Why buy a top end MacBook Pro and play games with it?

[pgiguere1]

1) People don't buy a top end MBP strictly for gaming. They may be willing to spend more for it to have a better CPU/GPU in order to game, but they usually would have bought a Mac anyway.

If gaming is the reason they get a 15" MBP instead of a 13", they're really just paying the difference (~$500).

2) You can't compare a 360/PS3 to a 15" MBP in terms of performance. Try a PS4/Xbox 3. The MBP will allow you to max any game at 1080p, while the consoles will give you the equivalent of Medium graphics at 720p with no AA. Also, you don't have to pay for Xbox Live gold to get online multiplayer and games are usually cheaper and more customizable.

 

[xShane]

Serious question, I see so many posts here related to games. I can't believe people are spending 2k+ on machines to play games on. Isn't that what the PS3\XBOX is for, connected to a nice big 40" screen?

That's probably not the main reason they're buying a MacBook Pro...

Really? So end to end the whole game is "made" on a PC? /sadpanda

Basically, yes.

 

[kittencounter]

I don't play any games on my Macs and keep them strictly as work machines. Not because it can't handle games but they get too hot while playing. Put it to its temperature limits serveral hrs a day nonstop is no good for the all-in-one board.

If you like to play games buy a Windows machine. There are plenty mini yet powerful desktops. Some of them are just a bit bigger than a console and pretty quiet. Anything that can handle AMD 7970, 7990 or Nvidia GTX 670+ graphic cards are good enough to play any games.

Use your Macs to work and make money. They are pretty good at it.

 

[redkamel]

I can't believe people buy 60,000 dollar cars to sit in traffic

 

[cosmicjoke]

I can't believe people buy 60,000 dollar cars to sit in traffic

i never understand why macbooks pros are compared to expensive cars tbh, they may be relatively expensive for a laptop i guess, but still chump change in the greater scheme of luxuries.

 

[takeshi74]

Serious question, I see so many posts here related to games. I can't believe people are spending 2k+ on machines to play games on. Isn't that what the PS3\XBOX is for, connected to a nice big 40" screen?

Varying preferences and needs/wants. It's not all about a single variable despite your assumption. My MBP meets my gaming needs and there's no reason for me to buy a PS or Xbox that would mostly sit idle.

i never understand why macbooks pros are compared to expensive cars tbh, they may be relatively expensive for a laptop i guess, but still chump change in the greater scheme of luxuries.

It's an analogy. There are lesser expensive laptops out there that get the job done just as there are lesser expensive cars that get the job done.

I can't believe people buy 60,000 dollar cars to sit in traffic

I can. It doesn't seem that difficult to imagine why someone would want to spend commuting time in traffic in a nicer space. Again, varying preferences.

 

[bobr1952]

I don't think you will find that many Mac users who would buy a high end Mac specifically because they play a lot of games. I still believe there are just more options for serious gamers with Windows--so why bother if games are all you care about. I only plan WoW on my rMBP but I certainly didn't spend over $2K just to play WoW--but it does run nicely.

 

[xShane]

I can't believe people buy 60,000 dollar cars to sit in traffic

i never understand why macbooks pros are compared to expensive cars tbh, they may be relatively expensive for a laptop i guess, but still chump change in the greater scheme of luxuries.

Actually, it's quite different.

Macs are expensive and powerful.

Luxury cars are expensive and usually powerful.

The only difference, is most people actually use their Macs power (professional users, I'm assuming). People with luxury cars don't use that power.

 

[saturnotaku]

The MBP will allow you to max any game at 1080p

On what planet?

 

[pgiguere1]

On what planet?

Planet 15" rMBP+Boot Camp.

 

[urkel]

Planet 15" rMBP+Boot Camp.

