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MacBook Air 2013 Gaming Performance (Intel HD 5000)
- Thread starter Yixian
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Thank you a lot for your reply!
Of course I am still interested what other people think about the topic.
Regarding SSD size and RAM amount, I am very thankful for your advise but think my use case is different to yours and most other people.
I've had a netbook for the last three years and before that I have had a desktop PC with one of the earliest SSD.
I never used more than 50GB of space on any HDD/SSD I have ever had, no matter if dual boot system or not.
As I was not able to kill the first generation SSD, I don't think I will for a modern one.
Before it is likely to happen I will use a differnt machine anyways.
As for RAM, why do you think 8GB are necessary?
The netbook has 1GB of RAM and a HDD, I think 4GB of modern RAM and a lightning fast SSD will already feel like a rush.
Without understatement I will only use Safari/Chrome, a PDF reader, an Office suite, Spotify, Skype and a video player, probably VLC, in OS X.
In Windows I will run LoL and Matlab (I am an engineer of mechanical and process engineering) as both are native on that OS and will run with much greater performance.
Have a look at the following review to see what difference it makes to run LoL on Windows compared to OS X (pages 3,4 and 5 are most interesting):
http://www.protunegaming.com/haswell-macbook-air-gaming-performance-league-sc2-dota-2/
Of course I am still interested what other people think about the topic.
Regarding SSD size and RAM amount, I am very thankful for your advise but think my use case is different to yours and most other people.
I've had a netbook for the last three years and before that I have had a desktop PC with one of the earliest SSD.
I never used more than 50GB of space on any HDD/SSD I have ever had, no matter if dual boot system or not.
As I was not able to kill the first generation SSD, I don't think I will for a modern one.
Before it is likely to happen I will use a differnt machine anyways.
As for RAM, why do you think 8GB are necessary?
The netbook has 1GB of RAM and a HDD, I think 4GB of modern RAM and a lightning fast SSD will already feel like a rush.
Without understatement I will only use Safari/Chrome, a PDF reader, an Office suite, Spotify, Skype and a video player, probably VLC, in OS X.
In Windows I will run LoL and Matlab (I am an engineer of mechanical and process engineering) as both are native on that OS and will run with much greater performance.
Have a look at the following review to see what difference it makes to run LoL on Windows compared to OS X (pages 3,4 and 5 are most interesting):
http://www.protunegaming.com/haswell-macbook-air-gaming-performance-league-sc2-dota-2/
Hi! Mine is the MBA 13 i5 1.3ghz 8Gb.
Well, I had some troubles with Windows 7 and gave up installing it. Maybe in the next few weeks I`ll try again. The wi-fi driver didn't work.
I run DotA 2, LoL and Starcraft II.
Stracraft II runs great at medium. In 1 vs 1 matches you can risk even High settings.
DotA 2 is good too but it has some stutter sometimes. I`m not sure if this is because of OSX or anything else, but it is very playable. (I prefer to risk higher settings and lower framerates than to play at 60 fps on low).
LoL runs great too at medium. AA kills performance, so you'll want to let it off.
The GPU is very capable from what I can see and exceed my expectations.
Regarding the i7 vs i5 discussion, I almost changed my MBA for an i7, but changed my ming after sometime.
The thing is, the Haswell processor is much better than Ivy Bridge but it is Throtlling a LOT. You can't reach turbo frequencies while gaming.
Worse, you can't even keep it running at 1.3ghz.
It very oftenly runs at 800 mhz or less. The same for the GPu which runs at 400mhz.
This is because of the thermal limits. The i7 won't change that. It has the same TDP, it reaches higher temps faster, so it also needs underclocking in order to keep stable. While you have heavy tasks running on the CPU AND the GPU at the same time (GAMES) they both get underclocked.
In my point of view, the upgrade for the i7 would only make sense for CPU OR GPU intensive tasks only, when you tax one or another, because it allows higher clocks. If the CPU is under load but the GPU is idle, then more power will be available for the CPU, it will get hot slower than, for example, gaming that demands GPU performance as well.
The same goes for video coding, if it runs at the CPU it will benefit from more cache, higher turbo clock. If it runs at the GPU it will benefit from higher clock speed.
But running on both will just make the processor gets too hot and it will underclock, and the i7 will get high temps faster than i5.
Anandtech said there is a 20% advantage for core i7, but he only tested video coding and processor intensive tasks.
Notebooktech compared both of them and concluded that for gaming there is no significant difference.
Another point to consider is that the 13inch model chasis allows more thermal tolerance as it dissipates heat faster than the 11 inch one, which might be something to keep in mind if you want it for gaming (even though the resolution of the screen is higher too).
If you are in doubt, get the i5. You save precious $$ and will get a cooler machine that will get already a LOT of performance.
