Do you think Sli is worth it or stick to a Macbook Pro?

It maybe a stupid question but is it?

I understand this is a gaming thread but would CS4 benefit from having Sli?. Also is the performance that dramatic?.

I want to get a Sli system but prices are crazy high in the UK. Plus I do alot of designing on a Mac so I was thinking of getting a Pro to do work however, should I stick to my original idea and get a the new Pro?.

If so would the 9700 be able to play Crysis, COD4 and Dead Space OK. Ideally I want a SLi system but not sure.

Cheers

 

I don't know if CS4 is sli enabled, I would guess no. but crysis will benifit greatly by have a second GPU.

 

Try the toshiba qosmio x305 q706 with sli 9800m gt's.

 

Definitely check out the Toshiba.
Prices look much better than the MAC, performance-wise.

 

why not go with a single 9800m gt?

 

Mac's are WAY over priced!

 

If you desperately want a mac, you are stuck with lower performance.

You will pay 30-40% more for around HALF the performance of the PC in games. (Macbook pro vs ASUS G50VT series)

SLI does have a benefit, but even without SLI, the PCs are MUCH more powerful and cheaper.

Note, this has nothing to do with anything else but what apple chose to include in their macbook pro.

 

Alienware has a good deal (at least in the US) on the M17 now, under $2000 for Crossfire 3870, UWXGA, etc.

The main problem with the macbook "pro" is lack of high res screen, plus the gpu isn't that great, and it's overpriced...

http://www.alienware.com/customize/M17-notebook.aspx?SysCode=PC-LT-M17&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT

 

SLI VS NO SLI in my sig, otherwise, its up to you.

 

That alienware doesn't seem monstrously overpriced.

Than again, don't know how well the 3870 performs, does anyone know?

 

I live in the UK so prices are pretty steep for PC SLi configuration. I can get a HE discount which makes it more reasonably priced. Now Alienware are butt ugly and if you think Apple are overpriced then you have to rethink that statment.

As for the new Pro would I be able to play modern games well enough?, to be honest I be doing more designing but I like to play intensive games like Far Cry 2, GOW, Dead Space.

I don't want this to turn into a Mac vs PC childish rant about pricing....etc

 

Also the Qosimo x305 isn't out in the UK and the pink flames is not my thing, if there was a plain black option I be happy.

 

Never ever apple ...
Apple are just like microsoft but with a more 'loyal customers'

or should i say ... 'id**t' customers ....

Anyway .... sli or not really depends on the games. Some games are programmed to benefit from sli setup, where as others dont really care that much. Nevertheless, give toshiba or dell a consideration. I like dell ... Toshiba ... havent tried a high range laptop from toshiba

 

That M17 is not overpriced if you know what to buy.

$1850 for:

17" 1920 x 1200
Crossfire 3870
2.26Ghz P8400
2GB DDR3 RAM (cheap to upgrade at newegg)
160GB 7200 RPM

vs

$2000

15" 1440 x 900
256MB DDR3 9600GT
2.4Ghz P8600
2GB DDR3 RAM
250GB 5400 RPM

Of course, this is comparing a PC to a mac. You buy a Mac for the software, style, yada yada, you buy it because its a mac. Compared to the alienware by specs alone though, it IS overpriced.

 

The M17 is butt ugly. Sorry but its so 90s.

I like Sony but not sure which has a decent GPU. Toshiba maybe but again UK isn't as expansive as the States, which is sad since I like some of the stuff they do.

 

@shadowlaw: You should talk with my teacher, He is a Mac Geek
He is trying to convince me that Mac is a better buy because of the OS.
It is UNIX and has all the compiler for most programming languages, works right out-of-the-box and has some nice good stuffs for what the school is doing.

@rirawin: Did you look at the Clevo M570TU or M860TU. I think these laptop have much more power for the same price you pay for the MBP. Kobalt computers had these models under the names Nexus and Mojave.
p/s: forgot to mention that these are non-sli laptop.

 

I know how you feel. Ive got a number of lecturers who are using mac as well. Once, he was trying to freak us out by saying "Whoever doesnt use macs in this class will get an automatic fail" lulz

 

9600m GT is an OK mid-range GPU.

The difference is, if you are gaming that you will pay the same price as a PC laptop with 9800m-class GPU which will BURY the 9600m. (never mind SLI)

Gateway had a $1300 17" with a 9800m GTS
ASUS has a $1250 15" with a 9800m GS

Both of these make the macbook pro look quite horrible in its $1700-2000 range. If you could somehow drop $500 from the price you'd still have a lower performer than those two by a long shot.

If "having a mac" is your #1 concern, then the Macbook Pro will play games within reason (in windows)

If anything else holds priority, (budget, price/performance, gaming performance) then the macbook pro doesn't even compete.

MacOS is just a GUI tacked on a nerfed version of FreeBSD... you could always put a real *nix-based OS on a PC.

 

Well we all have Macs at uni and work so it makes sense I get a Pro but I do like my games . I don't want to lug consoles and stuff when I go home so a nice gaming laptop will do me fine especially if I have a console I do no study.

 

Buy a PC, put a "mac" sticker on it and load a *nix OS partition with a GUI of your choice?

 

However, the more I look into it the more I'm asking is Crysis doable on the new Pro?.

 

Sorry, at this point in time , the OCZ Whitebook is the bang for the buck in dual GPU cathegory...
Rebranded by Killernotebooks as the Nagamaki , by XoticPc and a few others also..
I sugest getting that. Better price and better support, also, better performance

 

It was just a joke ... so no need to go into that extent.
Although ..... half of the class boo-ed the lecturer (or apple ??) and i personally yelled "mac sucksssss"

hahahah

Ironically .... we used macs in all our computer lab, but we scrapped Mac OS and installed linux instead and nobody complains

 

But guys I live in the UK so my choices are 'limited'.

