rMBP Gaming: A Few Questions

[vash420]

So, when Apple finally pull their finger out and release the Haswell rMBP's, I intend to mine for gaming in Windows 7 due to the vast majority of games being unavailable natively for the Mac (I have an Xbox 360, but due to spending thousands on a new Mac I'll not be going for a PS4/Xbox One for a while).

I previously did this with my trusty Santa Rosa MBP way back when it could run games well. What worries me slightly is that after about 2 years I needed the GPU (so basically the logic board) replaced. Has anyone used their rMBP for seriously heavy gaming and noticed any adverse effects? I know MBP's generally run quite hot, but I've read articles like this regarding the lack of GPU switching causing the dedicated card to run REALLY hot, which suggests to me that the hardware isn't designed to run one GPU all the time:

http://www.not-implemented.com/windows-programming-on-the-macbook-retina-review/

Any further tips for a returning Macbook Pro gamer (who really doesn't want to fry their new laptop)?

 

[Zeov]

I've been using mine for gaming a little under a year now, having high temps and long gaming sessions in all sorts of games like:

wow
bf3
HL2
CS
Minecraft
LoL
skyrim

i have absolutely no problems with anything hardware related (other than dead pixels, lol)

also right now i'm working in a Net TV station in Portugal, and i have massive renders in Maya 3D that requires 100% of your computer, and it handles it perfect.


Really a great machine.

Mine is 2012 version, btw.

 

[vash420]

I've been using mine for gaming a little under a year now, having high temps and long gaming sessions in all sorts of games like:

wow
bf3
HL2
CS
Minecraft
LoL
skyrim

i have absolutely no problems with anything hardware related (other than dead pixels, lol)

also right now i'm working in a Net TV station in Portugal, and i have massive renders in Maya 3D that requires 100% of your computer, and it handles it perfect.


Really a great machine.

Mine is 2012 version, btw.

Is this in Windows 7? I'll also be hammering it with quite large sessions in Logic.

 

[tgi]

i have absolutely no problems with anything hardware related (other than dead pixels, lol)

Are the dead pixels are result of said gaming sessions?

 

[Interstella5555]

Are the dead pixels are result of said gaming sessions?

No.

 

[swerve147]

What I do is throttle the CPU by setting the Maximum Processor State to 95% in Power options. As a result I lose a few FPS in games, but I never exceed 90 degrees/75 degrees Celcius CPU/GPU when I run them (Crysis 3, Skyrim).

No issues thus far with anything. BTW I've had a few 2-3 hr sessions gaming a couple times a week, but nothing more than that. I don't consider myself a hardcore gamer.

 

[TheNewDude]

I was playing Age of Empires 3 on fairly high res and it kept crashing. The rMBP would get extremely hot too and the battery would run out within an hour and a half.

Once I turned the resolution down I've not had any issues. It still crashes once in a while, but not nearly as often as when I had the res turned up.

 

[BuCkDoG]

I've been using mine for gaming a little under a year now, having high temps and long gaming sessions in all sorts of games like:

wow
bf3
HL2
CS
Minecraft
LoL
skyrim

i have absolutely no problems with anything hardware related (other than dead pixels, lol)

also right now i'm working in a Net TV station in Portugal, and i have massive renders in Maya 3D that requires 100% of your computer, and it handles it perfect.


Really a great machine.

Mine is 2012 version, btw.

Before I bought my Retina MacBook Pro, I had watched MikeyZeov's videos on YouTube for various games and gameplay especially one about a DS raid in wow. He points out the FPS and overall Gameplay. I respect his opinions and overall verdicts when it comes to gaming on the retina macbook Pro because everything he has stated, has been True.

 

[Enkay909]

Sorry to jack the thread, but can you please tell me what the avg fps for league on max settings at native res and at 1920x1200? i have been looking for a answer for a long time! thx alot!

 

[vash420]

What I do is throttle the CPU by setting the Maximum Processor State to 95% in Power options. As a result I lose a few FPS in games, but I never exceed 90 degrees/75 degrees Celcius CPU/GPU when I run them (Crysis 3, Skyrim).

No issues thus far with anything. BTW I've had a few 2-3 hr sessions gaming a couple times a week, but nothing more than that. I don't consider myself a hardcore gamer.

This is really useful, thanks!

Anyone absolutely hammering their rMBP for games? Getting Borderlands 2 to TVH mode say, or daily BF3 sessions?

 

[EricT43]

I wouldn't say I hammer mine, but I use it for a couple hours every day to play Starcraft 2 under OS X, driving a Thuderbolt display. The fan kicks in but I haven't had any problems. I use medium settings because I like high framerates, it'll run on high/ultra, but then it gets a little choppy in big battles. Performance is better on the built-in display, but I like the 27" screen, it's awesome.