Unofficial Macbook Gaming Thread (Late 2008 Models)

[CodeSamurai]

Can you try Grid?

I've got a Steam account that I use to play Grid and you can test it if you want to. I also have one with CS:S if you need.

I have a buddy who has grid, I'll load it up and give it a shot.

A big thanks to CodeSamurai for these tests!!
Any chance someone could try Counter Strike: Source??

I also have CS:S! I'll give it a shot as well. This worked fine on the old x3100, so I imagine it'll work fine now.

@Code Samurai

Can you run this program and post the results please?

I guess I'm missing what program you're referring to...I'll give it a shot if you let me know though!


The demos are done downloading. Apparently the guy next door was torrenting HD movies. Those are done and my wireless seems to be working well again. I just installed the FF11 demo and about to try it out. After that, I'm going to take a couple hours to finish my school work and then try out UT 03. I'll let you guys know the results!

Trent out

 

[CodeSamurai]

Just before I go do my work, the FF11 benchmarks are in.

The benchmark gave it a 5092 with high resolution. Which according to the link you provided:

FINAL FANTASY XI Official Web Site

says it is between the top two categories...in other words, it plays just fine!

One note though, I was getting the same stuttering thing that I am getting in Oblivion and Half Life. It happened twice during the benchmark and each time lasted about 2 seconds. I'm still going to call driver issue on this one, however I'd like some other people to recreate the issue if possible before we make any decisions on it. Let me know!

Edit: I found a new driver for the chipset on Nvidia's site. The version that comes with bootcamp is 174.xx and the newest driver is 178.xx. Nvidia claims 10-15% increase in performance in newer games OVER DRIVER VERSION 175.XX. This is pretty exciting. I'll test it out later and see what I find out...maybe it'll fix that stuttering issue.

Trent

 

[safarisurfer]

Just before I go do my work, the FF11 benchmarks are in.

The benchmark gave it a 5092 with high resolution. Which according to the link you provided:

Trent

I have an Asus laptop F9Sg with a nvidia 9300m g. with xp and 3 gigs of ram i get 5009 on that test. i am using driver version 174.74

I would have thought with 9400 m you would have scored higher but i dont know if you using vista has something to do with it.

 

[B&O]

I guess I'm missing what program you're referring to...I'll give it a shot if you let me know though!

iBench

Sorry I am an idiot!

 

[CodeSamurai]

iBench

Sorry I am an idiot!

No worries! Here are the results...it saved them to a .xml file...it's a little strange to look at. Hopefully you can make some sense of it.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE ibench SYSTEM "iBench.dtd">
<ibench><system><mac><os>Mac OS X 10.5.5 (Build 9F2114)</os><model>MacBook5,1</model><code>Apple Inc. Mac-F42D89C8 Proto</code></mac><cpu><name>Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU P8600 @ 2.40GHz</name><logical>2</logical><physical>1</physical><frequency>2.40 GHz</frequency></cpu><bus>1.06 GHz</bus><memory><size>2.00 GB</size><type>1067 MHz DDR3</type></memory><compiler><version>GCC 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5564)</version><options>__OPTIMIZE__ </options></compiler></system><results><suite name="iBench_fp" result="3.50"><test name="Householder transformation">3.12</test><test name="Gaussian blur">3.82</test><test name="Mandelbrot set generation">3.29</test><test name="Numerical integration">3.67</test><test name="JPEG compression">3.34</test><test name="LU decomposition">3.37</test><test name="Edge detection">4.37</test><test name="Fast Fourier Transform">3.29</test><test name="Eigenvalue">3.36</test></suite><suite name="iBench_int" result="3.42"><test name="MD5 hashing">3.60</test><test name="Blowfish cypher">3.84</test><test name="Kruskal tree search">3.63</test><test name="Integer factorization">3.54</test><test name="ZIP compression">2.91</test><test name="N Queens problem">3.55</test><test name="Maximum Common Divisor">3.15</test><test name="Quick sorting">3.26</test><test name="Binary searching">3.29</test><test name="Bubble sorting">3.55</test><test name="Prime numbers calculation">3.40</test></suite><composite>3.46</composite></results></ibench>


Trent out

Edit: I uploaded the video to youtube, but it's still in "processing". I've heard this can take upwards of 2 hours. It's a large file. I'm sorry about the poor quality/camera work. I'm a photographer, not a cinematographer, haha. It gets the point across though. When it finally shows up, I'll post a link.

 

[CodeSamurai]

Video is up! Once again I apologize for the poor quality. It should still give you a good representation of what to look for with the new macbooks!

