Which laptop better for Diablo3?

[menscher]

Hi,
I'm not a big gamer but want to play Diablo 3 when it comes out. I have two Mac laptops, and wondering which one will be a better machine for it. The two options are:

MacbookPro 15" (2009 Model)
2.40ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
2 GB Ram
Dual Nvidia GeForce 9400M/9600M GT (256mb)
Currently running OSX 10.5.8

or

Macbook Air 13" (late 2010 model)
1.86ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB Ram
Nvidia GeForce 320M (256mb)
Currently running OSX 10.7.3


Which of these machines is better suited for a game like Diablo 3? Both meet minimum requirements, but not by much. If it's the Macbook Pro, I'd have to upgrade to OSX 10.7, which I wouldn't otherwise bother to do.

Any thoughts on which machine is better, or what sort of performance to expect from either of them? And will adding RAM make much difference in either case?

Any comments appreciated, thanks!

 

[Cougarcat]

The 9600M is better than the 320M. It's a discrete card, and the 320 is integrated. RAM will not make much of a difference, though 2 GB is low these days and it's so cheap that I'd get 4 GB. The 320M will require you to put most things on low, the 9600, medium, probably.

 

[cluthz]

The MacBook Pro will be faster.
You don't need 10.7, since Diablo III has 10.6 support, but not 10.5.
I don't think the MacBookAir can upgrade the RAM, but the MBP can.
Getting 4GB will help.

 

[ufgatorbait]

I appreciate this thread as I have a similar Mac air. Is it pretty safe to say that I'll be able to run diablo with my air? The only difference is that my 1.86 with 320m has SSD hard drive and I have 4gb of ram.

 

[menscher]

Thanks for the input.

But will the game give better performance under 10.7, compared to 10.6?

The game's specs list 10.6.8 under the 'minimum' requirements, and 10.7 under the 'recommended' requirements. I would do the additional upgrade to 10.7 just for the game, if it would make a difference.

Still, it's annoying and an expense to have to upgrade my system software twice on the MBP to go from 10.5 to 10.7... which is why I was sort of hoping the newer Air would play it just as well, which is already running 10.7.

The MacBook Pro will be faster.
You don't need 10.7, since Diablo III has 10.6 support, but not 10.5.
I don't think the MacBookAir can upgrade the RAM, but the MBP can.
Getting 4GB will help.

 

[Cougarcat]

Yes, you'll see an improvement with 10.7. Apple doesn't update graphics drivers on older OSes. It probably won't be drastic, however.

If you don't want to buy both SL and Lion (only $60, BTW) there is a way to do it, though it isn't straightforward. See this MacWorld article for details. Basically you need to change a plist file on your Leopard mac, connect it to your Air via Target Disk Mode, and install it via the Air.

I appreciate this thread as I have a similar Mac air. Is it pretty safe to say that I'll be able to run diablo with my air? The only difference is that my 1.86 with 320m has SSD hard drive and I have 4gb of ram.

You should be able to run it on Low.