Low-end gaming

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Asus EEE PC 701 with GMA 900.

Low end gaming can be defined as gaming on modest 'low end' system requirements. Because of the way that PC hardware continually develops, there is no fixed definition of what can be considered 'low end'. However, PCGamingWiki has chosen to focus on providing information about gaming on hardware that is 'pre-Ivy Bridge', or requires modest hardware that achieves a score of less than 6000 3DMark06.

The reason for this choice is because, as of 2012, Intel's Ivy Bridge (on its impressive HD 4000 chip) and AMD's Fusion chips provide relatively high quality 3D performance as a standard for virtually all computers in the future. This is in stark contrast to previous generations of integrated GPUs such as HD 3000 or GMA 950, which had very poor 3D performance. The issues and fixes that face older GPUs will not have the same restrictions that newer chips such as the HD 4000 have. This is the reason that PCGamingWiki has chosen this cut-off point to determine what is low end gaming.

Lists

• /v/'s list of low end computer games.
• 100 Games to play on your netbook or home computer - published 5 January 2010.
• Intel's HD 3000 game list.
• Intel's GMA 950 game list - Also known as the Intel 82945G Express Chipset.

What Games?

On a typical low end graphics system, such as a GMA 950, games which do not utilise 3D are more likely to run smoothly.

Emulation

Emulators tend to run well on low end hardware, for example, the emulation of PlayStation and Nintendo DS (NDS) titles. PlayStation 2 and other more recent consoles require high system requirements to run well.

Flash Games

Flash games typically perform well on integrated graphics if they are run within their own process, for example, Machinarium or VVVVVV. However, many Flash games are integrated into browsers. Unless one has a GPU with hardware Flash acceleration, one may experience a great deal of slowdown playing certain Flash games. For example, The Binding of Isaac provides a very poor experience even on relatively good hardware.

List of popular Flash game websites:

• Newgrounds.

Tweaks

Game Booster

Available to download from the Iobit website - free until 30 June 2012.

This utility allows one to temporarily remove processes which may interfere with gaming in 'one-click'. This often has a performance boost in game of approximately 5%.<ref>

Gboost

Available to download from the GZero website.

Graphics Chips

Intel (GPU)

GMA 950

Also known as the Intel® 82945G Express Chipset.