Games with the Intel GMA 950

Question

Level 1

33 points

Games with the Intel GMA 950

I recently won a contest, and got a new MacBook C2Duo 2.0ghz (black). I have long been a Mac user, and know my way around a bit. I did a lot of searching about how the Intel GMA 950 chip would do for games. The results are mixed, and mostly based on opinion. So, I thought I would simply add my 2-cents:

The Intel GMA 950 in the MacBook does not make for a GREAT game machine, but for the casual gamer, it might be ok. I played Halo ( universal patch ) from start to finish, without poor video performance. I am currently playing Empire At War, and am pleased with the performance.

While both of these games would be much more enjoyable with things like FSAA ( anti-aliasing ) and hardware shaders and lighting, they are playable with low quality settings. I even bumped-up the textures and geometry settings in Empire at War, without noticeable loss of performance ( at a high resolution too! ).

The bottom line is, if you are shopping for a portable gamer, keep shopping. If you are on a budget, already own one, or are just curious, it's not as bad as the so-called "experts" have guessed.

Get the Empire At War demo here, and see for yourself!

2Ghz Macbook Black/1.6Ghz G5 PowerMac Mac OS X (10.4.9) 1gig RAM in Macbook ( considering upgrade )

2Ghz Macbook Black/1.6Ghz G5 PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Apr 25, 2007 2:01 PM

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Answer 1

Nick A

Level 4

1,526 points

Apr 26, 2007 7:46 AM in response to DrMacMikeR

fantastic.

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Answer 2

dasein

Level 1

85 points

Apr 26, 2007 8:53 AM in response to DrMacMikeR

I understand Intel will be replacing the 950 with the 965 next month, boosting performance. Does Apple usually wait to upgrade their hardware for when they redo the particular product line or would they start incorporating it next month in MBs?

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Answer 3

Benny P.

Level 4

1,245 points

Apr 26, 2007 9:27 AM in response to DrMacMikeR

I beat Halo on my MacBook to really test out this graphics card, as you probably did.

I played Halo through (on Heroic, then Legendary, if you must know) pretty well but not as well as my iMac which can run at 1440 x 900 at high settings with virutally no lag whatsoever.

So to speak, this graphics card is not completely useless. Although it would've been nice is Apple would've smuggled a independent graphics chip into the MacBook model like they did with the MBP.
-benny

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Answer 4

Paul Judd

Level 6

13,420 points

Apr 26, 2007 9:31 AM in response to dasein

Does Apple usually wait to upgrade their hardware for when they redo the particular product line or would they start incorporating it next month in MBs?

Sorry, the cycle of Apple products is something that nobody but Apple knows. Since there hasn't been any announcement yet, we will just have to wait.

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Answer 5

k1221n

Level 1

8 points

Apr 26, 2007 9:44 AM in response to Benny P.

if they were to do that why would anyone buy the macpro ?

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Answer 6

Apr 26, 2007 12:10 PM in response to DrMacMikeR

This is why I have an Xbox 360.. 🙂

If I were to game on my Macbook, I'd get even less done than I do now (iWeb and iPhoto are evil <wink>). I did, however, install the original Call of Duty and it ran fine under Rosetta at 1024x768.

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Answer 7

Apr 26, 2007 3:58 PM in response to DrMacMikeR

Contest huh?
Where was it? Do you think there might be another one sometime soon, or is it a one time deal?
As a high school student I don't have the money to buy a MacBook (or any other computer for that matter) so I'm stuck with my family's PC. It is SO frustrating! Just think a contest would be the best way to get a MacBook.

~Matthew

HP something or other, with...ugh...Vista

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Answer 8

DrMacMikeR Author

Level 1

33 points

Apr 27, 2007 1:19 PM in response to MatthewJ3

It was on CFOX, a local radio station http://www.cfox.com

I won it last December, actually... But my luck didn't run out there.

I won another Black MacBook on ROCK101 http://www.rock101.com about a month ago, and sold it to a friend.

😉

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Answer 9

k1221n

Level 1

8 points

Apr 27, 2007 3:22 PM in response to dasein

just out of curiosity where did you here that they were replacing the 950 chip ? I called a few of the apple stores in the area and they new nothing about it, if that is true Im going to hold out for a couple more months.

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Answer 10

tcdm1972

Level 2

240 points

Apr 27, 2007 7:52 PM in response to k1221n

Its still gonna be integrated graphics - I doubt you gonna see any real improvement - asside from the one on spec sheets.

The longer you wait - the better computer you get - you wait long enough the computer will come built in to your frontal lobe and come standard with personal spacecraft.
You just can't keep up with technology - you wait for something better - then 2 months later - something even better comes along - good luck chasing that train

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Answer 11

JoeyR

Level 6

8,305 points

Apr 30, 2007 6:02 AM in response to k1221n

if they were to do that why would anyone buy the
macpro ?

1) The GPU in the MacPro would still be better
2) Firewire 800
3) Express card slot
4) Higher resolution display

I might be missing something... but those are the things that come to mind.

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Answer 12

Dibbler

Level 2

490 points

Apr 30, 2007 6:16 AM in response to JoeyR

I think they meant the macbook pro. They may have been thinking along the lines of if the macbook had better graphics no one would buy the macbook pro purely because of the graphics.

Dib.

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Answer 13

MacRicky

Level 3

744 points

Apr 30, 2007 6:23 AM in response to JoeyR

Also:

Back light keyboard
Bigger screen
Alum. case
Faster CPU

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Answer 14

JoeyR

Level 6

8,305 points

Apr 30, 2007 6:26 AM in response to Dibbler

My bad... I meant the MacBook Pro... not MacPro. I just abbreviated forgetting there was an actual MacPro.

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Answer 15

dasein

Level 1

85 points

Apr 30, 2007 7:03 AM in response to k1221n

Intel announced the upgrade to its line, and I'm wondering where/when Apple will incorporate it in its products. They were quick to adopt the Core 2 Duo over the Core Duo. I'm thinking maybe I should wait a few weeks and see if they start showing up right away in the MB line:
http://www.macrumors.com/2007/02/25/next-generation-intel-platform-santa-rosa-tr acking-for-may/

macbook Mac OS X (10.4.9)

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