2015 Macbook Pro. Ok for gaming?

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This topic has 9 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 8 years ago by bongohoohaa.

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2015 Macbook Pro. Ok for gaming?
loddrik
Free Member

As title really. Can the latest Macbook Pro handle decent games?

Posted 8 years ago

somouk
Free Member

Not sure if they still have split GPU meaning the only time they kick in the better graphics is if you have an external monitor connected. Worth looking in to to get the best potential out of it.

Other than that it’s just a case of speccing something with a sensible spec.

Posted 8 years ago

bigbeard
Free Member

I’ve got a 2013 Macbook Pro 15″ Retina and that seems pretty good. I don’t play lots of games but it seems to deal with Elite Dangerous and F1 2013 pretty well.

It has a discrete graphics card in it which is used when playing games (you don’t need a separate monitor). It does eat the battery and get a bit warm though when its using it though.

I notice that of the modern ones, the only one with a separate graphics card is the top spec one. They do however have better integrated graphics than mine so not sure if its as much of a requirement now?

Posted 8 years ago

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brassneck
Full Member

Dpeends what your playing and how high your standards are. I played WoW on a 2004 Macbook Pro for years.

You’ll also have to go 15″ to get discrete graphics now, although Iris Pro is a decent performer by my standards if you say games I’d always go discrete.

If you can think of a game that’s demoable I can try it on my 13″ i5 retina (iris 6100)

Posted 8 years ago

euain
Full Member

Not sure if they still have split GPU meaning the only time they kick in the better graphics is if you have an external monitor connected. Worth looking in to to get the best potential out of it.

That’s not quite the way it works (or worked?) – the discrete GPU gets started when the programs running need it. It will always be used when you’re plugged into an external monitor though (I think only the discrete GPU is attached to the display port) – but it’ll quite happily switch to the high performance graphics when not plugged into an external monitor.

You can get utilities (such as gfxCardStatus) that can tell you which card you’re running on (and let you force it to use the one you want).

Posted 8 years ago

teasel
Free Member

the discrete GPU gets started when the programs running need it

You can also force it to use the discrete GPU. In Energy Saver you have the option to switch off automatic graphics switching. (That’s 10.8.5, so it might be different/removed with recent OS)

Posted 8 years ago

makecoldplayhistory
Free Member

This is anecdotal as opposed to based on stats, but top titles take a long time to filter down to Macs, if they ever do.

This is worth a read – the effect of retina displays on GPU performance and chasing steady FPS.

I do know I could get a nice GPU (or two) instead of a MBP 🙂

Posted 8 years ago

jambalaya
Free Member

My 2 pence has always been if you want to play games buying a gaming machine like an X-Box

Posted 8 years ago

Kato
Full Member

Not so sure. Mine runs red hot running football manager

Posted 8 years ago

bongohoohaa
Free Member

*skip to the end*

If you’re buying one to game, then don’t.

Posted 8 years ago