[unrenowned]

It actually looks pretty good. I don't know the tech behind it but it doesn't get ugly as shit like Windows does when you use a non-native resolution.

Not trying to be an Apple hater but Windows is not the cause of non-native displays looking blurry (the displays themselves are).

[Sky Chief]

The thread title is pretty misleading. Should be something more like "Bought an MBP - Nice surprise it can play some games" or something.

I have a three year old laptop that cost under $1000 and I can play all listed games at 1080p easily. Certainly does not sound like a "hell of a games machine".

[TheExodu5]

As nice as the screen is, the Macbook Pro doesn't have the GPU power to push a proper framerate due to the resolution.

If you want to get proper performance, you'll have to run at a lower resolution, at which point the screen becomes more of a detriment than a bonus, as you'll have to live with scaling artifacts.

[megarockexe]

nothing beats subjective analysis of technical proficiency. go go empiricism! if your desktop is powered by something worse than a 4850, it might be time to head to the nearest flea market/dump to pick up an upgrade.

Thanks for the heads up. I gotta swap out this GT220 sometime soon.

[Oyashiro]

I mean, for like 2000 dollars, it better be.

[Lord Error]

I can understand that but how does it compare to a U3011?

They are both IPS but MBPR is proably worse at color reproduction (although just looking at it, everything looks really vibrant and great) but MBPR has far higher pixel density. Higher res at much smaller screen size, which makes text and UI elements look incredible.

As nice as the screen is, the Macbook Pro doesn't have the GPU power to push a proper framerate due to the resolution. If you want to get proper performance, you'll have to run at a lower resolution, at which point the screen becomes more of a detriment than a bonus, as you'll have to live with scaling artifacts.

Try it and you'll see, games still looks fantastic in 1600x and 1920x on it. You can get ~30FPS even in native res in BF3 if you play it on Med or Med/High, and the IQ looks just ridiculous then.

[ghst]

I have 5750, but a pretty low res monitor, so it ends up being mostly fine. I mean if BF3 runs well on High, there's not much else right now to stress it with. It feels about the same with this laptop, as long as you stick to lower (and by lower I mean 1900x1080, heh) resolutions. It's a different story if you have 2500x1600 dual monitor or 3D monitor setup.

it'll just about scrape 30fps in the single player opening mission with high settings (about 30% less demanding than ultra) at 1080p, which is far less demanding than full size conquest 64 maps.

i think this is why people tend to shit on mac threads gaming side. nobody would consider firing up a thread to evangelise the gaming excellency of their new $2500 asus laptop because it could cruise through games at medium settings with a middling framerate, especially if its native resolution eclipsed its horsepower.

[out0v0rder]

so is the OP like sarcastic or something?

[Seik]

I mean, for like 2000 dollars, it better be.

This.

More like 2199$ minimum and that's without the taxes, with our shitty taxes here in Quebec it would be something like...2500$+ grand total for the 2.3Ghz version.

I have nothing against Apple though, but shit is pricy with them, can't argue with that.

[BritBloke916]

So much bitterness in here! For the price of a Ferrari 458 you could probably assemble an entire fleet of other vehicles that would, collectively, outperform the Ferrari in every conceivable way... but I sure as Hell can understand that it would be awfully nice to treat myself to that Ferrari if I had the cash for it.

Those Retina MBP only really make sense if you've the need for pro-level video and photo work on the move (and there certainly is such a need for some). For everyone else that MBP would be a luxury bordering on the frivolous... but I sure as Hell can understand that it would be awfully nice to treat myself to one if I had the cash for it!

PC GAF in particular should be less venomous. If we have have a keyboard and they have a keyboard, are they not our brothers and sisters?! ;)

[TheExodu5]

Try it and you'll see, games still looks fantastic in 1600x and 1920x on it. You can get ~30FPS even in native res in BF3 if you play it on Med or Med/High, and the IQ looks just ridiculous then.

If you're going to do that, why not just get a 1080p laptop, instead of spending that extra grand on a screen you won't really use?

I think the Macbook Pro Retina looks awesome, but I would consider being able to game at non-native res on it a pleasant side effect more than anything. I certainly wouldn't consider it "one hell of a games machine". That's giving a false impression, and leads people to believe it's a good idea to buy this for gaming.

