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The reason I-Macs will be Apple's top gaming line

QuantumLo0p said:
...because there is NO mid-tower, nor mid-anything, to bridge the gap between the iMac and the Mac Pro.

The Apple Gaping Lineup Hole raises its ugly head once again.
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I don't think apple would ever come out with a mid tower, but I think they should come out with a higher end mac mini (within its limits due to its small form factor)

Low End

$599 base model
2.0ghz
1gb of DDR3
160gb 5200rpm HD
9400m GPU

Higher End

$899 base model

2.2ghz
2gb of DDR3
250gb 7200rpm HD
9600m GPU

Since I already have a 24 inch display, I would like something other than a Mac Pro (Way to expensive) with specs that cater a little more to me, and among others, instead of the lower end mac mini thats still affordable.
 
mastershakess said:
Casual gamers can't afford >$2k for a computer can they?
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I'm not sure what you're getting at. Many "casual gamers" can afford whatever computer they want, since they have real jobs and make real money. Gaming is just a part time hobby for these people, they don't eat, breathe and sleep gaming.
 
jmpage2 said:
I'm not sure what you're getting at. Many "casual gamers" can afford whatever computer they want, since they have real jobs and make real money. Gaming is just a part time hobby for these people, they don't eat, breathe and sleep gaming.
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I was just saying I hope you didn't buy the iMac just for "casual gaming," because thats an expensive mediocre gaming machine.

Not that it is any of my business, but I just hope it wasn't bought for gaming and web browsing. :cool:
 
Why people don't use Macs for games:
a. You have to install Windoze
b. You have to install Windoze
c. You have to install Windoze
d. You have to install Windoze.
e. All of the above

Just kidding. People would rather get a PC for games, and only use their Macs for other stuff like Pro Apps and pr0n.
 
From what I've seen, the iMac is a very capable for casual gamers. I've seen the 4850 run Red Alert 3 at max perfect, Left 4 Dead on max perfect, Crysis at high very well, and Bioshock at high great. If you're getting an iMac, and you want to play games, $50 to upgrade is a no brainer. Plus, judging by the 4850's performance, it will also run the mac native Blizzard titles that are coming up.
 
mastershakess said:
I was just saying I hope you didn't buy the iMac just for "casual gaming," because thats an expensive mediocre gaming machine.

Not that it is any of my business, but I just hope it wasn't bought for gaming and web browsing. :cool:
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I bought it for my own purposes, which include having a powerful computer with a rock solid OS for my own personal use, for tasks such as photo editing, video, etc. The fact that I can run Crysis with high details at 35+ fps is just icing on the cake for me.

I make decent coin in my job and could have written a check for a $5000 Mac Pro if I wanted to. I chose the iMac because it seemed that it would deliver the best value for my purposes.

If a better option from Apple is out within a year I will probably upgrade.
 
Feng Shui said:
Why people don't use Macs for games:
a. You have to install Windoze
b. You have to install Windoze
c. You have to install Windoze
d. You have to install Windoze.
e. All of the above

Just kidding. People would rather get a PC for games, and only use their Macs for other stuff like Pro Apps and pr0n.
Click to expand...

It might shock you that quite a few people don't want to have two full computers on their desk, especially when the 4850 equipped iMac runs games quite well.

Running Windows under Boot Camp is a breeze, and you only have to boot up into it when you want to do your gaming, etc.

I am running the RC1 of Windows 7 64 bit and it runs great on the iMac. What's more, it's a great gaming platform, and the beta license is good until March of 2010.
 
LagunaSol said:
Casual gamers are interested in water-cooling???

Casual gamers want the hassle of building their own FrankenPCs???

I don't think "casual gamer" means what you think it means... ;)
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Im a casual gamer and i built my own computer. I built it for $600, which would only get me a Mini that would run COD4 at about 10fps.

Im a casual gamer and i would install water cooling if my system needed it.

