Yes, you can play Cyberpunk 2077 without a dedicated graphics card
Modern integrated graphics have moved far beyond lightweight games. With the right settings, even games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Far Cry 6 and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla can be playable without a dedicated GPU.
Desktop APUs such as the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G and Ryzen 7 8700G pair their CPU cores with Radeon 760M and Radeon 780M integrated graphics. You still need realistic settings, and FSR can make a big difference, but a dedicated graphics card is no longer required just to get started.
Important: FPS varies with RAM speed, drivers, BIOS, cooling and the exact settings used. The figures below are examples from published testing, not guaranteed performance for every system.
Cyberpunk 2077 Official Gameplay Trailer
Want more PC gaming coverage like this?
Get more game features, reviews, interviews, indie coverage, hardware tests, and gaming news from Fix Gaming Channel.
Join Our Newsletter
Stay updated with the latest interviews, previews, and indie gaming news.
1. Cyberpunk 2077
This is the game that makes the list interesting. Ryzen 7 8700G testing has shown around 45 FPS at native 1080p on low settings, while FSR Balanced can push performance to around 60 FPS. No ray tracing, obviously — but this is still Cyberpunk running without a graphics card.
2. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is surprisingly comfortable on the Radeon 780M. One Ryzen 7 8700G test reached around 83 FPS at medium settings with FSR Balanced.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Launch Trailer
3. Far Cry 6
Far Cry 6 is another strong example. Ryzen 7 8700G testing reached around 73 FPS at 1080p with FSR Balanced in one test — impressive territory for integrated graphics.
Far Cry 6 Gameplay Trailer
4. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Shadow of the Tomb Raider reached roughly 55 FPS at 1080p on low settings in one Radeon 780M test, climbing to around 65 FPS with FSR. It remains a good-looking showcase for an APU build.
5. Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn is another game that looks far too ambitious for integrated graphics, yet Radeon 780M benchmark results have landed around 47 FPS at 1080p medium. Configuration makes a significant difference here.
Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition PC Launch Trailer
6. Borderlands 3
Borderlands 3 can also benefit heavily from AMD’s upscaling options. Hyper-RX produced a substantial performance increase in Ryzen 8000G testing, although aggressive upscaling can trade image quality for extra frames.
7. F1 23
F1 23 gives the integrated GPU a very different workload: high-speed racing. The Ryzen 5 8600G delivered a major generational improvement over the older 5700G in testing, with upscaling available if you need more performance.
8. Grand Theft Auto V
GTA V may be older, but it is still one of the most useful games for showing what a cheap gaming PC can do. The Radeon 760M and 780M can both handle it without requiring a dedicated graphics card.
Grand Theft Auto V Official Trailer
9. Dota 2
Competitive games are where an APU build makes even more sense. Dota 2 is far less demanding than the AAA games above, making high frame rates much easier to reach on modern Radeon integrated graphics.
10. Rocket League
Rocket League is probably the easiest recommendation on the list. It is a much lighter workload than Cyberpunk or Horizon, and 1080p gaming is realistic on both the Radeon 760M and 780M.
Rocket League Free to Play Cinematic Trailer
Your RAM Matters More Than You Might Think
Integrated graphics use system memory instead of dedicated VRAM, so RAM speed can have a noticeable effect on gaming performance. Tom’s Hardware recorded a 16% overall performance improvement when tuning a Ryzen 5 8600G with DDR5-6400, with most of the gain coming from memory performance.
Their DDR5-6000 testing was only around three percent behind DDR5-6400, making DDR5-6000 a sensible target if the price is better.
Build the PC Now, Add the Graphics Card Later
That is probably the best reason to consider an APU. You can build the PC first, play everything from Rocket League and Dota 2 to Far Cry 6 and even Cyberpunk 2077, then add a dedicated GPU later if you want higher resolutions, settings and frame rates.
A PC without a graphics card does not have to mean a PC without serious games anymore.
Related Reading
Fix Gaming Recommends: Budget PC Gaming Gear Worth Buying
Why Soaring RAM and SSD Prices Feel Personal to PC Gamers
PS5 With an Ultrawide Monitor? I Tested Cyberpunk 2077 on a 32:9 Screen
Written by Ronny Fiksdahl, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Fix Gaming Channel.
Send interview pitches, corrections, tips, or developer stories to contact@fixgamingchannel.com.
Support independent games coverage on Ko-fi.
