The target audience for the Macbook is successful and, as it is now fashionable to say, sociable managers. Powerful yet light and thin, an Apple laptop helps them be mobile and always ready to go.
"Apple" giant promises - no matter what model you choose - Macbook Air or Macbook Pro, you can effectively cope with any office tasks. Well, okay, I understand about work, but what about entertainment? After all, even the diligent worker sometimes needs to take a breath. Here, too, things are going well, as Apple engineers assure - watch movies and listen to music through a convenient player, communicate on social networks, play games ... Stop. Games? Can an Apple laptop handle decent games? The question requires a detailed answer, and we decided to devote an entire article to this answer.
The first Macbook released was not taken seriously. Of course, the audience appreciated the style, lightness, thinness, good autonomy, but no one could believe that advanced hardware fit in the “tiny” laptop, which would allow you to easily work with demanding applications.
As a gaming model Macbook, and even more so, no one perceived. At the same time, time passed, poppies became more powerful and even a special Pro series appeared, but the reputation of the most mobile, but not the most productive device “stuck” to Apple laptops and did not want to come off.
And now, caring experts decided to refute this stereotype. They took a 2011 Macbook Pro laptop and installed the Windows operating system on it using a special BootCamp tool instead of the pre-installed Mac OS. On this "tandem" a lot of games were tested, including demanding ones - GTA4, for example. The testers then played the same games on a powerful Windows desktop PC.
What was the result? Macbook Pro wins! Games on the Mac ran even better than on the desktop, no freezes or lags were observed, and the response speed was amazing. And this despite the fact that a non-native platform was installed on it - what to do, equal conditions were necessary for the experiment. But, it is worth noting that on the native mac OS, games on the MacBook could go even better.
And here we must pay tribute to Apple, if the Macbook Pro of the 2010 model produced 3500-6000 points in benchmarks (depending on the configuration), then the 2011 proshka could boast of such figures - 7000-10500 (again, depending on the configuration). It turns out that in a year Apple has doubled the performance of laptops.
retina killer
Thanks to this independent test, and word of mouth, gamers began to show interest in the Macbook Pro. However, this situation did not last long for a very interesting reason.
Users who appreciated the Macbook from its first appearance were looking forward to when the Apple laptop would receive the so-called Retina display - the highest definition screen, on which, no matter how hard you try, you cannot see individual pixels.
The “apple” giant delayed as best he could, realizing that a super-clear display would bite off a considerable piece from the performance of the device, but in 2012 he nevertheless implemented the long-awaited innovation. And this made office workers very happy, who have to look at the screen for a long time, but upset gamers. If earlier the video card could pull both a demanding game and a high-quality picture, now the picture pulled the blanket over itself, and it became not so pleasant to play - freezes and lags began to creep into the gameplay.
The result was a paradox - on the first Macbook Pro with Retina, games went worse than on its predecessor with a conventional display, despite the fact that the latter has a weaker filling.
Pro in his prime
However, this situation was relevant back in 2012, but today the balance has already been found - modern Macbooks are equipped with the same Retina, but games on it run without problems.
Although, speaking directly about serious gaming, an Apple laptop, and indeed any other, is not the best solution, if only because the gaming machine needs a high-quality hardware cooling system, which simply cannot help but heat up during many hours of gaming. Fitting powerful coolers in small laptop cases is not easy. Of course, many tricky cooling schemes have been invented today, water, for example. But as they say, you have to pay for everything - a desktop gaming PC will cost less than a gaming laptop, all other things being equal.
However, we repeat, if you are not an avid gamer, and you play, let's say, from time to time, you hardly need a gaming laptop. And for such a situation, the resources of a modern Macbook Pro will be enough for you.
How to download games on Macbook?
At the same time, it is worth noting that downloading games on a Macbook is very simple - you go to the Mac App Store pre-installed on any Apple laptop and ... in fact, put everything you want!
How to install games? Find the game you need (by the way, in the description you will definitely see the minimum requirements and understand whether your model will pull the selected toy) and click in front of it to download or buy, the “button” will change depending on whether the game is available for free or not. By the way, if you don’t have enough space to install the game, you can temporarily remove some programs from your Macbook, including toys, and then “get” them back from the cloud.
