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Is it possible to upgrade graphics card of the 2011 mac mini?
- Thread starter aamirgigani
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Will the Intel HD Graphics 3000 be ale to play high graphics games like Fifa 12,GTA San Andreas?
Or should I go for AMD Radeon HD 6630M.
Or should I go for AMD Radeon HD 6630M.
I don't game so I don't know..
Why don't you build a windows box if you want to game?
Hackintosh?
The issue is you're just not going to get both gaming and mac in anything less than a MP. You'll be fine for a couple years with the mobile chipsets in both the iMac and Mac Mini but just bear in mind that "upgrade" means replace. Yes HD's and RAM are upgradable but thats really it.
The 6630m is worth the extra money - especially if you plan on gaming. The beauty of the Mac Mini is that in a year when the hardware becomes outdated its really easy and pretty inexpensive to replace. Most Minis will sell for around 60% if not more of the original retail price.
Well its similar in terms of it being a graphics card, in performance, not really.
Explain what you want to do with the Mac Mini and people will be able to advise if the performance will be up to a reasonable level.
My main uses will be:
-Web Browsing
-Running Virtual Machines (Microsoft Windows)
-Xcode(Ios app programming)
-Gaming (Fifa 12 and Gta San Andreas and other high graphic games)
The GTA San Andreas Game issue is: Answer: The following list details the minimum requirements and supported specs for GTAIII, Vice City, or San Andreas on the Mac.
Supported Operating Systems: Mac OS X 10.5.8, Mac OS X 10.6.2 Snow Leopard
Supported Processors: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor or higher. This game will NOT run on PowerPC (G3/G4/G5) based Mac systems (PowerMac)
Memory: 1GB RAM
Hard drive: At least 9GB of free Hard Disk space
Graphics: ATI X1600, NVIDIA 7300 GT or Intel X3100 integrated graphics chip
Input: Keyboard and mouse
Filesizes:
GTA III: 731.9MB
Vice City: 1.3GB
San Andreas: 3.9GB
The following are known issues and details about unsupported Mac hardware:
Mac mini: Some Mac Minis have the Intel GMA950 graphics chipset which is NOT supported for select game titles.
Macbook: Some MacBooks use an Intel X3100 graphics chipset which may require a game to be run under low graphics settings or may prevent the game from running at all. MacBooks with an Intel GMA950 graphics chipset are NOT supported for select game titles.
Macbook Air: Some MacBooks use an Intel X3100 graphics chipset which may require a game to be run under low graphics settings or may prevent the game from running at all.
Macbook Pro: No known issues
iMac: Information coming soon
Mac Pro: No known issues
To determine your Mac OS version, Graphics chipset, or Processor Speed:
Click on Apple icon top left of desktop
Click on item About This Macin the drop list
Here you can see your Mac OS version and Processor Speed
Click on More Info button
Click on Graphics/Displaycategory in left column
Here you can see your Chipset Model
Update for November 24, 2010: We will be releasing a patch that addresses the issue of bluriness when running these games on the X3100 integrated chipset
info from Rockstar Games for Mac linky
info on Fifa '12:
System Requirements
Minimum Specifications:
OS: Mac OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard or higher
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
RAM: 4 GB
Hard Drive: 6.78 GB
Video Card: ATI HD2600 or NVIDIA GeForce 9400M or greater
Additional Info: 256 MB VRAM
info from Amazon Mac games section .
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
This really answers the question you had, you'll need the top-level model to play games at a satisfactory level. If you can wait, like I am currently doing, the Mac Mini should hopefully see a refresh this summer that will up the graphics options available to better ones.
That point about being able to sell your older Mac for 50-60% of the purchase price is an EXTREMELY valid point and is why I will continue on with Mac (other than the other positives, of course).
Some people's children. We get it, you are one of those Mac "purists" who believe no Mac computer was ever released after Apple left the G5 world. I get it. Mean while those of us wanting to actually do work on our Mac's left the PowerPC world a long time ago.
Please though, just because you can't/won't go Intel Mac, don't pass on inaccurate information like an Intel HD3000 is somehow slower than your G3's. Just because you want to cling to the few remaning GX'ers out there, doesn't mean you should give bad advice....
the shame is he is correct about the mac mini lacking good graphics. the rest of his post is not that accurate.
the problem with your statement is it is a partial truth.
Mac minis are horrible for gaming = true :
when compared to a pc with a i5-2500k cpu with a hd 7950 graphics card.
not true when compared to the 8 year old gpu in your g5.
Now i can build a gamer/htpc pc for about 1k that graphically speaking is outstanding. completely outclasses all macs except a properly modded mac pro for game quality and for htpc quality. function would rule over form.
Does not run mac osx legally and i do not hackintosh.
The op is faced with a tough choice for his needs.
If i were in his spot I would wait for a new iMac, macbook pro , mac mini.
Or find a great deal on a mac pro 1750 or less for the 2010 quad with a warranty in effect.
Thanks guys!
That is false information.
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php
Rank, lower is better.
Radeon X1900 GT 169
Radeon HD 6630M 250
Intel HD 3000 335
That and lack of USB 3 are the primary reasons I did not buy a Mini last update round.
Are the new mac minis or imacs expected to be launched soon.I can wait for 1 month if required.
Last edited:
2c
wait for ivy bridge refresh, the HD4000 will handle light gaming. Hell, I've played WOW using the HD3000 in my PC notebook just fine. I've also run a few games (admittedly older) using the HD3000 in my MBP 15" just fine also.
It depends on what games you want to play. However, neither onboard spec, nor 6630 GPU is high end. Adjust your expectations accordingly - the mini is not a gaming powerhouse and isn't intended to be - there are physical limitations in heat dissipation due to the form factor, cost restrictions, etc.
wait for ivy bridge refresh, the HD4000 will handle light gaming. Hell, I've played WOW using the HD3000 in my PC notebook just fine. I've also run a few games (admittedly older) using the HD3000 in my MBP 15" just fine also.
It depends on what games you want to play. However, neither onboard spec, nor 6630 GPU is high end. Adjust your expectations accordingly - the mini is not a gaming powerhouse and isn't intended to be - there are physical limitations in heat dissipation due to the form factor, cost restrictions, etc.
Well atleast the statement that iMac G3's GPU is better is proven wrong according to the link you posted.
ATI Rage 128 1178
Intel HD 3009 335.
Slight difference there.
Its just that my friends mini with 6630M handles all games he throws at it, at the same, and up to double the framerate my G5 with X1900 did.
I played some of these games a while ago on my mid 2011 Mac mini and I don't think it is such a dreadful Gaming Platform. Of course you can't play on the highest graphics levels, but still, Games are playable. The really high graphics games are barely playable, especially under a Virtual Machine, I have to agree, but these Games should work. My guess is that everythings thats about 4-5 years old should run decently! 
Do you have links to any other benchmarks since I don't consider Passmark to be an industry standard benchmarking tool?