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MacBook Air 13" (Late 2010) - Gaming Benchmark Thread!
- Thread starter colinthejanitor
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Would be great if you could post some other benchmarks from Win7!
Also startup times would be nice! Bootcamp might not be so bad on this thing.
I loaded Windows 7 on and loading OS X is a bit longer but not too noticeable after selecting to boot to Windows 7 it loads roughly about 30 seconds or less to a usable desktop. I've played a few games in Windows 7 through steam and they all run good on medium settings. Fallout New Vegas runs at about 60fps max lowest i got was about 30ish on recommended settings. Oblivion runs a bit better need to test out Dragon Age and Mass Effect.
Will I be able to play Empire Total War on my newly purchased MBA 1.83 GHz/ 4 GB?
The sys reqs for a Windows based pc is:
Minimum System Requirements
OS: Windows XP/Vista
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 @ 2.6 GHz / AMD Athlon XP 2800+
Memory: 1 Gb
Hard Drive: 15 Gb free
Video Memory: 256 Mb
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 6600 / ATI Radeon X1300
Recommended System Requirements
OS: Windows XP/Vista
Processor: Intel Core 2 DUO @ 2.2 GHz / AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+
Memory: 2 Gb
Hard Drive: 15 Gb free
Video Memory: 768 Mb
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 8800 / ATI Radeon HD 3800
The sys reqs for a Windows based pc is:
Minimum System Requirements
OS: Windows XP/Vista
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 @ 2.6 GHz / AMD Athlon XP 2800+
Memory: 1 Gb
Hard Drive: 15 Gb free
Video Memory: 256 Mb
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 6600 / ATI Radeon X1300
Recommended System Requirements
OS: Windows XP/Vista
Processor: Intel Core 2 DUO @ 2.2 GHz / AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+
Memory: 2 Gb
Hard Drive: 15 Gb free
Video Memory: 768 Mb
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 8800 / ATI Radeon HD 3800
I just installed Windows 7 on Bootcamp on my MBA 13" (1.8, 4GB), and tried out Final Fantasy XIV. With every configurable option set to lowest, and buffer size set to Half, I got "playable" FPS (10-20) in uncrowded areas, and slideshow in more crowded places.
However, simple running in a straight line would cause the game to "hiccup" and/or rubberband very slightly. Not very badly, but enough to want to start feeling like it's going to induce a seizure. In other words, unplayable for the most part.
As a side note, any game or Parallels VM seems to really put the fans into overdrive (6400RPMish). Quite amazing how loud that can be, coming from an otherwise silent laptop.
However, simple running in a straight line would cause the game to "hiccup" and/or rubberband very slightly. Not very badly, but enough to want to start feeling like it's going to induce a seizure. In other words, unplayable for the most part.
As a side note, any game or Parallels VM seems to really put the fans into overdrive (6400RPMish). Quite amazing how loud that can be, coming from an otherwise silent laptop.
Can you try Starcraft2 if you have?
I'm about to get the same specs as your MBA, I'm debating between a few laptop. Let me know if you can run medium settings most of them and having 30fps during 40units battle. Thanks
Can you try Starcraft2 if you have?
My '08 MBP with 512MB 8600 can't get above 20fps on medium settings even with no action; the 320 is supposedly about equivalent to it. I'm certainly not expecting to see 30fps when I get my 13" MBA.
On a side note, how is the 11'' for running a PSX or PS2 emulator? I'd love to relive some SotC or Persona on the road, doesn't matter if its under W7 or SL.
Can you try Starcraft2 if you have?
Check out the thorough review here:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1038427/
Has 3D performance and other great tests.
I imagine you could pull that off in Win7, esp. with a slightly lower resolution.
I was able to get close to that on the last gen MBA in XP, and Win7 has better SD support. It also ran in OSX, but not as well. Generally had to be on low, but that didn't have the 320M.
Can you try Starcraft2 if you have?
I did try SC2 next, and it was pretty favorable:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/11311001/
Just as a side note, the fan was fairly loud, and was drowning out my headphones even. Heat isn't any worse than my MBP13 2009 when under load - maybe even slightly better? Wrist area certainly doesn't warm up as much, but the rear especially is quite warm.