It's a common misconception that Macs aren't good for gaming. But is it really so? Snazzy Labs founder Quinn Nelson ran GTA 5 on an iMac at max settings at 2560 x 1440 to prove that Apple's PCs could become a gaming PC.
Recently, external graphics cards like the Razer Core for Windows laptops have become popular. In theory, the Razer Core supports Macs, but most models don't come with a Thunderbolt 3 port, with the exception of the new 2016 MacBook Pro. Instead of Razer, you can purchase the Thunderbolt 2-powered BizonBox. The BizonBox is essentially a modified version of the AKiTiO Thunder2 PCIe Box. Thunder 2 converts standard PCIe accessories such as SSDs to Thunderbolt for use with a Mac. But it is worth noting that there is no official support for video cards. A few minutes with a soldering iron and ATX, and you can easily turn AKiTiO Thunder2 into a Razer Core. The cost of AKiTiO Thunder2 is $350, which is quite a lot.
Let's assume that $350 is a reasonable price for most people. How technically can an external graphics card affect a Mac's gaming performance? Many PC games are only available for Windows due to DirectX, so the first step is to install the OS from Microsoft through Boot Camp. If after that you just connect an external video card, nothing will happen, the computer will still use the built-in one.
On the Bizon website you can find a large list of models that are not compatible with the BizonBox. Some Macs don't work well with BizonBox on macOS but are fine on Windows, others don't work well on Windows but are fine on macOS. There are even devices that don't work with Bizon on any OS. In the case of Mac, absolutely all models have at least one compatibility limitation. The only iMac that will have the least problems is the 2014 iMac 5K. On this computer, Windows detects an external video card, but it still does not work directly. Since the iMac uses a discrete graphics card, you will need to connect another monitor for the external graphics card anyway. So is it possible to play on a Mac?
Nelson tested GTA 5 with the GTX 1060 and GTX 980 Ti at 1080p. The GTX 1060 hits 96fps on PC and 82fps on Mac. The result on Mac is of course lower, but not as bad as 22 fps with a standard AMD 295x. With the GTX 980 Ti, the story is somewhat different - 147fps on PC and 88fps on Mac, which is only 60% of PC performance. And this applies to all tested games.
So technically you can play comfortably on a Mac. Although this is not recommended due to compatibility and driver issues, the need to connect an external monitor, and the price being too high. It is much easier to buy a powerful PC or PlayStation.
Apple is famous for its elegant approach to its products, enabling users to fully enjoy the convenience of its use. In addition to good hardware stuffing, these gadgets use the macOS operating system, in which working with programs is a pleasure. This article is about macbook games.
TOP 10 games on macOS
Apple laptops, in addition to the distinctive name, show significantly higher performance compared to alternatives from other companies. Macbooks are moderately popular, even despite the high prices. However, there are enough game developers or their publishers for their product to be supported on macOS.
Modern methods of distribution of game applications are based on digital distribution. The most popular online distribution services for applied games include Steam and GOG, which have their own programs for macOS to manage your personal library. To start using the selected store, just register on its official website and install the software.
MacBooks differ in their technical parameters even among their own models of different years, but they are all suitable for entertainment and you can install games on them. Of course, you should pay attention, first of all, to the system requirements of the gaming product in order to be sure of its full performance.
The following list includes 10 games that run natively on macOS, specifically on MacBook Air devices from 2011 onwards.
The second part of the legendary Portal from Valve, luring players with its approach to logical and sometimes non-standard puzzle solutions. Positive emotions from the answers found, mixed with the antagonist's pestering sarcasm, makes Portal 2 unforgettable and one of the best in its genre.
You wake up in an unknown laboratory, controlled by the artificial intelligence computer GLaDOS, which has destroyed all people and arranges its own tests. With only a portal gun at your disposal, allowing you to make two-way entrances regardless of the distance, you must overcome obstacles and solve puzzles to get out of this imprisonment.
The game develops non-standard thinking. With each room passed, with each level, the complexity of the puzzles increases, which forces you to show real creativity, as there are only more problems. An objectively amazing feature of the game is the humor that accompanies you throughout the passage.
