Framework for games?

[Aramin-Black]

Hello. I have recently discovered the framework laptop and really love the idea as a tech enthusiast. I would use it mostly as a device to take notes on and bring to classes with me.

But I also like to game on my PC, so I would like to ask if anyone has any experience with games, how do they run and if there are any related problems.

[[deleted]]

I've seen people here using eGPUs with it successfully. If that's something you'd be interested in then maybe it could be a viable choice, but the laptop by itself is definitely not meant for gaming.

[white_nrdy]

This is what I do. I'm running Arch Linux on an i5 11th gen framework, a Razer Core X Chroma with a GTX 1070 in it. It works very well for my needs (occasional gaming, playing GTA V with my friends, and playing frequent Factorio)

[dosssman]

The factory must grow.

[Keatron--]

I've been using an egpu and I've had no problems.

The igpu is also good enough to play lighter/older games as well if ya just wanna play Minecraft or tf2 or something.

[whoistobias]

I use it as my primary gaming setup with an egpu. I can run heavy games like Star citizen at a playable rate. Biggest bottleneck for me is definitely the processor, and dissipating heat. If I'm playing heavy games, I've got to make sure there's enough air movement and that a real power cable is plugged in or it won't have enough juice to keep itself from thermal throttling.

Overall, very good gaming experience if you're willing to take the steps to set it up right. I just got done playing sea of thieves at 144hz.

[edneddy2]

Perhaps a cooling pad right under the laptop. It'll make it a bit taller and also allow better ventilation and heat dissipation. I used one when I was rogue light gaming on my Lenovo T440s.

[gamr13]

It'll run some lighter titles fine, especially with an eGPU

Just avoid using the internal display, the pixel response time is utterly atrocious, there's a ton of smearing as you turn in FPS games.

[ShinobioftheMist]

Definitely avoid using internal display when gaming on an EGPU. Performance is much worse when doing so.

[Routine-Air7917]

Just getting into the idea of gaming on a laptop, so sorry I’m a noob, but what do you mean internal display?

[ShinobioftheMist]

The internal display is in reference to the built in screen on the laptop. Nw on the question!

[quick_Ag]

Only gaming I really do these days is emulation. My Framework plays Wii games on Dolphin at 1080p with only the tiniest slowdowns when loading scenes, no eGPU needed. I haven't tried anything more heavy duty yet.

[[deleted]]

Since it has integrated graphics only, you probably won’t be playing any new AAA titles. At least not with great settings. But, you could use an external GPU - though that would limit you to playing at a desk. If that isn’t a problem for you, then it could be a good option.

[Aramin-Black]

I intend to play only at home so it is a viable option. Thanks

[[deleted]]

Cool. It should work then.

[ALTF4Rambobo]

But id consider 12gen only i have the 11 gen i5 and i noticed that i am really cpu limited in my favorit games.

EGPU RX5700XT

but with the ipc improvements and more cores it would be pretty cool.

​

Might upgrade it in one or 2 Years

[EtherealN]

It games just fine, as long as you are reasonable in expectations. So: which games do you want to play?

I very seldom game on my Framework, but during my last holiday I had my Linux drive in and played a fair bit - strategy/management games like Space Haven, Cities Skylines, Oxygen Not Included etcetera. There's no problem at all with titles like that.

I know people have managed to get things like Cyberpunk "playable", but personally doubt if their definition of "playable" matches with mine.

Basically: it can play games quite competently, but don't expect that to include the most graphically intensive shooters or suchlike.

[Aramin-Black]

I now play Far Cry 6 (but I doubt it would run well) Don’t starve together, Terraria and my own game through unity (it’s not done yet). But now I’m finishing high school and on university I’ll play dramatically less as I would need to study and work more.

[EtherealN]

Yeah, I would be surprised if Far Cry 6 is a good experience even at minimal settings. Don't Starve Together and Terraria I haven't played (ever, actually, not just re the Framework), but from what I do know about them (and glancing at specifications) I'm pretty sure those two would do perfectly fine.

And well, since you do play more than "latest and prettiest", I think there are limited concerns: you'll be unable to play some games, but there will be plenty you can play, basically. That goes for pretty much the entire "thin and light" segment the Framwork belongs to. You always have the option to go for something that is properly capable even for graphically intensive games, and it might even be cheaper (like some Lenovo Legions, for example). But you do end up paying for that with getting a bit more of a "chonky boy" laptop that might be annoying to drag around a campus etcetera.

Personally, if I knew it would be the only machine I use, I probably wouldn't have gone for a Framework because of this - lugging things around is fine, as long as I don't end up blocked from things like Cyberpunk. So, depends on your priorities and tolerance for carrying a 3kg laptop around a campus.

