This is probably a really dumb question but I hope someone will take pity on me and answer it.

My computer will not play this game - it crashes on URU and the specifications of my machine are not enough to run most of the new games. So the time has come to buy a new one.

I am trying to find one that will run all the games that I want and think that I have - apart from the one tiny little line I keep seeing in relation to this game - "Your monitor and chipset must be able to support an 800x600 resolution"

The monitor is the part that is causing problems. I really could do with a flat screen one due to space issues but the only ones that come with the machines I am looking at are Resolution : 1280 x 1024 (SXGA) and from what I have read LCD monitors don't have other resolution options.

So what I am asking is is the 800x600 the minimum you must have or do you have to have that exactly?

I have looked through all the messages here about resolution issues but the technical details really go right over my head and no one seems to have this problem.

I hope someone can please help me out with this question.

800x600 is the minimum I think, but you should get one with a larger resolution, just in case.

Getting one with a higher resolution won't be a problem. I can't actually find a single flat screen monitor that actually runs at 800x600. All I can find is vague references to not being able to change the resolution.

I think I am just going to have to order one and keep my fingers crossed that it is a minimum resolution and not the only one.

Thanks for responding to my message.

The higher the resolution monitor you can get is better. They will play the lower resolutions also. The minumum required by most games is just that, a minimum. Some like Myst V allow you to set a higher resolution, but 800 X 600 is the default. When buying a new computer, the graphics card is very important for some of the newer games. The more graphics ram, the better. Stick with either ATI Radeon or Nvidia GeForce. They are supported by most computer games. Also check the ram for the computer. The more the better. At least 512 or more. Those are some of the things I look for in a new computer. I hope that helps.

Thanks. I am getting GeForce 6800 and the pc has a double ram special offer so it comes with 1024mb so I should be okay. It is probably just a lot of bad experiences with computers that makes me a little paranoid when it came to checking out what I need and I saw the 800x600 and thought is that a must or a minimum. I thought I would try to make sure before buying anything.

You are welcome. Any time. Good luck.