MacBook Pro - Gaming

So with EA starting to make some new games for the MBP, how will it be able to handle the newer games coming out over the next few months? I am talking about the midrange model with the 256mb 8600. I am looking into getting one, but I don't know if I should go with the one I listed above and hope to play newer games on med settings or if I should just get a MacBook and build a gaming rig with the money I would save.

So if you have any opinions, please let me know. Thanks.

 

Kind of depends on your needs, and how much you expect to actually game with a laptop.

I will admit that personally, I like the IDEA of being able to game with my laptop, but in practice I've found that most of the places where I use my laptop, I don't have much occasion to actually game.

I think there is something to be said perhaps for getting the MacBook if you know your main use of the laptop is going to be non-gaming stuff, and taking that $1000-1500 or so difference between a MacBook and a MBP and using it to build a kick ass gaming rig. I mean, really, if you took that money and a bit more you could build an absolutely top notch gaming rig that is going to perform a more satisfying experience than any gaming laptop out there.

 

See the thing is, I am going to be a sophomore at Auburn University and with fraternity and all that kind of stuff, I don't game a whole lot, I to like the idea of gaming on my laptop. But at the same time I feel like that extra 1200 that i would save by getting the midrange macbook, I could put toward my JEEP and maybe get an xbox or ps3 to game on. Who knows. I am just getting one SOON so I am trying to figure out what to do. I just don't want to regret one or the other...

 

I agree. I would love to game but casually gaming on a notebook seems more of a practicle idea. The main games I'm thinking of playing would be strategies and odd city building sim(hint hint).

I'd probably go for the MacBook and gaming rig option. It's fairly inexpensive to desktop which will handle new games nowadays. Also gives you an oppotunity to keep one computer clean and focused on work and one with playtime distractions

 

Can the MacBook handle RTS games such as Age of Empires 3?

 

I'm not sure if I am getting exactly what you are saying but if you are concerned about the MBP handling future games there should be no problem. It just got released with the latest 8600 GPU. This is one of the features that are driving sales for this computer. Software developers don't constantly raise the GPU requirements so you will have to constantly buy a new GPU, that's unreasonable. I have the Radeon X800 in my desktop G5 and I play Quake 4 at high settings very well. (Not Ultra settings).
Now if you want to save money and get a MacBook then don't expect to play 3D games on it. You will be able to play more 2D and some low res 3D but it's not a gaming rig.
Personally I would save the money and get a gaming machine like the Wii or the PS3. They will always be able to handle future games made for them.

 

I very much doubt it.

 

The MacBook may be able to minimally handle some older RTS games such as Command & Conquer: Generals, but I think AOE3 is too much for the Intel GMA 950.

I agree...get a MacBook and use the $1000+ saved into a Xbox 360 or a PS3, and a bunch of games. The 8600GT is only so powerful for the constantly evolving PC games, but the consoles have enough power for any game that is made for it.

 

Also have to remember that the EA games are going to be run in an emulator/wrapper... and not native to OS X.
http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/06/13/ea.games.will.use.cider/

 

I can tell you that Age of Empires III does play very well, and looks gorgeous, on the Macbook Pro (in the Windows partition, that is...).

 

Here's my benchmark data from a new Santa Rosa MacBook Pro (2.4GHz). This was at 1440x900 with all settings at "High". F.E.A.R. is a reasonably demanding game, so I was quite happy with these results. The MBP slices through games like Guild Wars.

 

Well I think I have decided to go with the MacBook and a 360 then use whats left on a winch for my JEEP. So thanks for all of the info guys, I think/hope I will be happy with my decision.. I plan on using the mac for the next 3-4 years and I know games will advance a ridiculous amount so I feel it is kinda stupid to buy something now when in a year it won't be good enough, but consoles are already future proof. Thanks again