Regarding the memory, the 8Gb I think is not necessary if you're not taxing the CPU or GPU. For web browsing and light apps 4Gb is enough.
But if you wanna go further, you WILL want that extra 4Gb.
This is not my first apple product, I'm a proud owner of an iPad.
And now an even prouder owner of the MBA. OSX is much more stable and user friendly than Windows (and I've been using windows for the past 23 years, while having the OSX for only a month). The building quality, performance... Can't be matched.
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PS: DotA 2 and LoL runs at medium settings (textures high), native resolution (144x900) +/- 30 fps at OSX.
Will try at Windows soon.
Well, I had some troubles with Windows 7 and gave up installing it. Maybe in the next few weeks I`ll try again. The wi-fi driver didn't work.
I run DotA 2, LoL and Starcraft II.
Stracraft II runs great at medium. In 1 vs 1 matches you can risk even High settings.
DotA 2 is good too but it has some stutter sometimes. I`m not sure if this is because of OSX or anything else, but it is very playable. (I prefer to risk higher settings and lower framerates than to play at 60 fps on low).
LoL runs great too at medium. AA kills performance, so you'll want to let it off.
The GPU is very capable from what I can see and exceed my expectations.
Regarding the i7 vs i5 discussion, I almost changed my MBA for an i7, but changed my ming after sometime.
The thing is, the Haswell processor is much better than Ivy Bridge but it is Throtlling a LOT. You can't reach turbo frequencies while gaming.
Worse, you can't even keep it running at 1.3ghz.
It very oftenly runs at 800 mhz or less. The same for the GPu which runs at 400mhz.
This is because of the thermal limits. The i7 won't change that. It has the same TDP, it reaches higher temps faster, so it also needs underclocking in order to keep stable. While you have heavy tasks running on the CPU AND the GPU at the same time (GAMES) they both get underclocked.
In my point of view, the upgrade for the i7 would only make sense for CPU OR GPU intensive tasks only, when you tax one or another, because it allows higher clocks. If the CPU is under load but the GPU is idle, then more power will be available for the CPU, it will get hot slower than, for example, gaming that demands GPU performance as well.
The same goes for video coding, if it runs at the CPU it will benefit from more cache, higher turbo clock. If it runs at the GPU it will benefit from higher clock speed.
But running on both will just make the processor gets too hot and it will underclock, and the i7 will get high temps faster than i5.
Anandtech said there is a 20% advantage for core i7, but he only tested video coding and processor intensive tasks.
Notebooktech compared both of them and concluded that for gaming there is no significant difference.
Another point to consider is that the 13inch model chasis allows more thermal tolerance as it dissipates heat faster than the 11 inch one, which might be something to keep in mind if you want it for gaming (even though the resolution of the screen is higher too).
If you are in doubt, get the i5. You save precious $$ and will get a cooler machine that will get already a LOT of performance.
Regarding the memory, the 8Gb I think is not necessary if you're not taxing the CPU or GPU. For web browsing and light apps 4Gb is enough.
But if you wanna go further, you WILL want that extra 4Gb.
This is not my first apple product, I'm a proud owner of an iPad.
And now an even prouder owner of the MBA. OSX is much more stable and user friendly than Windows (and I've been using windows for the past 23 years, while having the OSX for only a month). The building quality, performance... Can't be matched.
----------
PS: DotA 2 and LoL runs at medium settings (textures high), native resolution (144x900) +/- 30 fps at OSX.
Will try at Windows soon.
Please fix TF2 Status
TF2 in that video was played on Windows 7 or 8 via bootcamp. Unless you have tested it yourself, that information is only relevant for Windows 7 or 8 in Bootcamp not OS X
P.S. this is the same for Black Ops 2
TF2 in that video was played on Windows 7 or 8 via bootcamp. Unless you have tested it yourself, that information is only relevant for Windows 7 or 8 in Bootcamp not OS X
P.S. this is the same for Black Ops 2
Castlevania Lords of Shadow
While I'm sure the new Air can handle it to some degree or other, anyone want to download the demo and give it a whirl? I'm obsessed with this game and my 2010 Air is getting long in the tooth ...
While I'm sure the new Air can handle it to some degree or other, anyone want to download the demo and give it a whirl? I'm obsessed with this game and my 2010 Air is getting long in the tooth ...
Thanks for your info, I knew the resolution issue with FM13 and the 11" Air, but I'm happy to know the game runs fine on it, I was wondering if the same happens on a base 13" model (i5, 4 Gb, 128 HD) , any other FM players here?
My goodness, while this top of the line MBA does pack some power, it lets the user know it's there.
Installed Starcraft II and HOTS and have been replaying the SCII campaign a few hours a day for the last three days.
