GTA IV is probably the biggest gaming reason to go up to 512. At 256, because of the resolution scaling, you're stuck at 800x600 unless you hack it or go up to 512.
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Gaming on 15" Macbook Pro
- Thread starter adamvk
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True that, and specially to render all those walking bypassers and cars, the extra 256MB is greatly appreciated in GTA IV
Whoever says you can play those games maxed out is smoking something. The Pro is a decent gaming machine, but nowhere near a dedicated desktop or even gaming laptop.
In the desktop counterpart, the 2600 pro is slower than the 8600 GT. Therefore, the 2.8 iMac with a 2600 pro would be only marginally better (if at all) to the MBP.
If you're looking for a gaming machine, look elsewhere - or if you're dead set on an apple product, the only step up would be the iMac with an 8800GS, or Mac Pro with your own GPU.
Basically. If you have a while, wait for the next iMac refresh and see what's sort of GPUs they offer. The current selection is pretty outdated.
Well I do like to game and its one of the things I do most.
I also DO want a Mac
I dont want to wait another month or so for an iMac refresh.
I also dont care if I can game at max settings, as long as they play decently (30fps avg) and a native or close to native resolution.
Thats why I think I'm leaning towards MBP
Yes an iMac may be a little faster, but when its outdated in 2 months or so, I would be angry. The MacBook Pro is still new, so that sounds like the best option for me
I also DO want a Mac
I dont want to wait another month or so for an iMac refresh.
I also dont care if I can game at max settings, as long as they play decently (30fps avg) and a native or close to native resolution.
Thats why I think I'm leaning towards MBP
Yes an iMac may be a little faster, but when its outdated in 2 months or so, I would be angry. The MacBook Pro is still new, so that sounds like the best option for me
Also I've heard that some of the MBPs are having hinge problems, it seems like its only for certain weeks. If I buy it from a store like Bestbuy (not apple) would I have the possibility of getting one of the bad ones?
Post your gaming benchmark request here:
It includes a few games that you asked.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/616890/
It includes a few games that you asked.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/616890/
So would I have a high possibility of getting a MBP with a bad hinge or was that only the first few that had the hinge problems?
Oblivion, yea. Spore, yea. COD4, almost. Crysis, no way.
Also, the 9400M is not used under 'Power Saver' mode. Currently the MBP can only use the 9600M under Windows.
Lastly, the HD 2600 Pro & the 9600M should perform similarly.
I've got one of the newer MacBook Pros and I game on it a little bit. I haven't tried a lot of games but to give you an example of how well it performs, in World of Warcraft at maxed out settings I achieve FPS (Frames Per Second) ratings of 180+ in less popular areas, and I've never seen it drop below 70 in heavily populated areas.
In other words, it does exceptionally well.
FYI though, I'm playing on Mac OS X, not Windows, and I only have 2GB RAM (upgrading to 4 soon).
Also, being that mine is the newer MacBook Pro, it has two graphics cards (9600M GT).
Hope that's useful to somebody.
In other words, it does exceptionally well.
FYI though, I'm playing on Mac OS X, not Windows, and I only have 2GB RAM (upgrading to 4 soon).
Also, being that mine is the newer MacBook Pro, it has two graphics cards (9600M GT).
Hope that's useful to somebody.
Well, I'm going by pure speculation here. An ATI Mobility HD2600 performs almost similarly to a 8600M GT (aprox. 5% weaker; http://www.google.com.sg/search?hl=...ookreview.com+8600m+gt+vs+2600+mobility&meta=). The 9600M GT beats the 8600M GT by about 10% - 20%.
However mobile versions are usually weaker as compared to their desktop variants. 10 - 20% weaker would be about right. As such, the HD2600 Pro should perform pretty similarly to the 9600M GT.
Benchmarks aren't always reliable in telling real-world performance as well. Also, a more powerful CPU would boost your 3DMark06 score.
Huh?
The 9400M cannot be used in Windows. http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2457
According to Nvidia, it is a driver issue and it's simple up to Apple to allow the usage of the 9400M in Windows. I kinda lost the source to where I read this though. =/
I've got one of the newer MacBook Pros and I game on it a little bit. I haven't tried a lot of games but to give you an example of how well it performs, in World of Warcraft at maxed out settings I achieve FPS (Frames Per Second) ratings of 180+ in less popular areas, and I've never seen it drop below 70 in heavily populated areas.
In other words, it does exceptionally well.
FYI though, I'm playing on Mac OS X, not Windows, and I only have 2GB RAM (upgrading to 4 soon).
Also, being that mine is the newer MacBook Pro, it has two graphics cards (9600M GT).
Hope that's useful to somebody.
Ya that is useful, because I'm thinking about trying WoW. As their website says, 9 million people can't be wrong....
Which HD2600 Pro do you mean? The iMacs 2600 is also the mobile version
Comparison of some Games with Desktop Cards:
http://xtreview.com/review220.htm
The 9600 does perform MUCH better.
(doesen't matter if mobile vs. mobile or Desktop vs. Desktop Card)
Which HD2600 Pro do you mean? The iMacs 2600 is also the mobile version
Comparison of some Games with Desktop Cards:
http://xtreview.com/review220.htm
The 9600 does perform MUCH better.
(doesen't matter if mobile vs. mobile or Desktop vs. Desktop Card)
Oh...what? I didn't know the iMacs used the mobile version. Sorry about that.
Anyhow you quoted the desktop 9600 GT. The mobile 9600 GT is very different from the desktop one, and it's much similar to the 8600 GT. The main difference is 64 stream processors, and a 256-bit memory bus in the desktop variant as compared to 32 stream processors and a 128-bit memory bus in the mobile version (similar to the 8600), which basically means the mobile 9600M GT has only half the power of the desktop 9600 GT.
Most games are ran in Windows via Boot Camp. This is the best solution as games are able to run natively, instead of having to run it through emulation software.
How hot is 'too hot' anyway? Could you post your CPU and GPU temperatures?
I don't think any fan controllers are needed in Windows, because the fans automaticly speed up to 6000rpm for me while gaming, keeping the temperatures at reasonable levels.
I've got one of the newer MacBook Pros and I game on it a little bit. I haven't tried a lot of games but to give you an example of how well it performs, in World of Warcraft at maxed out settings I achieve FPS (Frames Per Second) ratings of 180+ in less popular areas, and I've never seen it drop below 70 in heavily populated areas.
In other words, it does exceptionally well.
FYI though, I'm playing on Mac OS X, not Windows, and I only have 2GB RAM (upgrading to 4 soon).
Also, being that mine is the newer MacBook Pro, it has two graphics cards (9600M GT).
Hope that's useful to somebody.
Is that on the 256VR or the 512VR?
It's actually 10 million people now.
Yeah it runs it surprisingly well.Well if you are referring to the graphics cards then I believe it's the 512VR. There are (2) Nvidia 9600M GT graphic cards in this thing, and it's really powerful. I believe each one is 512MB... correct me if I'm wrong... they can't be less than 256MB each, this thing is too graphically powerful to be that low.