Company of Heroes is the type of game hardware manufacturers absolutely adore. The game offers beautiful graphics, smart gameplay, and it attacks system performance from all three major fronts: CPU, video card, and memory. More importantly, the game is a hit with reviewers and offers online multiplayer gameplay, which means (1) a lot of people will buy the game, and (2) they'll be playing it for a very long time. All those hours spent in multiplayer will encourage players to upgrade their systems to get a performance edge.
We used the game's built-in system-performance test as our default benchmark. The level of detail in the game is amazing. You can go from an overhead real-time strategy view all the way to a ground-level, close-up view and have the textures scale accordingly. It's hard to resist taking breaks in the game to zoom in on the action and see how the game renders vehicles, buildings, and troop models up close.
Game Settings
If you don't have the best hardware, you can whip Company of Heroes into a playable state by adjusting a few settings. We tested all the options to find out how much each setting affected frame-rate performance.
Graphics
Bigger, faster, and more expensive. Those are the rules of the game when it comes to feeding Company of Heroes' insatiable need for pixel-pushing power. We tested nearly 20 video cards to help you decide if a video card upgrade is necessary.
CPU
Give this game a better CPU, and it'll reward you with better frame rates. We tested the game up and down the clock-speed ladder on our Intel Core 2 Duo and AMD Athlon 64 CPU-based systems.
Memory
Moving up from 512MB to 1GB of system memory will help improve performance in most PC games, but Company of Heroes is one of the few games we've seen that will also benefit from upgrading to 2GB of memory.
Next: Settings >>
What kind of setup do you use to play Company of Heroes? Does it run well for you, or do you plan on upgrading? Share your experiences in the comments below!
402 Comments
Yeah... I have a Pentium D processor and integrated graphics... I just play on all of the settings as low as possible (especially seeing as I have no shader) and churn out 10fps with like 1 guy on screen and 2-4 with more. =(
My specs are CPU-Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86Ghz (over-clocked @ 2.5Ghz)(sluggish)
Memory-Corsair XMS DDR2-800 1GB X2 (over-clocked @ 900Mhz)
Motherboard-MSI 680i P6n Diamond(has 4 PCI-express slot)
Graphic card-Geforce 7300GT(funny isn't it)
Sound card-Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme HD 7.1 CH Audio(onboard)
It runs fine at 1024x768-with all setting high,average FPS 34 but dropped to 25 at 1280x1024
I am saving money to upgrade my graphic card and CPU.Which CPU is better dual core or quad core? Which graphic card is better 8800GTX or a pair of 8800GTS?Do i need to upgrade my RAM
AMD Athlon 4600X2
1GB(2x512) - DDR2-800
GeForce 8600GT at 1024x768 - runs good with all settings maxed, average FPS - 30
CoH struggles on my 6800GT on higher settings. 'Bout time for an upgrade....
Wow that is some rig rtallma1has. Safe to say he wont have any framerate issues playing anything for a long time....
eVGA nforce 680i SLI 775 A1 motherboard
Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 2.93MHz
3 WD Raptors 150GB x 3 RAID 0
WD 320GB SATA II Hard Drive
2 WD Caviar RE2 500GB SATAII RAID 1
BFG AGEIA PhysX card
2 GeForce 8800GTX PCI-E SLI video cards
Corsair Twin2X2024-9136C5D memory
Too bad you can't eat computer parts.
I. M. Broke
AMD X2 4800+ 2.5Ghz
Abit KN9 Ultra MCP55
Northbridge AMD 570
2Gb of Corsair XMS in Dual Channel at 800Mhz 4-4-4-12
Evga 7950GT 512 MB What the heck? Why is it on skirmish this game runs fine? But on Campaign you have to lower all your settings to even get kinda decent fps the first mission? Wow I just bought that video card hoping it would help I should have saved up and bought an 8800...
