more powerful than a 2012 Mac Mini could run Classic with Classic settings at 1080p at 60FPS.

@Valhallin-kilrogg

I’m using a pretty old computer:

3rd gen i5 3570K
128GB Kingston HyperX SSD
8GB RAM
Nvidia GTX 680

The game ran surprisingly well even with hundreds of people on the screen. Never dropped below 30fps, but there also weren’t many spell effects happening in the starter zone. The rest of the time it was 60fps at 1080 with about “medium” settings.

@Monkenpo-boulderfist

Yes I did, I have a computer from 2011, it was a beast for its day but would be considered a dinosaur today.

I have an i5 2500k, an asus p8p67 deluxe mobo, 8gb ram,and a GTX 560ti i recently upgarded to an old GTX 950.

I was getting max FPS with no lag at Recommended setttings. Cranked everything up to 10 and still had max FPS with no noticeable drop of 100 FPS.

However this was only the starting zone. I’d imagine it’d be more intensive in ogrimmar or something like that. Either way, it looked fine on 4 for an old game, so if ya have anything close to me, you’ll be perfectly fine.

@Timmaris-dalaran

Running a 2015 Acer Aspire E5-571p Laptop (my desktop died) with the following specs:

Windows 10
Intel i5-4210U 1.7ghz clocked at 2.3ghz
Intel 4400HD Graphics (1Gb RAM)
Crucial 16Gb (8Gbx2) PC3L-12800 1600MHz RAM
WD 250gbSATA III 6Gb/s 2.5" SSD

This potato can run classic beta with settings turned up to 10 at 1366x768 and it ran it smooth as silk. I was very impressed. To be honest I was going to build a desktop this Black Friday, but if Classic sucks me in like it may I just might hold off.

[Mightylink-shadowsong (Mightylink)]

The biggest factor is the shader model its using and the direct x version, if its still using dx11/12 then the compatibility won’t go as far back as the original game did.

[Chawana-altar-of-storms (Chawana)]

Well by potato, I mean computer that can run BfA but at very low frames.

[Miraari-sisters-of-elune]

I actually own said 9 year old potato comp (I get 14 fps retail, a few more if I pixelate) and I’m in the stress test, maybe I’ll post about it once I see what’s up, I’m hoping to stress the machine as much as possible with clouds of players so I know whether to buy a new comp for launch or wait a bit.

[Chawana-altar-of-storms (Chawana)]

@Miraari-sisters-of-elune

I actually own said 9 year old potato comp (I get 14 fps retail, a few more if I pixelate) and I’m in the stress test, maybe I’ll post about it once I see what’s up, I’m hoping to stress the machine as much as possible with clouds of players so I know whether to buy a new comp for launch or wait a bit.

Awesome! I’ll check back later then.

[Outofammo-shandris]

I have an older core2quad system I plan on hooking up if it still runs. Been in storage for about 3 years now.

[Chawana-altar-of-storms (Chawana)]

The more people who do this the better, imo. I’ll update my OP with the results as well.

[Mogovi-whisperwind]

Hi, I just got in old Classic guy myself. I don’t play retail, but have a 2009 rig. AMD Phenom II X3 720 Proc, 4GB memory DDR2, GTX 970 & 64bit Win 7 Pro install. I’ll see how it handles & report back.

[Atheaoakclaw-sisters-of-elune (Atheaoakclaw)]

Same here even slightly older. It will be interesting tonight with hundreds of people and animations all in one little zone.

[Gridlock-norgannon]

I’ll be testing the beta tomorrow morning on my work computer, which is a Mac mini barely capable of running BFA, though it can.

[Ironpelt-greymane]

I wish I was still a parts hoarder so I could test older systems. Unfortunately the lowest end thing I have now will run current at max at 100FPS…

I should save my current systems for a few years. I’m kind of jealous people kept their old PCs!!

[Hailiaxx-stormrage]

Also must be 64 bit…

[Åpocalypse-illidan (Åpocalypse)]

My computer is technically below BfA requirements and had the minimum required processor for Legion.

I have to run BfA on medium settings or lower, and frame limit myself to 30 fps to avoid freezes /crashes from having a browser window active in the background too.

Meanwhile classic, runs buttery smooth on highest settings, with 5 browser tabs open and a YouTube playing (for non game music while leveling)… Gotta remember, the entire classic client is less data than most people have in ram, now a days. Computers have come a long long way.

[Miraari-sisters-of-elune]

Sounds about like my rig, mines actually a little worse so it may not go to the highest settings, still can’t wait to try it out!

[Alexey-baelgun (Alexey)]

Anyone who has an older comp please keep us updated. I have one that ran MoP, but had a hard time with WoD. I will dig it out for the kiddos if it will run classic

[Miraari-sisters-of-elune]

I plan on making a full report with my specs and what fps I get sometime tonight or tomorrow after I get a chance to try it out. Would be great if this ran it well, even if I get a new comp I could probably talk my girlfriend into playing if I had a second gaming comp available.

[Yefang-wyrmrest-accord (Yefang)]

I was able to play Classic through to Wrath on a Windows 2000 that didn’t have a graphics card with a pretty acceptable like 10 fps. When I got a real laptop with 256MB RAM, WoW was basically 60 FPS for me.

I went my whole life praising how well-programmed and considered WoW was until around the MoP area. My new, actual good 4GB laptop could run WoD just fine. But when Legion came around, suddenly the game ran like complete trash. BfA made my 10GB desktop run even worse. It’s since been patched up a little bit but… there is no reason for things to be this way.

Also today I learned that Far Sight has a loading screen if you use it more than like 100 yards away. I used to be able to hearth from Stranglethorn to Ashenvale with no load or delay whatsoever. None. This is what the game should be like.

tl;dr I really hope that Classic runs a lot easier than BfA does. I don’t NEED it to; I just want it to. I hate that the current version of WoW has places like Legion Dalaran that take for-freaking-ever to load. I miss when on my old Windows 2000, logging into Orgrimmar (the most criminal loading zone at the time) took like, 12 seconds, and the rest of the game was basically instantaneous. And there were hundreds of players in those cities. There was no shortage of assets to load into my poor toaster computer.

I’m going to be very sad if Classic doesn’t feel like the good old days of the game loading and running in a fingersnap without all the dumb useless bloat :x

[Pafierra-malygos]

Ill be playing on a Rasperry PI hooked to a FItBit screen.

Ill get back to you.

[Chawana-altar-of-storms (Chawana)]

@Åpocalypse-illidan

My computer is technically below BfA requirements and had the minimum required processor for Legion.

I have to run BfA on medium settings or lower, and frame limit myself to 30 fps to avoid freezes /crashes from having a browser window active in the background too.

Meanwhile classic, runs buttery smooth on highest settings, with 5 browser tabs open and a YouTube playing (for non game music while leveling)… Gotta remember, the entire classic client is less data than most people have in ram, now a days. Computers have come a long long way.

Nice. Gonna add this as a quote to the OP.

[Chroesire-bleeding-hollow (Chroesire)]

Dunno if I’ll be able to do it before my stress test time is up, but I have a 2014 (I think) Mac Mini with HD4000 integrated graphics dual booting OS X and Windows 10 that I could try Classic on.