Intel (Integrated) Graphics: Are They Really That Bad for Gaming?

[BlackMod]

They are designed for high-end laptops. When running on battery and doing basic processes like web browsing, the integrated card is used. When playing games or doing intense work the dedicated card activates.

Its to save power.

beat me to it.

[Ad Bot]

[Tammy]

Define "decent".

Meaning you can barely see whats going on, or smooth enough to trick the eye? Many people have low standards for playing their games on their cheap disposable $300-500 laptops, as I called them for various reasons.

Well my sister doesn't seem to have a problem with the performance, but she probably has low standards.

plus, intel doesn't support GLSL shaders :S

Actually newer Intel graphics do support up to shader model 5.0.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Intel_graphics_processing_units

It depends on which Intel integrated chip you're talking about.  Mid/lower end "GMA" or "Graphics Media Accelerator" series ones are absolute garbage and can barely handle mediocre 3D.

The newer ones, i.e. Intel HD 3000, are okay.  They don't do intense 3D really well but they can get some basic low end 3D gaming done.  At least they can handle high resolution videos and etc. though.

Makes sense. I think lower end integrated graphics are giving all of them a worse reputation then they deserve.

Intel Graphics cards are not designed for gaming, they are designed for Internet and basic multimedia. Many Intel cards, especially the older GMA ones, can't even support newer versions of DirectX.

If that wasn't bad enough many (if not all) Intel cards are integrated which isn't ideal to put it kindly. You don't buy a computer that only has Intel graphics if you want to game. These cards often have low memory capability. They simply can't process game graphics efficiently. Some of the newer HD cards are OKAY but again you aren't going to get good gaming performance. You might get mediocre gaming ability with some games. Some.

Being able to play games on them does't make them good. It just means you were lucky enough to find a game that can be stretched to run on it. You can play Portal with an older Intel card, but only on low settings.

Yeah integrated graphics are usually optimized for multimedia and low power consumption.

[Sheath]

Yeah integrated graphics are usually optimized for multimedia and low power consumption.

Mmm exactly, thats why they are in laptops and mini-itx devices more often than anything.

But if they are in your desktop its not a good sign. :3

beat me to it.

I guess you are of the "laptop brotherhood" as well since you referenced switchable graphics early in the topic haha.

[Tammy]

Found some benchmarks for Intel HD Graphics 4000:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ivy-bridge-benchmark-core-i7-3770k,3181-5.html

Looks like Skyrim is almost playable at 1280x720, probably not good enough for a true gamer but it would work if you're stuck in the middle of nowhere and only had your laptop.

[Nickelob Ultra]

Makes sense. I think lower end integrated graphics are giving all of them a worse reputation then they deserve.

what's the point
I mean wtf? why would you ever need or want to switch to an integrated GPU
just seems like a waste of space/money to me

Conserve battery / not create a bunch of heat for just the internet.

For instance, my Lenovo Y580 has a Geforce GTX 660M and an Intel HD 3000 onboard.  The Nvidia drivers automatically select whether to use the Intel 3000 or the GTX660M for rendering.  It's not dumb either, it intelligently decides based on the game.  Generally any game I launch it uses the GTX660M unless it's very old or non-demanding.

[Messes]

I never understood how people think running games at low or medium is even remotely decent

Seriously, cough up the loving money for a good computer/gpu and play games how they were actually meant to be played.

"PC gaming" with low settings is just laughable.

[Nickelob Ultra]

I never understood how people think running games at low or medium is even remotely decent

Seriously, cough up the loving money for a good computer/gpu and play games how they were actually meant to be played.

"PC gaming" with low settings is just laughable.

It is.  I could barely enjoy Crysis 1 at 25-30 FPS on a ye olde 6800XT.

[Tammy]

I never understood how people think running games at low or medium is even remotely decent

Seriously, cough up the loving money for a good computer/gpu and play games how they were actually meant to be played.

"PC gaming" with low settings is just laughable.

Sometimes low settings is better than nothing. But now I have my MacBook Pro (it's no gaming notebook, but at least it has a dedicated card) so I can play games anywhere AND have good quality.

[Sheath]

I never understood how people think running games at low or medium is even remotely decent

Seriously, cough up the loving money for a good computer/gpu and play games how they were actually meant to be played.

I guess it depends who you are.

Some people can't afford better computers, own laptops, or don't have the money / means / knowledge to replace hardware in their desktop. If its a case of playing the game or not, people will choose to play.

I personally find medium pretty fine for games. Some games have really strong settings, for example low textures in Garrys Mod make graphics on props become borderline incomprehensible blobs. Yet in other games it'll just make textures slightly rougher or remove a bit of smoothness. There is no one definition of what low settings are in a game.

[Tammy]

There is no one definition of what low settings are in a game.

Yeah, what do you call it when one turns texture detail and model detail to low, but then turns on 16x AA?