Big Gaming Question for Macbook Pros.

[immaj8]

Can I play Skyrim, Battlefield 3, or Black Ops on these Macbook Pros?

Apple MacBook Pro MD318LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop

2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 Processor
4 GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
500GB 5400rpm Hard Drive; 8x DVD/CD SuperDrive
15.4-Inch LED-backlit Display, 1440-by-900 Resolution; AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512MB GDDR5

and

Apple MacBook Pro MD313LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop

2.4 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 Processor or 2.8GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7 Processor
4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
500 GB Hard Drive, 8x DVD/CD SuperDrive
13.3-Inch LED-backlit Display, 1280-by-800 Resolution, Intel HD Graphics 3000

As long as the game runs smoothly in a decent quality on one of these. I know the first one is better but I'm most likely to buy the 13.3 inch due to prices.

 

[rpmor]

depends on how you define play (what settings you're after). the MBP13 is capable of running some games quite well (personal experience being HoN but i have read source titles run well) - by well i mean most things on high but post-processing effects of or on low (while maintaining high resolution). i.e. for HoN i can play it at 1920x1080 with the shaders, textures, and models quality set to high while the rest of the extras are turned off. runs well no hassles.

however Skyrim and BF3 would be entirely different beasts. what im saying is ultimately a 13inch will be fine for a select range of titles but otherwise the dedicated gpu of the 15inch (esp the higher end model) will better serve the gaming needs.

 

[mikeo007]

If the question is gaming, and the topic is low end MacBook pros, the answer is no.

 

[bill-p]

Short version: if it's gaming, and Battlefield 3 is involved, then forget 13".

The game barely runs on the 15", which is a lot more powerful.

 

[miles01110]

If you want to run high-end games you shouldn't be considering a portable in the first place.

 

[0186279]

For what its worth Skyirm runs smooth on low settings on my 2010 13" with 256mb 320m. But if I turn ANYTHING up it's all over.

That being said, these days you want to go for a 1gb graphics card for gaming as that is now pretty much standard. Do yourself a favor and futureproof your machine a bit more.

 

[rpmor]

If you want to run high-end games you shouldn't be considering a portable in the first place.

portables are capable now (upgrading aside). Asus N55SF for example. not outlandish pricing like the Gaming-centric laptops but just as capable.

 

[Stetrain]

The benchmarks posted in another thread for the Nvidia GT 650M, which is rumored to be in the new MBP expected to be announced at WWDC June 11, show that it's fairly capable of playing games like Battlefield 3 and Skyrim:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1371187/

 

[Ccrew]

If you want to run high-end games you shouldn't be considering an Apple portable in the first place.

Fixed it for you.

 

[Krazy Bill]

"Get the right tool for the job"

Never understood these heavy gaming discussions for Apple laptops. A dedicated gaming console on a big-assed screen seems like a no-brainer.

 

[Interstella5555]

Never understood these heavy gaming discussions for Apple laptops. A dedicated gaming console on a big-assed screen seems like a no-brainer.

Well, I'm a console gamer myself, but if you're trying to PC game (which you can also hook up to a big-assed tv), it seems foolish to consider A) a laptop, and B) an Apple product. I'll be playing the feces out of Diablo 3 on my MBP, but I'm not expecting to be running everything on high either. Manage your expectations and buy what you want.

 

[takeshi74]

Never understood these heavy gaming discussions for Apple laptops. A dedicated gaming console on a big-assed screen seems like a no-brainer.

Never understood anyone that thinks that any solution is one-size-fits-all. People game on all sorts of platforms despite the generalizations being tossed around in this thread.

 

[TWR Motorsport]

if you want to game on a Mac Laptop forget the 13".

You really need the 2.4 15"

 

[immaj8]

:d

SO 13" will not work as good. I should get 15"? At least playing medium or higher settings on 15"

 

[mikeo007]

SO 13" will not work as good. I should get 15"? At least playing medium or higher settings on 15"

You won't be playing any new games at high settings on any current generation Macbook. A 15" with a dedicated 6770m is currently your best option, and is significantly better than the 13" for gaming. But it's still not great by any means; most laptops aren't capable of maxing out the display settings for modern games.

 

[srxtr]

MacBooks are great for simple games like Angry Birds.

