Dilemma.

Fragil1ty

Fragil1ty

Fragil1ty

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Joined
8 Jan 2011
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444
I don't know if it's just me, but if you have a MBP or a Mac mini, then you cannot really play up to date games on full spec, sure you can most definitely play them, but they're not as fun as they would be on a windows PC.

So if you're like me, you've got a Mac machine and then a Windows Gaming machine, now, I love using my mac, undoubtedly so, but I'm always 'forced' to switch between the mac and the PC, using the PC to game and so on, as I don't like doing anything other than gaming on the PC, I don't want to have two computers on my desk or use two, it's a fairly decent sized desk, but with my full size keyboard + mouse and my mac keyboard/mouse also, there's just not enough room for it all, i'd love to use my Mac 24/7 it's just better for me, but I cannot give up the sacrifice of losing my gaming on my PC, -.-'

I don't know what I can honestly do to be satisfied.

My specs for both computers are below:

Mac:

2011 Model.
Intel core 2 duo @ 2.4GHZ.
8GB ram.
320gb HDD.
Nvidia 320m graphics.

PC:

Custom Build.
Intel core i5 @ 3.0GHZ (Overclocked, quad core)
8GB RAM @ 1500MHZ (Overclocked)
1TB HDD
Ati 5770.

As you can tell my PC is fastly superior, pity it's not that way within the way the O/S is built.

v_v.

Anyone else face this dilemma on a daily basis?
 
Have you considered playing under Boot Camp on your Mac? Not the perfect solution as your PC clearly has superior specs, but it is one option at least. Unfortunately most games are simply written for Windows then ported to OSX, so they do usually run better on Windows - it's not a fault with OSX, but the game's coding.

I don't game on my Mac MBP either as I use it for different reasons, but that said I rarely game on this PC too (sig). So I don't face this dilemma, but if I were to then I'd probably just invest in a new spec iMac/mini and boot camp when gaming.
 
I recently bought a 2011 iMac (i5, 8GB, ATI 5770 512MB 21.5") to replace a Win 7 (i7, 6GB, ATI 5850 1GB) gaming PC as my main desktop computer. The iMac is 5 weeks old now and I haven't even got around to bootcamping it yet to get Steam, WoW or any other games up and running on it.

Like yourself though I need a desktop machine that can run windows for games and handle all the other non-gaming requirements I have. And the specs on the recently refreshed iMac strike me as good enough as the sole desktop computer, but if the need arises I would buy a smaller gaming PC to sit (HTPC/Shuttle sized case - if possible) on the same desk although I do more of my gaming on consoles these days.

I can't help but think the iMac would give you the all in one solution based on your desktop PC requirements, but appreciate it's a very expensive solution in this case.

In some ways though I do think a separate Windows gaming box is a nice luxury though. That way you don't chew up your Mac HDD space with Bootcamp etc.
 
Both great and valid points.
I can have both keyboards and stuff on the same desk, but it leaves me with little to no space left on my desk and i like my desks to be clutter free and have lots of open space so I can work better and what not.

Bootcamp would be an option, I've currently got Win XP Pro installed under Parallels, but i'm not sure how good that would run games to be honest.
 
People have faced this for years and there have been repeated calls for a product that sits between the iMac and the Mac Pro. There used to be quite a significant gulf in performance between the two but over the last couple of years the iMacs have really caught up and sometimes exceed the specs of the Mac Pro so if it was unlikely then it almost certainly won't happen now.

If you want to get rid of the PC then you either need to adjust your expectations or empty your pockets on one of the higher spec Macs. As mentioned above bootcamping into Windows will give it a boost.
 
So should I get rid of Parallels, Install XP in bootcamp and that be that?
I am actually getting a new Mac in September, it was going to be for university and I was planning on getting a MBP but I might buy an iMac now, after all this hassle.
 
I settled for the Mac Laptop and gaming desktop (Windows) combo. Seems to work out nicely in a few ways. The Mac handles all my work/study/photos/email/browsing etc and the PC is JUST for gaming. No crap installed on it as a result :)
 
If you're going to go the bootcamp method, try my setup.

Built a bootcamp os and then get parallels 6 to import it, you have the option of installing all the stuff whilst using the bootcamp partition in OSX, and then flipping out to the bootcamp when you need the raw power.
 
Well my question is why have you got a tower on your desk anyway? I have an iMac and a PC but the PC tower sits neatly under the desk, one keyboard two monitors, all very neat.
 
I think if I do get round to installing Windows via: Bootcamp, I'll probably do XP, as I've got Legit Windows XP and Legit 7 x64, but XP would be less resource hungry so XP May perform better.

My tower is at the side of my desk, sits there quite nicely, it's out of the way, my Mac mini is under my desk as it has compartments, but on the desk i've got;

2 x 22" Monitors.
A full size gaming keyboard (takes up far too much go damn room).
Gaming mouse, and my apple keyboard/mouse which is very minimalistic and doesn't take up a lot of room. If i had my MBP, this wouldn't even be a problem -_-' stupid me for buying a mac mini.
 
It is a shame you have the 2011 iMac because on the 2010 ones IIRC you could connect your normal PC to use the screen of the iMac? via displayport? but now there is Thunderbolt there.

That would have been perfect for you because you could have switched between the two to get proper gaming on Win 7.
 
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