New Macbook Air for gaming

thirdchances · 18 Jun 2013 at 10:48

I read that the new Macbook Air has faster graphics and the new Haswell processors. I was looking at the 11" version with all specs maxed.

I was wondering how people think it might do for light gaming (Minecraft)?

I would want to use a mini display port to hdmi adaptor to run it through my TV a majority of the time and leave the actual screen off.

Any input would be great if this could work at usable framerate (30-40fps).

Thanks in advance!

Spit · 18 Jun 2013 at 10:49

Should be OK for light gaming but don't expect miracles.

Ryan-3 · 18 Jun 2013 at 11:52

It should handle light gaming fine, but as said, it won't handle anything too demanding.

thirdchances · 18 Jun 2013 at 12:05

Would the fact that I would be using an external monitor a majority of the time affect the performance?

Would 30fps be achievable realistically in Minecraft?

Ryan-3 · 18 Jun 2013 at 12:20

Minecraft isn't too demanding, so it would depend on what settings you run it at, as well as the resolution you are wanting to run it at. I personally haven't seen any figures for minecraft on mac yet.

dav3evans · 18 Jun 2013 at 13:07

If you were using an external monitor with a higher resolution - 1080p for example, that will cause a performance hit of course.

As a guide I've played CS:GO on my 2012 Ivy-i5 and it runs fine. Given the hit on the GPU the fans kick in pretty sharpish and are on pretty high. At least by comparison anyway as when I do everything else it's completely silent.

thirdchances · 18 Jun 2013 at 14:19

It would be played on a 1080p tv but I could drop the resolution down to 720p.

I would be speccing up the 11" Air as much as I can with the i7 etc

I would drop the render distance down so it wasn't the furthest but usually have other graphics settings turned up.

Blackhawk47 · 18 Jun 2013 at 14:48

It will handle light gaming fine.

Blackhawk47 said:
For anyone interested in playing some games on the new macbook air.

MonsterMoshi · 18 Jun 2013 at 21:01

I have once played mine craft fine on a 2011 MacBook Air so the 2013 should be fine

coughs · 18 Jun 2013 at 23:26

Would dayZ SA/ Arma 3 be playable at native resolution?

oli356 · 19 Jun 2013 at 00:22

My retina MacBook Pro gets very loud and hot from playing some bridge game on the App Store. I struggle to imagine it running playing a proper game....without a massive noise anyway!