27" iMac gaming performance benchmarks

[I has Mac]

How will games like "The Orange Box" (Half- Life 2, Episode One, Episode Two, Portal, Team Fortress 2 etc.) perform on:

iMac 27"
3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB RAM
HD 4670 with 256 MB memory
OS X

and

iMac 27"
3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB RAM
HD 4850 with 512 MB memory
OS X

 

[TMRaven]

Just fine.

 

[Durious]

Hmm I'll wait on refresh of iMacs and get a 27". Prefer to hear amazing!

 

[I has Mac]

Just fine.

27" iMac gaming performance benchmarks...

 

[TMRaven]

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-4670.13881.0.html

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-4850.13975.0.html


As for EXACT benchmarks on every game you listed for the resolution on the 27 inch iMac, you're gonna have a hard time finding those, but the mobility 4670 and mobility 4850 are more than enough to run those games with competence.

 

[Ace134blue]

In OSX it will run like crap.

 

[aki]

Er, the games you list aren't exactly bleeding edge in the graphics department, you'd do fine with either of those iMacs, and most definitely with the latter.

Nothing wrong with deciding to wait if you'd like of course; but imo you aren't risking much by buying one of those now if you want to play those games now. The next iMac is highly unlikely to include anything major in the video card or other depts.

 

[b0redom]

TBH I'm fairly surprised no one is benchmarking them given that it's such a small spread of hardware. I was looking for similar results as I'm in the same boat as you, but all you will find is "Yeah, it runs OK."

 

[aki]

TBH I'm fairly surprised no one is benchmarking them given that it's such a small spread of hardware. I was looking for similar results as I'm in the same boat as you, but all you will find is "Yeah, it runs OK."

This isn't any help but it got me thinking - I think this is a mac/PC culture difference. You know when you build or buy a PC, there are a bizillion options to choose from, and so pages with massive tables of benchmarks for every conceivable model and variation of graphic card are very handy and look cool. One of the main passtimes of serious PC gamers when they aren't seriously PC gaming is comparing techniques to squeeze out extra performance.

But for a long time in the land of Apple, every one knew the graphics hardware was terrible, and so no one wanted to talk about it much. The last thing anyone wanted to see was a table comparing Mac framerates with PC graphics cards.

And now, even though Apple has some medium range medium grade cards in its hardware, there still isn't a lot of variation - you get to choose from what, 3 or 4 possible graphics configs in the iMac line? So no one is really falling over themselves to do grandular performance comparisons.

I think that's part of the background reason why such posts get a lot of "Sure, it'll work" or "Yeah, it'll run fine" sorts of answers. Mac users historically haven't needed to get a lot more specific (unless they wanted to embarass themselves around PC users).

 

[nickk2]

There were a bunch of benchmarks taken using call of duty 4, but I forget where I saw them. Try looking up imac and the cod4 challenge or something.

 

[b0redom]

This isn't any help but it got me thinking - I think this is a mac/PC culture difference. You know when you build or buy a PC, there are a bizillion options to choose from, and so pages with massive tables of benchmarks for every conceivable model and variation of graphic card are very handy and look cool. One of the main passtimes of serious PC gamers when they aren't seriously PC gaming is comparing techniques to squeeze out extra performance.

But for a long time in the land of Apple, every one knew the graphics hardware was terrible, and so no one wanted to talk about it much. The last thing anyone wanted to see was a table comparing Mac framerates with PC graphics cards.

And now, even though Apple has some medium range medium grade cards in its hardware, there still isn't a lot of variation - you get to choose from what, 3 or 4 possible graphics configs in the iMac line? So no one is really falling over themselves to do grandular performance comparisons.

I think that's part of the background reason why such posts get a lot of "Sure, it'll work" or "Yeah, it'll run fine" sorts of answers. Mac users historically haven't needed to get a lot more specific (unless they wanted to embarass themselves around PC users).

Fair enough, but for people downsizing from a bunch of servers + gaming PC + older iMac to a single maxxed out iMac + Bootcamp + VMware, it would be useful to know if it's actually worth buying the higher end GPU option, or just moving to a PS3/Xbox.

