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Apple or PC

Mameni

Mameni

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612
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peru
Hi guys, I have always used PC's both for working purpose and for my FSX game. I am now considering the posibility of buying for the first time an Apple Mac Pro which has the following technical specs.:2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor
500 GB hard drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive, 4 GB DDR3 RAM
NVIDIA Geforce 9400M + 9600M GT Graphics, 15.4 inch LED Display.
I must say that both the Processor and the NVIDEA graphic cards are better than the ones that my current laptop DELL XPS M1730 has (Processor is an Intel (R) Core 2 DUO running at 2.20 Ghz and the graphics card is an NVIDEA GE Force 8700 GT)
Was wondering if someone can give me an advice regarding the use of this laptop for FSX, and in fact, if Apple's do perform well as PC's do with FSX.
Appreciate some feed back
Thanks and regards
 
I hope that Bill (Lionheart) chimes in here. I know that he plunged into the deep, dark side and is running FS9, FS-X gmax, Max on a Mac...
 
Don't know that there is any difference between a Mac and a PC as to how they run FSX. Some things to think about.

1. You will need dual boot your Mac with Windows to be able to run FSX. That adds another couple hundred dollars to the price of your Mac. Which ties into....

B. The money you would spend on a Mac and Windows would buy a higher spec PC.

Nothing against Macs.

Bob
 
Last edited:
MAC or PC

Bob can you please clarify what do you mean that I would have to dual boot an apple to run FSX? are you meaning by this that I would need to have both OS, the MAC and WIN7 installed and choose WIN7 when I need to run FSX?
Mameni
 
Mac or PC

The laptops that I am considering have the following:
The Apple Mac Book Pro 15" screen, 2.8 Ghz Core Duo Processor
It shares an NVIDEA GEForce 9400M(256mb) + 9600GT(512MB)


The Dell Studio XPS16,16" screen, comes with Intel(R) Core i7-720QM Quad Processor 1.6 Ghz(2.8GHz Turbo Mode,6 MB Cache) and a ATI Mobility RADEON(r) HD 4670 1GB

And finally an Alienware M15X;
Same Processor as the Dell: Intel(R) Core i7-720QM Quad Processor 1.6 Ghz(2.8GHz Turbo Mode,6 MB Cache)
Graphic Card is an NVIDEA(r)GeForce(r) GTX 260M

Prices are more are similar, so my principal concern is regardin the graphic cards; have always used NVIDEA and at a time heard that the ATI Mobility RADEON did not work as well?

Any exprecience on this? please advice
 
Microsoft software will not run on a Mac. Just like Mac software will not run on a PC. You can get a program called BootCamp, install Windows on the Mac, and use BootCamp to start which ever operating system you need at the time.

Bob
 
Applr or Pc

Fine Bob, understand what you meant by having to double boot, using the BootCamp. Any comments regarding ATI graphic cards Vs.NVIDEA? do both work OK with FSX or is one better than the other?
 
As you know, the debate about the best graphics card rages on.

The Alienware is a gaming laptop that is a Dell put together by Alienware. It uses nVidea.

The Dell is a standard laptop. It has the ATI card.

That might tell you something. It also might just mean that Alienware thinks that nvidea is better.

Hard drive speed is also important to FSX. The faster the drive the better.

This is just me, but if I was looking for a laptop, I'm not sure I would go with a Dell. I shouldn't say that without giving you a recommendation of what I would get. Many who read this will shudder when I say that I have had great luck with HP products. Both my desktops are Compaqs(made by HP). The laptop I am typing this on is a 4 year old Compaq. My wife loves her Compaq laptop. So of course, when we bought my daughter a laptop we got her a really inexpensive Toshiba. Go figure. But it works great. I'm just kind of thinking out loud. All this is to say that any of your choices would probably be fine.

Good luck.

Most of all have fun.

Bob
 
Which is why I have tried to learn how to fix them myself. That plus the fact that there is nothing left of my OE desktops but the hard drives with the OS on them. So HP can't help with them.


I shudder when I have call my ISP because their router quit.
Every 4 or 5 years it's the same conversation.
After an hour or so the Rep decides my computer is at fault. No, I say, I've hooked up 4 computers to it. None work.

OK, we'll send a new router. It'll take a week to 10 days.

