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Do or don't? Getting a macbook

Aeneas Beaumont
*I* am adult content!
Join date: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 64
04-08-2009 09:50
Hey all,

It's time for me to buy a new / addition pc and I figured I need a laptop this time. Being fed up with windows for a long time already ánd having extremely good experiences with my iPhone, I figured I'd try a macbook. A Pro one is out of reach, budgetwise.

Main problem is performance though. I think SL is - by far - the most resource-taxing application I use and I wondered if you could tell me if SL runs smoothly (with max settings) on the following specs:

2.4GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB DDR3 Memory
250GB hard drive1
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics

Apparently it is shipped with 2GB DDR3 memory, but I think I'd opt in for 4GB.

What are the pros and cons? Is SL bearable or is there a lot of lag? And is tweaking possible easily if needed?

Many many thanks ^^

Aen (possible future mac user ^^ )
Missy Malaprop
♥Diaper Girl♥
Join date: 28 Oct 2005
Posts: 544
04-08-2009 22:04
I don't think any machine can run SL perfectly... SL isn't good enough... but that will run the program decently, but your gonna have to get a super high end laptop out of your price range if you want it to run SL good at max settings. The macbook with the 9400 will run it at Ultra settings, yes... and in empty places it'll be fine... but its still gonna turn into a slideshow in crowded areas, even higher end machines do that.

I have a MBP 15" , and the 9400 is good enough for most light stuff, that I usually use the 9400 in mine, only only turn on my 9600 when I need really good performance... its a difference in light areas of 20 fps vs 60 fps...
Dnali Anabuki
Still Crazy
Join date: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 1,633
04-09-2009 08:08
Do the MAC laptops still heat up enuf to burn flesh?

That is why I will never buy another one after my 17" competed with the fireplace to heat the house.
_____________________
The price of apathy is to be ruled by evil men--Plato
Missy Malaprop
♥Diaper Girl♥
Join date: 28 Oct 2005
Posts: 544
04-09-2009 23:00
mine gets very warm if the fans dont spin up... but of course its gonna get hot... I have a Dell laptop that gets even hotter than my Macbook Pro.. painful burn if i sit it on my lap to bare skin... how hot is too hot? I dunno... but if you want any brand laptop that will run SL decently, its going to get hot when running.... with the Macbook you can just turn the fans up faster and sooner than they normally want to by default and keep it cooler
Maximilian Morpork
Registered User
Join date: 26 Jul 2008
Posts: 10
04-12-2009 06:15
I have now both a 2007 macbook pro 2.4Ghz (santarosa) with nvidia 8600GT 256Mb and a 2009 Macbook 2.0Ghz and nvidia 9400 256Mb.

both equipped with 2 MB RAM

both with leopard 10.5.6

both running SL official viewer 1.21.11

believe it or not the macbook runs BETTER, heats less, much much smoother, an average 5-10fps more then the MBpro. Tested with the SAME graphics settings, same Sim under the same conditions, same internet ADSL connection.

If graphics setting are maxed out, the MBP grinds to a halt and heats like a pizza oven, the 2009 macbook goes on like nothing happened, only clearly with low fps, but absolutely "playable"

I absolutely recommend the 2009 unibody MacBook. It's pure gold.
Von Johin
Registered User
Join date: 10 Jul 2007
Posts: 73
04-13-2009 18:07
i am constantly amazed at just how well SL ran on a shared-memory MacBook vs. the dedicated card on my MacBook Pro. Its leveled off now after several new viewer releases, but it was dicey for a while.

From: Maximilian Morpork
I have now both a 2007 macbook pro 2.4Ghz (santarosa) with nvidia 8600GT 256Mb and a 2009 Macbook 2.0Ghz and nvidia 9400 256Mb.

both equipped with 2 MB RAM

both with leopard 10.5.6

both running SL official viewer 1.21.11

believe it or not the macbook runs BETTER, heats less, much much smoother, an average 5-10fps more then the MBpro. Tested with the SAME graphics settings, same Sim under the same conditions, same internet ADSL connection.

If graphics setting are maxed out, the MBP grinds to a halt and heats like a pizza oven, the 2009 macbook goes on like nothing happened, only clearly with low fps, but absolutely "playable"

I absolutely recommend the 2009 unibody MacBook. It's pure gold.
Aeneas Beaumont
*I* am adult content!
Join date: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 64
04-15-2009 08:20
Thanks all for your comments. The decision to buy one hasn't been made yet, but chances are growing ^^

Thanks again,

Aen
Alas Aferdita
Registered User
Join date: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 3
Mac Mini with 9400M
04-18-2009 16:27
I took delivery of a new Mac Mini recently, which is basically the Macbook without a screen and keyboard.Core 2 Duo 2.0mhz. Four GB of RAM, stock 120GB 5400 rpm HD. SL assigns the graphics to "medium" and it plays smoothly most places at that level between 15 and 22 fps. At the low setting the FPS goes above 35 much of the time. High settings gets down around 10 sometimes 15, and Ultra plays, down around 6fps. Aside from the framerate, SL looks quite good and the controls are nice and snappy. I'm waiting for a fast external drive which I will boot from, which may make a difference in my frame rates. Still, it's not a match for a dedicated card. But it's plenty to have a good time in SL with. Plays beginning WOW at Ultra without a hiccup, though.