iBooks for gaming?

[Dickie]

OK, I'm off to Uni next year and was thinking of getting an iBook for work, and ocaisional gaming (just GhR, RvS and AA). The specs seem to hold up OK for the 12" and 14" but I was wondering about the screen. Both use the same resolution, so whilst I think a 12" screen would be too small, would the graphics on the 14" be worse or stretched? I know pretty much nothing about this so any help would be appreciated 

[Civrock]

No, they would not be stretched. The iBooks don't have widescreen displays (unlike Powerbooks) and even if, most of recent games support it.

[BFG]

if you do go for an ibook dickie then after you've bought it, go and by as much ram as will fit in the laptop to max it out - it will make a big big difference especially if your wanting to run games.

[*DAMN Mauti]

I would only recommend the 12inch iBook, it has better battery life, is cheaper and much more handy at university. At home you could still use your old monitor and extend the screen of your ibook for gaming(needs a small hack) and drive your old monitor with a higher resolution.

The iBook comes with 512MB RAM but nevertheless you should buy another 512MB from a 3rd party producer(I got mine for 60bucks), which boosts game notably.

At all you should be able to run AA and RvS fine with an iBook.I have a 1.33 powerbook and both games run satisfying.

Bye,

Mauti

[th.Sentinel]

Don't forget the biggest difference between an iBook and a Powerbook: the graphics card!

The iBook should run RvS and Ghr just fine, but AA is still playable with the 32Mb but I don't know if its enjoyable.

I havent tried it yet on my iBook. I'll give it a try and report back.
Installing AA on the iBook now. 

(specs: 1,2 Ghz G4, 512Mb Ram, 12¨)

[th.Sentinel]

Ok here's my report:

Settings:
1024x768
Everything on Ultra Low
shadows : none
everything off, except for No-Client-side effects.

On single player, booting the map out of console:
SF Hospital (known as one of the laggiest maps): indoor 20-35 fps, outdoor 5-15 fps.
SF CSAR : 15-35 fps
Radio Tower: 15-30 fps
Pipeline: 5-15 fps outside, 25-45 fps inside

Although those fps look playable, the big differences between 15 and 35 makes you run into things and lags the mouse.

When in multiplayer, you have the same framerate as normal but once in a firefight its unplayable. Its just like playing in a slide show. One moment you fire a shot, the second screen you're dead on the ground.
Maybe with some tweaking and better settings, it will be a bit playable... but not really enjoyable.

CoD would run on the iBook too I think.

Anyway good luck with your choice, but AA will need 64Mb of VRAM in my opinion.

[edit]Forgot a few things:
- iBook got extremely hot when playing AA, even the little fan woke up...
- Maps took about 2 mins to load, on my G5 it takes around 15-25 seconds.

[Dickie]

Is it still possible to see things on the smaller screens, as in scanning the background for an enemy in GhR? I am used to a 17" iMac G4 (800mhz, so it'll actually be an increase in performance :p)

[*DAMN Mauti]

on LAN parties I used my 12inch Powerbook without problems for Battlefield and Raven Shield. GhR can be sometimes a bit tiny if you are used to a bigger screen but always ok.

[DarK.]

I used a G3 iBook to play ghr for about 2 years, its fine as long as you have good eyes. 

[BTs_GhostSniper]

How will my new 17" PowerBook do for games?  What's the best resolution to use?  It should be here Wednesday or Thursday at the latest.

Mind you, I won't be using it mainly for playing games, but I may be able to slip in the occassional game from work. 

P.S. I now this was more about iBooks, but I figured I'd ask my PowerBook question here to keep from starting another thread.

[th.Sentinel]

The only thing that might slow your powerbook down is the HD.
For the rest, all new games should run good, apart from Doom 3 mb...

Btw, don't put the PB on your lap while playing, you might fry your... 

[BTs_GhostSniper]

Btw, don't put the PB on your lap while playing, you might fry your... 

Nah, I will pretty much only be using it at work almost like a 2nd desktop computer.  I bought the Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mouse to go with it.

[BFG]

im assuming your putting more ram in there GS? ... if not well u should!

[BTs_GhostSniper]

im assuming your putting more ram in there GS? ... if not well u should!

Yes, I already have two-1.0GB RAM modules here and ready to go when my PowerBook arrives (FedEx says it will be here today!).[/size]

[BFG]

nice, didn't realise the powerbooks could take over 2.GB now! i love those trackers for fedex etc, its a bit surreal following this package as it slowly makes its way to your door step!