I get that FPS on all high settings, shadows/aa/low effects off with my 2011 MBA. Native resolution 1440x900 as well.
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13" MBA w/4GB RAM and HD 4000 - ok for casual gaming?
- Thread starter keelio
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I get that FPS on all high settings, shadows/aa/low effects off with my 2011 MBA. Native resolution 1440x900 as well.
Yet another one who can't understand the concept of casual gaming on an ultra thin portable, that starts from $999 btw not $1300.
Of course the option to buy an inexpensive gaming PC is available, but gamers are typically not going to choose an ultra portable machine, except for the Alienware M11x which is good value but is 80% thicker and looks like a Civic with neon underbody lights and a fart can.
Most casual gamers don't care about putting the highest settings, they use their computers 40 hours a week for work and maybe 2 or 3 for gaming. If they do care about graphics, a $200-300 game console is a much better value.
The fact that I can carry this anywhere with me and just spontaneously play a game say while I'm waiting for a meeting is priceless. I remember once playing Unreal Tournament 2004 with my old iBook while in the emergency room waiting for a doctor, sure made the 3 hour 45 minute wait easier. (The downside of Canadian public health care...)
I wouldn't really call it embarrassing, not really meant to play games on a Macbook air.
Besides, does your $1300 laptop include the same features and hardware as the macbook air? (sad, etc...?)
I'm thinking of buying a macbook air 11". Id love the Retina one but its out of my price league.
Would the upgraded 8GB help with Diablo and Warcraft?
Would I notice much improvement in gaming with the i7? Im only going to be playing Blizzard games.
thanks
Would the upgraded 8GB help with Diablo and Warcraft?
Would I notice much improvement in gaming with the i7? Im only going to be playing Blizzard games.
thanks
Weird im getting more then 30fps average (40-45 fps in cities) with latest intel drivers on windows 7 with my old 2011 macbook air.
I do know mac performance is bad at d3, but didnt know it was this bad.
My settings is 1440x900
then everything on low.
I do know mac performance is bad at d3, but didnt know it was this bad.
My settings is 1440x900
then everything on low.
Starcraft 2 always ran much better in Windows 7 Bootcamp on my MBP last year. I sold the MBP and just got an Air, so I may have to try Diablo 3 in Bootcamp on it. Anyone with a new Air able to give that a test run?
It definitely should. My roommate plays League of Legends on his 11" MBA on HD 3000 graphics.
Hey guys, can someone test BF3 on the new MBA please. Lowest settings possible with 800x600 and 1280x720 resolution.
I thought some people may want to see how well the hd 4000 runs on the macbook air 2012 so I made a Youtube video if anyone is curious:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlrkkiMJoDk&
I run Diablo 3 and starcraft 2. Keep in mind the frames are lower than usual due to the screen recorder software I used.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlrkkiMJoDk&
I run Diablo 3 and starcraft 2. Keep in mind the frames are lower than usual due to the screen recorder software I used.
nice work mate. Can you let me know what fps and settings you get on SC2 without recording? (sorry cant watch you tube yet as it is blocked at work)
Thanks Ninja. Its around 26-23fps without the recorder, but I am running it at 1440x900 mid low settings. As a hardcore gamer I am very impressed with the HD 4000. When I first started gaming, my laptop had integrated graphics and it could barely run medal of honor allied assault !
No I do not but I have parallels and if I can run bf3 and windows 8 I will make a video and let you know! If I recall bf3 runs horrendous on the HD 3000 so I don't expect it to be playable on the HD 4000Do you have BF3 and Windows installed on your MBA?
To answer the original question: Yes, the MBA described is "Ok" for casual gaming =)
I was routinely playing WoW and mid-level Steam games (well...the few available) on my 2011 MBA. No, you're not gonna run Crysis on it (or SC2 at a decent enough frame rate to be both competitive *and* happy with the look), but most fun stuff will run perfectly fine.
D3-wise, on the '11 I had to cut the res down to x720 to smooth things out.
