Why do so many people buy iMacs for gaming?

[Georgio]

Is SSD the solution to the fan issue for gaming via bootcamp?
on imac 27

I have a late 2012 (May 2013) 27" iMac and I don't think I've even heard the fans even with the most demanding of my games. Infact, the top/back of my iMac barely gets warm even after being on all day.

My previous iMac which was a 2011 flavour used to get so hot you could fry eggs on the top edge but these new Macs do not get hot at least in temperate climes.

Maybe if you're in Arizona without any air-con, but in the real world the heat issues of old have been sorted. Anyone who talks of out of control fan noise has either got a kernal panic problem or is using a 3rd party fan control program which simply is not needed anymore.

 

[ilyasdesign37]

I have a late 2012 (May 2013) 27" iMac and I don't think I've even heard the fans even with the most demanding of my games. Infact, the top/back of my iMac barely gets warm even after being on all day.

My previous iMac which was a 2011 flavour used to get so hot you could fry eggs on the top edge but these new Macs do not get hot at least in temperate climes.

Maybe if you're in Arizona without any air-con, but in the real world the heat issues of old have been sorted. Anyone who talks of out of control fan noise has either got a kernal panic problem or is using a 3rd party fan control program which simply is not needed anymore.

well........

I have the iMac 27 (late 2013) model i5 3.4ghz 16GB

the fan is running constantly at 1200 rpm and you can hear the fan noise and airflow which is annoying!

having serious issues with OS windows 7 via bootcamp while playing gaming

my iMac 27 late 2013 has no hardware issues done a test!
The fan noise becomes very loud and the iMac get very hot which is quite scary!

Going to download

SSD Fan Control for Mac and Macs fan control for windows 7

Not sure if that will help

also playing games like Batman Arkham Origins PC under bootcamp windows 7 64bit is great
but within 10 mins the the fan noise is very bad! and the iMac gets very hot at the back!

the game is on med settings!

i thought the graphics card would cope
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 775M 2048 MB

apple tech help are useless they don't have a clue! they say take it to the store for a check up


on bootcamp is a serious issue might have invest in SSD


only brought this iMac last month

 

[yjchua95]

well........

I have the iMac 27 (late 2013) model i5 3.4ghz 16GB

the fan is running constantly at 1200 rpm and you can hear the fan noise and airflow which is annoying!

having serious issues with OS windows 7 via bootcamp while playing gaming

my iMac 27 late 2013 has no hardware issues done a test!
The fan noise becomes very loud and the iMac get very hot which is quite scary!

Going to download

SSD Fan Control for Mac and Macs fan control for windows 7

Not sure if that will help

also playing games like Batman Arkham Origins PC under bootcamp windows 7 64bit is great
but within 10 mins the the fan noise is very bad! and the iMac gets very hot at the back!

the game is on med settings!

i thought the graphics card would cope
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 775M 2048 MB

apple tech help are useless they don't have a clue! they say take it to the store for a check up


on bootcamp is a serious issue might have invest in SSD


only brought this iMac last month

Are you sure? Mine runs at 1200rpm and is completely silent. Maybe the bearings of your fans are defective.

 

[ilyasdesign37]

Are you sure? Mine runs at 1200rpm and is completely silent. Maybe the bearings of your fans are defective.

under bootcamp the fan becomes very loud with 10 mins of gameplay!
when playing games under windows 7, iMac at the back becomes very hot!

computer temps from 40 to 70 etc within 10mins

i think i might have fault with the iMac

i think playing games on Mac OS system might be fine but under windows is an issue!


also........

for 6 times now my iMac starts up soon as you press the AC power button from the mains
without pressing the iMac power on which is very odd!

only had this iMac since March 2014 lol

here is a screenshot for windows and Mac OS

[url=http://postimg.org/image/tdpd2aced/][img]http://s2.postimg.org/tdpd2aced/Capture.jpg[/img][/url]

[img]http://s7.postimg.org/3mccv9l6f/Screen_Shot_2014_04_28_at_11_59_57.jpg[/img][/url]

 

[any-key]

under bootcamp the fan becomes very loud with 10 mins of gameplay!
when playing games under windows 7, iMac at the back becomes very hot!

computer temps from 40 to 70 etc within 10mins

i think i might have fault with the iMac

i think playing games on Mac OS system might be fine but under windows is an issue!


also........

for 6 times now my iMac starts up soon as you press the AC power button from the mains
without pressing the iMac power on which is very odd!

only had this iMac since March 2014 lol

here is a screenshot for windows and Mac OS

Really sounds like your machine has some problems. I have a late 2013 iMac (21.5" maxed out). Its extremely silent. Even after 2+ hrs of Battlefield 4 on Windows 7 64bit I cant hear a thing.

It's also running at about 1200 rpm.