YouTube - Aluminum Macbook Playing Team Fortress 2 and Oblivion

Trent out

Edit: If you can, click the "watch in high quality" option. You'll be happier in the end, I promise.

 

[B&O]

No worries! Here are the results...it saved them to a .xml file...it's a little strange to look at. Hopefully you can make some sense of it.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE ibench SYSTEM "iBench.dtd">
<ibench><system><mac><os>Mac OS X 10.5.5 (Build 9F2114)</os><model>MacBook5,1</model><code>Apple Inc. Mac-F42D89C8 Proto</code></mac><cpu><name>Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU P8600 @ 2.40GHz</name><logical>2</logical><physical>1</physical><frequency>2.40 GHz</frequency></cpu><bus>1.06 GHz</bus><memory><size>2.00 GB</size><type>1067 MHz DDR3</type></memory><compiler><version>GCC 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5564)</version><options>__OPTIMIZE__ </options></compiler></system><results><suite name="iBench_fp" result="3.50"><test name="Householder transformation">3.12</test><test name="Gaussian blur">3.82</test><test name="Mandelbrot set generation">3.29</test><test name="Numerical integration">3.67</test><test name="JPEG compression">3.34</test><test name="LU decomposition">3.37</test><test name="Edge detection">4.37</test><test name="Fast Fourier Transform">3.29</test><test name="Eigenvalue">3.36</test></suite><suite name="iBench_int" result="3.42"><test name="MD5 hashing">3.60</test><test name="Blowfish cypher">3.84</test><test name="Kruskal tree search">3.63</test><test name="Integer factorization">3.54</test><test name="ZIP compression">2.91</test><test name="N Queens problem">3.55</test><test name="Maximum Common Divisor">3.15</test><test name="Quick sorting">3.26</test><test name="Binary searching">3.29</test><test name="Bubble sorting">3.55</test><test name="Prime numbers calculation">3.40</test></suite><composite>3.46</composite></results></ibench>


Trent out

Edit: I uploaded the video to youtube, but it's still in "processing". I've heard this can take upwards of 2 hours. It's a large file. I'm sorry about the poor quality/camera work. I'm a photographer, not a cinematographer, haha. It gets the point across though. When it finally shows up, I'll post a link.

I have no idea what happened there. It should look like this:


Here is mine.

System info

Operating system: Mac OS X 10.5.5 (Build 9F33)
Model: MacBook Pro (17-inch Core 2 Duo)
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7600 @ 2.33GHz
Frequency: 2.33 GHz
Total CPU number: 2
Physical CPU number: 1
Bus frequency: 664 MHz
Memory size: 2.00 GB
Memory type: 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Compiled with: GCC 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5564)
Tests results

Composite result: 3.56
iBench_fp test suite

Householder transformation: 3.81
Gaussian blur: 3.42
Mandelbrot set generation: 3.52
Numerical integration: 3.64
JPEG compression: 3.52
LU decomposition: 3.66
Edge detection: 3.13
Fast Fourier Transform: 3.55
Eigenvalue: 3.54
Partial result: 3.53
iBench_int test suite

MD5 hashing: 3.95
Blowfish cypher: 3.99
Kruskal tree search: 3.35
Integer factorization: 3.47
ZIP compression: 3.71
N Queens problem: 3.92
Maximum Common Divisor: 3.63
Quick sorting: 3.35
Binary searching: 3.35
Bubble sorting: 3.24
Prime numbers calculation: 3.59
Partial result: 3.59

 

[B&O]

Also thanks for the video and work you have been putting in.

 

[CodeSamurai]

Also thanks for the video and work you have been putting in.

No problem! Here is a revised version of that list. I think this works better.

System info

Operating system: Mac OS X 10.5.5 (Build 9F2114)
Model: MacBook5,1
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU P8600 @ 2.40GHz
Frequency: 2.40 GHz
Total CPU number: 2
Physical CPU number: 1
Bus frequency: 1.06 GHz
Memory size: 2.00 GB
Memory type: 1067 MHz DDR3
Compiled with: GCC 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5564)
Tests results

Composite result: 3.51
iBench_fp test suite

Householder transformation: 3.15
Gaussian blur: 3.93
Mandelbrot set generation: 3.25
Numerical integration: 3.88
JPEG compression: 3.55
LU decomposition: 3.49
Edge detection: 4.38
Fast Fourier Transform: 3.28
Eigenvalue: 3.47
Partial result: 3.58
iBench_int test suite

MD5 hashing: 3.72
Blowfish cypher: 4.01
Kruskal tree search: 3.36
Integer factorization: 3.55
ZIP compression: 3.00
N Queens problem: 3.60
Maximum Common Divisor: 3.18
Quick sorting: 3.38
Binary searching: 3.27
Bubble sorting: 3.48
Prime numbers calculation: 3.44
Partial result: 3.44

 

[ChrisN]

Do you know how COD 4 runs on it, I want to see if it will run it smooth enough.