 

Did you read my post?
Because you said you want to play games, then the best choice is stick with a laptop with a High-end GPU. The Nexus from Kobalt just blow the MBP away in term of spec.

MacBook Pro, 15", Aluminium
Part Number: Z0FZ
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 065-8067
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB 065-8072
250GB Serial ATA @ 5400 065-8075
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) 065-8081
Backlit Keyboard (British) & User’s Guide (English) B065-8087
£1,499.01 Inc VAT

VS

Chassis - :: Nexus Black & Silver 1
Screen - :: 15" 1680x1050 WSXGA X-Glass 1
Selected Paint Area - :: None Selected 1
Custom Paint Colour - :: None Selected 1
Finish - :: None Selected 1
Laser Etching - :: None Selected 1
Processor - :: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo P8400 Dual Core Processor 2.26GHz 1
Video Card - :: NVIDIA® GeForce® 9800M GTS 512MB DDR3 1
Memory 1 - :: 4GB OCZ DDR3 PC3-8500 1066Mhz 8-8-8-27 2x 2GB DIMMs 1
Intel® Turbo Memory - :: None Selected 1
Bluetooth - :: None Selected 1
Hard Drive - :: 250GB 5,400rpm SATA with 8MB Cache -- FREE UPGRADE -- 1
7 in 1 card reader - :: 7 in 1 card reader 1
Operating system 1 - :: Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium 64-bit 1
Operating System 2 - :: None Selected 1
Keyboard - :: English UK 1
Optical Device 1 - :: 8x DVD±R/W 1
Soundcard - :: Integrated High Definition Audio 1
Speakers - :: None Selected 1
Headsets - :: None Selected 1
External Keyboard - :: None Selected 1
Mouse - Mouse: None Selected 1
Mouse Mats - :: Kobalt Mouse Mat 1
Power Cable - :: UK 1
Extra Battery - :: None Selected 1
2nd AC Adapter - :: None Selected 1
Warranty - :: 1 Year - Collect & Return [E-mail, telephone & website support] 1
Dead Pixel Guarantee - :: None Selected 1
Business Software - :: None selected 1
System Recovery - :: None Selected 1
System Recovery - External Image - :: None Selected 1
Carry Case - :: None Selected
£1,268.40 Inc VAT

These 2 are both 15", so it would be great for mobility, too.
Unless mobility is not a matter to you, try to look at the Mojave (non-SLi) or the M17 (Crossfire)
p/s: _ Yes, the laptop is not SLi like you wanted but why compares SLi to non-SLi?
_ Another thing you should consider is what software you already have or will have, and whether it works on Mac or Windows.

 

Slight problem with that, I can get the Pro for a 1K with 3 years Applecare warranty which is a huge bonus. I'm thinking of skipping the sli since all the laptops that have are ugly as sin and way to overpriced compared to the deal I can get at study for the new Pro. However, the Nexus is nice but the only great thing for me would be the GPU.

 

Keep in mind: the pro is much slimmer, offers great mobility and performance.

You should put this in the which notebook to buy thread and fill out an application.

 

then get the macbook pro with hybrid sli.....

 

Crysis is doable however don´t expect any high res nor any high framerates. Besides expect to run at at least Medium settings and below unless you use a tweaked config that might put it a little better looking.

If you want real gaming performance I would never go with a Macbook pro in the first place. then that Nexus would suit you better.

 

Truth is that in more or less in a year you will not be able play any new games on that Macbook Pro on high and you will start looking for new laptop again...

As for Crysis forget it,in my opinion if you are not able to play that game atleast on high(and that is with a 8800GTX or 9800GTS/GT) and enjoy the graphics then is not worth it since the gameplay is nothing good compare with games like HL2 or COD4 etc..

So.. The above posters gave you lots of choices including Clevos that i personal sujjest,both M8660 or 5796 are reliable and friendly to upgrades non SLI laptops or OCZ/M17 or even Toshiba,Gateway etc..

It all depence if you want performance or the looks you think a Mac delivers..

 

Well for gaming I would not go for looks. It would be like lookie lookie how beautful my laptop is. You think you will get more girls with a beatiful laptop

I think Performance ------> looks

 

yeah let him get a mac book if he is far more concerned with the look of the MBP than actual hardware and preformance.

Just something to think about... Is this great deal your getting from uni the MBP with the old hardware and body or the new one with faster FSB and hybrid GPUs and brick manufacturing?

 

Its the new one, and lets get this straight I'm primary using the Mac for CS4 I even mentioned it in the first post. I like gaming but I'm not an absolute hardcore gamer, and eventually I go down and get a console however, for the time being I just want to play games on the Mac instead of lugging consoles back and forth from home or when I'm bored.

 

My laptop gets me more girls when they hear it has 2 gpus, 2 hdds, 2 cpu`s, etc
Plus, the cool light show it puts definitely is a killer

 

Ha ha yeah **** right eleron, when they hear I got a mac they are just duh!! but when I say I have an SLI notebook with cool lights, disco lights they just flock around me ha ha ha

 

Like I said, you still need to consider which software you already had. If you spend loads of $$$ to get PS for Mac and now you buy a Windows laptop. That would be ridiculous. But hey, if you did not buy PS for MAC, then why don't you buy the Windows version and go with a much more powerful laptop. Moreover, the screen res of the Windows laptop is much higher than the MBP which will give you more space to work with. That's definitely a big advantage.

p/s:
don't tell me that things on MAC are much faster than on Windows. I had enough of that.
Since the start, you didn't give us the budget that you have or what is the price you can get for the MBP. I think that's my help.


@eleron: gotta love the XPS laptop for its look. I brought my M1710 to school and it was sure attracting to girls.