This little machine seems to have no problem pushing campaign games at native resolution with all medium settings, along with AA enabled. No slowdowns during gameplay.
However, the fans will kick on shortly after the start of the game and stay on for the duration of the gaming session. The left had corner near the MagSafe port does get hot. Uncomfortably hot. Hot enough that if I place a finger there and hold it for more than 10-15 seconds, I need to pull away.
After I quit the game it takes about 2-3 minutes to quiet down. In fact, I just quit playing, got onto Safari, and the fans died down halfway though this post.
My experience.
Installed Starcraft II and HOTS and have been replaying the SCII campaign a few hours a day for the last three days.
This little machine seems to have no problem pushing campaign games at native resolution with all medium settings, along with AA enabled. No slowdowns during gameplay.
However, the fans will kick on shortly after the start of the game and stay on for the duration of the gaming session. The left had corner near the MagSafe port does get hot. Uncomfortably hot. Hot enough that if I place a finger there and hold it for more than 10-15 seconds, I need to pull away.
After I quit the game it takes about 2-3 minutes to quiet down. In fact, I just quit playing, got onto Safari, and the fans died down halfway though this post.
My experience.
De: Hr
Hi everyone! Just registrated and I have 2 questions, that's been bothering me for some time.
1) Is additional RAM helpful in gaming?
2) I'm really interested how Deus Ex: HR will run on i5 model, can somebody check it with high settings?
Hi everyone! Just registrated and I have 2 questions, that's been bothering me for some time.
1) Is additional RAM helpful in gaming?
2) I'm really interested how Deus Ex: HR will run on i5 model, can somebody check it with high settings?
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Mine is an i5, and I live in Brazil, a country where the ambient temperatures are higher than the others because its a tropical/equatorial one.
And though the fans start spinning fast and it gets hot it NEVER got that hot.
Not even while playing SC2 or CIV V.
It was hot, but I could keep my hand there forever that I wouldnt be bothered.
The keyboard never got even warm (I had an RoG notebook 2 years ago and I couldnt type on it or even touch the keyboard after playing GRID cuz it had gotten freakin hot)
What processor do you have in yours? I have the i7 and I guess that's the culprit.
I'm close to the Gulf Region in Texas...lately the weather has been 100+ all day with a humidity percentage to kill, and I keep my apartment about 78F during the day.
Hahahahaha wow, 100ºF?
Haha for now its winter here, but we still are getting temps close to 85, 90ºF.
That's what I like in the U.S., its so much diversity in climate, landscapes, people...
Mine is the i5 model.
Global Offensive and CS 1.6 should run fine. The Intel IGPs run very fine games that use Source as its engine.
Haha for now its winter here, but we still are getting temps close to 85, 90ºF.
That's what I like in the U.S., its so much diversity in climate, landscapes, people...
Mine is the i5 model.
Global Offensive and CS 1.6 should run fine. The Intel IGPs run very fine games that use Source as its engine.
Hey guys!
Really awesome thread, nice to see that the performance of the MBA is so awesome! Still, got a question (which has not been answered yet):
I currently own the basic late 2011 13 inches MBP (no SSD, i5 2.4 GHz, 4GB... And intel HD 3000!) and I'm planning to buy the 11 inches MBA (128 GB, i7, 8GB). On low settings, I'm able to play to SWTOR via Parallels Desktop 8. Will I still be able to do that? And will I be able to increase the performance? I know about bootcamp, but I'm not planning to use it in spite of the performance gains... Thanks in advance!
Really awesome thread, nice to see that the performance of the MBA is so awesome! Still, got a question (which has not been answered yet):
I currently own the basic late 2011 13 inches MBP (no SSD, i5 2.4 GHz, 4GB... And intel HD 3000!) and I'm planning to buy the 11 inches MBA (128 GB, i7, 8GB). On low settings, I'm able to play to SWTOR via Parallels Desktop 8. Will I still be able to do that? And will I be able to increase the performance? I know about bootcamp, but I'm not planning to use it in spite of the performance gains... Thanks in advance!
So I set up Borderlands 2 on my 13" MBA this afternoon - SMC fan control tells me the system was running @ 96/97 Celsius - something tells me this is BAD! But I really dont know what kind of temperatures are acceptable, and how long for. I usually like to keep it at around 50 c.
Is it a case of trying to limit the length of time the machine runs that hot, or is it more of a rule like - once its over 80 its causing damage?
Is it a case of trying to limit the length of time the machine runs that hot, or is it more of a rule like - once its over 80 its causing damage?
I'm pretty sure the system would shut down to protect itself from excessive heat damage. While 96/97 is running hot, it isn't near where any damage could occur (well, except to your lap perhaps).
Less specifically than that, would the new MBA be faster/more powerful than my late 2011 MBP? Any thoughts welcome!