PC Magazine - USA (2020-07)

(Antfer) #1

W


hile many PC enthusiasts look to high-end units or trick out their
own custom rigs with the latest hardware, some of us are cursed
with integrated graphics and two gigs of RAM. Though you can
actually build a gaming PC for less than $1,000, not everyone is going to take
the time to piece one together.

But just because you have an ancient, crappy laptop doesn’t mean you can’t play
JDPHV²LWMXVWPHDQV\RX¶OOKDYHWRPDNHDVDFUL¿FHKHUHRUWKHUH+HUHDUHD
few strategies that can help you start gaming, without needing to invest in a
super expensive rig.

LOWER YOUR GRAPHICS SETTINGS
Let’s start with the obvious: You’d be surprised how many games will run below
the minimum requirements, as long as you’re willing to give up some graphical
¿GHOLW\:KHQ\RXVWDUWXSDPRGHUQJDPHRQDORZVSHFFHGPDFKLQHLWPD\
not always use the most optimal graphics settings by default. So before you try
anything else, head into your game’s Video Options menu and turn down
everything as low as possible.

:KHQ,VD\³WXUQHYHU\WKLQJGRZQ ́,PHDQHYHU\WKLQJ1RWRQO\VKRXOG\RX
ORZHUIDQF\JUDSKLFDOH̆HFWVVXFKDVDQWLDOLDVLQJVKDGRZGHWDLODQGWH[WXUH
TXDOLW\EXW\RX¶OOZDQWWRFUDQNGRZQWKHUHVROXWLRQWRR,IUXQQLQJDJDPHDW
720p (or less) is what it takes to reach a playable framerate, that’s what you’ll
KDYHWRGR,ZDVVKRFNHGDWKRZZHOOVRPHRIP\WHVWJDPHVUDQRQD
ODSWRSZLWKLQWHJUDWHGJUDSKLFVDIWHUMXVWDIHZVHWWLQJVWZHDNV,I\RXDUHQ¶W
sure whether a game will run, Reddit’s /r/lowendgaming subreddit can be a
good resource to learn from other gamers’ experience.
Free download pdf