hi all new mac user graphics question

Discussion in 'Buying Tips and Advice' started by adjay84, Dec 28, 2006.

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  1. adjay84, Dec 28, 2006

    adjay84 macrumors newbie

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    Dec 28, 2006
    #1
    hi everyone ive just bought myself a 1.5ghz 15 inch powerbook g4 it has 2gb of ram installed and has the ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 64MB of DDR SDRAM graphics card.

    my question is this graphics card any good? im not reaally up on my graphics cards but in terms of reviews, make, speed etc? i do play games occasionally, and do appreciate good graphics.

    i have had a quick look on the net and found some cards at 256mb? will these be a big improvement over my my 64mb one?

    and also ive only got a max of £50, now ive seen you can get a 256mb one for that price but the question is will it be any good or would it just be better keeping my exsisting card?

    and sorry one more question if i do buy a new card can i slot it into the One PC Card/CardBus slot supporting one Type I or Type II card

    cheers guys!
     
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  2. killmoms, Dec 28, 2006

    killmoms macrumors 68040

    killmoms

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    Location:
    Washington, DC
    #2
    You cannot replace the graphics chip in a notebook. The PC Card bus is not AGP, the bus used for graphics. Your graphics chip is soldered to the main logic board in the PowerBook—there are no upgrades.

    The PowerBook itself is pretty well outdated, especially since the dramatically faster MacBook Pros have been our for a year now. Those machines seriously outclass the PowerBook, a machine that was only ever "okay" for gaming.
     
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  3. clevin, Dec 28, 2006

    clevin macrumors G3

    clevin

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    Aug 6, 2006
    #3
    if game is important to you, and u still want a mac,
    then return the PB and buy refurbished MBP pro CD, it is the best way to go, its like about $1400, with at least $128MB independent graphic card. and you can even install windows on it to play some games that OSX doesn't support.
     
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  4. adjay84, Dec 28, 2006

    adjay84 thread starter macrumors newbie

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    Dec 28, 2006
    #4
    oh right i had no idea the graphics card couldnt be upgraded. No big worries though my main use for it is music.

    and obviously the whole powerbook/macbook thing is down to personal opinion

    thanks

    oh actually is there any thing i can do to get more performance out of it? or is just the case of keeping drivers updated etc?
     
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  5. jsw, Dec 28, 2006

    jsw Moderator emeritus

    jsw

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    Location:
    Andover, MA
    #5
    It all depends on what you play.

    WarCraft III, for example, plays just fine, as do most or all older games. The newer ones, though, don't usually fare well.
     
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  6. adjay84, Dec 28, 2006

    adjay84 thread starter macrumors newbie

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    Dec 28, 2006
    #6
    im from the uk so macbook pros are still roughly over a grand here roughly $2300.so too much for me to spend
     
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  7. adjay84, Dec 28, 2006

    adjay84 thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #7
    only playing old games really like medal of honor, so nothing really taxing. would a game such as this be ok to run on?
     
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  8. clevin, Dec 28, 2006

    clevin macrumors G3

    clevin

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    #8
    sure, if it has mac version. :D
     
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  9. Lord Blackadder, Dec 28, 2006

    Lord Blackadder macrumors G5

    Lord Blackadder

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    #9
    I'm typing this on my 15" PowerBook G4 with 64MB Radeon 9700...as far as the video card goes, it uses a similar core to the Radeon 9600XT, and is clocked a little slower.

    It runs well enough for Call of Duty (1), Knights of the Old Republic and other games of similar vintage.
     
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