MacBook Air 2013 Gaming Performance (Intel HD 5000)

[irDigital0l]

Man does the 13" MBA get hot after a couple mins of TF2 (all settings are recommend ones).

i5/8GB/256GB

I can't imagine playing other games.

And by hot I mean you can definitely feel the keyboard (left side), the heat is quite noticeable.

 

[M0V3M3N7]

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).

Thanks. I got a better app to measure the temperature (stat pro) and it never got over 70 C so I'm perfectly relaxed now!

------

On another note - So It was the MBA has been working like a dream since the day I opened it. (2 weeks). Super quick for my (amature) photo editing, spreadsheets, music, web - fantastic.

As I posted above, it was playing borderlands 2 on mid - high graphics setting very nicely. I probably did about two hours of the game over the weekend, two hours since. BUT - last night, the game will not work. A minute into play (happened more than once then I stopped trying) - it quits the game, claims tehre is an error on the graphics scrit or something. Not a clue what it actually means. But I find it bizarre that the machine was working beautifully, and suddenly can't manage the game! I tried turning down the graphics settings but same thing happened.

Any ideas?



System is 2013 MBA, i7 (intel HD5000), 8gb ram, 256 SSD

 

[Mirai 11]

So i've been having problems with Windows 7 using the wireless card, so I've only been able to run it in Parallels, but even then, the performance is mind-blowing.
Every game is at Medium, except for Burnout and Arkham Asylum which is on high, and all run at full speed.
If anyone knows the solution to have Windows 7 using the wireless card, do let me know.

 

[lentus]

Hearthstone Beta performance anyone?

 

[Aylan]

has there been a definitive answer to whether the i7 cpu and 8gb ram noticeably improves gaming performance?

From all the articles posted on the web, specifically anandtech's, it is safe to say that i5 and i7 have a negligible difference in gaming. The only gains I can imagine may be happening is if the game happens to be more CPU intensive. Both share the same GPU, and any advantage that the i7 may have will depend on the game. Also, do not forget that they are both dual core and 15W TDP; that is the bottleneck in these systems.

Also, more RAM will not make a game run faster. It will only let you run more programs at once without a slowdown. If you are gaming, then surely you can quit all apps and only run the game? I seriously doubt any game will require that much RAM. OS X loves RAM though, so people always say that you should get the most you can afford.

4GB is more than enough for most people.

 

[Aegelward]

Anyone have any idea how well a MBA would run Wargame: Airland Battle or European escalation will run?

Both have native mac versions now.

 

[TType85]

Also, more RAM will not make a game run faster. It will only let you run more programs at once without a slowdown. If you are gaming, then surely you can quit all apps and only run the game? I seriously doubt any game will require that much RAM. OS X loves RAM though, so people always say that you should get the most you can afford.

With the 2013 MBA this is true. The HD5000 dedicates 1GB of ram for the video. The older HD4000 only did about 384MB-768MB depending on how much ram you had. The smaller video ram can hurt performance on some games.

 

[Aylan]

With the 2013 MBA this is true. The HD5000 dedicates 1GB of ram for the video. The older HD4000 only did about 384MB-768MB depending on how much ram you had. The smaller video ram can hurt performance on some games.

So you can still expect great performance on a 4GB 2013 MBA. HD5000 always allocates 1GB regardless of system RAM installed; this leaves OS X with 3GB to play with and I don't think any modern game would tax OS X on RAM allocation. They key here is to either get 8GB and not worry or just make sure that when you game, only the game is running.

 

[Mikael]

I got my 13" i7/8GB/256GB yesterday. I have a 2011 13" ultimate (i7/4GB/256GB) since before, so I ran a few tests.

First of all, Geekbench 3 showed the expected 25-30% CPU performance increase. This will shrink if the machine is really hot, but as long as it can turbo it will be a decent amount quicker than the old machine.

