[Dragon]

But what exactly there's to run while playing aside from various system stuff, a security program, and perhaps controller and sound profilers. Couldn't one core handle that, while FS would have the second one?

[The E]

You just answered your own question.

[JCDNWarrior]

In my opinion, recommended system requirements is anything that that can fluidly run Blue Planet WiH, pretty much the benchmark at this time. Of course, there are even larger, crazy benchmarks...

[Dragon]

You just answered your own question.

Considering that all of them now take about 8% of the processor time, I'd say that if I assigned FSO (and only it) to the second core, I wouldn't really have anything to do with two more of them (I'd most likely even be able to run a headtracker on the first core without any problems).

[Insomniac34]

Recommended specs for highest settings & resolution with all MVPs and enhancements activated? I think any Core 2 series CPU and a GeForce 8600 series GPU are reasonable. Obviously MUCH older hardware can still run the game pretty well, but for near-perfect performance in WiH I'd say that's fair. Any good gaming computer since 2007 shouldn't have any issues IMO.

Strangely, I have a Core 2 Quad Q9400, GeForce GTX 295, and 6GB of RAM and Karunas still tend to give my computer a run for its money.

[Kopachris]

2.8GHz Athlon II X4 (quad-core)
4GB RAM
1GB GeForce 9400GT

No problems with BP here at 1600x1200 and all the bells and whistles.  Lowest it got to was 30fps on that one mission

Spoiler:

where we met the Vishnans in the Carina Nebula

. 

DISCLAIMER: I have not played WiH at all, nor have I played BP since upgrading to 3.6.12 and MediaVPs_3612.  Also, I built my rig for rendering 3D animations, not playing games, and on a budget.  It could be much better.