Leroux: Does it have to be action-oriented RPGs? I think you'd be on the safe side with all the turn-based indie RPGs by Spiderweb Software, like Geneforge, Avadon, Avernum series. The Shadowrun games should probably run on it, too. And of course, anything older than Neverwinter Nights and Dungeon Siege, if you're up for that and haven't played it yet (all the old D&D games from Pool of Radiance to Icewind Dale 2, for example, or Fallout, Arcanum etc.).
I think NWN and Dungeon Siege will run on it, too, and newer games in that vein as well, but with 3D games there's always a chance that they will make the laptop run a bit hot, reducing its life expectation. I'm far from being an expert on hardware, just my personal experience and fears.
I'm intending buying a more capable laptop further down the line so life expentancy isn't necessarily a concern. I started a Shadowrun game ages ago and never finished it, might give that a go. Thanks.
Maxvorstadt: Well, I`m playing on a Intel HD 3000, so the games I can play should run just fine on your laptop:
Ember
Fallout: New Vegas
Heroes of Hammerwatch
Dragon Age: Origins
Diablo
Two Worlds (Epic Edition)
Driftmoon
Neverwinter Nights Diamond Edition
Regions of Ruin
Xanadu Next
Legend of Heroes: Trails in the sky (but trees and fences are not drawn correctly)
Lords of Xulima (Movement is a bit "stuttering", but fights are flawless)
Sacred Gold
Torchlight
Torchlight II
TES IV: Oblivion
Just to mention the RPGs I have installed right now. :-) And all of them are on GoG, isn`t that fantastic, eh?
Thank you. At least I know I can try some of these.
CaptainSokrates: I need some suggestions for RPG games that will run on an old laptop.
timppu: This applies also (and especially!) to new laptops, and your case too:
https://www.gog.com/forum/baldurs_gate_series/100_cpu_usage_modern_computer_whats_up/page1 So in short, those original Infinity Engine RPGs (list below) try to use all CPU cycles they can find for no good reason, overheating your laptop (or at least making its fans blowing noisily at full speed, using more electricity etc.).
So if you intend to play those legendary Infinity Engine RPGs, the workaround is to set Windows to use a Power Plan where you limit the max CPU speed of the laptop.
For instance, I am now playing Icewind Dale 2 on a new laptop, and whenever I play it, I use a power plan which restricts the max CPU speed to 20% (or was it even 10%) of the maximum. The game doesn't need more, it runs just as fine as it would if I let it use all CPU power, but now the fans run more quietly and the laptop runs cooler (and if I was playing on battery power, the battery would last longer too).
The affected games:
Baldur's Gate 1-2
Planescape Torment
Icewind Dale 1-2
(not sure if there are others, like Arcanum etc.)
Note: the newer Enhanced Editions of those games don't have the same issue, there you don't need to restrict the CPU speed of your laptop.
https://www.gog.com/forum/baldurs_gate_series/baldurs_gate_12_enhanced_editions_also_100_or_50_cpu_usage/page1 Thanks for the advice, noted.
Matewis: Another shoutout for the infinity engine games: Baldur's Gate 1&2, Icewind Dale 1&2 and Planescape Torment. And of course Fallout 1 and 2 as Leroux mentioned, which to me at least is way better. Or Arcanum: Steamworks for the Fallout gameplay style in a weird magic+steam-tech universe.
Thank you.