As for graphics, I would have wanted to run a whole host of tests, comparing the two. However, I don't really have time for that. I wanted to run something, though, and went back to an old benchmark favourite of my, namely Crysis (the original). The following results use the built-in GPU benchmark, running on a Windows 7 64-bit bootcamp installation:

Crysis DX10 Very High (32-bit) 1024x768:

HD3000: 7.82 FPS
HD5000: 14.81 FPS (+89%)

Crysis DX10 High (32-bit) 1024x768:

HD3000: 12.67 FPS
HD5000: 23.08 FPS (+82%)

Crysis DX9 Medium (32-bit) 1024x768:

HD3000: 23.81 FPS
HD5000: 43.41 FPS (+82%)

That's a generational improvement, that's for sure (although still mostly unplayable at high detail levels)! To put this into perspective, I believe this kind of performance is close to an old high-end card like the Radeon X1900XT. It's also around half the performance of an 8800GT. Another way to look at it is that it's current-gen console performance.

Would be nice if more people could test and report their results. If anyone wants to repeat my tests on their machine, it's quite simple:

1. I installed the game via Steam, but the regular DVD install is of course fine as well. Just make sure it's been patched to the latest version. EDIT: Actually, I think the demo version would be fine to test with as well. I don't think performance changed much in the final version. You can try this link (direct download).

2. Start Crysis and configure the settings (resolution, detail level) according to what you want to test. Crysis sometimes behaves a little strange when you set the overall detail level. For example if you change from "High" to "Very High" one of the individual settings might remain at "High". In that case, just correct that setting manually.

3. Exit Crysis and go to its installation directory and then the bin32 sub-directory. Run the batch file called "Benchmark_GPU". For a Steam installation, the Crysis directory will be located in [Steam folder]/SteamApps/common/Crysis.

4. The test will run a number of loops and the result of the latest completed run can be seen in the green text to the upper left. You may discount the first loop and report the second or preferably third one instead.

5. Crysis runs in DX10 mode by default. To test in DX9 (like I've done in my medium test), right click "Benchmark_GPU", choose "Edit" and then add "-DX9" (without quotation marks) between "crysis.exe" and "-DEVMODE".

Remember that the results will decrease slightly as the machine heats up, so try to make sure it's well heated before reporting any results. Anything else will be misleading.

 

[Campbell3019259]

Im thinking of getting a getting Macbook Air, but i will be using it to run games on as well as general use. But i cant seem to find out what it is actually like for gaming, is it good or should i look elsewhere ?

 

[ZBoater]

Im thinking of getting a getting Macbook Air, but i will be using it to run games on as well as general use. But i cant seem to find out what it is actually like for gaming, is it good or should i look elsewhere ?

Gaming is a very generic term. The MacBook Air "games" fine. There may be some higher end games that don't run as well, but there are many, many games that run fine.

The MBA is not designed as a "gaming" machine. There are laptops with dedicated graphics cards that are better suited for the higher end games. It will depend on what games you want to play.

I have seen Youtube videos of folks playing COD and Battlefield on their MBAs and it looked fine. Just because it was not designed as a "gaming" machine doesn't mean it can't game. But people who are hard core gamers might be better served by an Alienware laptop running Windows. But it won't be as thin, light, or have as much battery life as a MBA. You need to decide what is most important for you.

 

[archman]

Hi, all.

How is the performance of a Macbook Air or Pro when only external display is turned on (HDTV 42", in example). Can you turn off the laptop screen when external is turned on at all?

How is the GPU (HD5000) manipulating its resources in that scenario? Should it only spend processing power to put everything out to the external display and nothing to the laptop screen (if it's turned off)?

Cheers!

 

[Verix]

How is the performance of a Macbook Air or Pro when only external display is turned on (HDTV 42", in example). Can you turn off the laptop screen when external is turned on at all?

Through boot camp/windows (where gaming performance is better), this is easy to configure through display setting. On OS X, look up clamshell mode.

Should it only spend processing power to put everything out to the external display and nothing to the laptop screen (if it's turned off)?

Yes.

 

[archman]

Thank you for the fast answer, Verix!

