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TF2 on iMac / Macbook pro - Does it run well?

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TF2 on iMac / Macbook pro - Does it run well?

# May 15, 2008 at 11:50 PM

Join Date:	Jan 29, 2008
Post Count:	163

shhhoff 82586

Specialty: Spy

GamerTag: PSN: STFU_aat08

Clan: Special TeamFortress Unit

Hey, so i am considering getting either an iMac or a Macbook Pro, and i'd like to install TF2.
Now i want to know if it will run well? I will install Windows XP Sp2 with bootcamp to be able to setup TF2.

# May 16, 2008 at 7:47 PM

Join Date:	Sep 21, 2007
Post Count:	2704

Hellblazer 77363

Specialty: Engineer

Sortof. Depends on the Mac you buy.

For the iMac, gotta get at least the $1500 model with the Radeon 2600 PRO in it, and for the MacBook Pro, any of them do fine.

MacBook Pro >>>>>> iMac. those iMacs have had some serious issues recently with their display.

# May 17, 2008 at 5:46 AM

Join Date:	Oct 02, 2007
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Spacegirl 77817

Specialty: Medic

Steam ID: riskybismark

Short Answer : yes, it will most probably be playable.

Long answer :

On the CPU side of things, any Mac you get will be more than enough.

You will get a LARGE benefit from getting 2gigs of RAM instead of 1gig (really 2gigs of RAM should be the minimum on any new comp purchase), but 1 gig is playable (I play with 512

) Note : the smaller iMacs don't come standard with 2gigs but leave you the option of adding an additional 1gig of ram after purchase, iirc.

You SHOULD be okay with any graphics cards, except for possibly the lowest level one on the iMac. My 1 year old MBP has a Radeon X1600 in it, which would run the game fine, so any MacBook Pro should be fine.

Now you won't be able to run the game in some sort of...crazy super Hi-Rez blowout mode, but I feel confident that anything you get should run the game quite playably. I mean I game on...a POS 6 yr old PC with a 3 yr old Gfx card...any new Mac is gonna beat the pants off that.

Space, Out!

# May 17, 2008 at 5:52 AM

Join Date:	Oct 22, 2007
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MeDKiT 78977

Specialty: Medic

Steam ID: AngelSix

Clan: [TF2F]

Get the macbook pro 2.5ghz (it has the 512mb vid card). I just bought one recently.

Don't get 4gb of ram, just take 2gb as upgrading by yourself will cost you 100$ instead of 400$. Never buy ram built-in from apple, way overpriced.
For the harddrive you can get the 7200 rpm for slightly increased performance, but it wont really make a big difference.

On windows xp SP2 boot camp'ed, I run TF2 on high with no lag. I can even run Crysis and Bioshock on medium graphics with no lag.
They are very powerful machines, run smooth, light, thin, great speakers, fantastic display, backlit keyboard, etc...

# May 17, 2008 at 6:03 AM

Join Date:	Feb 05, 2008
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Malhavok Prefect 82752

Steam ID: Tim_1031

Clan: {TF2F} Community

I'm not trying to start a PC vs. MAC debate, but if you're a gamer why not just buy a PC? I assume you're buying XP, or have purchased it previously, but why pay for two OS's?

I agree that Windows isn't the end-all-be-all(I dual-boot Ubuntu), but if you game, can't you live with it?

# May 17, 2008 at 7:27 AM

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rads 81639

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Steam ID: radsmith

Clan: {TF2F} Community

I run TF2 on a 2.16GHz MacBook Pro with a Radeon X1600 and it has overheating problems. It will run, but it won't look pretty.

If you're a gamer, I recommend spending $1000 on an amazing gaming PC and $1500 on a MacBook rather than $2500 on a MacBook Pro.

# May 17, 2008 at 7:36 AM

Join Date:	Feb 05, 2008
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Malhavok Prefect 82752

Steam ID: Tim_1031

Clan: {TF2F} Community

Well said Rads. I just caught a fever, and the only cure is Rad's logic!

Alright, that was really gay, but I'm still gonna post it.

# May 17, 2008 at 7:56 AM

Join Date:	Sep 21, 2007
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Hellblazer 77363

Specialty: Engineer

Because some people want to run OSX? You know, there are such people out there

# May 18, 2008 at 5:09 AM

Join Date:	Oct 07, 2007
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flamingsnot 77982

Specialty: Engineer

TF2 runs ok on my 2.33ghz Macbook Pro, 3 gb ram, sometimes I get page pool errors after an hour or so but that's my own fault, i fudged up something in the registry. Other than that it's fine. Have to keep my settings on low to medium though, but as long as I can play, I don't mind if I don't get reflections in the water.