Anybody have a review for iMac 5k and MacBook pro
 

Hi all

After owning multiple gaming desktops and laptops
I have started to think about buying both the iMac 5k retina and the MacBook pro.

The only reason I have never bought either of the two is apples operating system have very limited games I can play on them as I am a hardcore gamer.

The other day I seen the MacBook pro on YouTube with duel operating systems
Running windows 8 as well which makes the MacBook pro play absolutely any pc game.

So going to wait until the new MacBook pro comes out this year and buy the top spec model
And just wanting to ask if anybody else here has a MacBook pro with windows installed on it and ask there review on the laptop even without bootcamp windows install on it.
Also if you have a MacBook pro how long does the battery last when gaming
As it says around 8 hours use watching movies but would like to know how long it lasts playing games :)

Thinking about buying the iMac 5k retina as well probably end of the year
As my gaming desktop is a couple of years old now and I really like the spec and look of the iMac 5k retina so if any of you have one of those any review on it or feedback would be appreciated.


Thank you

Also not interested in Apple bashing from android fanboys lol
As I know there is mountains of threads like this
I like both systems so not interested in which one is best.

Would really like to know what I asked in previous post tho about battery life
On the MacBook pro while gaming as I work in the Middle East rotating
So fly back and forth every four weeks so want to know gaming battery life on the MacBook pro as I think spending a fair amount of time on planes flying it would be good
To turn on the MacBook pro and play some games when flying hence how long does the battery last while gaming :)

i did this mate.....
massive gamer with a few gaming Pcs in the house, best card i have is the R290, anyway i bought the retina iMac

Core I7
8 gig ram ( i took this out and upgraded to 32 crucial )
Ati 295
3tb fusion

I then boot camped it into Windows and walla.

So for gaming its fine in windows the 295 card in the Mac is a mobile version and is about on par with a 770GTX or ATI 280, it gets bloody hot, when i play world of tanks it gets 90 degrees, but as i read thats normal... Apple don't make **** they will have tested it.

In MAC os games are pretty ****, Starcraft 2 FPS is crap, compared to it in Boot camp but thats something to do with MAC not really doing Open GL...

It will never be as good as a proper PC, but its great for everything else, Mines on 24/7 iTunes is now my Film hub. i bought an 8TB western digital Thunderbot drive which i shove everything on. I use Smart convertor pro to do all the conversions and auto populate into iTunes with Covers etc.

Im slowly warming to the MAC, but don't think you can play any of your games maxed on 5K they will be ok but run slow.

Warcraft plays at 5k ok,
World of Tanks chugs and its not that much better over 1080P

Films however on 5k are awesome and photos etc.

Stay clear of MacBooks till they release there new Pro, the high end pro with the proper card in overheats i had one, not great...

Cheers mate

Will wait until the new MacBook pro comes out fella and go for the top spec then
It will be handy for taking offshore in the Middle East where I work
As I only get a 13 kg bag limit to take offshore with me
And the MacBook coming in at 2 kg's is perfect for fitting in my bag and taking it onto a oil rig and playing moderate games while sitting about the rig.

How long did your battery last while playing games ?

The iMac i will wait until start of next year the are very cool

Batt doesn't last long also it steps down the power
My sons just bought one of the MSI gaming laptops 970m via card very powerful bit heavier than the mac but a lot faster.... Check them out...

I have the msi dragon edition 2 gaming laptop buddy
But just too heavy to take offshore with me with only having a 13 kg bag limit
To take offshore with me and my msi gaming laptop coming in at 4 kg
Too heavy to take with me.

2 kg and can play games is Pretty much the reason I am keen on the MacBook pro mate :thumb:

What about the baby Alienware?

Harcore gamers don't use craps,,,,, lol

All joking aside Mac's arn't great for gaming, not alot of support for them (although getting better) and performance wise pc's eat macs for gaming. Stability isn't an issue on a well maintained gaming pc (keep drivers up to date) and then switch out components if needs be (graphics card upgrade every couple of years can keep a pc going for years).

The reason people like macs (plug and play) are why PC's perform better for gaming. Most gaming rigs will be speced to suit and speccs get upgraded each time new components come out.

As above alienware or self build are your best options. I tend to renew my gaming rigs every 3-4 years and self building isn't rocket science, all connectors/components are snap fit and handed so only go one way round.

Have you got a budget in mind?

yeah I agree, I had the top MacBook pro core i7 etc, and gaming in bootcamp wasn't great and it suffers from heat, thus steps down the processor.


if it was my money id be looking at Alinewares Mini laptop or pcspecialists 14inchers etc...


macs are ok for work related but when your a hardcore its PC im afraid...


something like this maxed out


http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/optimusV-13/

hmmm, laptops are a tad different. tbh i wouldnt try to run modern games on laptops anyway.

for me if i wanted mobile and gaming id get a reasonalbe laptop and then build a proper gaming rig.

I don't go mobile so dont need a laptop :)

im with you tidgy, but he cant as hes on an Oil rig, same as my son hes stuck in Army barracks thus has to have a laptop.


The power in his new laptop is pretty near my desktop


Core I7
Nividia 970M
ssd etc


Only there top model has the 980M which is just shy of 2k
im all for mega desktop builds, but taking what his requirement is, then id go with my advice or something similar, paying 2k for a MacBook pro which is mediocre at playing games compared to a likewise gaming laptop.


I wanted it to work, as I did with my retina Imac, which is better by a mile, but its still not as good as my gaming desktop that's currently switched off :(, screens just awesome though for films and photos etc, which is where im at at the moment.

ah k, let me go look see.

is it a 13 or 15 inch?

link is 13 inch, mac pro is 15 for powerful one

My current laptop is this
I have had it for 18 months but it is far to heavy to take offshore with me
It has no problems playing most high spec games
But one or two when playing on ultra the framerate goes down.

http://www.msi.com/product/nb/GT70_D...#hero-overview

The MacBook would be only to play reasonable spec games on it
Just its fine and light and can play moderate games which is all I need it for
Have a top spec desktop with the best of everything but now it's 3 years old
So bit outdated now.

For major gaming I have both ps4 and Xbox one since launch
But still like my pc games

Seen a lot of YouTube videos with iMacs playing top games on high settings so the can't be that bad when on bootcamp

Yea it is the 15inch Macbook pro I will go for and wait until this years one is released and
Go top spec with it

£2000 ish arnt they?

mega spec alienware will prob be best option then

yeah 2k Plus Tidgy if u go with what i got, i more or less maxed it apart from the mega expensive SSD drives they do, just not enough storage on them i went fusion. I had student discount applied also and it was still 2100

They do play games, but FPS drop massively at 5k Res World of Tanks 15 to 20 FPS.

What you need to understand is that the 295X card is only in the MAC its not even released to the world, Its the mobile version. Thus there are NO drivers for it unless you do some butchering. we have to wait for Apple to release them for Bootcamp ATI doesn't detect a card and you cannot force it really.

The card is only really as fast as the older 780 cards, and asking the card to shove that many pixels isn't really great. The 295 runs the new Tonga chipset and does work well but 5k gaming forget it really. Not ever a titan can do 5k, maybe 2 or 3 in SLi but where a long way off proper 4k gaming in any form...