What does it take? (Gaming Related)

[Sean7512]

Well, we got our 24" iMac a few weeks ago with this configuraton:

C2D 2.16
2GB Ram
500GB HDD
7600 w/ 256
..and so on...

Last night, I decided to test the graphics cards. I downloaded the Call of Duty 2 demo and started playing. First thing I did was put ALL settings on max (1900 X 1200, 4x FSAA, highest detail, highest lighting, etc.). I was disappointed, the game was simply UNPLAYABLE..probably 8 FPS. Anyways, I tinkered with the settings, and found this. I kept EVERYTHING on the highest, except FSAA, which I switched to 2x. This proved to be PERFECT. No slowdowns indoors or outdoors, SMOOTH framerate even with lots of action on screen...simply, it looked beautiful!

Now, I don't understand what the difference is between 2x and 4x FSAA or why it would make such a difference. Can anyone help me out? Also, this game came out around Christmas time, I think...so why can a BRAND NEW computer not play it at max...Really what I'm asking is what kind of a beast of a video card is needed?

Overall, I am VERY happy with the games performance, because it really did look beautiful...anyone with that setup should download just to see the power of that video card. I have never owned a computer with a good graphics card so I'm used to watering down the settings, so I'm in LOVE with this iMac

 

[MacBoobsPro]

Well, we got our 24" iMac a few weeks ago with this configuraton:

C2D 2.16
2GB Ram
500GB HDD
7600 w/ 256
..and so on...

Last night, I decided to test the graphics cards. I downloaded the Call of Duty 2 demo and started playing. First thing I did was put ALL settings on max (1900 X 1200, 4x FSAA, highest detail, highest lighting, etc.). I was disappointed, the game was simply UNPLAYABLE..probably 8 FPS. Anyways, I tinkered with the settings, and found this. I kept EVERYTHING on the highest, except FSAA, which I switched to 2x. This proved to be PERFECT. No slowdowns indoors or outdoors, SMOOTH framerate even with lots of action on screen...simply, it looked beautiful!

Now, I don't understand what the difference is between 2x and 4x FSAA or why it would make such a difference. Can anyone help me out? Also, this game came out around Christmas time, I think...so why can a BRAND NEW computer not play it at max...Really what I'm asking is what kind of a beast of a video card is needed?

Overall, I am VERY happy with the games performance, because it really did look beautiful...anyone with that setup should download just to see the power of that video card. I have never owned a computer with a good graphics card so I'm used to watering down the settings, so I'm in LOVE with this iMac

I can run Call of Duty 2 demo with everything on max without it slowing at all on my PMG5 1.8DP with ATIX850XT (256MBVRAM). I have heard on these forums that Apple underclocks the GPUs for some stupid reason.

 

[Sean7512]

I can run Call of Duty 2 demo with everything on max without it slowing at all on my PMG5 1.8DP with ATIX850XT (256MBVRAM). I have heard on these forums that Apple underclocks the GPUs for some stupid reason.

Is that a better video card than the NVIDIA 7600GT?

Edit: Maybe it is a difference in resolution...are you using 1900 x 1200?

 

[MacBoobsPro]

Is that a better video card than the NVIDIA 7600GT?

Dunno but its been out for ages so maybe not.

COD2 for mac is relatively new so maybe setting everything to max is a asking a bit too much. If you have found x2 FSAA is good then I wouldnt worry about.

I usually only have x2 FSAA anyway even if my mac can handle more. The difference isnt that much more noticeable but the performance hit is. x2 is a happy medium for me on most games.

 

[ipoddin]

Regardless of the fact that COD2 came out last year, it's engine is highly refined and requires a beast of a computer + video card whether you play it on a PC or MAC. There's a huge difference between 2xFSAA and 4XFSAA, especially at 1900x1200. This game has some of the most demanding requirements and you maxed the whole thing out. But as you noticed, even at 2X the game looks amazing. So enjoy it for that. I'm just blown away the iMac can play it at 1900x1200 let alone having 2xFSAA and all the effects turned up. That says alot.

Well, we got our 24" iMac a few weeks ago with this configuraton:

C2D 2.16
2GB Ram
500GB HDD
7600 w/ 256
..and so on...

Last night, I decided to test the graphics cards. I downloaded the Call of Duty 2 demo and started playing. First thing I did was put ALL settings on max (1900 X 1200, 4x FSAA, highest detail, highest lighting, etc.). I was disappointed, the game was simply UNPLAYABLE..probably 8 FPS. Anyways, I tinkered with the settings, and found this. I kept EVERYTHING on the highest, except FSAA, which I switched to 2x. This proved to be PERFECT. No slowdowns indoors or outdoors, SMOOTH framerate even with lots of action on screen...simply, it looked beautiful!

Now, I don't understand what the difference is between 2x and 4x FSAA or why it would make such a difference. Can anyone help me out? Also, this game came out around Christmas time, I think...so why can a BRAND NEW computer not play it at max...Really what I'm asking is what kind of a beast of a video card is needed?

Overall, I am VERY happy with the games performance, because it really did look beautiful...anyone with that setup should download just to see the power of that video card. I have never owned a computer with a good graphics card so I'm used to watering down the settings, so I'm in LOVE with this iMac

 

[ckodonnell]

I don't know if it's stupid, but they do it because of heat. Same reason on MacBook Pros. It actually can ramp the clock based upon current internal temperatures. The same is true for the CPU clock.

CKO

I have heard on these forums that Apple underclocks the GPUs for some stupid reason.