A MacBook Pro for playing games: will it work?

[Z of the Na'vi]

Hi there escapists, I have a small question regarding my graduation present coming up. My dad, being the generous fellow that he is, has decided to get my a 15 inch Macbook pro for my graduation present. Granted, I'll use it for college stuff and schoolwork, but the main thing I want to know is gaming. Yes, I know all about Bootcamp and running Windows Xp on it, (I have a Windows Xp installation disc, Service pack 2). In preparation of this laptop, I bought a Seagate 500g hard drive to store these games on. Now my question is, will my laptop be able to run the following games I own?

-Crysis
-Assassin's Creed Directors Cut Edition
-The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion
-Bioshock
-The Incredible Hulk (Movie Game)
-Splinter Cell Double Agent
-Command and Conquer Red Alert 3
-Fable: The Lost Chapters
-Rayman 2: The Great Escape
-Rainbow Six Vegas 2

Granted, some of these like rayman and fable I know will run, but I was wanting to ask about the higher end games like Crysis or Vegas 2?

Any tips for gaming on my new laptop will be greatly appricated.

 

[iJosh]

I'm not too sure actually. Never tried them. I have the 15 inch MacBook pro, which im using right now.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

I think I'll say what everyone else is thinking: LOL

Do yourself a favor, get a REAL Laptop.

Its a gift from my father. For graduation. What would you do?

 

[megapenguinx]

Crysis, chances are no. Same with Bioshock. While in bootcamp you don't actually get full functionality out of the graphics card like you would in OSX.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Crysis, chances are no. Same with Bioshock. While in bootcamp you don't actually get full functionality out of the graphics card like you would in OSX.

Its alright if the graphics are toned down abit, I was just wanting to know if the game would at least run

 

[megapenguinx]

Crysis, chances are no. Same with Bioshock. While in bootcamp you don't actually get full functionality out of the graphics card like you would in OSX.

Its alright if the graphics are toned down abit, I was just wanting to know if the game would at least run

Oh, in that case yes it should. But tone them down a lot, it's going to heat up faster than a PC when playing

 

[Eagle Est1986]

*SNIP*

What are the actual specs of your macbook? I've found, while using Vista through bootcamp, that I more or less get those specs, so just look at those and the minimum specs of those games.
I'm gonna take a stab in the dark and say you'll struggle to get Crysis going that well though.

 

[Gitsnik]

Hi there escapists, I have a small question regarding my graduation present coming up. My dad, being the generous fellow that he is, has decided to get my a 15 inch Macbook pro for my graduation present. Granted, I'll use it for college stuff and schoolwork, but the main thing I want to know is gaming. Yes, I know all about Bootcamp and running Windows Xp on it, (I have a Windows Xp installation disc, Service pack 2). In preparation of this laptop, I bought a Seagate 500g hard drive to store these games on. Now my question is, will my laptop be able to run the following games I own?

-Crysis
-Assassin's Creed Directors Cut Edition
-The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion
-Bioshock
-The Incredible Hulk (Movie Game)
-Splinter Cell Double Agent
-Command and Conquer Red Alert 3
-Fable: The Lost Chapters
-Rayman 2: The Great Escape
-Rainbow Six Vegas 2

Granted, some of these like rayman and fable I know will run, but I was wanting to ask about the higher end games like Crysis or Vegas 2?

Any tips for gaming on my new laptop will be greatly appricated.

It depends on the hardware specs within, but you shouldn't have any major issue with it. When I was dual booting the machine I am on now, I used to play C&C Tiberium Wars on it no issue, and my girlfriend currently runs a "real" laptop (the hell does that mean anyway) which runs Crysis (barely) that is significantly underpowered to this machine. Basically, you should have no real issue, just make sure you have a decent graphics card and have installed all the drivers for the system.

You might be able to convince the old man to get you a Sony Vaio if you wanted something truly high end, or a build your own unit.

Note: I'm on a dual core 2.16 with 4GB of RAM and a small harddrive and a Radeon X1600 in it. Nothing overly fancy.

 

[sheic99]

Crysis, chances are no. Same with Bioshock. While in bootcamp you don't actually get full functionality out of the graphics card like you would in OSX.

Its alright if the graphics are toned down abit, I was just wanting to know if the game would at least run

The answer is on the back of the package.

Cookie for reference.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

*SNIP*

What are the actual specs of your macbook? I've found, while using Vista through bootcamp, that I more or less get those specs, so just look at those and the minimum specs of those games.
I'm gonna take a stab in the dark and say you'll struggle to get Crysis going that well though.

Copied and pasted from Apple website:

NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics processor; 256MB of GDDR3 memory on 2.4GHz configuration; 512MB of GDDR3 memory on 2.66GHz and 2.93GHz configurations

 

[Eagle Est1986]

Hmmm, not very much RAM, might struggle there because Windows is generally a little more RAM hungry than Leopard is. Might want to see if your Dad will buy you one with a bit more RAM, 2gb should do the job.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Just as long as the game RUNS on the computer the graphics aren't really an issue for me. But from what you smart computer people are telling me is that the only game im going to have trouble with is Crysis, but I expected that lol. Is there anything else I should know?

 

[megapenguinx]

Just as long as the game RUNS on the computer the graphics aren't really an issue for me. But from what you smart computer people are telling me is that the only game im going to have trouble with is Crysis, but I expected that lol. Is there anything else I should know?

Like I said before it will heat up like crazy. More RAM is good, and make sure you have all your drivers installed

 

[Aardvark]

Install Windows on the thing, then you'll be laughing... at other Mac users

 

[Flying-Emu]

Is there anything else I should know?

Get GarageBand for your Mac. Best. Program. Ever.

 

[Eagle Est1986]

Is there anything else I should know?

Not really, enjoy your shiny new macbook. Oh, and happy graduation.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Is there anything else I should know?

Not really, enjoy your shiny new macbook. Oh, and happy graduation.

Thanks! I'll do what I can with my macbook, thank you everybody for the tips I knew I could trust the escapists. *lays out a plate of cookies and a pitcher of kool-aid in thanks*

 

[Mikaze]

to quote...somebody, "The problem is, you're trying to play games on a piece of fruit."

 

[Ashbax]

ok, crysis is a big no no, Bioshock...meh, depends on your graphics card, (Also, boot camp can be a ***** sometimes, Blah blah randomly closing out etc) Assasins creed - More likeley than bioshock, but still depends on your graphics card. Fable and ugh, rayman, you can easily put on, red alert, Hulk, splinter cell and Vegas 2, well, for vegas two, depends on grafix card, (Honestly dont worry much about this stuff - I actually managed to download a very good, free graphics engine off the internet.) splinter cell double agent, the 2006 release I beleive? Yeah thatll work fine enough. Red alert you'll be able to play, no question. and Hulk, well, I havent seen that games graphics or Memory, so I wouldnt know. Also if your gonna be wanting to play those games id clear out some space on the drive if I were you Oh, and dont get vista, get XP, its better for gaming (Some older/certain games arent compatible with Vista) *Takes breath, then takes one of the free Kool-Aids.* Slurp.