I want to play "Star Wars: The Old Republic" on my Mac?

[doh123]

Ok, but what about this. I'm not sure if this is actually different or not. Apparently there is a combination of bootcamp and parallels.

http://www.parallels.com/landingpage/dskd78/?source=g_us&gclid=CNPn-7Dona0CFYPc4AodSjynlg

If you could take a look and let me know what that's about it'd be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Bootcamp is just a program that helps you get Windows installed directly on the machine like any other PC runs it... Bootcamp doesn't run Windows. Parallels will let you use the Bootcamp install inside a virtual machine, but then its normal virtual machine running on top of OSX, so its still going to be much slower... you have to install and boot directly into Windows (aka Bootcamp... aka Dual Boot) if you want full Windows performance. This option with Parallels just lets you have the option... run in a Virtual Machine so you can do a few things with OSX and Windows at the same time, or reboot into Windows only for a full Windows experience, all with the same install of Windows.

Bootcamp is by far the best option. In fact, with the older hardware you have, it might be your only option.

Wineskin and Parallels are virtualization tools and they will greatly reduce the performance of the game. Bootcamp FTW.

Parallels is virtualization... it basically emulates computer hardware, so you can install Windows in that fake "hardware" computer...

Wineskin is nothing like that what-so-ever. its basically a collection of libraries needed to understand Windows software and run it. Being that many things (including DirectX) has to... in a very simple explanation.. be translated on the fly, this extra layer will slow things down more than a fully well programed native version would run... I say well programmed, because many fully native ports are done such half way rushed, there are some Wineskin ports that actually run faster than native ports. Parallels cannot even hope to keep up with the performance level that Wine (Wineskin, Crossover, etc...) can get *if* its running right with Wine.

Thats all besides the point anyways since there are currently bugs with Wine causing it to not be playable... so you'd have to wait for that, or play with Windows.

 

[goMac]

With a 9400m, I wouldn't do anything other than Boot Camp. I have a 9600m, and it's certainly taxing my machine. I'm running on a combination of medium/low settings.

 

[cbenj1976]

Mac Mini

I'm thinking about purchasing the latest mac mini to serve as my media center and to play some PC games (obviously SWTOR). I see the best option would be to partition and install windows 7. The specs of the mini are
(from Best Buy)
Intel® Core™ i5 processor
Features a 3MB L3 cache and 2.3GHz processor speed.
Intel® Core™ i5 processor
Features smart 4-way processing performance with a speed boost.
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
Automatically speeds up your processor when your Mac needs extra performance. Intel® HD Graphics are built into Intel's smart new processors.
2GB DDR3 memory
500GB hard drive (5400 rpm)
Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Feature 288MB DDR3 SDRAM video memory for lush images. HDMI output for connection to an HDTV. Dual display and video mirroring capability.

How will SWTOR run on this machine? Thanks for all the input you guys put on these sites. Really helps noobs like me!

 

[DustinT]

Parallels is virtualization... it basically emulates computer hardware, so you can install Windows in that fake "hardware" computer...

Wineskin is nothing like that what-so-ever. its basically a collection of libraries needed to understand Windows software and run it. Being that many things (including DirectX) has to... in a very simple explanation.. be translated on the fly, this extra layer will slow things down more than a fully well programed native version would run...

Thats all besides the point anyways since there are currently bugs with Wine causing it to not be playable... so you'd have to wait for that, or play with Windows.

I think it could safely be argued that Wine is virtualizing a Window environment under the Mac OS X. It's semantics, I suppose, to argue whether an emulator is virtualizing... . But, I'd call that a form of virtualization because it's pretending to be another environment that the native one.

But anyway... Back to the point, neither Parallels or Wine or Wineskin are the best way to game on a Mac if you're using 3d. Bootcamp is the best solution for playing SWTOR.

 

[Sith Vol]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A334 Safari/7534.48.3)

I successfully have the game running. I have a 13" MBA with 128gb. I partitioned 50gb for Win 7 Home Premium and copied my SWTOR folder from external to laptop. I'm running the game on low settings and it's perfectly fine.

