Light gaming on iMac / Mac Mini

[Danman]

So I'm torn between getting the Mac Mini or iMac.

Mac Mini: Significantly cheaper (looking at base model right now) but with 5400RPM drive and Intel 3000 GPU. No keyboard/mouse/DVI adapter that I need to buy. I have a existing Samsung monitor that would be acceptable to use. Will also put in 8GB when I get it, and adding a second drive seems very easy to do.

iMac: Faster drive, integrated display, AMD 6750 dedicated GPU with 512MB memory - get everything within one unit. Biggest con here is the price differential between the Mac Mini.

I usually play on my Xbox or PS3, but I've been playing TF2/Portal on my antiquated rig recently (I'm currently running a 8600 GTS). I'm wondering, for someone that doesn't play that much, would the Intel 3000 be acceptable? I'm looking at over a $450 dollar price difference between these two models.

Is it worth saving this and just going for the Mac Mini?

 

[ViRGE]

TF2/Portal on an Intel 3000 GPU on a Mac? I doubt it will be acceptable. Intel's Mac OpenGL performance has never been particularly strong.

 

[deanx0r]

The iMac is a better value once you start factoring the gpu, the quad core, keyboard mouse and monitor in. A quad mini sans gpu will set you back 1k already and the mini with gpu cost 799 alone.

 

[Pia]

So, why are you buying a new machine?

I presume the antiquated rig runs the games you mentioned just fine so you could keep that. Certainly better than a mini with Intel IGP.

Depending if you want to get into newer games, you should maybe look at the iMac with a graphics upgrade. You should also check out benchmarks for those mobile GPUs so you know approximately what kind of performance you are getting with each option.

 

[KeithP]

Bare Feats just put up some basic Mac Mini numbers:
http://www.barefeats.com/mini11_01.html

At the bottom, there is a graph for Portal on a Mac Mini (i5 model) which isn't the model you are talking about however, they also have numbers from a MBP 2.7 with the Intel HD3000 GPU.

At 1280x720, 4X AA the MBP w/HD3000 only hit 36FPS. The i5 Mini hit 72.

I would say if you are going to go with the Mini, step up to the i5 model with the dedicated GPU.

-KeithP

 

[swanysto]

I just went from a gaming rig to a 27" imac. The gaming comparison is brutal, although I expected that from the start. I only play cs:source and TF:2, and on very rare occasions I kill a few zombies in Left4Dead:2. You have to drop the resolution to get decent fps(30-60fps). I am very casual, about an hour a week, so it doesn't hurt me too much.

Haven't tried portal, but if it is more graphically intense than the ones I named, you might be disappointed.

 

[Mr. President]

I'd skip out on the base Mini if gaming is any kind of concern. The higher end Mini, having a dedicated GPU, would likely be a better choice though it costs 200$ extra. But, even then, I don't know how much I'd trust either GPU to run games.

Personally, I would get the iMac just for the cleaner desktop and fewer cables. If you value something like that then I would say it's the way to go.

Edit: If external Thunderbolt GPUs ever become available then it might even end up a non-issue. It might be worth waiting a month or two and see what happens.

 

[Danman]

I just went from a gaming rig to a 27" imac. The gaming comparison is brutal, although I expected that from the start. I only play cs:source and TF:2, and on very rare occasions I kill a few zombies in Left4Dead:2. You have to drop the resolution to get decent fps(30-60fps). I am very casual, about an hour a week, so it doesn't hurt me too much.

Haven't tried portal, but if it is more graphically intense than the ones I named, you might be disappointed.

Thanks - this kind of fits my category of gaming currently, I don't expect it to get it worse (I just don't have time).

Leaning towards to the iMac since it has the integrated display.