 

[Huso]

Sc2, D3 on external Display (22-24") on low settings

wHi Community! i know, my question isnt new but i haven't got an exact answer to my question yet!
im looking forward to get a macbook air 13" 2013 i5/8gb ram/128ssd haswell!

YES i know that a MBA is not for gaming but my 2009 macbook pro pisses me of since my desktop pc went down.

i only play sc2 and d3 (on low settings)! so there is no need for me to spend money on a new desktop pc, and i dont want to pay the price for the 15" retina!

i am playing sc2 at a high level (especially 2v2 and some 3v3/4v4 with friends, so i dont want any lag!

so my question =) : is there any lag given, when i play on a 22" or 24" display with mini display port/dvi adapter when there are big armies involved? i have seen many videos when they played campaign or 1v1 on the mba display but i think there must be a difference to teamgames on an external monitor!

i really just play these two games and it doesnt matter for me that it runs on low settings!

im sorry if there has been any questions like that before!
thx for any answers

 

[ELYEN01]

I got my 13" i7/8GB/256GB yesterday. I have a 2011 13" ultimate (i7/4GB/256GB) since before, so I ran a few tests.

First of all, Geekbench 3 showed the expected 25-30% CPU performance increase. This will shrink if the machine is really hot, but as long as it can turbo it will be a decent amount quicker than the old machine.

As for graphics, I would have wanted to run a whole host of tests, comparing the two. However, I don't really have time for that. I wanted to run something, though, and went back to an old benchmark favourite of my, namely Crysis (the original). The following results use the built-in GPU benchmark, running on a Windows 7 64-bit bootcamp installation:

Crysis DX10 Very High (32-bit) 1024x768:

HD3000: 7.82 FPS
HD5000: 14.81 FPS (+89%)

Crysis DX10 High (32-bit) 1024x768:

HD3000: 12.67 FPS
HD5000: 23.08 FPS (+82%)

Crysis DX9 Medium (32-bit) 1024x768:

HD3000: 23.81 FPS
HD5000: 43.41 FPS (+82%)

That's a generational improvement, that's for sure (although still mostly unplayable at high detail levels)! To put this into perspective, I believe this kind of performance is close to an old high-end card like the Radeon X1900XT. It's also around half the performance of an 8800GT. Another way to look at it is that it's current-gen console performance.

Would be nice if more people could test and report their results. If anyone wants to repeat my tests on their machine, it's quite simple:

1. I installed the game via Steam, but the regular DVD install is of course fine as well. Just make sure it's been patched to the latest version. EDIT: Actually, I think the demo version would be fine to test with as well. I don't think performance changed much in the final version. You can try this link (direct download).

2. Start Crysis and configure the settings (resolution, detail level) according to what you want to test. Crysis sometimes behaves a little strange when you set the overall detail level. For example if you change from "High" to "Very High" one of the individual settings might remain at "High". In that case, just correct that setting manually.

3. Exit Crysis and go to its installation directory and then the bin32 sub-directory. Run the batch file called "Benchmark_GPU". For a Steam installation, the Crysis directory will be located in [Steam folder]/SteamApps/common/Crysis.

4. The test will run a number of loops and the result of the latest completed run can be seen in the green text to the upper left. You may discount the first loop and report the second or preferably third one instead.

5. Crysis runs in DX10 mode by default. To test in DX9 (like I've done in my medium test), right click "Benchmark_GPU", choose "Edit" and then add "-DX9" (without quotation marks) between "crysis.exe" and "-DEVMODE".

Remember that the results will decrease slightly as the machine heats up, so try to make sure it's well heated before reporting any results. Anything else will be misleading.

Thanks for your detailed test results. It is very very accurate, I can confirm it with the Crysis engine equipped games at 1024x768 and I have got up to 43 FPS. I have a MBA 2013 I7 8GB 512MB.

The other thing is I actually had a MBA 2013 I5, I returned it because the I7 gives me a few FPS when plugged in.

The shortcoming is the keys on the left side of the keyboard surrounding blow hot air to my fingers, where as it takes longer to feel the heat on the I5's keyboard.

Cheers!