 

[doh123]

I think it could safely be argued that Wine is virtualizing a Window environment under the Mac OS X. It's semantics, I suppose, to argue whether an emulator is virtualizing... . But, I'd call that a form of virtualization because it's pretending to be another environment that the native one.

But anyway... Back to the point, neither Parallels or Wine or Wineskin are the best way to game on a Mac if you're using 3d. Bootcamp is the best solution for playing SWTOR.

no... its not emulating and its not pretending to be Windows. If it was actually emulating Windows it would probably be more compatible (yet slower). Wine is simply a fully native implementation of Windows APIs... Windows programs that use those APIs now have the APIs available.

Bootcamp is the "best" way to play it if you want it to be easy and run with the highest frame rate possible.. yes.... but since "best" is subjective, its better to give people all the info and let them choose what is best for them.

 

[cbenj1976]

Windows OS-Does it matter?

Does it matter what Windows OS I use on my partition in bootcamp? Does it make any difference if I use XP, Vista or 7? Meaning, will the OS effect how the game plays?

 

[Meicyn]

Running it in XP instead of 7 will give you no added benefit. However, if you have more than 4 GB of RAM, you won't be able to utilize it all unless you're running Windows 7 64-bit.

Don't bother with Vista. It uses more resources just to run the OS and offers no benefit over 7.

Also, I'm going to leave this here: http://youtu.be/1oEXxltvm34

 

[Micaeus]

Hey Guy's I'm not too familiar with how this works, but I'd love some help to see if running out and buying Windows 7 64 bit will work to run SWTOR on my System via bootcamp 2.0.

Specs:

Imac G5 osx 10.5.8
2.66 GHz intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro

I have a feeling from reading this post that it wont work, what drivers would I need for either os etc if I could possibly get it running?

Any help would be much appreciated

 

[Micaeus]

Hey Guy's I'm not too familiar with how this works, but I'd love some help to see if running out and buying Windows 7 64 bit will work to run SWTOR on my System via bootcamp 2.0.

Specs:

Imac G5 osx 10.5.8
2.66 GHz intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro

I have a feeling from reading this post that it wont work, what drivers would I need for either os etc if I could possibly get it running?

Any help would be much appreciated

anyone?

for those not wanting to answer me via 10.5.8 not running 7 being said, I've read on quite a few blogs that it is possible, i just need to know if my system can pull it off

please help, my brother is leveling and it's killing me lol

 

[Siggen]

no... its not emulating and its not pretending to be Windows. If it was actually emulating Windows it would probably be more compatible (yet slower). Wine is simply a fully native implementation of Windows APIs... Windows programs that use those APIs now have the APIs available.

Bootcamp is the "best" way to play it if you want it to be easy and run with the highest frame rate possible.. yes.... but since "best" is subjective, its better to give people all the info and let them choose what is best for them.

To be fair doh123, Wine is actually emulating Windows. Compared to Parallels emulating hardware to run Windows.

In a virtualized environment a REAL Windows asks hardware calls and programs like VirtualBox and Parallels answers them. But when you run a program in Wine the REAL program asks system calls and an emulated Windows answers them.

Compare to a totally different scenario ScummVM which an open source fan made clone of the SCUMM engine, which is able to run the REAL scripts.

 

[Micaeus]

Hey Guy's I'm not too familiar with how this works, but I'd love some help to see if running out and buying Windows 7 64 bit will work to run SWTOR on my System via bootcamp 2.0.

Specs:

Imac G5 osx 10.5.8
2.66 GHz intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro

I have a feeling from reading this post that it wont work, what drivers would I need for either os etc if I could possibly get it running?

