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Macbook Pro 2011 - i7 2720QM - Gaming Review

T

tuxblondinet

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 16, 2010
23
0
Review Macbook Pro 15" 2011(Intel Core i7 2720QM 2,2Ghz)


Introduction


It was the 29 April 2011 that i come to an Applestore to get my new Macbook Pro 15". I'm working in quantum chemistry, using that to do calculus and solve some equation. During my free time i like to play few games and this Mac impressed me ! This is my configuration :

# Processor : Intel Core i7-2720 quadcore 2,2 à 3,3 GHz
# RAM : 4 Go 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
# Hard Drive : 750 Go at 5400 tr/min
# Graphics : Intel HD Graphics 3000, and AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1 Go of GDDR5
# Screen : 15'' Glare 1440 x 900

I don't need anti-glare screen since i'm not working outside with my mac.

Let start with some picture of the lovely aluminium cover:








Mac OS X


One of the best thing that you get with a Mac is typically OS X. One of the aspect of this OS is the great potential of personnalisation. This is my setup



For better view go there : TuXChemistry on deviantART

One thing amazing under Mac OS X 10.6.7 i'm getting 6 hours of battery life during going on the internet (through ethernet) and watching some movies (XVID) with VLC.

Gaming performance under Windows 7 SP1


Fresh windows installation, using 11.4 Ati Catalyst Driver with some overclock : 800/900 and undervolting.

Windows 7 Benchmark




3D Mark 2011




Crysis 2 - Advanced Settings(Very High)


Amazing gameplay, always above 30 FPS









Temperature of CPU and GPU during gaming




Resident Evil 5 - Fixed and Variable Benchmark - High Quality - Blur ON




Bulletstorm - High Quality - Except medium shadows

Steady 30 FPS during all Gameplay.












Temperature after 20 minutes of gameplay




Mass Effect 2 - Max Settings


60 FPS Steady during all gameplay ! Amazing !





Conclusion


A beautiful laptop with some power to game on it during free time!

+
- Battery (6h30 DVD)
- Performance
- Workmanship
- Silent
- Temperature
- ...


-

-Price !!!!
 
how did you keep your core temperature so low?

I was playing SC2, and the core temp went up almost to the roof around 95-98c, and it does overheat that caused shutdown one time.
The fan is on max setting too.

How did you manage to get even lower than 80c? Don't make too much sense to me. :confused:

Also, what do you use for fan control?
 
The dock is a mix between geektool and custom ledmetal dock,

The temperature are always low because i put the fans at 6200 RPM using SMCFancontrol on Mac OS X and reboot under Windows 7 so the cooling is always the best that i can have, during long gameplay > 1 hour my CPU (with 2.1 EFI) are in 78-80°C never above

GPU Temperature must be corrected it is 68 + 10 °C (Checked with HWinfo32)

Thanks for all your comments :D
 
tuxblondinet said:
The dock is a mix between geektool and custom ledmetal dock,

The temperature are always low because i put the fans at 6200 RPM using SMCFancontrol on Mac OS X and reboot under Windows 7 so the cooling is always the best that i can have, during long gameplay > 1 hour my CPU (with 2.1 EFI) are in 78-80°C never above

GPU Temperature must be corrected it is 68 + 10 °C (Checked with HWinfo32)

Thanks for all your comments :D
Click to expand...

Still dont make sense to me..

I have run at max RPM on both fan, and still goes over 90c every time when I play like SC2 or CS Source.

Not quite sure how exactly you get such temp...
 
Maybe you get a bad thermal paste, maybe a lot of things,

I can show you many graphics during in games that will confirm that my CPU won't go over 82 °C during gaming.
 
My MacBook (see sig) get 6.9 in Windows 7, the GPU and SSD are listed as 6.9. RAM gets a 7.8 and CPU gets 7.5
 
altecXP said:
My MacBook (see sig) get 6.9 in Windows 7, the GPU and SSD are listed as 6.9. RAM gets a 7.8 and CPU gets 7.5
Click to expand...

Have you overclocked, undervolted and upgraded the drivers for the GPU like the OP did? If you're getting 6.9 I'm assuming you haven't. My stats are the same as yours bar the HDD (5.9)
 
Thanks for all your comment !

My GPU is undervolted and overclocked at 800/900 0.955 V very stable!

Dock's name is : LedMetal

Ask me for customization on DeviantArt ;)
 
edifyingGerbil said:
Have you overclocked, undervolted and upgraded the drivers for the GPU like the OP did? If you're getting 6.9 I'm assuming you haven't. My stats are the same as yours bar the HDD (5.9)
Click to expand...

No, but look at the memory. Mine is a 7.8 his is 5.9.
 
apolloa said:
So would you recommend the standard screen resolution over the high resolution for gaming?
Click to expand...

If you get the standard resolution, you'll have a slight improvement since the computer doesn't have to work as hard to run at 1440x900 as opposed to 1680x1050. However, the difference is not that great since those resolutions are fairly similar. It all comes down to personal preference. The higher resolution screen will look better, though.
 
Overclock

I'm having trouble overclocking. I downloaded MSI afterburner and it showed my core and memory clocks Maxed at its stock numbers. I wasn't able to overclock it, it would only allow me to underclock. I am new to macs and new to overclocking. If anyone could just briefly tell me what I didn't do. Also, in bootcamp, GTA runs like crap... in Mid graphics and lags really bad. Maybe someone can help me out,thanks!!!
 
I love the standard one, more FPS in game, and sufficient for my eyes and work, if you need Hi Res go for it ;)
 
jbtrade said:
I'm having trouble overclocking. I downloaded MSI afterburner and it showed my core and memory clocks Maxed at its stock numbers. I wasn't able to overclock it, it would only allow me to underclock. I am new to macs and new to overclocking. If anyone could just briefly tell me what I didn't do. Also, in bootcamp, GTA runs like crap... in Mid graphics and lags really bad. Maybe someone can help me out,thanks!!!
Click to expand...

Use Ati tray tool, easier.
 
OP your job sounds pretty cool, what does it involve? Is it mainly theoretical or does it have practical, real life applications?

Sorry for going off topic :eek:
 
edifyingGerbil said:
OP your job sounds pretty cool, what does it involve? Is it mainly theoretical or does it have practical, real life applications?

Sorry for going off topic :eek:
Click to expand...

Theoretical calculation for new material properties, nano medecine applications, wide range of application in inorganic material, simulations and calculus are my speciality, it is hard to say this application is due to my work, for example in a recent article we described the ability to stock image (a number 5 image) into bio cel quite nice work
 
:D Thanks!!!! Also, what do you use to see the temps? How well does your mac run GTA? Mine is a 17" does that explain why I'm having so much lag? Maybe because its from torrents :/.
 
jbtrade said:
:D Thanks!!!! Also, what do you use to see the temps? How well does your mac run GTA? Mine is a 17" does that explain why I'm having so much lag? Maybe because its from torrents :/.
Click to expand...

ixnay on the orrentay :eek:

To the OP

You specialise in the area that I failed at most in Chemistry, namely the mathematical aspects (such as molarity et all). But kudos, it sounds interesting, especially the nanotechnology aspects!
 
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