OSX / Mac / Apple boxers - check in

[succulent]

I used to 5-box on a Mac Pro, 12gb RAM, 30" monitor, using Spaces to hide my followers. This worked okay but I tend to key-spam in instances, which caused some lag issues the Clonekeys. Login was annoying as I had to arrange windows etc., lag in Shattrath (this was last summer 08 or so) was a bitch. I switched to all-hardware and I like that better.

Current setup is 24" iMac, 27" i7 is in the mail to me supposedly. This is where I run my main/iTunes/vent/etc., graphics mostly turned up. Followers are on 4 x Mac Mini, each with a 19" monitor on a 2x2 vesa mount, graphics mostly turned down. Input is via wireless non-bluetooth keyboard, all 5 computers set to the same channel. Mouse input is via main machine and synergy. Additionally I have a 4-input KVM with keyboard and trackball, but that doesn't get used very much.

This setup works very nicely. 30fps+ on the follower boxes, 60fps on main machine, no problematic lag anywhere -- except that Dalaran is quite laggy on my main machine since 3.3, which I think has to do with one or more mods that I only have on my main (followers use a minimal mod suite) or perhaps insufficient system memory, since the slaves are unaffected. My only complaint really is Synergy won't let me mouse off the main machine if it's in full-screen, so I have to run that one windowed -- I'm used to it but would rather run full screen.

You can of course boot Macs into Windows via bootcamp, so there's never been any question for me as to which hardware to buy. You get a Mac you get the ability to run Windows for games and Mac OS for, well, everything else. Having to reboot for games is mildly irritating at times, but with WoW that isn't an issue.

I raid on my main pretty regularly (not multiboxing), and not a night goes by where at least one person doesn't DC at some point during the night due to their machine crashing. Not just WoW, but they're off vent as well for a minute or two while they reboot. This is never one of the four or five of us who play on a Mac. Anecdotal I know, but amazingly consistent.

[Valsharess]

Thanks, what about performance though:

Imagine that I get a Dell laptop with similar components as a 15' MBP and launch up one instance of WoW on both - Would you expect the Mac to perform better? (using wow as it's an example we are all familiar with).

For gaming, PC > Mac.

With "similar components" it should still run faster on PC because game companies optimize first the Windows version (eg: Blizzard adding multithreaded opengl in WoW 2.0). And if the game is a port (eg: call of duty) you can expect worst graphics because implementing DirectX features that don't have a counterpart in OpenGL (eg: D3DFMT_R32F) results in more memory/less quality.

For general use and disregarding the price, a macbook pro is an excellent choice. I remember reading it was the fastest vista laptop or something like that. But if your goal is gaming, or to get the lowest price with the highest speed -which I doubt it's going to make you happier on other departments- you should stick with PC.

[lightstriker]

MacPro 1,1 (2006 i think), 9 gig ram, 2 dualcord 2 GHz
5box on 4internal, one exteral HD
ATI Radeon HD 3870
27' samsung for main, 4slaves on 20' turned 90 degree for long document and web browsing

Leatrix Gfx http://www.wowinterface.com/download...eatrixGfx.html
VERY IMPORTANT addon, it reduces any WoW window in the background to 5fps. It has almost triple my main's framerate.

[alcattle]

since you bought up an old thread, what MB software are you using? also I did not understand the HD comment. Sounds good though

[mikekim]

i think the HD comment is referring to changing out the old 5400rpm drive for an SSD.

I looked into this and instead went with a 500gb 7200rpm Segate Momentus.

My MBP is one of the older ones (2008 - 2.5Ghz Core 2 Duo, 4Gb Ram, NVidia 8600m GT).

I can run 4 copies quite happily, but 5 seems to lag in places.

i only tend to use my MBP (for wow) when I'm away on business or around friends houses.

[Ñightsham]

I have been reviewing new laptop's for multiboxing and am considering the ASUS G51Jx
..Specs include:
Intel Core i7 Quad 720QM
8Gb Ram
500Gb, 7200rpm HD
Nvidia GTS 360M / 1024k vram

Anyone have any comments on this particular laptop?

[mikekim]

I have been reviewing new laptop's for multiboxing and am considering the ASUS G51Jx
..Specs include:
Intel Core i7 Quad 720QM
8Gb Ram
500Gb, 7200rpm HD
Nvidia GTS 360M / 1024k vram

Anyone have any comments on this particular laptop?

With regards to this thread..... I don't think it qualifies as a mac

[Ñightsham]

With regards to this thread..... I don't think it qualifies as a mac

My bad........ I was doing a search on multi-boxing with laptops and responded here with an inquiry about which one's may be good for that. If it's any consolation, I do use my Macbook Pro for single play, but having switched to IS Boxer I feel the need to get a different laptop.


Thanx