Getting back into PC gaming.

I gave PC gaming for a couple years for 360. I decided I want to go back to my roots and begin pc gaming again. Problem is the laptop in my sig, is pretty bad for running the latest titles. I love it other wise. Here are my options. (It should be know I have a dell 1080p monitor which I can I either sell if I get the imac or keep) I need to have legal and fully working to OSX because I am studying video editing, and I have become addicted to the OS for everyday use. Portability is always a plus for me, as I probably will me moving several times in the next few years. Since I am relying on the new pc for all of my gaming needs, it needs to run most everthing maxed, and crysis and FSX at least on all "high settings (not very high)" , native res, possibly 2 x aa.

1. Keep macbook pro + build a gaming pc ( I know how except for all the nasty driver/software issues)

2. keep macbook pro + purchase a gaming laptop

3. sell macbook pro + get imac with at 4850 , maybe a older MBA as well.


EDIT: Please move this to the "what notebook should I buy section"

 

I'd go with either 1 or 2. Keep the Macbook, and get a secondary computer for serious gaming.

That said, that Macbook doesn't look too bad for some reasonable gaming. You'll be able to run Source Engine stuff no problem (Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress 2, etc.), and I'm sure more intense stuff like Call of Duty 4 will run just fine as well.

Unless you're planning on Crysis or FarCry 2, that Macbook (with Windows, obviously) will game just fine at 1440x900, especially with that 4GB RAM upgrade.

 

Step 4 - Forget the other 3 and get a PS3 to replace your Xbox. Problems with PC gaming haven't gotten much better, which is the reason many like us moved to console gaming.

 

Sold my PS3 awhile ago

 

Sell macbook pro and get a gaming laptop

 

#2 seems more reasonable .....and #3 u said thay u will be moving from place to place so an imac will be out of the question even if it has a good graphic card........

 

4850 isnt the best either. Go for a gaming laptop with at least a 9800m gts and up. Sager has 260m's inside their 15 inch lineup

 

If you *think* you need portability, get a gaming laptop. There's a lot of choices for reasonable prices these days. Either way, expect to have to upgrade in two years or so regardless of what path you take.

 

Sell the MBP and get a newer one with a better GPU?

Sell the MBP, buy a gaming laptop and buy a 13" MB or MBA?

 

I think you need to define "portability." There are 17" laptops with dual GPUs but I wouldn't call them portable.

If you only want to move it from, say, your bedroom to the dining room of the house you're living in, then it's fine. If you want to lug it around campus, something in the 15" range under 10 lbs would be better, but then you'd have to sacrifice slightly on specs.

 

why dont you try windows through boot camp and play those games...

see if that is acceptable to you first before you throw all this money around.

---i dont know how well the mbp will play the games, but it might be worth a shot considering it might save you a lot of money if the games play at acceptable levels to you.

 

"Portability" is definitely something that a person needs to find their own definition. You say a 17" isn't really portable, but I have no issue carrying mine around. I take it all over with me. I've had 15s in the past, but IMO, they're too small. I'm used to a big screen on my desktop and now, I'm used to a big screen on my laptop.

 

is that some sort of joke? the mobile 4850 keeps up with the 9800m GT, and the desktop version stomps every mobile card available.

and build a desktop, the one in my sig cost me about $1300 to build.

 

well I have discovered the imac has the mobile card (pointless to go for a desktop setup with laptop power) so thats totally out. Its either a)build gaming pc b) buy a gaming laptop c) wait it out and see what else apple/others roll out with.

 

I like the option for you to keep your MBP and work on a custom desktop. While your 8600M is decent, you are correct in the respect it won't keep up with newer games on the higher settings. Selling your MBP will not bring in much but should still last for a couple years with moderate use, thus making it more valuable to you in its current form. If you keep the MBP, you retain the portability you have enjoyed for the current times. With a custom desktop you have the freedom to upgrade, tweak, and tinker. Your Dell HD screen should work great with a monitor switch between MBP and desktop. A new i7 system and SLI video cards (I prefer Nvidia) will be an easier ordeal to purchase and use than a whole new laptop. It will be cheaper and have the ability to constantly upgrade at your own will. Unless you plan on crashing lan parties or high quality gaming on the road, go with the desktop. While away, your MBP with W7/Vista/XP should be fine for your game itch, but then at home you can have a workstation ready for your to sink into. You mentioned the driver situation. Yes drivers can be a pain, but with a little bit of online surfing and a couple of helpful forum members, you should have no problems.

Personally, I regret my decision to get a gaming laptop. I thought I would be moving all around with it, when in fact I have legitimately moved it to a lan party twice. This could have easily be done with a tower and an extra hour of my time. I love my EEE PC and it does everything I could ever need when I am away from my G2S...it even games With your MBP you will be covered for any moderately challenging tasks while at school, work, etc. This is just my 2 cents, but take what you like, scrap the rest. Best of luck with your decision.

 

C) should be ruled out immediately. You will ALWAYS be waiting, unless there's something you absolutely know about that just hasn't hit store shelves yet.

The others, again, depend on whether you want gaming to be portable or not, plain and simple. If you will game only at home then obviously desktop makes the most sense.

If you are LAN'ing, then that's personal preference of course. I used to lug my Shuttle PC around, which was reasonable, but not ideal. Then I went to a mid-size case because I was just too restricted with upgrade options in the Shuttle. That's when I decided to get a decent gaming laptop. It's used mainly for the occasional LAN meeting, and of course at home when I am restricted from my desktop (due to kids, etc).

 

One extra question that you might ask yourself is "what are you going to play"? I've found that all PC games on the market right now are pretty boring and overdone.

 

All laptop GPUs are "mobile" cards. It's the nature of the beast. Even the lowest-end desktop gaming GPU far exceeds the thermal envelope of a laptop. Heck, the ram on my desktop 3870 runs hotter than the entire 3650 Mobility GPU in my laptop!

 

an iMac is not a laptop. it is apple's all in one desktop

http://www.apple.com/imac/

 

Er... no. a 8600m GT is just a slightly underclocked desktop 9500 GT (which is not the absolute slowest u get on a laptop. On the higher end, the GTX 280m is approx a desktop 9800m GT and the ATI mobility 4870 is approx a desktop 4850.

That your ram on your desktop 3870 runs hotter than your laptop's 3650 means absolutely and completely nothing.

EDIT: On topic, I would recommend you sell your macbook while its still worth something and get a proper desktop and a netbook/cheap laptop. Best of both worlds there.

 

I'd go with the first option, build my own desktop. First, mobile GPU's haven't been improving much lately. You should expect 15-20% improvement from the 8800M GTX that you had in your M15X. If you really want something that runs all the titles (at 1920x1200 and very high with at least 60 fps), go for a desktop.