SIMMING ON AN IMAC

[element1108]

Hey guys, just wondering (if any) of you guys are flying BS, A-10C/LOMAC/ROF whatever on the I7 IMAC's. I'm waiting for the next IMAC update (due any month now) and wanted to know how these comps fly the sims.

 

I'm on a macbook pro now and they run nicely, but there are compromises obviously (3 years old now).

 

Thanks in advance!

 

(And the mac is a work/professional preference...I'm not a PC hater or mac fanboy...I roll with the tools I have) :):joystick:

[element1108]

Nobody.....okay then ;)

 

/backs away slowly

[EtherealN]

Assuming you use Bootcamp and a windows license, consider the iMacs as any other PC regarding performance.

[Gadroc]

I have a model back 27" iMac. You can only expect moderate performance due to the video cards available (and they are NOT changeable). While I love my macs, gaming/simming on them is not for anyone who like eye candy. The best video card you can get on the iMac is a ATI 5750 (mobile edition) and that is on a computer with a display resolution of 2560x1440. That resolution is higher than most people run with much more powerful graphics cards.

[mikoyan]

Alright let me tell you my experience with boot camp on an apple:

 

I run lock-on on my second gen Intel Imac and runs nicely; black shark not so good but; it works ok with low settings; I did had to wrestle with drivers trying to get my 28" tv to work as a primary display with no success; I also tried a-10 on a mac-book pro but the computer runs without audio; I could not solve that problem so... if you really want to play a-10 with good performance and without problems get a pc instead of messing with boot camp; it is too much trouble when you can't get the drivers to work on windows; and it is even worst when apple don't provide decent drivers even after claiming that you can operate windows on a mac; it may work but loosing something; for my imac I could not connect another display (it works on MAC OS) ; and for my macbook pro the audio was dead.

 

It is not an economic option to use a mac for gaming because:

 

1- If you buy a mac for gaming; they cost way more than a pc; for the same money you can put together a pc with better performance.

 

2- Add to the big price tag the cost of windows 7

 

3- You may run into driver troubles like I did; you won't get help from the kids they have at the apple store; they will install the same drivers you already have on the disk that comes with the Imac.

 

 

4- if you are getting an Imac be prepared to get an usb extention port since if I'm not mistaking you will have very few usb ports; I have 2 external drives; trackir; x-52; keyboard; tablet bamboo so I had to buy an usb extension port. add that to the price!

 

5- the only things you can upgrade on the imac (if you need to ) are the memory and hard drive; imacs come with the video card welded into the board so there is no way to upgrade your video card like you can with a cheap gaming computer.

 

6- if you use a macbook pro; you will loose battery life since windows is not optimized to save energy like the default mac OS does.

 

I'm not trying to say apples are bad; it is just that they are not the best machines for gaming if that is your goal. You said you use your mac for work right? I'm not very adept of the idea of messing with windows and drivers on a (mac) work computer; before you mess around with bootcamp; make sure you have a back-up of all your stuff in case something goes wrong with your installation.

 

Don't get me wrong; you can try to see if it works; you may get lucky and won't have problems with drivers; but it is better to use your mac for work and get a dedicated game friendly pc.

[mikoyan]

.....that is why I'm saving to buy me a good gaming rig; meanwhile I'll have to be strong an play black shark; and lock on while enjoying the hardware quality of apple.

[EtherealN]

Regarding no audio - did you install DirectX9?

[mikoyan]

I used my vista and installed a-10 which I guess comes with direct 10; my issue is that I may be able to fix the sound issue but will work but at very low settings; since I don't believe my macbook can take the load of the sim; I had the first beta of a-10 I'm not sure if the release version of the game would take less resources; ergo I;m thinking that the money I spend on windows seven could go into a pc with better specs. My macbook has these specs:

 

Model Name: MacBook Pro

Model Identifier: MacBookPro7,1

Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz

Number Of Processors: 1

Total Number Of Cores: 2

L2 Cache: 3 MB

Memory: 4 GB

 

Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 320M

Type: GPU

Bus: PCI

VRAM (Total): 256 MB

Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)

Device ID: 0x08a0

Revision ID: 0x00a2

ROM Revision: 3533

Displays:

Color LCD:

Resolution: 1280 x 800

[EtherealN]

Ouch, yeah, GeForce 320M is a bit of an issue - that thing does not perform very well. The processor is sort of acceptable (not good, but okeyish), but the GPU will definitely be an issue, yeah.

[stormrider]

I too own a Macbook Pro. I bought mine in October 2010. Its a 2.66Ghz i7, 4GB 1067 DDR3, Nvidia GTX 330M 512Mb.

 

Running W7s benchmark I get that its bottomneck is at its Hard Driver, which is a TOSHIBA MK5055GSXF, followed closely by its memory.

 

During Betas I could run at 1900x1080 at Medium-High. Now-a-days I´m limited to 1280x800 at LOW settings. Big Hit after release!

 

I´m a mac fan, I confess, but I just can´t stay away from simming, but can´t afford to have a dedicated system when my job is photography and all my resources are obviously spent paying Canon owners´ shares, so I have to stick with what I have. It ain´t that bad either if one thinks positive. Both memories and HD can be upgraded!

 

I would then like to ask what´s the fastest HD non SSD I can stick in my machine? Also, what´s the fastest memories I can buy?

 

Cheers!

[AlphaOneSix]

Just recently finished setting up my new Macbook Pro (specs in sig) and so far it runs DCS: A-10C (patch 1.1.0.7, in testing) at about 23fps at 1680x1050 with graphic settings at default.

[joey45]

How about a PC?

[AlphaOneSix]

Aww Joey, that graphic is just terrible, you don't have to use Apple displays with a Mac, and everyone knows those things are horribly overpriced.

 

Troll attempt, -1

 

Anyway, he's already decided on a Mac (and not a Mac Pro either, which are also overpriced, and ARE upgradeable, by the way). The question is if it will be able to run DCS: A-10C.

 

Anyway, element, the current 27" iMacs will run DCS: A-10C fairly well. Certainly not 80fps with everything maxed out, but I would say good enough for most. I'm not sure what the next update has in store for the iMac, maybe moving the i7 down to the 21.5" model...who knows. Hopefully a video card update, which is likely in my opinion. I'm no expert, however, I've only used Macbooks and Macbook Pros since I switched to Macs 8 years ago.

Edited March 30, 2011 by AlphaOneSix

[71st_Mastiff]

Because he's one of those that like to pay for the name brand. lol

[EtherealN]

Mastiff, Apple isn't just about name-brand. I myself really dislike working with Macs and Apple products (the iPad is just a horrible piece of crud etc - but the pre-Touch iPods were awesome), but that's more about the kind of user I am than anything specifically about macs; Macs just arent meant for people who like to tinker with their systems as an obsession rather than a hobby. However, the macs do give a wonderfully well thought-out design and delivery to the products: the charging cable connector on the Macbook Pro's are just genius, for example. They have tonnes of such little small things that are superb and that make a simple cost comparison based on computation power alone unfair.

 

That said, there IS a cost premium involved with Macs, there is no getting around that. However, said premium does give you something in exchange! Good design, solid products, a semi-homogenous platform that makes troubleshooting way easier etcetera.

 

Regarding expected performance on an iMac, I'm pretty much in agreement with A16.