Any help would be much appreciated

I'm feeling like a creeper here, but seriously, I am illiterate when it comes to computer specs.I have no problem buying windows 7, I just dont want to partition my HD if I can't run the game.

if anyone can give me a "yes" or "no" to me running SWTOR on my specs in any way shape or form, I'd really appreciate it

 

[Micaeus]

I'm going to post why I think it could work, in hopes that one of you kind souls will help me out....I'm a little confused why so many have been helped and not me...but c'est la vie

Specs:

Processor Minimum 4 Swtor: Intel core 2 duo 2.0GHz+
My specs:2.66 GHz intel Core 2 Duo

this looks like its more then enough

OS Minimum 4 Swtor: Win 7 w/ 2GB ram or higher
My specs: 4 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

again, this looks good, but I'm not 100% sure

Video Min 4 Swtor: ATIx1800 or better
My specs: ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro

totally clueless as to whether or not mine is on par or above the min

someone please help!, this is only a temp thing until I can afford a pc laptop...I'd just like to know whether I should drop the bucks on a snow leopard cd for the 3.0 driver and windows 7 64bit.

again, sorry for the creeping, but this seems to be the only place with any info

 

[DustinT]

no... its not emulating and its not pretending to be Windows. If it was actually emulating Windows it would probably be more compatible (yet slower). Wine is simply a fully native implementation of Windows APIs... Windows programs that use those APIs now have the APIs available.

Bootcamp is the "best" way to play it if you want it to be easy and run with the highest frame rate possible.. yes.... but since "best" is subjective, its better to give people all the info and let them choose what is best for them.

Interestingly, the name Wine initially meant WINdows Emulator and was later changed to mean Wine Is Not an Emulator (third paragraph). So, doh123, apparently you aren't the only one confused. However, I'll be moving on now since I find arguing about semantics to be pointless. I've learned that instead of saying "You are completely full of (%@#", it's best just to tip your hat and move on.

Good day to you sir.

 

[doh123]

Interestingly, the name Wine initially meant WINdows Emulator and was later changed to mean Wine Is Not an Emulator (third paragraph). So, doh123, apparently you aren't the only one confused. However, I'll be moving on now since I find arguing about semantics to be pointless. I've learned that instead of saying "You are completely full of (%@#", it's best just to tip your hat and move on.

Good day to you sir.

I'm not confused... its fine if your confused... it can be confusing... using a 15 year old FAQ isn't the best way to go though... as what Wine was aiming to be, and what it turned out to be aren't exactly the same.

I happen to work with Wine a lot, its not just a passing fancy...

 

[Siggen]

I'm not confused... its fine if your confused... it can be confusing... using a 15 year old FAQ isn't the best way to go though... as what Wine was aiming to be, and what it turned out to be aren't exactly the same.

I happen to work with Wine a lot, its not just a passing fancy...

Yes doh123, your an awesome programmer and your work with wine is awesome!

but i still think if you call wine an emulator or not is just semantics.

 

[Samuriajackon]

OS Minimum 4 Swtor: Win 7 w/ 2GB ram or higher
My specs: 4 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

again, this looks good, but I'm not 100% sure

Video Min 4 Swtor: ATIx1800 or better
My specs: ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro



again, sorry for the creeping, but this seems to be the only place with any info

I just made the mistake of thinking I had 4GB of Ram in my new iMac...make sure that you are running 64-bit version of whatever windows you fancy, if you do not, you will be essentially running the game with only 2.2GB of ram used by the program.

with my iMac listed below I'm running the game at 1200x800(0r about) in Full Screen mode with Model and Textures on high, grass and tree models set to minim, V sync off. Running game just fine 25 to 45 FPS.

