VMware with MacBook (Black)

Question

Hi guys!
I am about to invest into the MacBook and am doing my research because this is a big purchase for me. After careful consideration, I found that I still would like to use some PC games that are not offered by Mac (i.e. Final Fantasy XI). Then I found that VMware helps with enabling windows on MacOS.
My question is: Would the MacBook (Black, latest 2.4ghz) be able to use VMware and render 3D games from windows at a decent speed? perhaps 30 fps?

Answer 1

rialto wrote:
Hi guys!
I am about to invest into the MacBook and am doing my research because this is a big purchase for me. After careful consideration, I found that I still would like to use some PC games that are not offered by Mac (i.e. Final Fantasy XI). Then I found that VMware helps with enabling windows on MacOS.
My question is: Would the MacBook (Black, latest 2.4ghz) be able to use VMware and render 3D games from windows at a decent speed? perhaps 30 fps?
rialto wrote:
*BUY THE MAC BOOK PRO*
*READ THIS FIRST things like "Battlefield 2142 by Electronic Arts"*
*System Requirements*
*Mac OS X v10.4.9 or later*
*1.83GHz or faster Intel Core Duo processor (Game will not run on a PowerPC G3, G4, or G5-based system.)*
*1GB RAM*
*2.2GB or more free hard-disk space*
*Video card: ATI X1600 series or later; NVIDIA GeForce 7300 or later*
*8x or faster DVD-ROM drive*
*Keyboard and mouse*
**Note: This game does not support the GMA950 integrated graphics card.
"3D GAME INSIGHTS
Notice that the fastest MacBook Pro in the game comparison was the "mid 2007" 17" MacBook Pro with GeForce 8600M. Why? Because the core and memory clock of the graphics processor is allowed to ramp up higher in 17" MacBook Pros -- probably because they have a larger (and therefore more efficient) heat sink than the 15" MacBook Pros.
Just looking at 15" MacBook Pros, the "early 2008" Penryn based MacBook Pros have no advantage over the "2007" Santa Rosa based MacBook Pros with the same graphics processor (GeForce 8600M GT) when it comes to gaming.
We didn't bother to post the numbers, but trust us, you don't want to try running 3D accelerated games on the "Penryn" MacBook or the MacBook Air. They have the integrated GMA X3100 GPU which is a real "dog" when it comes to 3D OpenGL."
GPU "Shoot 'em Up":
Early 2008 MacBook Pros
versus others
http://www.barefeats.com/mbpp02.html
*No! Do not buy A MacBook! If you want to use it for all but the oldest games*! You want "VMware and render 3D games from windows at a decent speed? Perhaps 30 fps?" No & it will not when in Boot Camp. Look I have allot of Mac's now a black MacBook given to me by a friend. I also have a MacBookPro, PowerBook & Mac Pro I will not keep listing. ON a MacBook you have no GPU only Intel built in graphics none of the new 3D games from EA will work on it. In VMware & Parallel's both support DX9 you can play games if you have a GPU you will lose about 15% then if you where to run Boot Camp & I would use Boot Camp over VMware or Parallel's but you need a Mac Book Pro at least 65NM 2.2GHz or 2.4GHz & GeForce 8600M GT with DX10 & 128 MB's or 256 MB's of DDR3 Ram both the come with 2 Gig's Of Ram & The new 45NM Mac Book Pro's Even have 2.4, 2.5 & 2.6GHz with no less then 256 MB's DDR3 Ram on GeForce 8600M GT with DX10 & if you want you can get up to 512 MB's of DDR3 Ram with standard 2 Gigs of DDR2 Ram in there. I want you to like Apple. Just so you just do you know their even on sale now at on the Apple store you said "this is a big purchase" I don't want to see you unhappy with your choice even a Mac Book Pro with ATI X1600XT DX9 has 128 or 256 MB's of DDR3 graphics ram with 1 Gig on DDR2 Ram This is from the Apple store EDU. You are going to play Boot Camp or not you will see allot of **Note: This game does not support the GMA950 integrated graphics card.
The reason it is worth it is you can't upgrade a laptop like a desktop
(MAC BOOK PRO 15.4 inch
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
200GB hard drive.
Double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB
Ships: Within 24 hours
Free Shipping
$1,799.00
or as low as $43 a month)
http://guides.macrumors.com/Buyinga_MacBook_versus_MacBookPro
GMA X3100
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The Intel GMA X3100 is the mobile version of the GMA X3000 used in Intel's chipsets. The X3100 supports hardware transform and lighting as well as many other enhancements designed to offer advanced 3D graphics capabilities to a cheap, power-efficient integrated graphics module.
Each of the X3100's pipelines are fully programmable and in theory X3100 can target either DirectX 9 or DirectX 10, determined by operating system and device driver. The pipelines can be dynamically assigned to various tasks like pixel or vertex shading. The X3100 supports OpenGL 1.5 and Shader Model 4.0.
http://store.apple.com/AppleStore/WebObjects/EducationIndividualCustom.woa/91314 006/wa/PSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=7B723684&node=home/shop_mac/family/
I am guessing your in school If you’re a student, teacher, or staff member and you buy a Mac with your education discount between June 3 and September 15, 2008, you can get a free iPod touch or iPod nano after rebate.*
WHERE TO BUY A MACBOOK PRO
When ordering products from Apple Store USA, please click http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=br owse&node=campaigns/backtoschool&sf=wHF2F2PHCCCX72KDY&mco=Njk1OTY or any Apple display ad as your "portal" to the online store. In so doing, you help to support Bare Feats.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?fnode=h ome/specialdeals/clearance&nplm=MA897LL/A
(DON'T LIVE in the USA? See links for Apple online stores in other countries.)
Also check with Small Dog Electronics and Power Max. (Power Max takes trade-ins.)
WHERE TO BUY MEMORY FOR MAC LAPTOPS
We have tested the memory from the following third party companies in our MacBook Pro. We can recommend them wholeheartedly:
TransIntl.com is selling kits to take your MacBook Pro to 4GB.
Other World Computing sells various kits for the MacBook Pro.
Best Of Luck My friend,
Thomas