Second Life Forums Archive - Dedicated graphics?

Stormy Pixelmaid

Registered User

Join date: 13 Apr 2009

Posts: 70

01-14-2010 09:04

Do I need a dedicated graphics card to run SL well? I have read that I do, but Apple is advertising that its new integrated graphics handle even 3D well.

I am looking for a laptop (13-15" range). Someone in the tech forum recommended one I can get for about $1100. The clerk at the Apple store said the cheapest Mac laptop with integrated would set me back about 2 grand. I like Macs, but not that much. The clerk also said he didn't think I needed integrated. Want second opinion.

Would use this computer only for SL, and light "netbook" stuff.

Viktoria Dovgal

…

Join date: 29 Jul 2007

Posts: 3,593

01-14-2010 09:16

FInd the model you were looking at on Apple's web site. What graphics hardware does it list for that model (and what model notebook is it)? That's means a lot more than whether or not it's soldered in.

Milla Janick

Empress Of The Universe

Join date: 2 Jan 2008

Posts: 3,075

01-14-2010 10:31

From: Stormy Pixelmaid

Do I need a dedicated graphics card to run SL well?

The 9400M in the current Macbooks does a pretty good job with SL, but don't expect to be able to turn the graphics up to ultra or use antialiasing.

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Stormy Pixelmaid

Registered User

Join date: 13 Apr 2009

Posts: 70

01-14-2010 10:45

From: Milla Janick

The 9400M in the current Macbooks does a pretty good job with SL, but don't expect to be able to turn the graphics up to ultra or use antialiasing.

The crucial use is melee combat, where graphics are typically slid all the way to low anyway. (I don't sword fight, ick!, but my alt partner does. I would rather she not get killed because the computer is too slow.) Other times we use Mid or High, depending on lag, rarely Ultra.

Danaeah Ballinger

Registered User

Join date: 7 May 2007

Posts: 22

01-14-2010 14:39

From: Stormy Pixelmaid

The crucial use is melee combat, where graphics are typically slid all the way to low anyway. (I don't sword fight, ick!, but my alt partner does. I would rather she not get killed because the computer is too slow.) Other times we use Mid or High, depending on lag, rarely Ultra.

I have a year old 13" with Nvidia 9400, and run routinely on med or high, and bump up to ultra for photos. How many people in a melee? I find that at concerts or dances where there are 20+ avs in close proximity, lag can be limiting.

If sword fighting is *one of* your interests, (as it was for me for a while, tho before I got the mac) I think you'll be fine, but if such action-adventure activities are your main thing, then there is no question that you can get more hardware for the buck in a pc.

Stormy Pixelmaid

Registered User

Join date: 13 Apr 2009

Posts: 70

01-14-2010 14:48

From: Danaeah Ballinger

I have a year old 13" with Nvidia 9400, and run routinely on med or high, and bump up to ultra for photos. How many people in a melee? I find that at concerts or dances where there are 20+ avs in close proximity, lag can be limiting.

If sword fighting is *one of* your interests, (as it was for me for a while, tho before I got the mac) I think you'll be fine, but if such action-adventure activities are your main thing, then there is no question that you can get more hardware for the buck in a pc.

One thing to watch. I posted some buzz yesterday from Macrumors.com, of speculation of the announcement of a new generation of macs with new chipsets. People are speculating that it could happen at the end of the month, when the new tablet seems likely to be announced.

For a brief period of time, when new hardware is released, places like Fry's will likely sell their inventory of the current macs at a bargain. It happened last time.

Thanks! I will hold off a bit to see what happens.

There are sometimes as many as 20 warriors. Sometimes more. All of them would have reduced their prims to a minimum and mostly turned off unnecessary scripts, etc. But I know that the number of AVs is very important in terms of lag, even if the AVs are fighting nekkie.

We have a desktop Mac. But we find that we don't want to travel at all if it means being away from SL.

Joseph MacAlpine

Registered User

Join date: 27 Jul 2006

Posts: 69

02-09-2010 10:56

From: Stormy Pixelmaid

Do I need a dedicated graphics card to run SL well? I have read that I do, but Apple is advertising that its new integrated graphics handle even 3D well.

I am looking for a laptop (13-15" range).

I guess you mean dedicated video *memory*. Laptops necessarily have integrated graphics chipsets.

