RLASKEY: words

The Intel Core i3-530 is the cheapest of the new lot of Intel processors, currently selling for a bit over $100 new.  What’s impressive about the chip is that it includes an “HD” GPU embedded within the CPU chip.  Put this into a motherboard with HDMI out, and you can play back 1080p video with 7.1 audio without a hitch; no additional graphics card required.  Add on some very low power requirements, and the result is a great way to a new PC.

As I mentioned a few days ago, I recently got the itch for some video games re: the Steam summer sale.  While most game specifies a minimum requirement of a certain ATI or NVIDIA chipset, my standards weren’t all that crazy, seeing as I’ve been rather happy with Quake 3, and even Quake 2.  If the Intel Graphics within the i3-530 can do 1080p video adequately, I was rather sure it could handle some basic introductory level for the games of yore (here, “yore” referring to less than ten years).

The result?  If you can stand to not be working with the latest and greatest games; if you can deal with low resolutions, with most of the detail turned off.. then you have yourself a hell of a deal.

The Bad: “GRID” from Codemasters

Of the list I have compiled here, which is admittedly very short, GRID is probably about the worst performer of the bunch.  Released in 2007, it runs halfway reasonably on the Core i3-530, with the low quality preset, with additional settings then removed.  We’re then talking about 800×600 resolution, with an incredible amount of jagged edges that seem to about make the eyes bleed.

There could be a few reasons for the poor performance: it may be that there are specific graphical elements which are designed specifically to work best with NVIDIA or ATI graphics cards.  It could be that the underlying graphics engine is just not quite as tuned for the PC as it could be.  It also is certainly due in part to the fact that even with these lowest settings, the game still holds a lot of graphic complexity, in its textures and styling.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that my “bad” rating is only in response to running the game with what is essentially less than the minimum requirements.  As a racing game fan, even with the above considerations I’ve had a really wonderful time with the game as is.

Not great: “Street Fighter IV” from Capcom

SF4 is a step up in some ways from GRID.  It’s possible to disable more of the graphical effects, which lends towards decent framerates if the quality of the image isn’t as much of a concern.  800×600 is again the highest resolution that gives any sort of playable results, and even then most of the graphical options need to be disabled in order to keep gameplay running smoothly.  Even so, we’re talking about being able to experience and play a game that otherwise would be out of reach for an extra amount of cash.

Reasonable: “Defense Grid: The Awakening” from Hidden Path

Defense Grid is a tower defense game.  Graphics isn’t all that much of a concern here, since there aren’t quite as many crazy things going on inside the screen as in the other examples.  The Core i3-530 GPU works well enough at 1024×768 with a medium graphics setting.  It plays well and looks about as good as it needs to in order to provide the amount of entertainment you’d expect.

Stunning: “Team Fortress 2″ from Valve

TF2 runs on the Source engine from Valve; I haven’t tried other games that use Source, though for the example of TF2 the results are outstanding.  The Intel GPU handles this game stunningly well at 720p with graphics settings up towards the higher side of medium.  It looks great, and is incredibly fun and entertaining.

I did at one point experience a single instance where the screen got garbled up; I had to restart the game, and I haven’t seen it again since.  Steam is counting me at 6 hours of gameplay so far (which flew by, for what it’s worth).  I imagine that this, if it is a major issue, will be sorted out in patches at some point, so unless I hear any comments to the contrary it seems a non-issue.

Honestly, though, Valve is hereby a gold standard in how to make a game perform extremely well with limited resources.

Closing comments

YMMV (“your mileage may vary”) is about the most relevant comment as it pertains to any part of the above.  I am obviously not arguing that graphics cards are an obsolete quantity; however with so many articles out there blindly saying that a video card is a must, I wanted to put out a contrary opinion.  I’m not morally opposed to graphics cards, and if anything certain games as I’ve listed show their necessity.  Even so, graphics cards suck up extra power, and in certain cases can add a fair amount of heat and noise to a PC.  It is important to evaluate what exactly it is you want, and I hope these words can offer some help in arriving at a more informed decision.  Happy gaming, and do feel free to comment if you have more examples from your experiences.

Steam has been around for a long while now.  I remember its origins as it peeked its head out from Valve Software.  It caused problems and sometimes would allegedly lock people out of their content.  I never bought into it, though since my PS3 hit the YLOD I’ve made some motions towards gaming on a PC once again.

In 2010, it seems to me that Steam actually gets DRM right on the money.  This has probably been true for years, since they worked out the initial bugs in the system.  It’s also coming after years of DRM done terribly, terribly poorly.  Indeed, the idea behind Steam is that when you buy the game, you actually have rights to the game regardless of where you access it.  The caveat: you have to log into the computer to have the Steam system say that you are a legitimate owner of the content; and logging into one machine means another must be offline.

Currently, Steam is offering some incredible discounts to a number of games; I don’t imagine there’s a better time to enter in the system.  I’ve thus far bought Defense Grid: The Awakening ($5), GRID ($5), and Audiosurf ($2.50).  They all run (albeit, with all the graphical options at the bottom levels) on my Core i3-530 system with the integrated GPU; and it’s a hell of a lot of content for less than $10.  id Software is also on my radar, with a “Super Pack” currently for $35; and, well, many many more options.  Most of these deals stop by July 4th, which is coming up quickly.. so check it out while the pickings are still good.