Macbook suggestions?

[rolltide101x]

Hi, I am just looking to take some suggestions on a Macbook. I prefer 13" but will consider either 13.3 or 15" Macbooks.

I want one that has a dedicated GPU and is as lightweight as possible. At the moment I am using a Early 2011 Macbook Pro. Hoping to stay around or under 600$. Not that I could afford one with my budget anyway but I absolutely hate the "butterfly keyboards" I bought my wife a brand new Macbook Pro last year and I hate the keyboard. So do not suggest anything that has that lol.

I would also prefer something that I can replace the HDD and Ram in. I work in repairing PCs/Phones/Macs etc. So very familiar with upgrading. So chances are I would not like any Air, I also do not believe any of the Airs come with a dedicated GPU anyway. Not having a dedicated GPU is not a deal breaker if it has solid integrated graphics. I am not expecting to run the latest games at 1080P/60FPS. I really just want to play RTS games which are generally not to graphically intensive.

I really want something with a little more gaming power but its primary purpose will be general use such as web browsing and doing things for my job. So being fairly light-weight is a must.

I have looked around a bit but I just thought I would ask people who are much more knowledgeable than myself on these things.

USB 3.0 is a huge plus

 

[leman]

Unfortunately, your demands are contradictory. The only MacBooks with dedicated GPU are 15” and the only 15” that can be considered lightweight are the latest ones which are both too expensive for you and also have butterfly keyboards. Current 13” have okish GPUs but again too expensive and butterfly keyboards. Macs after 2012 don’t have upgradeable components.

At your price point, all you are going to get is a 2011 15” MBP. My suggestion - forget about Mac laptops, get a used gaming laptop.

 

[rolltide101x]

Unfortunately, your demands are contradictory. The only MacBooks with dedicated GPU are 15” and the only 15” that can be considered lightweight are the latest ones which are both too expensive for you and also have butterfly keyboards. Current 13” have okish GPUs but again too expensive and butterfly keyboards. Macs after 2012 don’t have upgradeable components.

At your price point, all you are going to get is a 2011 15” MBP. My suggestion - forget about Mac laptops, get a used gaming laptop.

Yeah, I looked myself and couldn't find anything. It just seems that Mac graphics were pretty awful until fairly recently. I will probably end up just making do with some integrated solution. I already have a very powerful gaming laptop but it's just annoying to maneuver.

 

[Howard2k]

On a serious note, PS4 + 13" if you want portability, or 15" of you're looking for a gaming MacBook. There 13" is no comparison to a PS4.

EDIT: I should add, I love my 13" for the portability and for my causal purposes. I also love my PS4 for gaming. CIV V works fine on the 13" to be honest, but it just doesn't have the horsepower compared to a console.

 

[rolltide101x]

On a serious note, PS4 + 13" if you want portability, or 15" of you're looking for a gaming MacBook. There 13" is no comparison to a PS4.

Off topic. I own 3 PS4's lol.

I don't expect it to outdo a PS4. Really just want reasonable gaming ability in a portable package. I rely on my PC/Mac for work and don't want to lug anything around. Most of what I play is stuff from 2010 and earlier. But I pretty much have my answer I think, more than likely just going to get the best gaming performance I can get out of a 13". Hopefully I can find something with Intel Iris at least.

 

[rolltide101x]

Probably something like this. 2015 13 MacBook Pro with Intel Iris. 629$

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/183770660284

 

[Howard2k]

Off topic. I own 3 PS4's lol.

I don't expect it to outdo a PS4. Really just want reasonable gaming ability in a portable package. I rely on my PC/Mac for work and don't want to lug anything around. Most of what I play is stuff from 2010 and earlier. But I pretty much have my answer I think, more than likely just going to get the best gaming performance I can get out of a 13". Hopefully I can find something with Intel Iris at least.

I do sometimes use my 13" to remote play the PS4, that works surprisingly well . I'm a huge fan of both, I just find myself gaming exclusively on the PS4. Good luck. The 2015 13" has Iris 6100.

 

[rolltide101x]

I do sometimes use my 13" to remote play the PS4, that works surprisingly well . I'm a huge fan of both, I just find myself gaming exclusively on the PS4. Good luck. The 2015 13" has Iris 6100.

I play on my PS4 most of the time. But I'm really into strategy games particularly RTS and these are very under represented on consoles. Thanks for your time. That is pretty much exactly what I was thinking a 2015 13" MacBook Pro. Intel Iris is more powerful than you would anticipate.