Watch Portal 2 trailer
The script is close to the plot of the 1993 version. However, this also applies to the gameplay, which is divided into two parts: global and tactical strategies. Initially, you have access to the central base of XCOM (a division to combat alien creatures), which must be placed on one of the continents. An additional strategic advantage depends on this.
The key task in the game is to ensure the security of the sixteen countries included in the XCOM project. The level of panic of each region determines the success of the unit. The game teaches you how to set priorities correctly, since one mission is limited to one landing of special forces, and alien terrorism can manifest itself at several points, so you have to save one thing.
The soldiers provided for combat operations have their own characteristics and are divided into certain classes. A competent combination of fighters to a large extent affects the success of the task being performed. The game has good graphics and is not demanding on device resources.
Watch the trailer for XCOM: Enemy Unknown
The game is a continuation of the first part of the trucker simulator with the possibility of multiplayer. There are also elements of economic strategy.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 is great for fans of large vehicles. Over the virtual drivers encountered along the way, the developers have especially tried, and now they more competently assess the situation on the road, making appropriate actions - just like in real life.
The game has its own speed limits in different countries on different road sections, for violations of which the corresponding fines will be imposed. There is also a good simulation of fatigue. In the game, 1 minute is equal to almost ten seconds of present time, and the driver gets tired after a few hours of work. In this case, you need to rest at the nearest parking lot, otherwise it is fraught with inattention and an accident.
Particularly noteworthy are the areas where you can make detours. Many of them are worked out in detail according to the present example. The game comes with various add-ons that increase the number of available cards.
Watch the Euro Truck Simulator 2 Trailer
A sci-fi first-person shooter that has received unequivocally high marks from various online publications and critics, in particular, for an interesting story and beautiful visuals and graphics.
Events unfold in 1912. A private detective infiltrates the floating city of Columbia to find Elizabeth's girlfriend. After some time, they become witnesses of the war between the authorities and the protesting workers. Elizabeth has the ability to create so-called "tearings" in parallel worlds, which allowed them to uncover the dark secrets of Columbia and their past.
In the game, you can upgrade your character's abilities with the help of special bottles, and the graphics themselves are made in a more cartoonish style than in the previous part, which gives it a special atmosphere.
Watch the Bioshock Infinite Trailer
The game is made in the genre of classic global strategy, where the player has to choose a period (from the Late Middle Ages to the time of Napoleon Bonaparte) and set his own game goal.
During this period, Europe is experiencing valuable discoveries in the field of science and technology, affecting the development of the entire civilization. You need to direct the diplomatic, economic and military resources of your state to become a leading power and move forward. It should be understood that the enemy is always waiting for your mistake, which can be fatal, so look both ways and do not miss success.
Watch the trailer for Europa Universalis IV
This product is a reissue of "Metro: Last Light". Here, graphics, physics and other game aspects have been significantly improved. The age rating according to the European standard is from 16 years old, since this is a "survival horror".
Actions take place in 2034. Moscow lies in post-apocalyptic ruins, and the survivors hid in the subway tunnels. But in addition to their civil strife, they are also fighting with another, more dangerous threat - mysterious mutants.
But people do not unite their forces for universal survival, but only fight for absolute power, showing their most inhuman qualities. But the guy Artem decides to start his own campaign to help people and become a ray of hope for real life.
The game qualitatively conveys the atmosphere of the post-apocalypse and tells an interesting story, which is considered one of the best shooters in the genre.
Watch the trailer for Metro Last Light Redux
An exciting city building simulator that allows you to build the city of your dreams. A lot of little things are thought out here - from planning building zones and collecting taxes to monitoring the level of environmental pollution and traffic congestion.
You start the game with a 4 km² plot of land, some financial resources, and a set of starting planning tools. The main highways and railways are already located on the ground, which will simply need to be connected to new roads.
You need to think over and organize the development of various areas (residential, office, etc.), conduct water, sewerage, electricity. With the new degree of development of the city, new buildings and tools for managing the city will open. As in real life, here the standard of living in different areas will differ, and this affects their overall well-being and service requirements.