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Somewhat worried about the fan noise while gaming. I planned on just using headphones but you're saying it drowned those out :/.
Somewhat worried about the fan noise while gaming. I planned on just using headphones but you're saying it drowned those out :/.
Okay. Firstly, thread updated.
Secondly, I have finally received my top spec 13" MacBook Air (yay). So get your gaming requests in now otherwise you'll have a long time to wait to find out your fps!
Secondly, I have finally received my top spec 13" MacBook Air (yay
). So get your gaming requests in now otherwise you'll have a long time to wait to find out your fps!Okay. Firstly, thread updated.
Secondly, I have finally received my top spec 13" MacBook Air (yay
please dont flame me....but
Warcraft 3 Dota on all HIGH settings
and
World of warcraft in Dalaran Mix settings please.
Can you try Starcraft2 if you have?
Come on WoW ran on my MacBook4,1 on mixed medium-low settings and I had an integrated Intel graphic. I wouldn't worry about.
yeah ive seen retards play games at 15 fps...hell its still playable..but thats not what i want is mixed settings or even high settings with at least sustained 40fps in raids or character loaded places eg dalaran.
i had the first 13'3 unibody MB with 9400m 4gb 2.0ghz and i get 15-35 fps on mixed settings...to me thats not smooth enough.
standardized benchmarks are good to compare against other systems.. I would like to see some standard ones used so then others can replicate to compare.
good ones are: Crysis benchmark tool
Stalker benchmark
Just Cause 2 demo
these can be had for free...
also, the videos posted in this thread are pretty bad. The SC2 shows the very first level with not much gameplay, slow clicking through the level with few units etc.. meh no FPS numbers (can use built in one ctrl+alt+F)
L4D2 didn't even experience a full blown horde rush or at least played 5 min to get toward the tank scene on the passing. Sorry to criticize, but if this is going to be a gaming benchmarks thread it needs a lot of work. I guess I'm just used to the Alienware benchmark threads over at NBR. And yes I have contributed in making videos on the MBP. youtube videos
good ones are: Crysis benchmark tool
Stalker benchmark
Just Cause 2 demo
these can be had for free...
also, the videos posted in this thread are pretty bad. The SC2 shows the very first level with not much gameplay, slow clicking through the level with few units etc.. meh no FPS numbers (can use built in one ctrl+alt+F)
L4D2 didn't even experience a full blown horde rush or at least played 5 min to get toward the tank scene on the passing. Sorry to criticize, but if this is going to be a gaming benchmarks thread it needs a lot of work. I guess I'm just used to the Alienware benchmark threads over at NBR. And yes I have contributed in making videos on the MBP. youtube videos
Ran some Starcraft replays today at 1280x800 High Quality. The two MacBook Airs start off at 30 fps but by the time the 7 minute session comes to a close with a lot of action on screen, they drop to 10 fps. By comparison, the MacBook Pro 15" Core i7 starts off at 50 fps and never drops below it.
Okay. Firstly, thread updated.
Secondly, I have finally received my top spec 13" MacBook Air (yay
CS:S
640x480
All Settings Low
Run the Stress Test
That's the only thing I want to see, from that I will base my decision to get the 11.6" or not.
the 15" has a dedicated GPU, much better than the 320M in the mba. Turn down the detail to low and turn on shaders and it will run fine + look just about the same as on high settings.
not sure you've seen SC on high if you think low and high look about the same. Especially when it comes to shaders. low looks just downright terrible even a bigger difference from low to medium than medium to high, and this is even if only major setting changed was shaders.
http://www.gamespot.com/features/6251839/p-2.html
anyway I play SC2 on bootcamp just b/c it's so much smoother and I can't really stand med/lows in OSX, but Win7 can do high shaders, rest medium without a hitch. I'm guessing the MBA can benefit greatly in bootcamp when it comes to SC2.
As for CS:S that will definitely run pretty well, even on the 11.6" although the source engine is CPU bound.