 

[Micaeus]

I just made the mistake of thinking I had 4GB of Ram in my new iMac...make sure that you are running 64-bit version of whatever windows you fancy, if you do not, you will be essentially running the game with only 2.2GB of ram used by the program.

with my iMac listed below I'm running the game at 1200x800(0r about) in Full Screen mode with Model and Textures on high, grass and tree models set to minim, V sync off. Running game just fine 25 to 45 FPS.

yeah, I planned on getting the 64 bit version after reading through a bunch of posts here, I'm still not sure IF my system will pull it off after its all said and done, and wasting all that cash on win7 etc for nothing.

thanks for the reply, but I'm still not clear if I can pull it off lol

 

[DustinT]

yeah, I planned on getting the 64 bit version after reading through a bunch of posts here, I'm still not sure IF my system will pull it off after its all said and done, and wasting all that cash on win7 etc for nothing.

thanks for the reply, but I'm still not clear if I can pull it off lol

Windows 7 can be installed from the disk WITHOUT a serial key and will work as a demo for a couple of months. That's probably the best way to try it before you commit and spend the money. Later, you can easily purchase and activate the software with the key from a retail disk.

 

[Micaeus]

Windows 7 can be installed from the disk WITHOUT a serial key and will work as a demo for a couple of months. That's probably the best way to try it before you commit and spend the money. Later, you can easily purchase and activate the software with the key from a retail disk.

awesome, thanks, but I don't want to make the leap unless swtor will run on my set up with windows 7

Specs:

Imac G5 osx 10.5.8
2.66 GHz intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro

thanks for your time

 

[BornAgainMac]

It should be native.

 

[Siggen]

It should be native.

Well, the people who made the Hero Engine is working on making the engine run on OS X, Linux, iOS and Android. But I expect that to happen sometime in 2012 or 2013. And if BioWare will even use this to their advantage and put in the time and resource to port SWTOR over to the OS X Hero Engine we will just have to wait and see.

 

[Micaeus]

It should be native.

Is that a "yes"? sorry, not sure what Native means in this context

----------

Windows 7 can be installed from the disk WITHOUT a serial key and will work as a demo for a couple of months. That's probably the best way to try it before you commit and spend the money. Later, you can easily purchase and activate the software with the key from a retail disk.

so, after partitioning my HD , can I access the demo from my mac side?...how do I install a demo if I download it to my mac side?...burn it to cd?

thanks

 

[DustinT]

so, after partitioning my HD , can I access the demo from my mac side?...how do I install a demo if I download it to my mac side?...burn it to cd?

thanks

What you need to do is run the Bootcamp utility that's already on your system. It will guide you through the steps to install Windows. Do not partition the drive on your own.

Once you have Windows installed you will need to boot into Windows. That means Mac OS X isn't running on your system. For all intents and purposes, you now have a Windows laptop. Just follow the normal SWTOR installation procedure and you'll be good to go. Anytime you want to play SWTOR or do anything else that requires Windows you'll need to reboot your machine into Windows.

There is one add-on you can do, that's totally optional and frankly, of limited value. You can purchase Parallels and direct it to load up your Bootcamp installation of Windows. You can then access Windows from within your Mac however there is a pretty serious performance penalty to games, so don't think you can just run Parallels and play SWTOR that way. You can however, use this to make the installation less painful by running the installer while you are using your Mac for other things.

 

[Micaeus]

What you need to do is run the Bootcamp utility that's already on your system. It will guide you through the steps to install Windows. Do not partition the drive on your own.

Once you have Windows installed you will need to boot into Windows. That means Mac OS X isn't running on your system. For all intents and purposes, you now have a Windows laptop. Just follow the normal SWTOR installation procedure and you'll be good to go. Anytime you want to play SWTOR or do anything else that requires Windows you'll need to reboot your machine into Windows.

There is one add-on you can do, that's totally optional and frankly, of limited value. You can purchase Parallels and direct it to load up your Bootcamp installation of Windows. You can then access Windows from within your Mac however there is a pretty serious performance penalty to games, so don't think you can just run Parallels and play SWTOR that way. You can however, use this to make the installation less painful by running the installer while you are using your Mac for other things.

thanks, I understand that, Its just how do I access the demo version of windows 7 to install it if I'm downloading it from my mac side?. I assume it will ask for the installation disc? or will I be able to use the demo download by selecting the file from my mac hd when I'm doing the Bootcamp install?.

I'm still fuzzy on whether or not my specs can run the game, but if I can install window 7 demo, then I'll give it a shot