The game has no plot. The player is engaged in the development of his city without any time limits.
Watch the Cities: Skylines Trailer
This part is a restart of the legendary assassin series. This time, Hitman is on behalf of an international agency. Unlike earlier versions, where the hero eliminated targets exclusively with "direct" kills, here you can crank out an "accident" scene without attracting too much attention.
It is worth noting that multiplayer has been added to the game, which perfectly complements the campaign scenario. In addition to standard missions, various tasks with a specific deadline for completion will be available on the Web. Also now you can create your own missions and tests for enemies.
HITMAN received positive reviews from game critics. And the online publication Giant Bomb generally named the product the best game of 2016.
Watch the HITMAN Trailer
About twenty years ago, Theme Hospital strategy was popular on the PC, where you had to completely manage your hospital - from recruiting staff to placing soda machines near the wards.
And then the moment came when Two Point Studios decided to release a remake of it. Nearly a quarter of a century later, the popularity of the hospital simulator has risen again. Two Point Hospital provides great functionality combined with beautiful plasticine graphics.
The next new diseases are invented in a punning style, which adds some comedy to the atmosphere. At the same time, the feeling of seriousness does not disappear, because people who come to you need help, and competitors are always happy to intercept them.
Watch the trailer for "Two Point Hospital"
Football Manager 2019
For football fans, there is another game product, the idea of which is based on the management of your club. The next round of development of the team, each of its individual members, as well as your career as a manager, depends on any of your decisions.
The game competently conveys the realities of the modern football world. Trends, rumors, scandals - all this has some basis, and your task is to prove that you have the truth and victory.
Football Manager 2019 provides a large number of countries and clubs in them. Here, the design and animation were especially worked out, which only get better every year. Therefore, train players, make successful transfers, develop game tactics and conquer sports peaks together with your wards.
Watch the Football Manager 2019 Trailer
Let's figure out which MacBook will show itself.
As an example, let's take the popular version - World of Tanks.
No wonder it has become one of the most popular online games. An extensive arsenal of military equipment, exciting gameplay with excellent social integration and the ability to feel like in a tank even if you haven’t served in the army - all this has been appreciated by hundreds of thousands of players from all over the world :)
But is it for Windows? We understand how things are with the Mac and consider 7 MacBooks you can play WoT on.
Macbook Air mid 2013
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i5 1.3 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Intel HD Graphics 5000 (1536 MB)
Not old yet, but not the newest Mac either. And besides, there is also an Air model with an integrated video card. Will it be possible to launch? You can play without problems, but there will always be a feeling of a lack of FPS in a couple of dozen. You can forget about 60-70 FPS, but it's easy to have a couple of tactical battles.
Macbook Air mid 2011
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i7 1.8 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Intel HD Graphics 3000 (384 MB)
This model will be exactly 5 years old in a couple of weeks. And it is still compatible with World of Tanks. We personally tested the performance of the game on these characteristics and we can draw conclusions. The settings, of course, are all on minimum: Built-in graphics card with 388 MB of memory - not an option for a serious tanker. But the amateur will be saved by the powerful i7 processor. FPS- 18–25 . Quite a playable option for those who really want to. Get ready to live with the sound of the cooler hyped to the maximum.
MacBook 2015
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i5 1.3 GHz
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Intel Iris Graphics 5300
Even during the announcement of the 12-inch MacBook, Apple emphasized that this is not a gaming version of the laptop. It's the perfect workhorse for the journalist and the person who needs a computer on the go. But you can also play WoT on this ultrabook. Install medium graphics settings and get FPS at the level 18–24 . We lower it to a minimum and half the value rises to 28–35. Let's not forget that the MacBook does not have a cooler and keeping it on your lap during the launch of World of Tanks is not the best solution.
Macbook Pro mid 2014
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i5 2.6 GHz
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Intel Iris Graphics 5100
This is not the latest MacBook Pro model. But that's why it's Pro and the hardware is brighter here. At startup, medium settings will be automatically set, but it is still advisable to set the graphics to a minimum. This is how you can achieve 50-55 FPS, which is more than enough for serious gaming. Iris graphics do their job well.