Anyway, I own both a MacBook (shared video memory) and a MacBookPro (dedicated video memory), and SL runs better on the MBP, which for the record has a slower CPU.

Dedicated graphics?
Stormy Pixelmaid Registered User Join date: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 70	01-14-2010 09:04 Do I need a dedicated graphics card to run SL well? I have read that I do, but Apple is advertising that its new integrated graphics handle even 3D well. I am looking for a laptop (13-15" range). Someone in the tech forum recommended one I can get for about $1100. The clerk at the Apple store said the cheapest Mac laptop with integrated would set me back about 2 grand. I like Macs, but not that much. The clerk also said he didn't think I needed integrated. Want second opinion. Would use this computer only for SL, and light "netbook" stuff.
Viktoria Dovgal … Join date: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 3,593	01-14-2010 09:16 FInd the model you were looking at on Apple's web site. What graphics hardware does it list for that model (and what model notebook is it)? That's means a lot more than whether or not it's soldered in.
Milla Janick Empress Of The Universe Join date: 2 Jan 2008 Posts: 3,075	01-14-2010 10:31 From: Stormy Pixelmaid Do I need a dedicated graphics card to run SL well? The 9400M in the current Macbooks does a pretty good job with SL, but don't expect to be able to turn the graphics up to ultra or use antialiasing. _____________________ http://www.avatarsunited.com/avatars/milla-janick All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain...
Stormy Pixelmaid Registered User Join date: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 70	01-14-2010 10:45 From: Milla Janick The 9400M in the current Macbooks does a pretty good job with SL, but don't expect to be able to turn the graphics up to ultra or use antialiasing. The crucial use is melee combat, where graphics are typically slid all the way to low anyway. (I don't sword fight, ick!, but my alt partner does. I would rather she not get killed because the computer is too slow.) Other times we use Mid or High, depending on lag, rarely Ultra.
Danaeah Ballinger Registered User Join date: 7 May 2007 Posts: 22	01-14-2010 14:39 From: Stormy Pixelmaid The crucial use is melee combat, where graphics are typically slid all the way to low anyway. (I don't sword fight, ick!, but my alt partner does. I would rather she not get killed because the computer is too slow.) Other times we use Mid or High, depending on lag, rarely Ultra. I have a year old 13" with Nvidia 9400, and run routinely on med or high, and bump up to ultra for photos. How many people in a melee? I find that at concerts or dances where there are 20+ avs in close proximity, lag can be limiting. If sword fighting is one of your interests, (as it was for me for a while, tho before I got the mac) I think you'll be fine, but if such action-adventure activities are your main thing, then there is no question that you can get more hardware for the buck in a pc.
Stormy Pixelmaid Registered User Join date: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 70	01-14-2010 14:48 From: Danaeah Ballinger I have a year old 13" with Nvidia 9400, and run routinely on med or high, and bump up to ultra for photos. How many people in a melee? I find that at concerts or dances where there are 20+ avs in close proximity, lag can be limiting. If sword fighting is one of your interests, (as it was for me for a while, tho before I got the mac) I think you'll be fine, but if such action-adventure activities are your main thing, then there is no question that you can get more hardware for the buck in a pc. One thing to watch. I posted some buzz yesterday from Macrumors.com, of speculation of the announcement of a new generation of macs with new chipsets. People are speculating that it could happen at the end of the month, when the new tablet seems likely to be announced. For a brief period of time, when new hardware is released, places like Fry's will likely sell their inventory of the current macs at a bargain. It happened last time. Thanks! I will hold off a bit to see what happens. There are sometimes as many as 20 warriors. Sometimes more. All of them would have reduced their prims to a minimum and mostly turned off unnecessary scripts, etc. But I know that the number of AVs is very important in terms of lag, even if the AVs are fighting nekkie. We have a desktop Mac. But we find that we don't want to travel at all if it means being away from SL.
Joseph MacAlpine Registered User Join date: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 69	02-09-2010 10:56 From: Stormy Pixelmaid Do I need a dedicated graphics card to run SL well? I have read that I do, but Apple is advertising that its new integrated graphics handle even 3D well. I am looking for a laptop (13-15" range). I guess you mean dedicated video memory. Laptops necessarily have integrated graphics chipsets. Anyway, I own both a MacBook (shared video memory) and a MacBookPro (dedicated video memory), and SL runs better on the MBP, which for the record has a slower CPU.

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Dedicated graphics?