[Iacobellis]

They are both IPS but MBPR is proably worse at color reproduction (although just looking at it, everything looks really vibrant and great) but MBPR has far higher pixel density. Higher res at much smaller screen size, which makes text and UI elements look incredible. Try it and you'll see, games still looks fantastic in 1600x and 1920x on it. You can get ~30FPS even in native res in BF3 if you play it on Med or Med/High, and the IQ looks just ridiculous then.

A $200 Xbox can play Battlefield at 30FPS. It won't be the same high resolution, but you'll be sitting much farther away from a TV than a monitor.

[Corky]

So much bitterness in here! For the price of a Ferrari 458 you could probably assemble an entire fleet of other vehicles that would, collectively, outperform the Ferrari in every conceivable way... but I sure as Hell can understand that it would be awfully nice to treat myself to that Ferrari if I had the cash for it.

See... this is why people show disdain towards rabid Apple fans ( not saying you're one ), when your analogy has a ferrari 458 playing the role of the apple product something has gone wrong. The problem is that the macbook isn't a great gaming machine even "if you had the cash for it" as you say.

Overpriced tech =/= Luxury car

[MrMephistoX]

It's a retina Macbook. I think the only thing you can change is RAM and HDD. But yeah I'd imagine it'd be nearly impossible to get good framerates on high-end games. If my Crossfire setup struggles with 1600x2560 then I can't imagine a notebook with higher res would fare very well. I guess the bright side is high-end PC is becoming less common.

You'd be surprised, Skyrim runs great on High.

[stupei]

I'm a little confused by some of the responses in this thread.

Do people really think that just because the title says "games machine" that confused people might stumble through and decide to spend $2,000+ on a MBPR to use just for games? Nobody buys a Macbook Pro just for games, so is this a serious concern or do people really just feel the need to point out (over and over) that there are cheaper alternatives if all someone wants is a game machine?

I mean, this is GAF, I would hope we're all smart enough to realize that and if not that maybe we got it the first three or four times someone in the thread said it.

[Sky Chief]

So much bitterness in here! For the price of a Ferrari 458 you could probably assemble an entire fleet of other vehicles that would, collectively, outperform the Ferrari in every conceivable way... but I sure as Hell can understand that it would be awfully nice to treat myself to that Ferrari if I had the cash for it. Those Retina MBP only really make sense if you've the need for pro-level video and photo work on the move (and there certainly is such a need for some). For everyone else that MBP would be a luxury bordering on the frivolous... but I sure as Hell can understand that it would be awfully nice to treat myself to one if I had the cash for it! PC GAF in particular should be less venomous. If we have have a keyboard and they have a keyboard, are they not our brothers and sisters?! ;)

The Ferrari 458 is one hell of a commuter car

[TheExodu5]

Actually, while the retina display is nice and all, here are my thoughts:

Personally, I think most people would be best served by 1080p monitors/laptops. Easy enough to run games on, and very versatile: HD content is authored for this resolution, plenty of space for working, desktops and websites are engineered to work well at this resolution or lower. Anything higher should be suited for a specific purpose: high-end gaming (which should be supported by top of the line GPUs, not middling mobile GPUs), or high-end workstation use.

[Perkel]

I don't understand all the hate for Apple when it comes to gaming.

It's probably connected with Apple fanboys and universall hate of them. And most of people who bought Apple hardware try to tell other how cool their hardware is describing things that mostly are old tech already.

Vide this thread. He own Apple mac and he felt he need to share his joy of owning a apple product and playing Tribes on it like it was something special or unusual.

[ghst]

I'm a little confused by some of the responses in this thread. Do people really think that just because the title says "games machine" that confused people might stumble through and decide to spend $2,000+ on a MBPR to use just for games? Nobody buys a Macbook Pro just for games, so is this a serious concern or do people really just feel the need to point out (over and over) that there are cheaper alternatives if all someone wants is a game machine? I mean, this is GAF, I would hope we're all smart enough to realize that and if not that maybe we got it the first three or four times someone in the thread said it.

the title is: "The Macbook Pro Retina is one hell of a games machine".

by any measurable value, it isn't.

hope that clears things up for you.

[Gowans]

If you're going to do that, why not just get a 1080p laptop, instead of spending that extra grand on a screen you won't really use? I think the Macbook Pro Retina looks awesome, but I would consider being able to game at non-native res on it a pleasant side effect more than anything. I certainly wouldn't consider it "one hell of a games machine". That's giving a false impression, and leads people to believe it's a good idea to buy this for gaming.

No way would I ever suggest buying this for gaming.