Thanx eviltie,
I had a feeling that the video card would let me down, thanx for the info. You wouldnt know wheather or not i can upgrade my laptops video card at all haha
thanxx Again
Taite:
Your Lap sounds good excepet by your crappy 7300go Video Card. I Think you will run it in medium (maybe some things on low), you will missing a lot of the eye candy of this game. With Everything on Maximum the game looks simply awesome, best looking RTS game ever.
hey guys Just need a little info...Got a new laptop specs are as follows intel core 2 duo 2.0ghz, 1gig of ddr2 ram upgrading to 2gig very shortly, Geforce 7300 go 256mb just wondering what setting i could run this game at if i can run it at all.....Thanx for the support
over and out
My Rig:
Core 2 Duo E6300 (Stock)
2 GB DDR2 667
2xGeforce 7900gs 256 Mb on SLI
320 Gb Sata 2 7200RPM
Runs Everything on Maximun at 1680x1050, performance test averga Great (53 FPS) on game Averga 65 FPS, minimum 25, maximum 120 (Running Fraps on Skirmish 2v2)
My rig:
XP pro
X2 4800+
7900GX2
1GB 2-2-2-5 DDR (2x512MB)
This game runs at only 4fps on ultra quality at 1280x1024, is there something seriously wrong here?
My PC:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600
2 GB RAM
Geforce 8800 GTX
Runs greta on maximum settings in 1280x1024. How much average FPS do you get in that performance test? I get 120 FPS on maximum settings.
@intel-gamer
do the research and stuff yourself. No one here is going to configure a system for you.
ehh. i'm running it fine on high graphics (no AA, 1280x1024) and ultra sound. my system: intel p4 3.0ghz, 1 GB DDR400 RAM, and nvidia Geforce 7600GT.
hey, does anybody know what system I should buy. I dont have one yet and I want to run this game on max graphics smoothly. Also keep in mind that the price should not be over 2000. thx
My computer lags when i play more than 4 players and what settings do u think i should put?
my computer is a Core 2 Duo E6300,2GB DDR 2 RAM and Asus Geforce 7900GS TOP.
Hey! How do you think it will run on a Core 2 Duo E6300, 2 Gb DDR2 667Mhz, 2 Geforce 7900GS 256 SLI, 320Gb Sata 2 Disc? Im thinking of buying this game. Thanx!
Yeah shad0wfury. You need more RAM, a new processor (1.79GHz yikes), and a new video card. Actually you might as well just build a new computer 
.
Intel Pentium 4 @ 1.79GHz, 512mb RAM, Diamond S9250 PCI 256 DDR
Installed the game, it runs but when I play the units are invisible - tanks, soldiers, etc. LOL looks like its time for an upgrade. @_@
My Specs:
Intel Core2Duo E6600
2gb DDRII533
GeForce 8800 GTS 640mb
runs smooth, no lag @ all!
939 4800+ at 2.5G
Corsair xms 2-3-2-5 2G(tried 4G in Vista but no better...)
asus a8n32sli + asus 7900gtx sli
SB audigy ZS
winxp...
12801024all max
lags if not on SLI mode... blody game..
CPU - Intel P4 2.4 SC
GPU - NV6600GT 256mb
Non Sata HD
1 GB RAM
Creative 5.1 SB
Yeah, kinda low end system but im content with the slow but playable fps it shows. 1280x1024 Resolution is playable for me. What im nagging about is the first 5 minutes loading time it take before playing the game... maybe my whole system though, specially the CPU and HD. Excellent RTS though.
Ok I have a answer for that. There is some problems with Windows Vista on Company of Heroes!
I really love Company of Heroes, but my computer is to bad, all the time it lac, and I am sick of it!! 
About a half year I will buy a good computer so I can play it with good graphics!!! 
From WINGZERO619 "Good morning. I just purchased this title yesterday Feb. 26th, 2007 and immediately had loading problems after the installation. When I execute the tutorial, the loading screen comes up and begins loading... about 3/4 the way through the loading process, I begin to hear birds chirping and then after a minute or two the loading bar completes and prompts me to "press any key". As soon as I press the prompted button, the game becomes inactive but continues the sound file of the birds chirping. Here are my laptop specs: Windows Vista Home Premium
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5200 @1.660GHz
1.99 GB RAM
Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family Video adapter:
Chip Type: Intel(R) GMA 950
DAC Type: Internal
Adapter string: Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family
Bios Information: Intel Video BIOS Total Available Graphics Memory: 224MB
Dedicated Video Memory: 0MB
System Video Memory: 32MB
Shared System Memory: 192MB
Any diagnoses and help from your company would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.'
the same thing is happing with me so if anyone could respond that would be Lovely
Good morning. I just purchased this title yesterday Feb. 26th, 2007 and immediately had loading problems after the installation. When I execute the tutorial, the loading screen comes up and begins loading... about 3/4 the way through the loading process, I begin to hear birds chirping and then after a minute or two the loading bar completes and prompts me to "press any key". As soon as I press the prompted button, the game becomes inactive but continues the sound file of the birds chirping. Here are my laptop specs: Windows Vista Home Premium
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5200 @1.660GHz
1.99 GB RAM
Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family Video adapter:
Chip Type: Intel(R) GMA 950
DAC Type: Internal
Adapter string: Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family
Bios Information: Intel Video BIOS Total Available Graphics Memory: 224MB
Dedicated Video Memory: 0MB
System Video Memory: 32MB
Shared System Memory: 192MB
Any diagnoses and help from your company would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.
My specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 1.83 ghz
2 gb ddr3 RAM
Geforce Go 7600 512 mb
And it's a laptop.
I really want this game, but i always doubt if i can run it on decent settings. Any suggestions? Cheers.
This game is great, Lots of fun and it was done right. Good to know about Quality settings, but i am sure most gamers already know about this. Good tips for newbs
my specs.. pentium d 2.8, 512 ddr2 ram, geforece 7900GS 256mb.. highest setting.. great play for two players at least.. got lagging when playing more then 2 players. really sux when got stuck for a few minutes.. maybe by adding 2gb of ram solve this probs? help me
Yup, no video probs, only cpu. gibs and hulks from vehicles kill me. like if an explosion sends 50 million pieces flying, then it lags
ok i have a new gateway amd4600 64 bit duel core, with 2 gb of ram a a radeon 1600x. i put it on mediun to high on like 1280 by 1126. something like that .it onl lags if i zoom in when i have like 3 squads be blowen to crap y arty
Here are my specs AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual Core, 2 Gigs of Corsair Memory, and a Geforce 8800GTS 320 Megs,
This game plays like a champ with those specs. I really dont believe the 8800GTX is necessary for ANY game right now. And one more thing, I swapped out my Dual Core with a Single Core and performance went down by an average of 16 frames! Please get a Dual Core for this game before touching your video card. Yes, this game (and many other games in the future) WILL take advantage of dual cores and the cost for one is not horrid.
I play with 512 MB of memory and i can't connect to more than 1 other person online because of my system... but i plan on getting a new PC altogether
I just downloaded the demo, set almost everything to max, the rest on medium and tryed it at 1280x1024 and averaged 60fps, I just ordered the full game today, woot.
i dont even have enough ram memory 1gb ddr2 to run this game, dont mension my other specs 
Can this game run in this config.
Pentium 4 2.0 GHz
1 Gb Ram,
256 Mb VGA FX5200
any quick thoughts?
Core 2 Duo E6400
2 GB DDR2 RAM
Geforce 8800GTX
runs perfectly maxed out in settings and resolution
i use a 7950 gt and a 4800 X2 amd am2 chip O'Ced to 2.81 GHZ and 1 gig of 6400 800 mhz ram and COH does not miss a beat with settings maxed out all the way out.
Intel Core2Due E6600
2048 RAM
GeForce7950GT
Game runs perfectly with everything maxed out, and a 1280*1024 resolution.
fook that, this game is broken, 1280*1024 at 40 fps is retarded. the company has chosen to do this so people can check the game out and ask hey why this poo poo game think its too graphical and advance for a high end card that i paid £260 for 4months ago. BAH 0_o
C2D 1.86 GHz
1024 MB 800MHz RAM
ASUS P5N-E SLI
Geforce 7900 GS TOP
200 GB SATA Maxtor
It plays superb, My performance test results on high at 1024x768 were great
mine runs smoothly on med-high, 1280x1024, 7600GT, 1GB of ram, Intel Dual Core ViiV (crapness) and 250GB hard drive. Game doesn't lag, unless I put EVERYTHING on high.
I'm running the following:
Athlon 64 3700+ 2.2Ghz
2GB Corsair Value DDR400
Biostar socket 939 motherboard
Geforce 6100 graphics (128MB shared memory)
Western Digital 120GB SATA hard drive
COH plays okay at 800x600, shaders\shadows\textures on low, everything else at medium. Looks **** though once I get my RMA sorted with BFG I should have a shiny new 7900GTX to thrash this game with :p
xchannelsx: the Xpress1100 is a little better than what I have, you might be able to go to 1024x768, or turn a few more things up to medium.
I was just guessin if my laptop could handle it...
Turion 64x2 TL-50
Ati 1100 (128mb)
1gig Ram 533mhz DDR2
120 gigs HDD...PATA 4800 rpm...sloooow
I play WoW on high settings very smoothly, C&C; generals is the same, and painkiller too, everygame is smoothly played, but i want to play this one so wut u guys think?
