It seems the integrated HD-4000 graphics in Intel's upcoming i7-3770k CPU is able to deliver playable frame rates for Skyrim and most other games at 1680x1050 resolution, close to the performance of the Nvidia GT 440 or AMD 6550D dedicated graphics cards.


http://www.anandtech.com/show/5626/ivy-bridge-preview-core-i7-3770k/11

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5626/ivy-bridge-preview-core-i7-3770k/15

Does this suggest that within the next couple years even the cheapest desktops and laptops will be able to run popular AAA games? Or do you think games will become more demanding?

I didn't realize OEMs would be shipping even the cheapest desktops and laptops with an i7 chip... I may have to reconsider building my own rigs

It's also obvious that games will become more demanding

*googles Ubiquitous*



Ubiquitous: Being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time

Yes, this is true, and I suppose it's hard to foresee in what ways future games might be more demanding.

However, it's surprising to note that many inexpensive laptops and desktops already on the market can provide playable frame rates for many popular games at console resolution (720p) or better. I recall the old days when you really needed a top of the line, expensive desktop PC to run most games. I suppose a lot depends upon the specs of the next generation of consoles and how that might drive game development, but it seems that the installed base of PCs capable of running AAA games has been steadily increasing over the past few years.

It's a high-end feature now, sure, but it's one that I can see gradually filtering down the whole range. So a few years down the track from now, it may indeed become common .

The vast majority of games do and will limit themselves to whatever consoles are current, and can often have various things turned off so they'll run on even less powerful systems. Given that the Xbox 360 has been around for over six years now, consoles tend to use hardware that's slightly old from the start, and half a decade is reasonable to expect from the next generation, low-end desktops and laptops will have plenty of time to catch up.

You forgot to mention the fact that it's on lowest settings. For Crysis Warhead they renamed the "Low, Medium, High, Very High" to "Performance, Mainstream, Gamer, Enthusiast". Then it suddenly seems much less impressive.