But for what it is as a laptop it's really surprised me and for me it's really blown me away. Then again my desktop is getting old and I play alot of console (context).

I'm not comparing it to pcs of its price but the other platforms I use.

[TheExodu5]

Question: what purpose does the retina display serve, exactly, besides supersampling desktop and web fonts? What content is authored for its native resolution?

[stupei]

the title is "The Macbook Pro Retina is one hell of a games machine". it isn't. hope that clears things up for you.

But a lot of the responses have been, "But you can do the same thing for less money."

That doesn't make it not a fantastic games machine, it makes it an expensive and impractical games machine for people who are only interested in something which serves that purpose.

[Dibbz]

Just checked the price of one of these and holy fuck it's £2000?

[Gowans]

Question: what purpose does the retina display serve, exactly, besides supersampling desktop and web fonts? What content is authored for its native resolution?

Adobe and app apps look great but it's not really supported. First thing I did was drop the dpi to make more space on screen. Upsanpling is pointless for me.

[Iacobellis]

Question: what purpose does the retina display serve, exactly, besides supersampling desktop and web fonts? What content is authored for its native resolution?

Most(?) apps by Apple have been updated to support the doubled pixel density. Like when the iPhone 4 was released, it will take time for websites to have crisper graphics.

[rabhw]

I'd love to see Dark Souls upscaled to 2880 x 1800. Glorious I'm sure! A showcase piece for the folks at From and Namco.

[Sky Chief]

I'm a little confused by some of the responses in this thread. Do people really think that just because the title says "games machine" that confused people might stumble through and decide to spend $2,000+ on a MBPR to use just for games? Nobody buys a Macbook Pro just for games, so is this a serious concern or do people really just feel the need to point out (over and over) that there are cheaper alternatives if all someone wants is a game machine? I mean, this is GAF, I would hope we're all smart enough to realize that and if not that maybe we got it the first three or four times someone in the thread said it.

Saying it is "one hell of a games machine" implies that it could and should be used just as a games machine.

The main issue is it is not that amazing as a games machine, merely capable.

It still is one hell of a notebook computer.

[herod]

you DO?!??! REALLY!!??!?! Apple should just stop even trying then.

I sunk your battleship :'(

[MrHicks]

dear lawd those prices its 2300 euro over here which is 2,827 dollars
for that price is should atleast clean your dishes and suck your dick on the side

[BritBloke916]

Perhaps a thread title of "The Macbook Pro Retina is also a surprisingly OK gaming machine" would have better conveyed the sentiment that I'm getting from the OP. Although I doubt that it would have been any more kindly received... :D

[stupei]

Saying it is "one hell of a games machine" implies that it could and should be used just as a games machine. The main issue is it is not that amazing as a games machine, merely capable. It still is one hell of a notebook computer.

In all honesty, the title should probably be something more like: "The Macbook Pro Retina is a surprisingly good games machine," which is what the OP essentially states throughout the thread.

[dkeane]

Most(?) apps by Apple have been updated to support the doubled pixel density. Like when the iPhone 4 was released, it will take time for websites to have crisper graphics.

Pixelator updated to support retina. Fucking glorious. Plus I believe it's on sale.

[Gowans]

Saying it is "one hell of a games machine" implies that it could and should be used just as a games machine. The main issue is it is not that amazing as a games machine, merely capable. It still is one hell of a notebook computer.

I see your point tho I would trust GAF to read the thread. I apologise if I wasn't clear with my intention.

[Perkel]

But a lot of the responses have been, "But you can do the same thing for less money." That doesn't make it not a fantastic games machine, it makes it an expensive and impractical machine for people who are only interested in something which serves that purpose.

fixed.

There isn't anything gaming about this laptop. IT's just everyday laptop with better resolution for reading websites.

[JackEtc]

Lot of Apple hate in here. I got a Retina MBP for college a few weeks ago, and have been able to game on it just fine. I usually run games at 1680x1050, and they look and run great. BF3 runs at 60 fps on medium/high just fine.

As for the price, if I wanted a laptop specifically for gaming, of course I wouldn't have bought it, I got it because of all the video work I'll be doing in school. But it's nice that while being an amazing notebook, it's also powerful enough to enjoy playing games on.

[Gowans]

In all honesty, the title should probably be something more like: "The Macbook Pro Retina is a surprisingly good games machine," which is what the OP essentially states throughout the thread.

I fully agree better thread title now looking back. If a mod changes it to this I have no problem.