 

[ilyasdesign37]

Really sounds like your machine has some problems. I have a late 2013 iMac (21.5" maxed out). Its extremely silent. Even after 2+ hrs of Battlefield 4 on Windows 7 64bit I cant hear a thing.

It's also running at about 1200 rpm.

you you use Mac fan control on windows 7?
if you do what are your settings?

is it worth getting Thunderbolt ex SSD install windows 7?

 

[mizzouxc]

"I'm looking for trouble" Pink

The only way to be legal is iMac with windows for gaming and iMac with 10.8.x or 10.9.x for mac osx.

I'm not sure what rock you live under, but this isn't the case. Have you heard of bootcamp?
https://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

 

[Siderz]

So why do I use it for gaming? Because I dare and because I dont care whatever whoever might think about anything I do in life

If you really don't care then why did you even bother coming to this post?

 

[cynics]

At max you can hear the fan in my iMac (same specs as yours) but it's hardly a distraction. You certainly can't hear it over the volume in a game even on the lowest volume setting. TBH I don't know if I'm hearing the fan or the HDD.

I'd take it to an Apple store or repair.

 

[Georgio]

under bootcamp the fan becomes very loud with 10 mins of gameplay!
when playing games under windows 7, iMac at the back becomes very hot!

computer temps from 40 to 70 etc within 10mins

i think i might have fault with the iMac

i think playing games on Mac OS system might be fine but under windows is an issue!


also........

for 6 times now my iMac starts up soon as you press the AC power button from the mains
without pressing the iMac power on which is very odd!

only had this iMac since March 2014 lol

here is a screenshot for windows and Mac OS

[url=http://postimg.org/image/tdpd2aced/][url=http://s2.postimg.org/tdpd2aced/Capture.jpg]Image[/url][/url]

[url=http://s7.postimg.org/3mccv9l6f/Screen_Shot_2014_04_28_at_11_59_57.jpg]Image[/url][/url]

Definate candidate for a return to maker. Apple are generally very good with customer service and if you're not happy will exchange the unit.
The heat sink is so efficient on these new Macs that noise should not be an issue.
Take it back and if you ask them nicely while they're quiet they might even migrate everything from your old machine to the new.

 

[ilyasdesign37]

Definate candidate for a return to maker. Apple are generally very good with customer service and if you're not happy will exchange the unit.
The heat sink is so efficient on these new Macs that noise should not be an issue.
Take it back and if you ask them nicely while they're quiet they might even migrate everything from your old machine to the new.

will take back to apple for a checkup

the bootcamp is the issue for fan noise

but do have issues with sound and power up too on iMac too

 

[Georgio]

will take back to apple for a checkup

the bootcamp is the issue for fan noise

but do have issues with sound and power up too on iMac too

Yep all the more reason to get the machine taken back and exchanged.

 

[Makwak]

No it really shouldn't, this is a legitimate question, this is exactly the same as asking "What do you use your Mac for?", it's called a forum for a reason, I'm here trying to start a discussion about it because I'm interested in gaming although don't game all that much which is a reason why I'd like to find out more.

Maybe if you don't like the question then don't click it and don't post on it? You're only bumping it further up the subforum.



My household has 5 Macs.

Maybe, since your household has 5 macs, you should get an xbox1, ps4 and dedicated gaming PC one of these custom build $10k wc beasts. Use them along with your other 5 macs in your household - then look inside your heart given the allround gaming experience you will have using the co soles and PC - and through this self assesment/improvement/meditation you shall find out more about your existence and inner gamer. And with that clear understanding of these 3 IT genres you can then write an essay about your feeling on gaming. Please do. Plus - you didnt mention how many of these you own, but you should ask why people buy iphones for gaming and ipads too. So add that to your list.

So with that amount of work hopefully you wont be wasting our time here anymore, thank you

----------

I didn't buy my iMac for gaming but it is a very capable gaming machine as it turns out.

I opted for the 780M and running BF4 i'm getting at least 60fps in firefights running high settings but with AA off and 1080p.

This for me is a good result.

I'm an occasional gamer and now i rarely use my xbox 360 i decided not to rush out and buy an xbox one, so having a mac i used for work which can also run the occasional game is a good.

Amen.

 

[Wreckie]

Top end iMacs are well capable of playing modern games on medium-high settings. I myself bought iMac in 2011 with 6970m GPU medium gaming bearing in mind. It still runs well.

 

[Sym0]

I bought the rMBP simply to run windows, best hardware with best OS for work, games, compatibility etc. and it does so better than dedicated windows machines.

But I love OSX for home, good fun.

 

[iF34R]

I don't think I've ever heard of/seen anyone buy an iMac for gaming. I've seen plenty buy one and play games on it though.

 

[cynics]

I don't think I've ever heard of/seen anyone buy an iMac for gaming. I've seen plenty buy one and play games on it though.

