Low-end gaming
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.
Pre-Ivy Bridge
PCGamingWiki has chosen this cut-off point to determine what is low end gaming because, as of 2012, Intel's Ivy Bridge (on its impressive HD 4000 chip) and AMD's Fusion chips will 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 compared to dedicated GPUs of its time.
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.
Emulators
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.
Popular Flash Game Websites
Tweaks
Many games can be tweaked so that they can be run on hardware that does not meet the minimum system requirements, for example, Diablo III can be run on a GPU as low as an Intel G41. Mods and utilities can also be used to increase performance in games, for example, Skyrim can be modded to increase framerate.[1]
Each PCGamingWiki article aims to list all performance improvements on all individual game article pages.
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%.[2]
Gboost
Available to download from the GZero website.
Graphics Chips
Intel (GPU)
HD 3000
GMA 950
Also known as the Intel® 82945G Express Chipset.