Anyway back on track. I can't wait to get 'testing' tonight.

[TheExodu5]

dear lawd those prices its 2300 euro over here which is 2,827 dollars for that price is should atleast clean your dishes and suck your dick on the side

For that price, you can buy a gaming PC, a 2560*1600P monitor, a dishwasher, and an Autoblow. :)

[Lord Error]

it'll just about scrape 30fps in the single player opening mission with high settings (about 30% less demanding than ultra) at 1080p, which is far less demanding than full size conquest 64 maps.

I was running it on high with blur off and I think maybe even effects on ultra - at 1080p, and I think I was getting 30FPS at minimum, and almost always more than that in the opening mission when they walk out of tank and on. Granted I didn't use FRAPS, but it looked like it ran between at 30-60FPS almost for sure. It was definitely much smoother than console versions are.

fixed. There isn't anything gaming about this laptop. IT's just everyday laptop with better resolution for reading websites.

I'm guessing you don't program or do video editing, but if you do, you'll be thankful when you see how that sort of thing looks on that screen.

[ghst]

Perhaps a thread title of "The Macbook Pro Retina is also a surprisingly OK gaming machine" would have better conveyed the sentiment that I'm getting from the OP. Although I doubt that it would have been any more kindly received... :D

yes, let's start a thread every time a product at the extreme top end of its price range achieves middling performance in a non specialised field.

I was running it on high with blur off and I think maybe even effects on ultra - at 1080p, and I think I was getting 30FPS at minimum, and almost always more than that in the opening mission when they walk out of tank and on. Granted I didn't use FRAPS, but it looked like it ran between at 30-60FPS almost for sure. It was definitely much smoother than console versions are.

i'm consulting benchmarks. subjective, fluffy language is poison in any thread centred around performance.

[DUFFMCWALIN]

Run BF3 on there and then we'll talk.

I do on my late 2011 high end 15" model. Runs really well.

[MrHicks]

For that price, you can buy a gaming PC, a 2560*1600P monitor, a dishwasher, and an Autoblow. :)

touché good man touché

[Sky Chief]

I see your point tho I would trust GAF to read the thread. I apologise if I wasn't clear with my intention.

Hey I'm just glad that you're enjoying your new notebook! Those things are really cool

[sca2511]

I don't see any "hate" going on. The main reason to get a rMBP would be the screen and the glorious touchpad. Was wondering, what benefits do you get from editing in Photoshop or video editing software on a Mac vs a PC?

[Kazuma Kiryu]

one hell of a games machine? no. a capable one? most certainly, but there are better gaming laptops for cheaper prices. you lose out on other features, but you gain on raw performance. it's a very capable laptop, but as mos apple products, extremely overpriced.

[DonMigs85]

Anandtech gave it a good review, but even they suggested that if you don't NEED a new laptop right now, waiting for next year's version with a better GPU and Haswell processors would be a good idea. At times the current hardware can struggle or get a little choppy when scrolling or moving windows around.

[Lord Error]

I don't see any "hate" going on. The main reason to get a rMBP would be the screen and the glorious touchpad. Was wondering, what benefits do you get from editing in Photoshop or video editing software on a Mac vs a PC?

None really. In fact right now MBPR is a bad choice for Photoshop given that everything in it is pixel doubled

one hell of a games machine? no. a capable one? most certainly, but there are better gaming laptops for cheaper prices. you lose out on other features, but you gain on raw performance. it's a very capable laptop, but as mos apple products, extremely overpriced.

It's hard to say that something is overpriced when you can't buy something even similar for cheaper (talking mostly about screen here)

[ghst]

I do on my late 2011 high end 15" model. Runs really well.

around 25fps at medium settings at native 1440x900.

i hope we're all learning something here.

[Schobeleth]

OP, I'm curious if you've had any ghosting issues? I work with computers in retail and IT and I keep getting these damn students complaining about ghosting issues. Anyone hear about this?

[Technosteve]

If you are primarily buying a laptop to game you are doing it wrong.

[Gowans]

With the default drivers and Windows 8 I have a lot of issues where games think my screen is smaller, which basically means that my full screen is shown, but my cursor can only reach half of the screen area. Restarting the game does the trick.. it is very strange though.

That's the issue I had with Blacklight

OP, I'm curious if you've had any ghosting issues? I work with computers in retail and IT and I keep getting these damn students complaining about ghosting issues. Anyone hear about this?

None yet tho I've only had it a few days,