Gaming: Which version of iMac

[iLikeMySelf]

Hello everyone,
So today is my birthday and my present is an iMac (since I have the intel white iMac that needs an upgrade).
I wanted to use my iMac as a gaming machine (although I do not really know which games I will play since I have a PS3).
Which model should I choose? Thank you.

[TMRaven]

The model with the best gpu will perform the best-- in this case, the highest end iMac with the advertised 5750 gpu.

[iLikeMySelf]

Does the processor and the screen size affect the performance?

[panzer06]

The model with the best gpu will perform the best-- in this case, the highest end iMac with the advertised 5750 gpu.

If 1920x1080 works w/o looking fuzzy I like the high end 27". I have the 24" with 4850 and it runs most games under Win7 quite well.

I also wonder how well SC2 will run at native res on the new 27...

Cheers,

[TMRaven]

The difference between 1920x1080 and 2560x1440 on windows is only 6-10 fps. (35fps vs 30fps when everything is maxed out, spare portraits to 2d)
On osx however, the same settings at 2560x1440 resolution is only 5fps, while 1920x1080 is 25fps.

So I could see why everybody on the forum always seems to jump the gun on 2560x1440 absolutely killing gpu performance, but it seems to be only true on osx when it comes to resolution-- windows side is unaffected. Those numbers tell me that the drivers under osx have a hard time dealing with the allocation and bandwidth of gpu's vram.

I also happen to think 1920x1080 does look fuzzy on 27". That's just me tho.

A lot of stuff on starcraft2 are ran by the cpu, and yes, the cpu will affect performance. The lynnfields are rated as the best gaming cpus for the iMac line at the moment.

[diegobgr]

Due to high resolution of 27", I will say 21,5" high-end.

[/V\acpower]

Due to high resolution of 27", I will say 21,5" high-end.

Don't listen to this.

The 27' iMac is way more decent for gaming.

And anyway, if you play in 1920x1080 window instead of fullscreen is will be almost the exact size as the 21.5 screen and then it will have better performance.

There is absolutely no way i would buy the 21.5 to play games.

[tommyav]

received a imac 21.5 i3 3.2 yesterday 5670 graphics. just been playing crysis in 1080p all high settings. No slowdown experienced and looks amazing. Will post a video over the weekend when i get chance.

[opera57]

If gaming it will probably be best to go for the high end 27" with the i5 or i7 if you want it to be remotely future proof! http://scottty.com/imgs/signature_silverapple.jpg

[cluthz]

received a imac 21.5 i3 3.2 yesterday 5670 graphics. just been playing crysis in 1080p all high settings. No slowdown experienced and looks amazing. Will post a video over the weekend when i get chance.

Strange, most gaming sites report the desktop 5670 to gain a measly 15 FPS running Crysis at that resolution. To get decent FPS (35-40) you need a 5850 or a nvidia 285. I don't have Crysis myself, but seems like only the 256-bit cards manage to get decent FPS in Crysis. The 5770 desktop is the fastest 128 bit card around, and it seems to be getting around 25-30 FPS at 1080p.

Sure you haven't turned down some shadows and AA?

[DesmoPilot]

Don't get an iMac for gaming (unless you're planning on playing older games). Video card offerings on the iMacs are lackluster (especially considering the resolution of the screens, and who wants to play a game on an LCD not at native resolution?).

[JordanNZ]

Don't get an iMac for gaming (unless you're planning on playing older games). Video card offerings on the iMacs are lackluster (especially considering the resolution of the screens, and who wants to play a game on an LCD not at native resolution?).

I'd hardly call the 5850 mobility "lackluster"... Sure, its not a desktop card, but as far as mobility cards go. It's hardly rubbish.

[pt0016]

received a imac 21.5 i3 3.2 yesterday 5670 graphics. just been playing crysis in 1080p all high settings. No slowdown experienced and looks amazing. Will post a video over the weekend when i get chance.

=O, are you sure? That would be awesome if it were true...

[DesmoPilot]

I'd hardly call the 5850 mobility "lackluster"... Sure, its not a desktop card, but as far as mobility cards go. It's hardly rubbish.

Not rubbish, just lackluster considering the resolution of the screens.

[TMRaven]

From my experiences with games like dirt2, sc2 and mw2, I havn't found the extra resolution to be that hampering.

[tommyav]

Strange, most gaming sites report the desktop 5670 to gain a measly 15 FPS running Crysis at that resolution. To get decent FPS (35-40) you need a 5850 or a nvidia 285. I don't have Crysis myself, but seems like only the 256-bit cards manage to get decent FPS in Crysis. The 5770 desktop is the fastest 128 bit card around, and it seems to be getting around 25-30 FPS at 1080p.

Sure you haven't turned down some shadows and AA?

Hi, I was playing it last night and it seemed fine to me. Will post the video today and have a play around with the settings. Don't get me wrong it's not blazing fast but fine if you want to play the odd game. If you wanted a ultimate gaming machine you wouldn't buy a Mac anyways!!!!

[tommyav]

Also, I've never played this game before so only on the first level. Maybe it won't play so well later if the levels get more graphic dependent.

As promised i've posted some footage of crysis running at 1080p with high settings for all except shadows which is medium. It does not make much difference to the overall look though.

link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWG-161gPJ4