MacBook Pro 15'' early 2013
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i7 2.7 GHz
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Nvidia Geforce GT650M
A powerful beast that will remain relevant for several more years. At the maximum graphics settings, you can easily achieve an FPS of 30-35. Want a smooth picture? Pacify your ardor and set the rendering to medium. On minimum requirements, the FPS values go off scale above 100. Ideal for World of Tanks.
MacBook Air early 2015
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i5 1.6 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Intel HD Graphics 6000
The current and to this day (perhaps the last) model of the ultra-thin MacBook Air shows good performance in World of Tanks. Graphics level - short with an FPS gap of 50–60. Not bad for an office setting! The picture is smooth, there are no brakes, the cooler is full.
MacBook Air 11'' mid 2013
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i5 1.3 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Intel HD Graphics 5000
This option is chosen by those who want to carry their tank with them. The 2014 11-inch model also handles WoT. It is categorically not recommended to raise characteristics above average, but at low and minimal ones, the kid pleases with a completely edible picture. 40-50 on minimum requirements is a great opportunity to crush the enemy.
As you can see, it is not at all necessary to chase a top-end car and hang loans on yourself. For your favorite game, even models that have exchanged their first five years are perfect. The main thing is to choose correctly and understand what you want to get from the game. More options can be found on our Flea market. Strong armor to you and a full clip.
P.S.: I heard that soon the tanks will play in football ?
Apple laptops with powerful graphics can be counted on the fingers. If you need a powerful device, you have to look towards the top-end MacBook Pro with a 15-inch screen and a price tag of under 200k. It's good when you can afford such a toy, and if it's not possible?
cool project
An interesting solution is offered by the Kickstarter site. There is a collection of money for an external card called Wolfe for MacBook. The idea is not new, in the Windows world such developments are offered by gaming laptop manufacturers, Razer, for example.
Power for every taste
Harvard University students offer to contribute money to the project, and as a result they promise an external video card for the MacBook in a large plastic box. In theory, everything is simple: when you need more power, we connect the box via Thunderbolt to the MacBook, then plug it into a power outlet and that's it.
Moreover, unlike Razer, which offers an empty box (but you can choose a video card to your liking), the authors of this idea believe that ready-made solutions can also be offered. According to their version, the NVIDIA GTX 950 card will be enough, and if you need more power, then it is better to order the Wolfe Pro version with NVIDIA GTX 970 graphics. Although the authors do not mind pushing the GTX 1060 as well.
The developers say that you can use several cards at the same time, everything is limited only by the number of connectors in the device. That is, a Mac Pro user can work with 6 external cards at once, wow! True, the stability of such a system in games is still a big question.
How much money
The asking price is this. The bare box for the graphics card will cost $269, which is much cheaper than the Razer project, which sells a similar box for $499. Wolfe with GTX 950 will cost $449, and the version with GTX 970 (or GTX 1069) will cost $599.
What is the use
An external block with graphics dramatically increases the capabilities of a computer. Here are games, and VR, and working with video, and other tasks where the performance of the video system is critical. The developers promise an increase in power compared to integrated graphics by 5 or 10 times, depending on the type of card chosen.
Which Macs work with Wolfe
The graphics box will work with almost all Macs. The only exception is the 12-inch Macbook, which does not have a Thunderbolt connector. Thank you for this, Apple!
MacBook Air 11-inch, Mid 2011 and up
MacBook Air 13-inch, Mid 2011 and up
MacBook Pro Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012 and up
MacBook Pro Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012 and up
MacBook Pro 13-inch, Early 2011 and later
MacBook Pro 15-inch, Early 2011 and later
Mac mini, Mid 2011 and later
iMac, Mid 2011 and later
Mac Pro, Late 2013 and later
Opinion
The project is interesting, but the amount of only $50,000 for organizing such a project looks suspiciously modest. In addition, there will be limitations at the system level, El Capitan does not support external video cards via Thunderbolt, although this can be circumvented by making changes to the drivers.
In general, I have too big doubts that the idea will reach its logical conclusion, and a small miracle will happen. This time I did not see convincing arguments that everything works as stated. A powerful Mac for a small surcharge is still something of a fantasy.