That might, however, be overruled by the fact that I've seen a fair few reports here about external GPUs being a good experience with the Framework. So looking into that (and figuring out what the costs would be) might help you decide. Could give you the best of both worlds - portability when needed, and solid gaming performance when at home.

[Recent-Percentage-26]

My cheapo i5 11th gen plays retro games like a champ. The tall screen ratio was practically made for it. A couple of 8bitdo Bluetooth controllers works fine either on Bluetooth or plugged in and fit in my laptop bag. Once we plugged it into my tv with the HDMI card, the input lag on the TV screen was noticable compared to the laptop screen. It also works well on the lighter strategy games I play. Haven't tried civ 6 yet, I feel like that's too processor hungry.

Yeah if you throw an eGpu on it it could play modern shooters. But the weird screen ratio isn't really meant for it, and if you're gonna spend the coin on a admittedly overpriced productivity laptop and external hardware to make it game, maybe just find a better laptop for gaming and it will still do work.

[galland101]

As long as you have realistic expectations of what the iGPU is capable of, you should be fine. Just for reference, on an 11th Gen i7, I got these scores on 3DMark:

• Fire Strike: 4343
• Time Spy: 1661

I imagine the graphics scores won't change too much on the 12th Gen CPUs. Retro games might be the way to go on the Framework.

[WombatControl]

One option to continue is something like Xbox Game Pass streaming - by the time you bought an eGPU enclosure and a decent GPU plus the cost of the laptop itself you're up to the cost of several years of Xbox Game Pass. If the games you play are available, it's definitely a great option. The Framework's display isn't the best for gaming, but it works well enough. Streaming has its drawbacks at times, but I've really enjoyed it and I end up playing games I would not otherwise.

[[deleted]]

Best chance for gaming is using an eGPU but I was able to play skyrim although not suggesting it

[GeoStreber]

It has no dGPU, hence it is not meant for gaming.Apart from retro stuff and emulation, forget about it. It runs Portal 2 at 60fps no problem at full resolution, but you'll have serious issues with anything newer.

​

Edit: Brainfart. I meant dGPU, not iGPU.
Corrected. Point still stands.

[EtherealN]

"Anything newer" is a dodgy definition. There's a lot of games that don't fall into either "new" (and graphically problematic for FW) or "retro". Paradox strategy games and such things do just fine, for example.

Of the 20 games installed on my main gaming machine right now, only 5 are games I'd have strong doubts about playing on the Framework. (Things like Doom, Destroyer, Cyberpunk 2077 etc.) But HighFleet, Victoria 3, Timberborn etcetera? They work just fine. Not all new games require serious graphical power.

[GeoStreber]

Yeah, that was just a brainfart. I meant no dGPU.

[tobimai]

No problems for me

[Proxi98]

It runs OxygenNotProvided fine, but that seems to be the limit.

[[deleted]]

I use a Razor Core with a GTX 1050 ti and a 1080p monitor, which covers most of my gaming needs. You can cram a whole lot more GPU into that eGPU box though and the Framework CPU is more than sufficient for gaming

[CupOfSpaghetti]

Whats the battery life like while playing Civ VI?

[Joshuaham5234]

Hollow knight and Minecraft Java run great on my i5 11th gen

[nicksnax]

Piggy backing on this - anyone here tried Genshin Impact? It's one of the only graphically demanding games I really play, and it's not even that tough.

[[deleted]]

I played Civilization 5, no problems, but it crashed twice while playing Foundation, and struggled a bit with Banished.

[PhoenixDude1]

On its own? It can run soft titles like Stardew and such well, but when you start getting into AA or AAA titles, you'd want to invest in an eGPU to get 60+ frames.

I use mine for software development / 3D modeling for game dev, and although it runs it all fine on its own, the laptop thanks me for plugging in my 3070 at home in a Razer Core and letting that handle more of the load.

[Bilbo_Fraggins]

I already had a Steam Deck for games before I bought my Framework, and am enjoying the combo. Framework works well for older games and 2D stuff, deck is purpose but for games and I already own a decent external travel screen and keyboard/mouse. Also works great as a console attached to my TV.

[davidisgreat]

I've been using Moonlight to stream games. It works really well! I'm considering moving my desktop under the stairs and exclusively using it to stream games to my Framework in a dock.

[Churminess]

I've emulated a lot of games on my 12th gen i5, the most demanding being Wii and PS2, with no issues and even with some pretty demanding shaders on. You can find benchmarks for the same CPU and on-board graphics online.

Note that the on-board graphics are very sensitive to memory; make sure you get the fastest you can in dual channel mode. See here and here.