You mean Planet 15" rMBP+Boot Camp + external hard drive that turns a laptop into a desktop

I'm not criticizing anyone here, but as a former rMBP owner then my biggest (and only) complaint was that the machine was ahead of its time. It has the form factor, the power and the screen to be the greatest laptop in the world... but the storage options are a huge limitation. With the Air then its easy to justify 256GB due to nature of the machine, but when you're STARTING at $2000+ range then its tough to say "256GB is fine and if I need more I'll dangle this external drive off it just like I did in 2008".

Ive since moved from the rMBP to the cMBP and with dual drives then (for me) it works out much better. BUT once technology gets to the point where 1TB SSD is both possible and AFFORDABLE then I'll gladly get an rMBP15 again and actually try out some retina gaming.

 

[utekineir]

Serious question, I see so many posts here related to games. I can't believe people are spending 2k+ on machines to play games on. Isn't that what the PS3\XBOX is for, connected to a nice big 40" screen?

I bought the rmbp for other uses.

The fact that it connects to my ht setup with hdmi out and plays games (bioshock infinite, borderlands 2) at high/ultra settings and 1080p using a ps3 controller from the couch is a bonus.

At first i thought the machine was garbage for games because i was running in os x. The thing does damn well with a boot camp install.

Ps3 and xbox are nearly 10 year old hardware, how many generations of video cards is that?

10 years is also about the last time 40" was a "big" screen.

 

[swerve147]

Planet 15" rMBP+Boot Camp.

"Any" game is an obvious exaggeration. I'll buy "most" though.

 

[Rhinoevans]

Serious question, I see so many posts here related to games. I can't believe people are spending 2k+ on machines to play games on. Isn't that what the PS3\XBOX is for, connected to a nice big 40" screen?

I think the real question is "Why buy a top end MacBook Pro?"

 

[Acorn]

I think the real question is "Why buy a top end MacBook Pro?"

I dont think people start using macs with that intention in mind. mac is a gateway drug. most people start off with an ipod. then they eventually invest in an ipad or an iphone. then a classic mac pro which is around 1000 dollars. alot more then what a normal pc laptop would cost. pretty soon a few years later they are paying a little more for upgrades and they are up to 1500 or so on a laptop. before you know it, your investing 2000+ in something you would have never considered 5 years prior.

mac users are slowly conditioned to spend more on hardware. weather they realize it or not.

maybe im crazy. thats how i see it.

 

[bili.d.kid]

im planning to buy top end macbook pro if its capable of playing any games, but if it can't by the specs limitation or any reason, i still buy it, if money its no object. why not satisfied myself with the world greatest laptop with best top end specs.

 

[utekineir]

There's a big difference in price between the base models with the 650m and the loaded out ones.

Yet a fraction of the performance difference in games.

Maybe "top end" should be defined?

 

[bili.d.kid]

You mean Planet 15" rMBP+Boot Camp + external hard drive that turns a laptop into a desktop

I'm not criticizing anyone here, but as a former rMBP owner then my biggest (and only) complaint was that the machine was ahead of its time. It has the form factor, the power and the screen to be the greatest laptop in the world... but the storage options are a huge limitation. With the Air then its easy to justify 256GB due to nature of the machine, but when you're STARTING at $2000+ range then its tough to say "256GB is fine and if I need more I'll dangle this external drive off it just like I did in 2008".

Ive since moved from the rMBP to the cMBP and with dual drives then (for me) it works out much better. BUT once technology gets to the point where 1TB SSD is both possible and AFFORDABLE then I'll gladly get an rMBP15 again and actually try out some retina gaming.

but you former rMBP owner right. i dont get it, then why you buy it in a first place? if you cant stand of that storage space.

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1) People don't buy a top end MBP strictly for gaming.

the OP never say strictly, just play game on it

 

[cosmicjoke]

I dont think people start using macs with that intention in mind. mac is a gateway drug. most people start off with an ipod. then they eventually invest in an ipad or an iphone. then a classic mac pro which is around 1000 dollars. alot more then what a normal pc laptop would cost. pretty soon a few years later they are paying a little more for upgrades and they are up to 1500 or so on a laptop. before you know it, your investing 2000+ in something you would have never considered 5 years prior.

mac users are slowly conditioned to spend more on hardware. weather they realize it or not.

maybe im crazy. thats how i see it.

i think i was conditioned by just being alive in the 80s... my first computer was 8086/256kb ram and was a couple thousand dollars. that's just how much the bottom rung basic computer cost. now a couple thousand dollars gets you a quite respectable machine that looks incredible. it seems like a good deal to me, but i guess it's all relative.

