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Recommended settings for Skyrim 15' Macbook Pro (2010)?? Is temp too hot??

A

asianondrums

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 21, 2011
5
0
Hi, noobie here and I just wanted to know some good recommendations for my 15' Macbook pro, specs below.

2010 15' Macbook Pro
i5 2.4ghz
4gb RAM
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330m (288mb VRAM)

Running Bootcamp Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit with 40GB partitioned HDD
Playing The Elderscrolls V: Skyrim

I've searched up some posts about Skyrim spec requirements but haven't seen that much feedback on what settings are recommended. I'm fairly new to PC gaming so I don't know too much about fiddling with all the settings. As of right now, I have the game set on default settings medium with textures turned down to medium (default High), and so far its running really smooth but i've only just started playing. I don't know how well it will run further into the game. Anybody with the same Macbook Pro got any recommendations on what are the optimum settings?

Another thing I'm concerned about is the temperature readings. only 10 mins after starting, the fans start to kick in hardcore and are really loud. The MBP starts to get really hot and I'm not sure if this is normal or safe when playing for long periods of time. Is there anything I can use to see my temperature readings while in bootcamp and maybe change fan speed if necessary while in Windows 7?

Thank you very much for your feedback :)
 
Yeah on my early 2011 15 MBP, the CPU Diode gets to about 89C for me, which is safe. Fans are pretty much always maxed.

I've put 68 hours into the game so far, along with playing WoW, SC2, Borderlands, Fallout 3/New Vegas since I originally got the MBP, so you're fine.
 
I have the same laptop and would be interested to see how Skyrim runs. I've played Modern Warfare 2 and Dirt 2 (both fairly demanding games) and have had no real heat issues (max out at 75-80C). You should be fine I that regard.
 
I'm playing on a Cider port.. not Windows...

17" MBP early 2011, fans are max speed of 5500 rpm.
at 5500rpm playing the temp stays around 85ish.... using very high graphics settings tweaked around some.

I tried using a mod to limit my frame rate, and while it did help and keep my temps down to about 80, it also change my zone loading time from like 1 - 5 seconds... to about 40 - 60 seconds... so I trashed it. Wish i could find a frame rate limiter that worked, it usually helps put less work on the system and keep temps down.
 
#doh123

Try dxtory (dxtory.com). Excellent frame rate limiter with a free trial. Click the "advanced tab" and then set the frame rate limit. Working excellently on my 2011 17" MBP to smooth out the frame rate.

Oh - sorry - I see that you're playing it through a cider port! Wow.

If you're worried about the size of a separate windows partition - my advice is to install Windows on a small Bootcamp partition and then place the Steam games library on an SSD attached via eSATA through the ExpressCard port.

Mattstrete
 
im not sure how accurate the temp readings are on the Windows 7 CPU gadget but it will usually average around 65-75 after playing for almost 3 hours. I try switching back to OSX to use smcfancontrol but when I boot up, the fans have are already slowing down and the temp reads somewhere between 57-65 so I think the windows gadget is correct.

So even though its ok for my MBP to be running at these temps, how long will the fans last before they die out? it seems like they're always running on max which is what i'm worried about in the long run. Skyrim is a huge game, i doubt i'll get done with it within a few months. thanks for the replys
 
The GT330M is really hot.
I had a 2010 MBP and it stayed at about 90°C while gaming.
I used a MacAlley iCeStation to have the MBP in, helped a bit, but it did get hot.
Those are safe temps tho, the GT330M is rated at 105°C and will down clock when getting too hot.
 
Hi,
Regarding settings, I have it running on my 2010 Mac Mini (with a 320m Nvidia chip), and I'm getting good framerates (about 20? avg) with it on native resolution of my external display, and medium settings. Skyrim defaulted to High settings, but it was too choppy. Even on medium, it looks beautiful, and is definitely playable.

I know you are using your Macbook, so the temps will be higher, but so far, my Mini doesn't seem to have a problem. At some point, it would be interesting to collect everyone's stats about settings and fps.

Good luck!

EDIT: Should have mentioned I am using Win XP as my OS! I have 5gig RAM in there, but XP only addresses 3gig RAM total, so the Nvidia chip is using 256mb of that, and the remaining 2.7 is all that the OS has then. When the specs for Skyrim came out, I thought for sure I would have to buy a whole new computer. Thanks to the "console-ization" (sp.?) of games, this one will run even on some older hardware. Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to get a new computer and play this game to enjoy all the graphics, but not any time soon!
 
Last edited:
blesscheese said:
Hi,
Regarding settings, I have it running on my 2010 Mac Mini (with a 320m Nvidia chip), and I'm getting good framerates (about 20? avg) with it on native resolution of my external display, and medium settings. Skyrim defaulted to High settings, but it was too choppy. Even on medium, it looks beautiful, and is definitely playable.

I know you are using your Macbook, so the temps will be higher, but so far, my Mini doesn't seem to have a problem. At some point, it would be interesting to collect everyone's stats about settings and fps.

Good luck!

EDIT: Should have mentioned I am using Win XP as my OS! I have 5gig RAM in there, but XP only addresses 3gig RAM total, so the Nvidia chip is using 256mb of that, and the remaining 2.7 is all that the OS has then. When the specs for Skyrim came out, I thought for sure I would have to buy a whole new computer. Thanks to the "console-ization" (sp.?) of games, this one will run even on some older hardware. Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to get a new computer and play this game to enjoy all the graphics, but not any time soon!
Click to expand...

My settings on Skyrim on my MBP is textures on medium, and everything else low with all Anti aliasing off. I have my draw distances on max though and my game runs somewhere between 25 to 60 fps depending where I am but mostly runs 30-35 fps average.
 
I'm playing around with the Anti-Aliasing and Anisotropic-what's it, but the default for Medium is (I think) 2 levels for each (I don't have it in front of me). I was impressed by how anti-aliasing didn't really negatively impact my frame rates, but by how much more detail I had with the visuals. I was going to experiment with increasing the Anti-Aliasing, to see what the benefits/costs are in terms of playability.

Once again, I'm impressed with what I am getting with a 320m Nvidia card, Win XP, and 3Gig RAM.
 
Mattstrete said:
#doh123

Try dxtory (dxtory.com). Excellent frame rate limiter with a free trial. Click the "advanced tab" and then set the frame rate limit. Working excellently on my 2011 17" MBP to smooth out the frame rate.

Oh - sorry - I see that you're playing it through a cider port! Wow.

If you're worried about the size of a separate windows partition - my advice is to install Windows on a small Bootcamp partition and then place the Steam games library on an SSD attached via eSATA through the ExpressCard port.

Mattstrete
Click to expand...
my settings are near max at 1680x1050... I have no reason to run Windows... its nothing to do with space, but the fact I hate Windows. If I have to use Windows, I'll just not play the game.
 
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