I agree. I think a lot of people will game but the majority of people aren't buying a Mac for gaming.

 

[MartinAppleGuy]

I got an iMac for gaming. But gaming is not the priority. The main use of my iMac is video editing and photo editing, then a bit of gaming on the side. My GPU in my iMac easily handles the games I want in OSX getting me great frame rates even when playing on 1080p on ultra.

 

[Georgio]

Yep my main use of a Mac is for work as I'm a graphic designer, but it's excellent to be able to boot into Win7 and game when I fancy it.
Saves having two machines cluttering up my study.

I don't think I've ever heard of/seen anyone buy an iMac for gaming. I've seen plenty buy one and play games on it though.

 

[philNewYork]

THe #1 reason is that all versions of Windows are a virus

Sure more games are available for Windows. But a powerful mac plays 95% of the top end games (either native, Cider or Wine) The issues that come up from time to time are nothing compared to the almost daily viral infections, boot-sector horrors and convoluted driver/compatibility issues.

I am speaking as an application developer (C++, Java, LAMP) who has been programming for mac and windows since 1995.

 

[Georgio]

Amen, I used to build PC's in the early days and I'm glad I don't have to put up with the hours of frustration trying to get x number of supposedly compatible components to actually work together. Don't even get me started on then trying to network them together...

The PC truly was the camel (committee designed horse) whereas the Mac has always been the sleek Arabian stallion...

Sure more games are available for Windows. But a powerful mac plays 95% of the top end games (either native, Cider or Wine) The issues that come up from time to time are nothing compared to the almost daily viral infections, boot-sector horrors and convoluted driver/compatibility issues.

I am speaking as an application developer (C++, Java, LAMP) who has been programming for mac and windows since 1995.

 

[Nunt]

I am planning to buy a Mac and to use it mainly for gaming. The reason I am going to buy the Mac is mostly for the design of the Mac. I want to put the computer in the center of the living room so I can be with my family and at the same time do some gaming. The wife doesn't want the living room to be cluttered with power cables and stuff that you would have if you buy a normal (or even a small form) windows gaming pc.

So I need an all in one solution that has great looks. The windows all in one machines are not to my liking. Either they don't have a dedicated GPU, they look awfull, they are non-costumizable, they have expensive 27" touch screens that I don't really need.

I just want to be able to play old and new games fluently on medium settings. I think the mac should have enough graphical power to pull that off.

The thing that I really dislike about the mac is that its so expensive to upgrade. If you want to use a larger SSD, you're paying a high premium. You could get a 1TB SSD from amazon for a third of the price apple is asking. And while an SSD is not essential for gaming. It does really help with startup times and level loading times.

Edit: I realize that I am not a typical mac user. I won't be doing video editing or something. Just gaming and the normal stuff youtube etc. You would tell me if I am making a mistake and throwing away $2000, right?

 

[daimos]

why should i buy an alarm clock and a radio separately, when i can just buy a clock radio ?

OSX and Windows in one machine.

 

[nilk]

I don't own an iMac, but my guess would be it's the only Mac that has an option for desktop-class graphics card that isn't as expensive as a Mac Pro. If the Mac Mini had the same specs/options as the iMac, you'd see a lot of people using it for gaming, too. I may be wrong, but I would guess most people aren't buying an iMac because it has a built-in monitor.

 

[Mac32]

That's a bad decision. If Apple had made it possible to use the iMac as an external monitor for a PC, then I would think differently.

You need to do some proper research about getting the best components, and getting a silent, cool-running and powerful system for gaming. Windows has come along way, and both Windows 7 and 8 work very well. OSX is obviously better, but if your goal is mainly gaming you're looking at the wrong solution.

I am planning to buy a Mac and to use it mainly for gaming. The reason I am going to buy the Mac is mostly for the design of the Mac. I want to put the computer in the center of the living room so I can be with my family and at the same time do some gaming. The wife doesn't want the living room to be cluttered with power cables and stuff that you would have if you buy a normal (or even a small form) windows gaming pc.

So I need an all in one solution that has great looks. The windows all in one machines are not to my liking. Either they don't have a dedicated GPU, they look awfull, they are non-costumizable, they have expensive 27" touch screens that I don't really need.

I just want to be able to play old and new games fluently on medium settings. I think the mac should have enough graphical power to pull that off.

The thing that I really dislike about the mac is that its so expensive to upgrade. If you want to use a larger SSD, you're paying a high premium. You could get a 1TB SSD from amazon for a third of the price apple is asking. And while an SSD is not essential for gaming. It does really help with startup times and level loading times.

Edit: I realize that I am not a typical mac user. I won't be doing video editing or something. Just gaming and the normal stuff youtube etc. You would tell me if I am making a mistake and throwing away $2000, right?