09-04-2007, 09:42 PM

Now, I love my macbook in every way. I've had it for over a year and wow, this is by far the best computer i've ever had. It hasn't crashed, simply I just love it.

I'm a 15 year old computer noob. Last year I made the switch from PC-->Mac, and didn't really research it that much since not only was I inexperienced, but there was only 2 choices of laptops to buy.

I spent a good 1700 on my macbook (black), and haven't had a single problem with it up until recently.

I started playing WoW a few months ago, which runs pretty poorly. I thought nothing of it, after all I spent 1700 on my computer and it's amazing.

Recently I started playing other games such as Counter Strike Source and WOW!!!! MY MACBOOK CAN'T PLAY GAMES AT ALL. This was virtually unplayable. Along with other games as well.

Now, frustrated that I can't play games (and WoW was getting substantially more annoying to play with my 12 FPS with the graphics turned down, which is already bad because WoW has bad graphics) so I decided to look into my video card which I thought was supposed to be amazing.

64 MEGABITES?!??! And I can't even upgrade it!??!?!
This blows.

I spent 1700 on this thing (2 summers worth of working and I'm only 15) and I can't even play a video game.

Is there ANYTHING I can do to either upgrade the card, drastically increase its performance, or am I basically just screwed.

I feel really jipped right now.
Thank you very much.

09-04-2007, 09:46 PM

if u spent 1700 u could of spent another 100 and got a macbook pro (with the education discount)
i knew from the day i bought my macbook that it couldnt play games after all i have a PS3 for games

09-04-2007, 09:46 PM

a macbook is not inteded to be a gaming machine! An apple clearly stated the macbook comes with a 64MB graphic card on their website.

09-04-2007, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by tacsniper

a macbook is not inteded to be a gaming machine! An apple clearly stated the macbook comes with a 64MB graphic card on their website.

Um no they don't but that's besides the point,
Can someone actually answer the question without trying to prove me wrong?

Originally Posted by bestmacbook

if u spent 1700 u could of spent another 100 and got a macbook pro (with the education discount)
i knew from the day i bought my macbook that it couldnt play games after all i have a PS3 for games

Well I'm including the extended warrenty but yeah, I wish at this point I would have gotten the MBP

09-04-2007, 09:57 PM

do to the bottom of the page and click compare specs on the right. it doesnt look like you did enough research.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...acbook/macbook

for the original question. you cant upgrade the graphics card since it is incorporated in the motherboard.

09-04-2007, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by tacsniper

a macbook is not inteded to be a gaming machine! An apple clearly stated the macbook comes with a 64MB graphic card on their website.

Originally Posted by kkelly122

do to the bottom of the page and click compare specs on the right. it doesnt look like you did enough research.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...acbook/macbook

Listen dude, I'm not denying that I didn't do enough research. What I'm wondering is if there is a solution, or a way to upgrade.

09-04-2007, 10:00 PM

no you cant upgrade (above post)

09-04-2007, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by kkelly122

no you cant upgrade (above post)

There's no way to unsolder it and replace it?

09-04-2007, 10:02 PM

lol no unless you want to destroy your machine

09-04-2007, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by kkelly122

lol no unless you want to destroy your machine

So is there a way to increase the video card? I heard that getting more ram and running in Windows XP will increase your video card to 256 mb. How do I do that? Thanks.

09-04-2007, 10:06 PM

Ram is about all you can do. P.S. Apple did not rip you off, jipp you, or screw you over in any way whatsoever.

09-04-2007, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by jaster

I have seen the gaming question asked over and over and over on this forum by people interested in their first Mac. I can't count how many threads there are started by people thinking of getting a mac who are interested in games. You obviously didn't do your research. If you want to have a vehicle to haul stuff around town, you get a truck, not a sedan. If you want a computer that plays games, you get an alienware, not a Mac. Having said that, I have no troubles gaming on my mac. Now granted, i am not a hardcore gamer, that's why I chose a Mac. In answer to your original question, no the graphics card is NOT upgradeable. You best bet is Max out the ram. Other than that, not a whole lot can be done. You were not jipped though. You bought an excellent machine, but you failed to research and you purchased a machine that doesn't do what you want. It is your fault, not Apple's. They are straightforward on their website about the components of all their systems. You can't blame anyone but yourself for what you purchased. If you by a porsche and then can't fit your great dane into it, who's fault is that?

Thank you for the response.
I don't feel like I was jipped in anything other than the gaming department.

When I first bought the mac, I didn't care about gaming and I was 14 years old :lol: hence the reason I didn't even think about it.

That being said, you mentioned maxing the ram. Can you go a bit more in depth with this? I currently have 1.25 GB Ram (or is it actually 1gb). Would maxing the ram to 2gb increase my video card to 256 mb?

Also, is there a difference in gaming between the core duo and the core 2 duo?
Thank you.

09-04-2007, 10:33 PM

the ram wouldnt make your video card go to 256 mb since it is incorporated in the motherboard with only 64mb. the ram is just going to speed things up to make it look like you have a faster video card. it isnt going to magically upgrade the card to 256mb it just might seem that fast.

09-04-2007, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by kkelly122

the ram wouldnt make your video card go to 256 mb since it is incorporated in the motherboard with only 64mb. the ram is just going to speed things up to make it look like you have a faster video card. it isnt going to magically upgrade the card to 256mb it just might seem that fast.

I read that if you run it in Windows XP, it will actually be 256... it just takes away from your ram. Is that right?

BTW, is this a good 2gb?
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other.../53DR2SPAIR2G/

I have a macbook (Black) 2ghz intel core duo

09-04-2007, 10:45 PM

i never heard about the xp thing. i doubt it can change the actual physical properties of the video card. as for the memory i have never heard of it. i would recommend crucial.com. very nice memory.