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2010 Macbook Air & Starcraft 2

vraxtus

vraxtus

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 4, 2004
1,044
30
San Francisco, CA
I can happily report that the stock 13" MBA runs Starcraft 2 at native resolution at 44 FPS with default medium settings - this is with not too many units on screen. Goes down to about 21 with a maybe 60-70 supply on screen.

However I should note that the fan blazes like it's propelling a boat!
 
vraxtus

vraxtus

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 4, 2004
1,044
30
San Francisco, CA
OS X.

My suggestion would be if you plan to play this game, put the shaders on low. I did a few tests and the fan speed seems to increase enough to where the noise becomes heavy when shaders are moved up to medium from low.

I also did a framerate cap at 25 fps to prevent overheating on my machine - definitely had problems with this on my old MBP 2006 and got some nifty mobo damage from it (would get seriously graphical artifacts after a while)
 
Q

Quitboringme

macrumors newbie
Oct 23, 2010
1
0
Nice! I just ordered the 13'' 2,13ghz and 4gb ram, and would like some advise regarding optimal installation windows/osx.

I want to be able to play Starcraft 2 as smoothly as possible, preferably smooth enough for high end competitive play. The graphics doesn't matter at all, i just need it to run as fast as possible. I'm aware that this might not be possible with the 13'' air, and if thats the case, so be it.

But i would also like to have osx installed for work and school. This is the whole reason i bought the computer.

So how do i go about the installation for optimal SC2 and the option to use osx for work and school?
 
vraxtus

vraxtus

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 4, 2004
1,044
30
San Francisco, CA
Just reduce the graphical settings to all low, except for the resolution.

I would also adjust your Variables.txt file in users\libraries\app support\blizzard

to include "frameratecap=30" and "frameratecapGlue=30" to prevent any damage to your machine. Frankly I don't need it over 25 and I'm a Diamond player!
 
bchreng

bchreng

macrumors 65816
Jul 26, 2005
1,063
348
This is awesome news! How much RAM does your MBA have? Any idea if it can maintain 25+ fps in heated 2v2 or 3v3 matches?
 
hachre

hachre

macrumors 6502a
Sep 26, 2007
690
43
vraxtus said:
I'll see if I can do it with Audacity.
Click to expand...

Open Quicktime Player, Choose File -> New Audio Recording, make sure that in System Preferences -> Sound -> Input you have the Microphone chosen and the volume pushed up.

Ideally make a recording from idle to max speed. So we have something to compare to :)

Thanks!
 
P

ProstheticHead

macrumors 6502
Jun 15, 2007
268
0
Seattle, WA
macdaddy01 said:
Does the 11" have the fan blazing like it's "propelling a boat" as the OP said it does on his 13"?
Click to expand...

I couldn't hear the fan going due to being in a very loud store, but I'm assuming it was. I'll get back to you guys tomorrow when I get the Air on my desk away from people and background music. Capping the framerate with all settings on low sounds like a viable idea.
 
M

MrBobYu

macrumors newbie
Oct 24, 2010
11
0
hachre said:
How do you cap the framerate? And how do you see the FPS?
Click to expand...

Well the FPS you can see from starcraft2 in game. It says when you put your mouse over the F10 tab on top left of the menu. It will say the time and FPS you are currently having. If it doesn't show up, you have to enable it from your starcraft 2 settings.

Cap the framerate
"I would also adjust your Variables.txt file in users\libraries\app support\blizzard

to include "frameratecap=30" and "frameratecapGlue=30" " from vraxtus
 
hachre

hachre

macrumors 6502a
Sep 26, 2007
690
43
MrBobYu said:
Well the FPS you can see from starcraft2 in game. It says when you put your mouse over the F10 tab on top left of the menu. It will say the time and FPS you are currently having. If it doesn't show up, you have to enable it from your starcraft 2 settings.

Cap the framerate
"I would also adjust your Variables.txt file in users\libraries\app support\blizzard

to include "frameratecap=30" and "frameratecapGlue=30" " from vraxtus
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
cleric

cleric

macrumors 6502a
Jun 7, 2008
533
0
I'm happy to report a computer that was capable of playing starcraft 2 can still play starcraft 2 with better hardware! Thanks I was worried the better graphics card and double the ram was going to make it unplayable.
 
P

ProstheticHead

macrumors 6502
Jun 15, 2007
268
0
Seattle, WA
cleric said:
I'm happy to report a computer that was capable of playing starcraft 2 can still play starcraft 2 with better hardware! Thanks I was worried the better graphics card and double the ram was going to make it unplayable.
Click to expand...

I think it was more of a "how well it can perform" than an "OMG IT CAN DO THIS."
 
S

Supratik

macrumors newbie
Oct 30, 2010
2
0
Hey guys,

Thanks for the MBA and SC2 info - it's been very helpful! I'm very close to purchasing a decked out 13", but I wanted to check one last thing - has anybody tried SC2 in some fairly intense battles (2v2/3v3) with high unit count on the screen?

I typically play SC2 multiplayer at native resolution but with completely low settings.

Thanks!
 
W

Wrathwitch

macrumors 65816
Dec 4, 2009
1,303
55
Regarding playing ANY video game on a laptop (regardless of brand) I recommend a cooling pad. It just makes sense and most people (if you are using a mouse)won't be playing on their laps anyways.

Firm proponent of cooler is better = longer machine life, regardless of what laptop you are using. Fortunately the new MBA have 2 USB slots haha, one for the mouse and one for the usb that runs the cooling pad.

Opinions?

WW
 
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