MacBook - Upgrading a MacBook?

Neoinarien · Neoinarien #1 (**permalink**)

04-15-2008, 12:35 AM

Question...

I want to get a Macbook so I can run some games. But the standard video cards that come on them is pretty lackluster. Is it possible, without voiding warranty, to upgrade the video card?

Thanks!

~Tom

Dysfunction · Dysfunction #2 (**permalink**)

04-15-2008, 01:12 AM

Get a macbook pro.

hexonxonx · hexonxonx #3 (**permalink**)

04-15-2008, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neoinarien

Question...

I want to get a Macbook so I can run some games. But the standard video cards that come on them is pretty lackluster. Is it possible, without voiding warranty, to upgrade the video card?

Thanks!

~Tom

The card can't be upgraded, it's soldered onto the board.

bobtomay · bobtomay #4 (**permalink**)

04-15-2008, 05:32 AM

And the proper question is: "I want to play games on my new computer. What computer should I buy?"

This is the question every gamer should be asking whether purchasing a Mac or a Windows machine.

Of course the answer is going to involve asking a question, 'What games are you wanting to play?"

The question is always "I want to do x, y & z on my computer. What do I need to be looking for in a computer?" Not the other way around.

Neoinarien · Neoinarien #5 (**permalink**)

04-15-2008, 08:32 AM

Yes, I gave a more detailed run down of my thinking and needs in tech-forums.net

http://www.tech-forums.net/pc/f84/ne...-twist-172753/

But as always, their distinct PC bias bleeds through (hence why I am looking for a 2nd opinion

)

Here it is copied below. Thanks!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Background
So I have a pretty nice desktop for gaming, but I want to upgrade to a new (keeping the desktop, just getting rid of old laptop) laptop so it can run PC games. It's a basic Mac powerbook G4. I really appreciate the Mac line for laptops, so I'd like to stick with them. I had a Macbook Pro for a few months before trading it to my wife because it was just too large to be lugging around all day. As a result, I'm looking to the Macbook (the new ones can run bootcamp). The mac book air seems impractical for gaming (no ethernet, though it does have an adaptor... same for CD drive). Anyone here have a macbook air and play games on it? It also has a weaker processor, which is somewhat of a concern. So I'm looking between these two lines.

Needs
I am not talking about running Halo 2, bioshock, or anything super demanding on a video card/processor. I am talking about RTS (starcraft 2 when it comes, dawn of war, etc) along with some tame FPS (maybe some counterstrike, red orchestra, etc). But it NEEDS to be able to run Star craft 2 when it comes, dawn or war, etc.

Questions

1. Will a Macbook or Macbook Air be capable of smoothly playing the above games using bootcamp? I am mainly worried about the video card.

2. What is the outlook like for compatibility and meeting requirements on games for the next few years?

3. Macbook air: does anyone have gaming experience on this? I realize it is a "profile" computer, but do the USB adaptors for ethernet, cd, etc, kill speed, produce lag, lag spikes, etc?

General thoughts?

Proposed comp 1: Macbook (black)
Apple - MacBook - Technical Specifications

Ram
2GB (two 1GB) of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300); supports up to 4GB

Video
Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory

Processor
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Proposed comp 2: Macbook Air
Apple - MacBook Air - Technical Specifications

The same stats as above, except processor is 1.6.

Dysfunction #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 17, 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 6,511 Mac Specs: 2008 and 2011 15" mbps, late 11 iMac, iPhone 4s, and too many ipods and other stuff	04-15-2008, 01:12 AM Get a macbook pro. mike This machine kills fascists Got # ? phear the command line!
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,786 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	04-15-2008, 05:32 AM And the proper question is: "I want to play games on my new computer. What computer should I buy?" This is the question every gamer should be asking whether purchasing a Mac or a Windows machine. Of course the answer is going to involve asking a question, 'What games are you wanting to play?" The question is always "I want to do x, y & z on my computer. What do I need to be looking for in a computer?" Not the other way around. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month
	QUOTE Thanks

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Neoinarien #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 15, 2008 Posts: 2	04-15-2008, 12:35 AM Question... I want to get a Macbook so I can run some games. But the standard video cards that come on them is pretty lackluster. Is it possible, without voiding warranty, to upgrade the video card? Thanks! ~Tom
	QUOTE Thanks

Neoinarien #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 15, 2008 Posts: 2	04-15-2008, 08:32 AM Yes, I gave a more detailed run down of my thinking and needs in tech-forums.net http://www.tech-forums.net/pc/f84/ne...-twist-172753/ But as always, their distinct PC bias bleeds through (hence why I am looking for a 2nd opinion ) Here it is copied below. Thanks! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Background So I have a pretty nice desktop for gaming, but I want to upgrade to a new (keeping the desktop, just getting rid of old laptop) laptop so it can run PC games. It's a basic Mac powerbook G4. I really appreciate the Mac line for laptops, so I'd like to stick with them. I had a Macbook Pro for a few months before trading it to my wife because it was just too large to be lugging around all day. As a result, I'm looking to the Macbook (the new ones can run bootcamp). The mac book air seems impractical for gaming (no ethernet, though it does have an adaptor... same for CD drive). Anyone here have a macbook air and play games on it? It also has a weaker processor, which is somewhat of a concern. So I'm looking between these two lines. Needs I am not talking about running Halo 2, bioshock, or anything super demanding on a video card/processor. I am talking about RTS (starcraft 2 when it comes, dawn of war, etc) along with some tame FPS (maybe some counterstrike, red orchestra, etc). But it NEEDS to be able to run Star craft 2 when it comes, dawn or war, etc. Questions 1. Will a Macbook or Macbook Air be capable of smoothly playing the above games using bootcamp? I am mainly worried about the video card. 2. What is the outlook like for compatibility and meeting requirements on games for the next few years? 3. Macbook air: does anyone have gaming experience on this? I realize it is a "profile" computer, but do the USB adaptors for ethernet, cd, etc, kill speed, produce lag, lag spikes, etc? General thoughts? Proposed comp 1: Macbook (black) Apple - MacBook - Technical Specifications Ram 2GB (two 1GB) of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300); supports up to 4GB Video Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory Processor 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Proposed comp 2: Macbook Air Apple - MacBook Air - Technical Specifications The same stats as above, except processor is 1.6.
	QUOTE Thanks

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