Im a casual gamer and i like to upgrade my parts, something Apple doesnt understand.
 
bry223 said:
I don't think apple would ever come out with a mid tower, but I think they should come out with a higher end mac mini (within its limits due to its small form factor)

Since I already have a 24 inch display, I would like something other than a Mac Pro (Way to expensive) with specs that cater a little more to me, and among others, instead of the lower end mac mini thats still affordable.
Click to expand...

I think you hit it right on! IMO Apple will probably not be releasing any sort of mid rig anytime soon because they would lose a lot of Pro revenue if a mid-tower existed.

Too bad.
 
MacAndy74 said:
ITouch FTW :cool:

So the topic. The iMac is Apple's most mainstream product, so if they were going to promote gaming - it would be on the iMac.

I just hope Sims3 plays nicely with iMac w/4850.
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I would think so.

From my posts in other threads some people may think I am anti-iMac. I'm not but I do like expansion slots.

The upcoming low power quad should catch my attention.
 
Feng Shui said:
Why people don't use Macs for games:
a. You have to install Windoze
b. You have to install Windoze
c. You have to install Windoze
d. You have to install Windoze.
e. All of the above

Just kidding. People would rather get a PC for games, and only use their Macs for other stuff like Pro Apps and pr0n.
Click to expand...

uhmm... look up the Cider engine...
 
What is a gaming computer anyway? I thought gaming was mainly done on PS3/XBOX360/Wii nowadays. I don't get why I should pay more then 1k$ for a gaming computer if I can get an almost as powerful for ps3+mac mini. And ps3 won't be obsolete with new games, it will always run at highest settings and won't need super cooling/tweaking skills. What about upgrade you say? Well I will certainly buy a 300$ Ps4 in 2 years and it will still be less then a top PC video card.

So why would apple invest in a gaming computer technology just to please less and less people. So I must say the current iMac with 4850 card is about as good as it will get. GTX285 for mac pro this summer you say? Will cost more then a ps3+mini combined and will certainly not be suited for gaming, but for video editing with multi screens.

So the OP seems right to me, and everyone that bashed him for saying I-Mac instead of iMac are certainly the same ones that laugh at the aussy accent. Apes.
 
UrFatMom said:
What is a gaming computer anyway? I thought gaming was mainly done on PS3/XBOX360/Wii nowadays. I don't get why I should pay more then 1k$ for a gaming computer if I can get an almost as powerful for ps3+mac mini. And ps3 won't be obsolete with new games, it will always run at highest settings and won't need super cooling/tweaking skills. What about upgrade you say? Well I will certainly buy a 300$ Ps4 in 2 years and it will still be less then a top PC video card.

So why would apple invest in a gaming computer technology just to please less and less people. So I must say the current iMac with 4850 card is about as good as it will get. GTX285 for mac pro this summer you say? Will cost more then a ps3+mini combined and will certainly not be suited for gaming, but for video editing with multi screens.

So the OP seems right to me, and everyone that bashed him for saying I-Mac instead of iMac are certainly the same ones that laugh at the aussy accent. Apes.
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Classifying 'gaming' in my opinion isn't as easy as just pointing out the actual hardware... like the consoles you listed.

For my own case, I can tell you that I almost only play RTS or MMO games... neither which are really developed that much for consoles in general. That means I have to use a computer.. and the last thing I want is support microsoft. That leaves me with MacOS or Linux... and in many cases, you can actually run the games natively under those operating system if you take use of crossover gaming, wine or transgamings cedega or cider engine...

The next criteria is then what kind of computer you want, and the limitations you are "bound" by.

I have the huge tower like many games in general acquire... big-ass monster... but it really doesn't belong in our livingroom because its noisy. Sure... some may argue you can make them virtually silent. Well.. I want to be able to easily take it with me as well... Oh, well then you need a laptop... noo... because I want a proper screen to look at.