Now with the '12, it looks like x800 is definitely playable...just drop the res one or two steps and then fiddle around with the settings until you get something that runs at a decent fps =)
Note, before I get flamed out of existence - No, it's not optimal. Yes, it's definitely very, very playable and enjoyable. I'm on a < 3lb ultrabook playing D3 at the coffee shop...not really gonna complain
I was routinely playing WoW and mid-level Steam games (well...the few available) on my 2011 MBA. No, you're not gonna run Crysis on it (or SC2 at a decent enough frame rate to be both competitive *and* happy with the look), but most fun stuff will run perfectly fine.
D3-wise, on the '11 I had to cut the res down to x720 to smooth things out.
Now with the '12, it looks like x800 is definitely playable...just drop the res one or two steps and then fiddle around with the settings until you get something that runs at a decent fps =)
Note, before I get flamed out of existence - No, it's not optimal. Yes, it's definitely very, very playable and enjoyable. I'm on a < 3lb ultrabook playing D3 at the coffee shop...not really gonna complain
I also have a low end 2012 13" MBA and everything set to low in settings, I got around 25-30 FPS and observe a HUGE drop down to 10 FPS if you play unplugged.
I guess it's all about the ULV processor, but I would love to know if anyone else have the same issue.
I guess it's all about the ULV processor, but I would love to know if anyone else have the same issue.
How would the 13' i5 handle old-school games like GTA San Andreas, Splinter Cell and the Unreal series, etc. ? Would it still go up to 100+ degrees Celsius and make the fan scream, or would it stay rather cool and silent?
Man, my i7 Quad + Dedicated Graphics card work PC laptop from November can't even play past a couple hours. And I use it for everything - Solidworks + Virtualbox + Netflix without a hiccup. Ars did an article that Gods and Thrones was supposed to help though.
With all the retro remakes like Baldurs Gate and Wasteland 2, there will be some pretty awesome games available on these little machines soon.
I am curious how the iOS ports in the Mac store play too.
I am curious how the iOS ports in the Mac store play too.
I remember when thunderbolt technology was being announced and hearing speculation on potential uses for it's high speed capability. Could this help the air get over any hurdles in terms of gaming? Could graphic cards be compounded to bolster the Air's capability?
Mac Book pros are not gaming power houses. They shine as content creation tool for people who actualy need a reliable work horse to get paid. It
's not somthing a young adult that works at a meager part time job would understand.
The 15" Mac Book pros have been the high end model and is no slouch for games. however a gaming PC could be build for far less. But that's not the point of the Mac book pro. It's an elegant computer that compromises nothing. It's lighter, faster, and sleaker than any PC laptop availible. Most PC laptops have intergrated Intel GPUs. The PCs that do have anything faster than that are thick, ugly, and have poor battery life (Alienware).
it an expensive laptop but it's price is actualy quite competitive with high end PC Laptops which can't match Mac Book's sleek design. ultra book PCs are all the rage since Mac Book air stole the show over 2 years ago. They are very under powered and come with a limited version of windows, Windows 7 home premium. Air comes with a full fledged OSX 10.7 (launch stock) or 10.8 (new stock), minus all those annoying crap-ware the OEMS put on the PCs.
With Windows 8 stinking up fouler than Vista, Mac can claim even more marketshare.
Guess I should have been more specific... I was saying 'look what this guy said' because at that point, he had zero negatives
I just need to open chrome, a few tab, an here I am above 4 gigas of RAM.
8 is the least you should consider
8 is the least you should consider
Well, people claim to be a casual gamer, only to find themselves want to have more and more into heavy gaming over time.
I'd say MBA would please you on a borrowed time. It's not a proper gaming device. Well it could, but not without hiccups, or overheats and unpleasant lags.
Soon you'd wish for better graphics, and you'll look somewhere else
I'd say MBA would please you on a borrowed time. It's not a proper gaming device. Well it could, but not without hiccups, or overheats and unpleasant lags.
Soon you'd wish for better graphics, and you'll look somewhere else