I *know* nothing is going to be as fast as a bleeding edge PC, loaded out with a 5970 GPU, but I don't want that, I just want to know it will be able to run Fear 3 / AvP with all the bells and whistles at native res. If it can't I may as well get the lower specced one and save a bit of cash.

 

[dahren]

http://www.barefeats.com/ has lots of 3D performance tests for iMacs, so that should give you some data.

 

[aki]

Fair enough, but for people downsizing from a bunch of servers + gaming PC + older iMac to a single maxxed out iMac + Bootcamp + VMware, it would be useful to know if it's actually worth buying the higher end GPU option, or just moving to a PS3/Xbox.

Very reasonable point. For myself, if my major interest was non-bleeding-edge-PC-rig gaming, at this point, I think I'd probably just go console. Consoles are pretty competitive these days hardware-wise and are less maintanence than even a Mac (heh), in addition to which, the days where any decent seller would automatically have a PC port seem to be behind us (sadly) and so you actually get more variety on consoles (provided you aren't playing Starcraft 2 or something anyway).

I guess the other difference is you can't really mod and tinker on a console.

But I'm hijacking the topic, sorry.

 

[Fallenman]

I will be getting an iMac once the refresh hits. And, I do game. Regularly. No, I don't want a PC ;-)

I found that one way to assess the new iMac range has been to check out a few youtube videos. There aren't too many good ones, but I've seen enough to see some pretty good results.

My conclusion is that generally speaking, we're at a point where hardware is matched/ahead of software. The fact is that currently, mid-range chips like those found in the iMac can run most games well. They may not like having fully maxxed out settings for all, but they are able to handle some pretty demanding programs at very reasonable framerates. But you won't get bleeding edge.

I agree that it would be nice to have a list of games that run on the iMac at an agreed acceptable framerate. With listed settings.

Ah well, roll on the refresh.

 

[dexthageek]

I will be getting an iMac once the refresh hits. And, I do game. Regularly. No, I don't want a PC ;-)

I found that one way to assess the new iMac range has been to check out a few youtube videos. There aren't too many good ones, but I've seen enough to see some pretty good results.

My conclusion is that generally speaking, we're at a point where hardware is matched/ahead of software. The fact is that currently, mid-range chips like those found in the iMac can run most games well. They may not like having fully maxxed out settings for all, but they are able to handle some pretty demanding programs at very reasonable framerates. But you won't get bleeding edge.

I agree that it would be nice to have a list of games that run on the iMac at an agreed acceptable framerate. With listed settings.

Ah well, roll on the refresh.

I have been thinking about putting together a website, regarding iMac performance and optimal settings on various games. Anyone think there is a need for that?

 

[aki]

I have been thinking about putting together a website, regarding iMac performance and optimal settings on various games. Anyone think there is a need for that?

Probably, given the mac gamer population is growing and there are some medium-grade video card options available now.

That tweakguide(?) site for Windows gaming is fantastic, something similar for OSX tweaking would probably go down well.

Also, something giving people advice on what sort of performance they can expect on title X on hardware Y would obviously be popular.

Similarly, authoritative information on the pros and cons of OSX ports of popular windows games might be handy - eg. Dragon Age Origins, should I buy the Windows or the OSX version? Is this a cider port? If I buy the Windows version do I get the OSX version as well? etc etc.

Finally, imo, some site with actual hard factual information on how to properly upgrade video card drivers under windows running on various mac hardware would be very popular and useful indeed.

The more I think about it the more keen I am. I might even contribute

 

[eat me]

I have been thinking about putting together a website, regarding iMac performance and optimal settings on various games. Anyone think there is a need for that?

If you do, let me/us/forum know.

 

[Fallenman]

If you do, let me/us/forum know.

Seconded. I'd be interested in seeing this.

 

[MrDexx]

I have been thinking about putting together a website, regarding iMac performance and optimal settings on various games. Anyone think there is a need for that?

Do it Do It!

 

[GCardoso]

I have been thinking about putting together a website, regarding iMac performance and optimal settings on various games. Anyone think there is a need for that?

Yes, please please please please please please please please please please please please please........

 

[iMacN00b]

If you do, let me/us/forum know.

It didn't happen, so I have put up a Youtube channel to show settings, FPS and benchmarks. I will read the threads here and try and recreate the settings and post on Youtube for folk who are interested.