new to macs

[macnub917]

well my desktop just crapped out on me and i really don't want to invest money to rebuild it. I was looking at the imacs but my one concern is about gaming. I really only play WoW but I also want the option to maybe play something newer.

I am a little concerned with Macs lack of video cards and in order to get at least 512mb i have to spend 2k. Do macs not need that extra video power?

Just want some opinions.

 

[tombb]

In my opinion, the new iMac is a great all-around choice for general home use. It is not the best choice for bleeding-edge gaming.

Apparently, WOW is not the most GPU-bound game out there. Judging by published FPS scores, the optional 4850 combined with the drop-dead gorgeous 27" display will provide a better WOW gaming experience than that enjoyed by 95% of WOW's current user base.

If you are a WOW-only person (and I am related to several), then you can get more bang for your buck with a cheap PC.

Buying a $2000 iMac to play WOW is like taking a Beemer to the drag strip.

Just my opinion. Your mileage may vary. Drink responsibly.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

A mac running a game will actually have a lower frame rate then a Windows machine using the same spec'd hardware. The difference is that macs tend to come with better hardware, compared to the $500 PC that most people buy.

So yes, that $2000 iMac will run WoW better than most players will ever see WoW run, but not because it's a mac.

 

[knewsom]

Windows has kinda run the market on PC gaming, for a variety of reasons. Macs are wonderful and amazing, and can dual boot, so if you want to game, you can just boot in to Windows.

 

[BigBagaroo]

WoW should run nicely on the new macs. When I was addicte^H^Hplayed WoW I did it on early 08 macbook pro under OS X, and it was smooth.

Also, check out the Mac forum on Blizzard's site, it is packed with useful information about running WoW on OS X (or bootcamp) If you haven't visited that particular forum before, I think you will be shocked by the number of blue posts

 

[mtnDewFTW]

Well, obviously WoW will look fantastic on the iMac. Since it really doesn't require much graphics at all.

And it's hard to tell. I myself, am not a PC gamer, I just play on my 360. MW2, FTW

But, Macs are better at multitasking than PCs are. They even run Windows better than a PC with the same exact specs as a Mac.
Why? I don't know.. some people may know, but I don't.

Now, to answer that last question, like I said, it does multitask better, so the game won't lag. And it really depends on what you're playing. Right now, that iMac will play any game that you throw at it.
The video card may not the be hottest or the newest, but it still does the job very well.

My brother has a PC that has that same type of card, that's one gen lower It think, and he's able to play Crysis, I think in the highest quality, or something very close to it.

Also, if a nVidia 9400/9600, right at this moment, can play pretty much any game you throw at it, I think you're good to go.

And like you said, you mostly only play WoW, so if you ever want to play something else on it, for the next few years you should be able to.
Since that card isn't terrible at all. It's not even really that old either.

Sorry, I hope this is helpful. I'm really not a big gamer. Especially on a computer