Quick macbook pro question

daz.wallace · 10 Jun 2011 at 09:13

Right I am looking to buy a macbook pro in the next month, my question is this:

I know the 13" mbp has integrated graphics and windows is much better for gaming (I have a W7 desktop for gaming) but would my Mrs be able to play games like civilization and the sims on it? she would only play occasionally so I am not looking for 60fps maxed out settings or anything like that
Ideally I would like to get a 13" mbp and an ipad 2 but if the 13" is no good whatsoever I may have to go for the extra on a 15mbp and forget the ipad 2 for now
thanks in advance

AbsenceJam · 10 Jun 2011 at 09:22

Everything will be playable incl. those games, just not high quality. It has a low resolution which helps a lot here.

Deku · 10 Jun 2011 at 10:18

It is playable however the screen size will make it very annoying even for the occasional game.

daz.wallace · 10 Jun 2011 at 10:52

Thanks for the replies, the screen resolution on her current laptop is the same 1280x800 so for the amount of games she plays I think it will be just fine

pingwing · 10 Jun 2011 at 11:07

Depends which civ... 5 probably is a no go (the sandy bridge proc will be good but im not sure it'll cope with the graphics) but 4 should be fine

daz.wallace · 10 Jun 2011 at 11:15

pingwing said:
Depends which civ... 5 probably is a no go (the sandy bridge proc will be good but im not sure it'll cope with the graphics) but 4 should be fine

civ 4 atm, I could always download the demo on steam and see if it will work, if it doesn't then she can play it on the desktop

Skyboat · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:12

Civ 4 works fine (hell, even SC2 runs smoothly ~60fps albeit at rather low graphics settings), it's more CPU-heavy anyway.

Noxia · 10 Jun 2011 at 13:05

I actually just got a base 15" MBP (2011) but I had a 13" base (2011) before. The 13" sat in the lap better but the screen seems really small now I'm used to the 15". I got a real bargain on the 15 hence the upgrade.

TheCybermonkey · 10 Jun 2011 at 16:25

Speaking of Civ IV....its £2.59 on steam at the moment.
Think its about £3.50 for the complete collection aswell.
Mac and windows compatible ofcourse.

daz.wallace · 10 Jun 2011 at 17:47

TheCybermonkey said:
Speaking of Civ IV....its £2.59 on steam at the moment.
Think its about £3.50 for the complete collection aswell.
Mac and windows compatible ofcourse.

Thats handy for the convinience of steam it's worth that

pingwing · 10 Jun 2011 at 18:27

daz.wallace said:
civ 4 atm, I could always download the demo on steam and see if it will work, if it doesn't then she can play it on the desktop

4 will run like a champ! Even on battery saving mode on my 15" it's awesome performance (well doenst heat up like a beast)

give 5 demo a go on windows but that can cause it to over heat

8t10 · 10 Jun 2011 at 20:21

TheCybermonkey said:
Speaking of Civ IV....its £2.59 on steam at the moment.
Think its about £3.50 for the complete collection aswell.
Mac and windows compatible ofcourse.

£9.99 for me.

Noxia · 10 Jun 2011 at 20:28

8t10 said:
£9.99 for me.

You get more sunshine than us so it's balanced.