Great.

Bob
 
bobbyjack said:
Many who read this will shudder when I say that I have had great luck with HP products.
Click to expand...

I have an HP laptop (Pavilion dv4) and it runs FSX with decent frames (to me anyways.) With the basic specs, in multiplayer I can get up to about 18-19fps at a medium sized airport. I am considering getting a new video card and that should put my frames through the roof. When I got this HP, I had a few problems with some faulty hardware, but GeekSquad got it fixed. Ever since then, it's been working GREAT!
 
Thanks guys for all of your opinions; having reached that the bottom line is that Mac,s can,t run FSX, unless they are double booted, which I thing to be not a very bright idea, this leaves me with the same and old decition, regarding which PC should I buy; if my Dell XPS M1730 uses and NVIDEA GE FORCE 8700, and I have had no real problems with it, think then, that I should stick with NVidea, but look for a better one, that I think the Allienware has.
Thanks again
 
After massive issues with vista, my company, Lionheart Creations Ltd, switched to Mac. Mac supports Windows XP, and Windows XP runs great on them in 'BootCamp' mode. My Mac runs FSX, FS9, XP9, Gmax, 3DS Max, MakeMDL, and also, I run Apple software for making my manuals now, as well as my News blog at LHC. The Apple software, especially iWork (their version of Office) is far superior to Office and has far more options and features then Office does, and Mac OSX is one solid, fast, powerful OS.

I am glad I switched over. If it werent for vista, I wouldnt have bought this. I intend to be purchasing more. Especially the Mac tower, which has racks and sockets for 4 1TB HD's, 2 Sli GC's, 16 Gigs of RAM...

Presently, I believe that people are loading Win7 into Bootcamp so that it runs both 7 and OSX.


Bootcamp allows you to jump between Windows and OSX. Its a program designed to bootup from one to the other. When you close out, your computer will boot back up in the OS you were last in. OSX is presently 64Bit with Snow Leopard, (no longer 32bit...).

I have the ATI Radeon 2600+ in mine. Its fair and runs FSX quite well, but not like a 'super computer'. But the best I have owned yet. FS9 runs like glass in it. My unit is a desktop 24" alum UniBody iMac, dual core intel chips. I put in my own RAM (4 gigs) and a 1TB HD, with 4 linked exterior HD's, one being for Apples 'Time Machine' backup system for my Mac stuff.

Great computers. After hp abandoned me with 2 computers and wouldnt help me with WinXP, I have never been happier..

I also recommend their iPhones. The darn thing is like a laptop computer, gaming machine, word processor, recorder, camera, video cam, translater, 32 Gig HD, plays movies with the high rez screen... I could go on. Thats just their phone.

Bill
 
I would like to add... I researched 'before' making my decision. I didnt go by what people said. I also went in and looked at these things a few times, had people show me how they work, etc. Thus, when I did get it, I knew what i was getting into, that I would need to learn how their systems work, etc. I was into their work flow in only perhaps 2 days. Its similar to Windows, but just laid out different.

Dont go by what I and others say... Go look at them. Find out first hand what they are, what they do, etc...

Their online tutorials are awesome. I will be doing things like that for my own planes.


Bill
 
lionheart said:
After massive issues with vista, my company, Lionheart Creations Ltd, switched to Mac. Mac supports Windows XP, and Windows XP runs great on them in 'BootCamp' mode. My Mac runs FSX, FS9, XP9, Gmax, 3DS Max, MakeMDL, and also, I run Apple software for making my manuals now, as well as my News blog at LHC. The Apple software, especially iWork (their version of Office) is far superior to Office and has far more options and features then Office does, and Mac OSX is one solid, fast, powerful OS.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that the Mac's are awesome. My grandfather bought a Macbook about a year ago and it's pretty sweet. The only thing is that they're SUPER expensive. I personally haven't had any 'problems' with Vista. I don't see how people have all of these millions of problems with it. :)
 
If it's the apple look and specs you are attracted to, but are still "tied" to windows for your virtual flying pleasure, I suggest getting a Sony Vaio.
Much cheaper, better specs and much more stylish than the avarage dell or hp for the price.
I split my time between Win/mac/linux on various hardware but my favorite laptop right now is my win7 Vaio.
 
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