Does running games on inadequate systems damage them? - Hardware & Software

Right so basically my sister is a Warcraft 3 fanatic, but for some reason on Win 7 64-bit it comes up with some unusual error message for me. My sister still enjoys it but wants to play an RTS with me. I tried Defcon with her, but that proved to be a little uninteresting to her. When I thought of good RTS games, Command and Conquer came to mind. She likes it when the game doesn't look too dated and is fairly easy on the eyes, so the recent free ones are out of the window, however, I have Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars lying about, and I just read on a netbook site that it runs if you have the Shader detail set to Medium or Low. The only downside is her CPU isn't above the minimum requirements. I have a friend over the 'net, and he seems to think that trying to play games with inadaquate hardware will damage the hardware, but I think he was just ploying me to upgrade my Pentium 4 to his Q6600. I bought an i7, just to show him up (and for the overclocking and future-proofness of course). But of course, now I'm faced with the issue, will running Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars on my sisters' netbook damage the hardware. [B]TL;DR[/B]: My sister wants to play games with me, will running C&C3, a game that needs 2.0GHz CPU damage her netbook with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU?

No.

It might overheat, but probably not.

It'll probably run shitty though.

If it runs at above 20-25fps, she's happy.

As long as the netbook has proper ventilation it should be fine.

[QUOTE=Juggernog;20958981]If it runs at above 20-25fps, she's happy.[/QUOTE] I can relate. :frown:

The worst that could happen is overheating, but it probably won't.

[QUOTE=amgoz1;20959366]The worst that could happen is overheating, but it probably won't.[/QUOTE] If it'd overheat at full load, it's nothing to do with the game, the processor/ heatsink is fucked. So long as the computer is in perfect working order, no matter how shit it is- playing a demanding game on it will not damage anything. It'd just run like crap.

[QUOTE=amgoz1;20959366]The worst that could happen is overheating, but it probably won't.[/QUOTE] It can't overheat to the point of damaging the pc. The PC will just turn itself off if it reaches those temps.

Nein

NO

Otherwise you could try Empire Earth. It kicks ass.

I'm running l4d in 1.6ghz pentium m. I'm still alive, so I'm pretty sure it won't do any damage.

Just watch temps, if they are within a safe range, nothing can happen to your computer.

Also, is C&C Generals good?

[QUOTE=Juggernog;20960531]Also, is C&C Generals good?[/QUOTE] It's a classic game, I enjoyed it.

It won't hurt it, it's just miserably painful to try and play if it will even install in the first place.

Good luck installing it from a disc.

if it can run it will be an accomplishment

[QUOTE=taipan;20962807]Good luck installing it from a disc.[/QUOTE] Ever hear of this new thing called "Steam"? :|

[QUOTE=Juggernog;20960531]Also, is C&C Generals good?[/QUOTE] It's alright. Great game for a netbook, anyways. And it will definitely run. It even ran on my 800 MHz PIII beast a few years back.

[QUOTE=anikilol;20962884]Ever hear of this new thing called "Steam"? :|[/QUOTE] Then he has to re-buy it.

[QUOTE=taipan;20962929]Then he has to re-buy it.[/QUOTE] People can purchase USB drives, or you could be like me and just rip the iso and transfer it via external hard drive or the like.

I'm ripping the ISO and sharing it over the network.

[QUOTE=anikilol;20962884]Ever hear of this new thing called "Steam"? :|[/QUOTE] Ever hear of a USB cd-rom drive?

Reply @OP; No. [QUOTE=Juggernog;20960531]Also, is C&C Generals good?[/QUOTE] Yes, get mods. [url=http://contra.cncguild.net/Eng/index.php]Contra is good but hard as shit.[/url]