 

[EthanNixon]

Figured I would post my results since I just picked up my new MacBook Air 11.6" base model from Best Buy as an open item.

The ONLY game I play is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, so the results are for that game.

1366x768 - 80-140FPS (Low)
1024x768 - 80-160FPS (Low)
640x480 - 80-160FPS (Low - 4x AA)

CS:GO doesn't use a lot of resources, but it can easily be played on the MacBook Air, just like the last MacBook Air could play Counter-Strike: Source easily. I did notice about a 10% increase in performance with the new Intel HD drivers from Intel. I will be getting a nice 144Hz monitor soon, probably from Asus (BenQ is a little over priced). I will chime back in with those results.

 

[Verix]

Just want to chime in and say Dolphin 3.5 plays a number of games really well. I imagine PCSX2 will do decently, too, but not tested so far.

This is with the i7, though. The performance gain is important for these emulators.

 

[Confusius]

Has anyone tried the Mac OS X version of BioShock Infinite yet?

 

[Huso]

Starcraft2 and Diablo 3 gaming with MBA 2013

hi,

i got my mba 2013 i5, 8gb ram, 128ssd 1,3ghz and tested it with sc2 and d3!

it runs very well on low with an external display ( i played it on mac osx aswell as on windows 7 bootcamp)!

d3 starts with 40-50 fps! then in very very big fights with like 150 monsters and 3 boomsorcs smashing it down it can drop to 10-20 fps but just for a moment, but i dont feel any big lag! i think its okay for this type of laptop!

sc2 starts with around 110 fps, during the game (i played 3v3) it droppes to 80 fps in early fights and like 50-40 fps in midgame including nearly every of the 6 players fighting with their army! in late game its around 30-40 fps! so there is also no lag notable!

the mba gets really hot while playing d3, but i dont think its very loud! u can hear the fan, but i think thats completely fine for this type of thin laptop!
the mba also recovers very very fast from heat and cools down in like 2 minutes! after like 30 sec to 1 min u cant hear any fan! i think thats very cool, because the cooling works very great!

in conclusion i can say, if you are a hardcore gamer who had a nice desktop pc before the mba will disappoint you! but i think thats not big news and nobody is expecting a gaming laptop...! if you just like to play like me sc2 and d3 ion low settings the mba has power enough to handle it very well! i play sc2 at a high level so any lags pisses me off like crazy! but i couldnt notice anything!

and well.... the mba is just amazing to handle and from my point of view, who had da 2009 mbp its just lightyears away from it ! buy it BUY IT

 

[achuandblessyou]

Hi guys (and gals),

I just signed up because I'm looking for a new laptop for my girlfriend and while it passes most checks, I'm curious about the gaming experience. So, I was wondering if anyone has tested the new SimCity 5 on the 2013 MBA and can comment on the performance? I'm looking for ~45 FPS at native resolution at low settings (maybe a *few* things turned up, so she's not just looking at growing boxes).

Thanks!

 

[Nysska]

Just played it today, native resolution medium/high and everything was "smooth".
I can test it later, and report back with results

 

[achuandblessyou]

Just played it today, native resolution medium/high and everything was "smooth".
I can test it later, and report back with results

I assume you're responding to me? Yes please report back with results

Also could you tell me how the temps are doing?

Do you have the i5 or i7 and 4 or 8gb ram? thanks!

 

[Rucku5]

I assume you're responding to me? Yes please report back with results

Also could you tell me how the temps are doing?

Do you have the i5 or i7 and 4 or 8gb ram? thanks!

Your looking at around 14-15FPS with everything on medium and around 18-19fps with everything on low.

Specs:

Haswell 13" MBA with i7, 256GB SSD and 8GB Ram.

 

[Archie7]

Rucku5 I have the same specs of Macbook. I had to make everything low expect textures are on medium. I'm using external monitor. At 1344 x 756 or 1920 x 1080 fans are crazy loud.... So i'm not sure should I care about fans? They are not disturbing me by loudness. I'm wondering if it will not get too hot and mess. Can I don't care about hot and loud fans when using long hours?