 

[redkamel]

I can. It doesn't seem that difficult to imagine why someone would want to spend commuting time in traffic in a nicer space. Again, varying preferences.

I can as well. My point was people buy expensive cars because they are comfortable and spend lots of time sitting in them, and occasionally drive fast, and this is totally acceptable and usually reasonable. Yet somehow people question why someone would buy an expensive computer which is often quite comfortable (in its own computery ways) to spend lots of time on, and occasionally use to its full potential.

 

[IlikeMacsSoMuch]

Serious question, I see so many posts here related to games. I can't believe people are spending 2k+ on machines to play games on. Isn't that what the PS3\XBOX is for, connected to a nice big 40" screen?

I use my top end cmbp to work most of the time, but when I want to play on it I do so. I didn't buy it for gaming purpose but since it is there... I have the XBOX360, Ps3, WII, I prefer console gaming but many people prefer PC gaming.

Now, for the people who would buy a 2K+ computer only to play games, good for them if they have the means.

 

[Zeov]

i have a 4k + Macbook and i play games on it.

Why? because it works just fine for gaming.. did i buy it to play games? of course not.. i bought it for editing video and 3D + photos.

What i don't get is this oldschool theory that "macs cant handle games".. that is just lame.. and wrong.. OSX sucks for gaming.. but it is possible to add windows and have a fine laptop for casual gaming.


so why? because i can.. i like having everything on one computer.

 

[pgiguere1]

"Any" game is an obvious exaggeration. I'll buy "most" though.

You're right.

Battlefield 3 is the game with the best graphics I own and I can max it at 1920x1200 (slightly over 1080p) with 4x MSAA, 16x Anisotropic and High AA post and play at 30 FPS.

However, some games that don't necessarily look better aren't as well optimized and can't run maxed (Crysis 3, I heard).

But yeah, "most" is more appropriate than "all", but I maintain my original point that a 15" MBP and Xbox 360/PS3 are on very different levels performance-wise, and a comparison with next-gen consoles would probably be fairer.

 

[Erasmus]

But yeah, "most" is more appropriate than "all", but I maintain my original point that a 15" MBP and Xbox 360/PS3 are on very different levels performance-wise, and a comparison with next-gen consoles would probably be fairer.

I disagree that it would be a fair comparison between the 15" MBP and a next-gen console. A better comparison is between the MBP and a $1000 Windows gaming PC, with a follow-up comparison between the gaming PC and the next-gen console.

The MBP is far more expensive, and has far less performance than the gaming PC. However it is portable, and can run OSX without hacking.

The Gaming PC is probably more expensive than the next gen console, however games are cheaper, and performance is probably as good, and in a few years, can be upgraded to be far better.

I think a console and a MBP are just too different to be compared. Like comparing a family sedan with a racehorse.

 

[pgiguere1]

I disagree that it would be a fair comparison between the 15" MBP and a next-gen console. A better comparison is between the MBP and a $1000 Windows gaming PC, with a follow-up comparison between the gaming PC and the next-gen console.

The MBP is far more expensive, and has far less performance than the gaming PC. However it is portable, and can run OSX without hacking.

The Gaming PC is probably more expensive than the next gen console, however games are cheaper, and performance is probably as good, and in a few years, can be upgraded to be far better.

I think a console and a MBP are just too different to be compared. Like comparing a family sedan with a racehorse.

I said "performance-wise", I'm not factoring it other stuff like cost, portability, games and such. The $1000 PC (assuming you're excluding monitor and accessories) is also probably going to be more powerful than both a rMBP and next-gen consoles, but it's a bit soon to tell at this point.