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Steam unsuported graphic card

D

Dify

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 9, 2008
93
0
Hi, I have a Macbook (black version) my graphic card is: GMA x3100
I get a message from Steam saying the graphic card is not suported, but I can still launch games like TF2 or portal, the performances are horrible even at low settings.

My question is the folowing, can I expect better performances after Apple patches drivers ect or am I lost for ever when it comes to gaming...
at least for TF2 and CS source...(graphics aren't so important to me)
 
hi,


tanky for the reply, but I'm not looking for a new MBP or any thing. My question was more: with what I have, will it be improved, and give me the possibility to play some games on the lowest settings possible or will my macbook be ignored by apple once they release the driver updates.
I don't plan to invest in my MB, it is fine as it is now, gaming would be a bonus.
 
How much RAM do you have? If it's a low amount your game performance will suffer greatly. But I'm not saying that a lot more RAM will fix any performance problems you have, but it will make a difference. My wifes 2007 X3100 MacBook plays a lot of games, but she is mostly in the casual category.
 
supposedly valve is working with apple to get better drivers released, but it will probably be at least a couple 10.6.x releases away. Maybe in the fall?

Anyway, ignore people telling you that you can't play these valve games without an 8600 or better.

The simple fact is that these games were mostly released before the 8600 even existed. HL2 and CS:S were available before Apple switched to Intel processors, for crying out loud!

If you have bootcamp on your machine, you should be able to verify that you can play these games just fine with your graphics card. Maybe not with FSAA and motion blur at 1920x1200, but it will be just fine.

No, your graphics chipset isn't so great. Yes, it is older.

But I played HL2 on an ATI 9600 on my PC back in 2004 at fairly decent settings and 1600x1200 resolution.

TF2 isn't really much more of a strain than HL2 on a machine. You may not be going 200 fps, but you'll be fine.

it's just all down to Apple's sucky drivers right now.
 
benpatient said:
If you have bootcamp on your machine, you should be able to verify that you can play these games just fine with your graphics card. Maybe not with FSAA and motion blur at 1920x1200, but it will be just fine.
Click to expand...

An excellent idea. My wife uses bootcamp extensively when gaming. I think the most demanding game she has is Spore and it plays nicely on her hardware.
 
The X3100 is the redheaded stepchild of Apple graphics (apologies to redheaded stepchildren everywhere). It was only ever offered on the MB and replaced by the nVidia 9400M as soon as it was possible. Given that Snow Leopard itself has issues with the X3100, I would not hold out much hope for gaming improvement. Sorry.
 
Thank you for the answers every one!

Huntn said:
How much RAM do you have? If it's a low amount your game performance will suffer greatly. But I'm not saying that a lot more RAM will fix any performance problems you have, but it will make a difference. My wifes 2007 X3100 MacBook plays a lot of games, but she is mostly in the casual category.
Click to expand...

I curently have:

Intel(r) Core 2 Duo CPU T8300 2.40 GHz
System Memory: 2

So not that much...


For Boot camp:

I don´t have it instale, but I could.

does Someone know if I would have to format my HDD to do the instalation?

I had a PC like 5 years ago and I had a tons of problems with it, with viruses and other things I´m sure. In 3 years I had to format 2 times because my pc got slower and sloooooower and slo....
I´m afraid that even with the best anti virus and precaution on my part I still would have problems with the window part...
If so, how will it affect my OSX part? I never had problems in 4 years now, never had to restet any thing, so if I have problems after I instal bootcamp I swear I´m gona comit a murder.

Ho yea last question, does some one know If after I format my HDD I can reinstal my OSX from a Time"somting" (forgot the name sorry) back up? even if the back up was from the "full disk version"?

thank you all for the help/sugestions.
 
Dify said:
hi,


tanky for the reply, but I'm not looking for a new MBP or any thing. My question was more: with what I have, will it be improved, and give me the possibility to play some games on the lowest settings possible or will my macbook be ignored by apple once they release the driver updates.
I don't plan to invest in my MB, it is fine as it is now, gaming would be a bonus.
Click to expand...

intel graphics are very poor performers in games. it's not apple's fault. they are made for the average internet/email user
 
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