imac/macbook X1600 hardware memory vs. gaming

[zimtheinvader]

gamespot.com reports that the imac is a very poor choice for anything but the most basic PC gamer due to the X1600, -is this true? They also say that the poor performance of the X1600 is due to lack of dedicated video memory:
"[the X1600 which] shares memory with the system itself, isn't going to deliver high frame rates."
Is this true?
I had wanted to pick up an imac or macbook pro for OSX+ some XP gaming, is this a poor choice? I was under the impression it was at least somewhat comparable to an XBox360...??

 

[eva01]

as far as i know the x1600 does not share memory with the system

 

[BlizzardBomb]

Sounds odd... Link?

 

[Eidorian]

Google-fu

http://www.gamespot.com/features/6147437/

The release of Boot Camp doesn't change our opinion of the iMac as a gaming system. No matter which OS you run, its weak ATI Radeon X1600 graphics chip, which shares memory with the system itself, isn't going to deliver high frame rates. The iMac Core Duo performed better under Windows than under OS X (25.9 frames per second vs. an even less playable 16.2), but we still don't recommend it for serious 3D gaming.]

Someone hurt them.

 

[BlizzardBomb]

Err... that chart looks pretty... beyond crap (no text saying long bars are better etc). iMac G5 beats iMac CD in Doom 3? Yes... of course.

It says its from CNET at the top? Hmmm...

 

[robert-a-hudson]

i thought people had been gaming on the intelimacs quite sucessfully since bootcamp....maybe i was imagining....oh well i've ordered anyway...it'll do for my gaming i'm sure....

 

[howesey]

Yup, it uses aperture memory. When you run low on memory on your 3D card, system memory is used.

x1600 is a bit off a piss poor 3D card TBH, so using it for newer gaming will be out of the question.

 

[nylon]

I have run Half-Life 2 on my MBP 2.0 Ghz at 2560 x 1600 on my external 30" screen with 25-30 fps average (with some tweaking). At 1280 x 800 it ran at 85-90 fps on average.

The MBP has 256 video ram. I overclocked the internal MBP video card to 500mhz which is within spec of the X1600. Unfortuneately Apple underclocks their video cards for some reason.

I played for a couple of hours without issue.

Believe me the hardware is more than capable of playing current gen games. Granted the X1600 is not the most powerful moblie video card on the market but it does an excellent job.

 

[BlizzardBomb]

Yup, it uses aperture memory. When you run low on memory on your 3D card, system memory is used.

x1600 is a bit off a piss poor 3D card TBH, so using it for newer gaming will be out of the question.

Really? I don't think that's true, even my crappy 9600 doesn't share system memory. The X1600 is a great card for an iMac, a massive jump from previous cards. Boot Campers will tell you it can easily handle Half-Life 2 and other demanding games.

 

[NintendoFan]

Yup, it uses aperture memory. When you run low on memory on your 3D card, system memory is used.

x1600 is a bit off a piss poor 3D card TBH, so using it for newer gaming will be out of the question.

I find that hard to believe. I mean, 128MB should be more than enough, and most opt for 256MB anyway.

 

[thegreatluke]

What games are you guys playing?

I'm not an expert on video card technology, but shouldn't a new X1600 be able to play any game basically?

It's not like there are actually lifelike graphics or anything out...

And the X1600 has its own dedicated memory. CNET lies way too much; don't use them. Ever.

 

[zimtheinvader]

interesting, interesting.... soo, it is an improvement over the 128MB R9700 in previous powerbooks, even without the processor/xp change?
I used to have an XP desktop w/ a 9700 pro and its just fine for my gaming needs. Still, I am just curious because I would hate to drop $2K on a notebook and still have to get either an XP junker or Xbox360... I would just really like to play quake 4, warcraft 3 (still...) HL2, ect. decently & online on whatever computer I get. And the legacy of the (supposedly) under-performing X300/Intel-integrated GPU on many high-end notebooks (Thinkpads) makes me nervous that the MBP is too buisness-class/battery saavy to effectively run games... (unlike say the XPS which is clearly neither...)

PS. -Does anyone have the new Quake 4 Universal Binary running on intel hardware FPS counts?

Thank you for all your responses!