Any games with heavy graphics, you should look into desktops, imo

 

[immaj8]

You won't be playing any new games at high settings on any current generation Macbook. A 15" with a dedicated 6770m is currently your best option, and is significantly better than the 13" for gaming. But it's still not great by any means; most laptops aren't capable of maxing out the display settings for modern games.

Then my only choice is this laptop. Will it do in high settings?

ASUS N53SM-ES72 15.6-Inch Laptop

Intel Core i7-2670QM Processor
6 GB DIMM
750 GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive
15.6-Inch ScreenNvidia GT 630M
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

 

[omgitswes]

I don't know much about portable gaming. But have you looked into Alienware? I know they're overpriced but you can run pretty much every game on their machines.

 

[mikeo007]

Then my only choice is this laptop. Will it do in high settings?

ASUS N53SM-ES72 15.6-Inch Laptop

Intel Core i7-2670QM Processor
6 GB DIMM
750 GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive
15.6-Inch ScreenNvidia GT 630M
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

No, the GPU in this laptop is considerably worse than the 6770m and 6750m.

Take a look at this website: http://www.notebookcheck.net/
Search for the GPU in any laptop and it will give you some benchmarks to compare to. It should also tell you what frame rates certain games (like BF3) will run at.

The numbers under 3dmark06 and 3dmark vantage are good to compare different GPUs with.
Also note that they give you a range from high to low as well as an average for each benchmark. MacBooks will be on the lower end because of how Apple implements the GPUs in their machines.

 

[immaj8]

No, the GPU in this laptop is considerably worse than the 6770m and 6750m.

Take a look at this website: http://www.notebookcheck.net/
Search for the GPU in any laptop and it will give you some benchmarks to compare to. It should also tell you what frame rates certain games (like BF3) will run at.

The numbers under 3dmark06 and 3dmark vantage are good to compare different GPUs with.
Also note that they give you a range from high to low as well as an average for each benchmark. MacBooks will be on the lower end because of how Apple implements the GPUs in their machines.

Eh so I guess the macbook pro 15" would be better than that laptop. I only want to be able to play battlefield 3 and skyrim AT LEAST in medium quality. I will take low if I have to. But I researched that AMD Radeon HD 6750M which is the one I am willing to get (15") is good for Medium-High End games. Can play high end games pretty decently. But I'm questioning the 512 MB in the graphics card. Can you suggest me a cheap gaming laptop for high end games, and studies?

 

[mikeo007]

I'm looking at the benchmarks for BF3 on the 6750m right now and it pretty clearly says: the benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.

A cheap gaming laptop capable of playing newer games at high settings does not exist.

 

[immaj8]

I'm looking at the benchmarks for BF3 on the 6750m right now and it pretty clearly says: the benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.

A cheap gaming laptop capable of playing newer games at high settings does not exist.

Skyrim? on Macbook Pro 15" AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512MB GDDR5?

 

[mikeo007]

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Radeon-HD-6750M.43958.0.html

 

[DaveStl]

This is a tad off topic perhaps, but when it comes to gaming on my MBP (13 inch i5) I have found the biggest hindrance is not the lack of gpu horsepower it is the lack of a right mouse button. If you want to play Skyrim you must have a right mouse button. If you need to plug in a mouse and you have a 15" laptop already chances are you aren't playing on your lap (probably best for our male readers as the heat will probably sterilize you anyhow). You might as well at that point get a cheap desktop Windows system or an Xbox.

 

[immaj8]

This is a tad off topic perhaps, but when it comes to gaming on my MBP (13 inch i5) I have found the biggest hindrance is not the lack of gpu horsepower it is the lack of a right mouse button. If you want to play Skyrim you must have a right mouse button. If you need to plug in a mouse and you have a 15" laptop already chances are you aren't playing on your lap (probably best for our male readers as the heat will probably sterilize you anyhow). You might as well at that point get a cheap desktop Windows system or an Xbox.

Hard decision. Now since I FULLY understand Mac's are not good for gaming, SOMEONE PLEASE SUGGEST ME A GOOD GAMING LAPTOP, 13.3"-15.6" screen and under $1000 or in the range? I need a laptop for studying too!