Thanks,
ChrisN

 

[OSX2009]

Thanks for the great work Samurai! Had a chance to play UT3 yet?

 

[CodeSamurai]

Thanks for the great work Samurai! Had a chance to play UT3 yet?

No problem! I just finished playing it. I set the res up to 1280x800 and started with both detail bars at 3. It played well so I set it up to 5 (max) and it still ran fine! The menus became laggy though. I feel like the same thing happened with the MBP...either way, it's both playable and pretty. I love that Oriental level, good stuff.

Trent out

 

[B&O]

I think that everyone should be clicking on code samurai's name and giving him positive rep for all his hard and unpaid work on this topic.

 

[CodeSamurai]

I think that everyone should be clicking on code samurai's name and giving him positive rep for all his hard and unpaid work on this topic.

Haha! Thanks B&O! That makes me feel good, but no worries. This isn't exactly "hard work" for me. It's fun! And also, I am getting paid! I'm doing a lot of this while working the front desk of my dorm, so I'm getting paid $6.00 an hour! I'll have more to come this week guys (and gals if there are any). I got that new driver for the 9400m and have noticed a slight improvement in gameplay. That stuttering issue happens less now as well. I'll keep working with it. Keep those requests coming. I'm going to do my best to get through them throughout the week. (granted I can find a copy) Take care! I'm off to play some Oblivion for awhile. The thieves guild quest is awesome.

Trent out

 

[KVee]

CodeSamurai,

Thanks for the FF11 benchmark! The score is a lot better than I expected, especially for a MacBook.

Obviously the MacBook Pro would be better for 3D gaming, but the MacBook seems to be more than adequate. And it's more affordable

Thank you to CodeSamurai once more for your kind contribution. Now, time to save up money...

 

[inotic]

Cs:s

Would it be possible for you to do a video stress test in Counter-strike source, since im in doubt if i should buy the macbook or macbook pro.

 

[B&O]

I got my MBP and I am looking forward to testing but I am working two jobs this week so I won't have time until next week when I am just on the new job. I will be pushing battlefields to the limit but I will be happy to start another thread doing a similar thing for the MBP 2.53ghz.

 

[Strukt]

CodeSamurai:

Wow, thanks for doing this, really apprechiated. This gives me high hopes for Starcraft 2, and Diablo 3. If Oblivion is playable these two games from Blizzard should be playable too because Blizzard doesnt focus all their energy on graphics.

But one game you havent tried, and one you should try is of course Crysis. Not that i like the game so much but it is a nice way to benchmark graphics performance.

Maybe you can try running World of Warcraft too ?

And maybe run 3DMARK.

Again, thanks for giving us the benchmarks !

 

[KVee]

Another MacBook benchmark

Just found a Japanese tech site that tested the new MacBook (2GHz, 2GB RAM) running Windows XP SP3.

Windows XP with new MacBook (2/2) - ITmedia +D PC USER

The FF11 benchmark scored 8629 for LOW and 5724 for HIGH, which is quite better than what CodeSamurai got (5092 for HIGH), so I guess this shows how Vista affects the performance.

This is another test they did:

3DMark06

3DMark06 Score: 2179
SM 2.0 Score: 770
HDR/SM 3.0 Score: 827
CPU Score: 1805

The 2.4GHz model running XP instead of Vista should perform better than the above results.

Cheers.

 

[CodeSamurai]

Just found a Japanese tech site that tested the new MacBook (2GHz, 2GB RAM) running Windows XP SP3.

Windows XP with new MacBook (2/2) - ITmedia +D PC USER

The FF11 benchmark scored 8629 for LOW and 5724 for HIGH, which is quite better than what CodeSamurai got (5092 for HIGH), so I guess this shows how Vista affects the performance.

This is another test they did:

3DMark06

3DMark06 Score: 2179
SM 2.0 Score: 770
HDR/SM 3.0 Score: 827
CPU Score: 1805

The 2.4GHz model running XP instead of Vista should perform better than the above results.

Cheers.

Nice find Kvee! I suppose Vista can really take its toll. If I'm feeling motivated this week, I might just wipe vista and re-run all my tests using xp pro SP3. I'll let you know what I find out.

Wish me luck on my Anthroplogy 451 midterm!
Trent out