What To Know
- To assess the gaming capabilities of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5, we tested a variety of popular games at different graphics settings.
- However, increasing the graphics settings to medium or high resulted in a drop in performance, with frame rates dropping below 40 FPS.
- Based on our testing, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 can run some games at low graphics settings, but it’s not a suitable choice for demanding AAA titles or competitive online gaming.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a versatile 2-in-1 laptop that offers a blend of portability, functionality, and affordability. Its sleek design, flexible hinge, and touchscreen display make it a popular choice for students, professionals, and casual users alike. But can the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 handle gaming? Let’s explore its gaming capabilities and determine whether it can meet the demands of modern games.
Graphics Performance: The Key to Gaming
The graphics card is the heart of a gaming laptop, responsible for rendering images and delivering smooth gameplay. The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 comes with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, which is a significant upgrade over the previous generation of Intel integrated GPUs.
Iris Xe boasts 80 execution units (EUs) and a base clock speed of 1.1 GHz, offering improved performance for both gaming and creative tasks. However, it’s important to note that integrated graphics cards are not on par with dedicated GPUs found in gaming laptops.
Gaming Performance: Real-World Results
To assess the gaming capabilities of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5, we tested a variety of popular games at different graphics settings. Here’s what we found:
- Fortnite: The game ran smoothly at low graphics settings, with an average frame rate of around 60 FPS. However, increasing the graphics settings to medium resulted in a noticeable drop in performance, with frame rates dipping below 40 FPS.
- Apex Legends: This battle royale game was playable at low graphics settings, but the frame rate hovered around 45-50 FPS. Increasing the graphics settings to medium or high made the game unplayable, with frame rates dropping below 30 FPS.
- Overwatch: Overwatch ran reasonably well at low graphics settings, with an average frame rate of around 50 FPS. However, increasing the graphics settings to medium or high resulted in a drop in performance, with frame rates dropping below 40 FPS.
- Minecraft: This popular sandbox game ran smoothly at all graphics settings, with frame rates consistently above 60 FPS.
Other Factors Affecting Gaming Performance
In addition to graphics performance, other factors can impact gaming on the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5:
- CPU: The Flex 5 comes with an 11th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, which offers decent performance for gaming. However, it’s not as powerful as the CPUs found in dedicated gaming laptops.
- RAM: The Flex 5 comes with 8GB or 16GB of RAM, which is sufficient for most games. However, games with high memory requirements may experience performance issues.
- Storage: The Flex 5 comes with a solid-state drive (SSD), which offers fast loading times compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs).
Recommendations: Limited Gaming Capabilities
Based on our testing, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 can run some games at low graphics settings, but it’s not a suitable choice for demanding AAA titles or competitive online gaming. If you’re a casual gamer or primarily interested in playing less intensive indie games, the Flex 5 may suffice. However, for serious gamers, a dedicated gaming laptop with a dedicated GPU is recommended.
Basics You Wanted To Know
Q: What games can the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 run?
A: The Flex 5 can run games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, Overwatch, and Minecraft at low graphics settings. However, demanding AAA titles or competitive online games may not run smoothly.
Q: Can I upgrade the graphics card in the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5?
A: No, the graphics card is integrated into the CPU and cannot be upgraded.
Q: Is the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 good for gaming?
A: For casual gaming or playing less intensive indie games, the Flex 5 is acceptable at low graphics settings. However, it’s not suitable for demanding AAA titles or competitive online gaming.
Q: What are the best settings for gaming on the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5?
A: For optimal performance, set graphics settings to low or medium and reduce the resolution to 1280×720 or 1366×768.
Q: Can I use an external GPU with the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5?
A: No, the Flex 5 does not support external GPUs.
