Can Lenovo Yoga 910 Handle Dark Souls 3?
The Lenovo Yoga 910 is a versatile and stylish 2-in-1 laptop designed to cater to the needs of both casual and professional users. With its sleek design, powerful performance, and flexibility, the Yoga 910 has become a popular choice for many. However, when it comes to gaming, particularly running graphics-intensive titles like Dark Souls 3, many gamers wonder: can the Lenovo Yoga 910 really handle such demanding games? In this article, we’ll dive deep into the technical aspects of the Lenovo Yoga 910 to help you understand if it’s up to the task of running Dark Souls 3.
Understanding the Lenovo Yoga 910’s Specifications
Before we explore whether the Lenovo Yoga 910 can run Dark Souls 3, let’s take a closer look at its specifications. The performance of a gaming laptop is heavily influenced by its hardware components, including the processor (CPU), graphics card (GPU), and RAM. Here’s a breakdown of the key specs of the Lenovo Yoga 910:
- Processor: Intel Core i7-7500U, 7th Gen (up to 3.5 GHz)
- Graphics Card: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR3
- Storage: 256GB SSD (upgradable)
- Display: 13.9-inch 4K IPS touchscreen
These specs are impressive for general productivity, media consumption, and casual gaming, but they raise some concerns when it comes to running a demanding game like Dark Souls 3. The most significant factor here is the lack of a dedicated graphics card, which is often necessary for smooth gameplay in high-end titles.
What Does Dark Souls 3 Require?
Before we can determine if the Lenovo Yoga 910 can handle Dark Souls 3, it’s important to understand the system requirements for this game. Here’s what the developers recommend for optimal performance:
- Minimum Requirements:
- OS: Windows 7 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD FX-6300
- Memory: 6GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti or AMD Radeon HD 7950
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 25GB available space
- Recommended Requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i7-3770 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
- Memory: 8GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 25GB available space
As you can see, the Lenovo Yoga 910 falls short in a few key areas when compared to the recommended specs, especially in terms of the GPU. The Yoga 910’s integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 is nowhere near as powerful as the recommended GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 580, which are standard in mid-range gaming laptops.
Can You Play Dark Souls 3 on Lenovo Yoga 910?
Now that we have a clear understanding of the system requirements for Dark Souls 3 and the Lenovo Yoga 910’s specs, let’s discuss whether the Yoga 910 can run this game. The answer is not straightforward, as it depends on various factors such as game settings, resolution, and whether you’re willing to sacrifice some visual quality for performance.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:
- Low Settings: On low settings, the Lenovo Yoga 910 may be able to run Dark Souls 3 at a playable frame rate, but it will not offer the smoothest experience. Expect reduced textures, lower draw distances, and some occasional stuttering.
- Medium Settings: At medium settings, you may experience a choppy framerate, especially during intense combat scenes or in areas with heavy visual effects. The game will likely run at around 30 FPS, but it won’t be a smooth experience.
- High Settings: On high settings, the Lenovo Yoga 910 will struggle significantly. You may encounter frequent frame drops, especially in demanding areas, making the gameplay experience less enjoyable.
In summary, while you can technically run Dark Souls 3 on the Lenovo Yoga 910, it is not an ideal gaming machine for this type of game. If you want to play the game at a decent level of performance, you would need to lower the graphics settings significantly, which might not provide the optimal experience you’re hoping for.
How to Optimize Dark Souls 3 on Lenovo Yoga 910
If you’re determined to play Dark Souls 3 on your Lenovo Yoga 910, there are some optimizations and adjustments you can make to improve performance:
- Lower the Resolution: Reducing the game’s resolution can significantly improve performance. Try setting it to 1280×720 or even lower to increase frame rates.
- Adjust Graphics Settings: Set graphics settings to low or medium. Disable unnecessary visual effects such as shadows, anti-aliasing, and ambient occlusion to improve performance.
- Use External Cooling: Laptops tend to overheat when running demanding games. Use a cooling pad or external fan to prevent thermal throttling, which can negatively impact performance.
- Close Background Applications: Before launching the game, close unnecessary background processes and applications to free up system resources.
- Update Drivers: Make sure your graphics and CPU drivers are up to date to ensure optimal performance.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with optimizations, you may encounter some issues while playing Dark Souls 3 on your Lenovo Yoga 910. Here are a few common problems and their potential fixes:
- Low Frame Rates: If you’re experiencing low frame rates, try lowering the resolution and disabling background applications as mentioned above. You can also check for overheating issues and use a cooling pad.
- Game Crashes or Freezes: Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements, and check for any system updates or patches for the game. If the game continues to crash, try reinstalling it.
- Graphical Glitches: Update your graphics drivers and tweak in-game graphics settings to resolve visual glitches.
Is the Lenovo Yoga 910 a Good Gaming Laptop for Dark Souls 3?
While the Lenovo Yoga 910 is an excellent device for productivity, media consumption, and light gaming, it is not the best choice for playing demanding games like Dark Souls 3. The lack of a dedicated graphics card and the relatively low power of the integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 mean that you will have to compromise significantly on graphical settings and resolution to get a playable experience.
If gaming is a primary concern, you might want to consider investing in a laptop with a dedicated GPU, such as the Lenovo Legion series or a different gaming-focused model. These laptops come with more powerful GPUs and better overall performance for gaming.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Lenovo Yoga 910 can technically run Dark Souls 3, but it’s not designed for high-end gaming. If you’re looking to enjoy the game with high graphics quality and smooth performance, the Yoga 910 may fall short. However, with the right optimizations, you can still experience the game, albeit with some sacrifices in visual quality and performance.
If you’re a casual gamer or someone who doesn’t mind tweaking settings to get the best performance, the Lenovo Yoga 910 might suffice. But for serious gaming, consider a laptop with more robust specifications, such as a dedicated GPU, to ensure an enjoyable experience.
For more detailed reviews on gaming laptops, check out this TechRadar guide on gaming laptops.
This article is in the category Yoga Practices and created by YogaMindFully Team