Fairly easy transportable.
Want a good screen.
Approves of nice design to have it in the livingroom.

... iMac! =)
 
The problem with the iMac as a gaming rig is that next year when the 4850 is feeling a bit dated you cant spend $200 to get a newer card, you have to spend $2000 for a whole new iMac.
 
Don't really understand the argument.

There are no casual people looking for a gaming PC I would say. They are mostly always hardcore gamers, so yeah they'd probs go for a PC.

For myself, I got an iMac because I like the design, the Apple hardware and the fact I 'could' play games if I want any. I do play a lot of games but Im not hardcore, I am casual and the iMac fits perfect.

For games it's great, screw not being able to upgrade it, I played on my 8 year old PC til it's death without upgrading it and was perfectly happy with older games like CSS and Command n conquer.

MOST people who are the ordinary everyday person buying a PC don't really know the difference between specs and if they saw an iMac they'd probs buy that over a PC due to looks. Then I expect they'd play Sims or whatever on the iMac happily.
 
MyDesktopBroke said:
From what I've seen, the iMac is a very capable for casual gamers. I've seen the 4850 run Red Alert 3 at max perfect, Left 4 Dead on max perfect, Crysis at high very well, and Bioshock at high great. If you're getting an iMac, and you want to play games, $50 to upgrade is a no brainer. Plus, judging by the 4850's performance, it will also run the mac native Blizzard titles that are coming up.
Click to expand...

I'm about as casual a gamer as one can be-- and still play games, that is. FPS Doug I am not. :p That said, my iMac does quite well when I play the occasional Freeverse 2D space shooter or Tiki Magic Mini Golf with my daughter.

I've been playing that new widget-based game Paradise Paintball as of late, with nary a hiccup. (I'm still amazed that PP is free-- it rocks.)
 
jmpage2 said:
If Apple simply didn't care a lick about gaming they wouldn't offer such a card as it has little application benefit outside of gaming.
Click to expand...

Thats true, but it seems Apple only have half hearted attempts at attracting gamers. Although they have a whole section of their site marketing macs to gamers, that section is hard to find on their site. They promoted that bunch of EA games that were released last year quite prominently, but haven't really continued to promote new releases. Then it comes to the macs themselves. Only since the release of the new mac mini and the new white macbook do all macs have half decent graphics cards, but there are still no outstanding cards on the iMac.

Im surprised SLI or Crossfire is not compatible with OS X despite them both being around since 2005. I remember reading when they first came out, that two cheaper cards give better performance than a single more expensive card, and often at a lower cost.
 
seb-opp said:
Thats true, but it seems Apple only have half hearted attempts at attracting gamers. Although they have a whole section of their site marketing macs to gamers, that section is hard to find on their site. They promoted that bunch of EA games that were released last year quite prominently, but haven't really continued to promote new releases. Then it comes to the macs themselves. Only since the release of the new mac mini and the new white macbook do all macs have half decent graphics cards, but there are still no outstanding cards on the iMac.

Im surprised SLI or Crossfire is not compatible with OS X despite them both being around since 2005. I remember reading when they first came out, that two cheaper cards give better performance than a single more expensive card, and often at a lower cost.
Click to expand...

How do you fit (2) video cards in an iMac?
 
Eidorian said:
Water cooling is a bit much in most cases.

What's a FrankenPC?
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here's a frankenpc

desktop-studio-xps-435.jpg


Pentium Core 2 Duo 2,93 GHz
24'' screen
1.5 TB Hard Disk Drive
12GB of RAM
ATI Radeon 4870
Blu-ray writer/reader + CD/DVD
 
NoSmokingBandit said:
Im a casual gamer and i built my own computer. I built it for $600, which would only get me a Mini that would run COD4 at about 10fps.

Im a casual gamer and i would install water cooling if my system needed it.

Im a casual gamer and i like to upgrade my parts, something Apple doesnt understand.
Click to expand...

Define "casual gamer".
 
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