Running EQ2 on Mac hardware/OSX

Gunthar · 02-20-2008, 11:48 AM

So I am looking at a new laptop and was thinking that I might like to get a mac book. I know I can run windows on it (or at least that's what i've heard). Apparently 'bootcamp' allows me to dual boot it into windows. Also there is supposedly software that runs windows based apps right in OSX. Throw in the fact that VMWare is touting a new version of their software for Mac that's supposed to allow directx 9.0c. This seems all well and good but I wonder if anyone has tried it. My laptop would be my back/emergency configuration for traveling or when the power goes out on a raid (I live across the street from a University Building that has emergency power and fiber based net that 'never' goes out).

Has anyone run EQ2 on any mac (intel based) hardware? mac book? mac book air?
Has anyone gotten eq2 to run with any satisfaction in paralells or Fusion?
Has anyone run EQ2 on a laptop with an Intel GMA X3100 or Intel 950 Integrated video?

I know this seems like a pretty obscure question, but the flames have not let me down before.

Pinski · 02-20-2008, 12:01 PM

You have to use bootcamp with windows or linux+wine.

Apple's current X11 Implementation on OS X lacks Shader support, so it errors out when trying to run EQ2 through wine.

VMware Fusion supports DirectX9 3D, but does not support Shaders, thus no EQ2 yet again.

No idea if it'd work on that shitty of a 3D Card tho.

Endoplasmic · 02-20-2008, 01:53 PM

I use a Macbook Pro (Core Duo NOT Core 2 Duo) and it runs it like a champ.

I'm using Bootcamp (XP) since emulating DirectX sounds like a fucking headache at best.

The thing is rock solid for hours.

(fun fact: I also use this laptop for LANs when I don't want to lug around my tower and monitor and it plays everything fine.)

Gunthar · 02-20-2008, 02:31 PM

Can you tell me a little more on the specs of your macbook pro mainly processor, ram and graphics chipset. This is highly reassuring, just wondering as I don't want to buy the pro but the macbook or macbook air.

Also what settings do you play on?

Mareth · 02-20-2008, 03:30 PM

I wouldn't take my chances on playing it on anything less than a Pro, as they've got proper graphic cards, and not some integrated shit.

I've seen it play very well through bootcamp in a MacBook Pro though, when I tried to convert a buddy to play EQ2. Alas, he never did get addicted to it ;(

Emanji · 02-20-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunthar

Can you tell me a little more on the specs of your macbook pro mainly processor, ram and graphics chipset. This is highly reassuring, just wondering as I don't want to buy the pro but the macbook or macbook air.

Also what settings do you play on?

lol there's a BIG different between a macbook pro and the macbook and macbook air. The macbook pro rock a 8600m gt graphic card, which can play EQ2 just find on good quality. The Macbook & Macbook air have integrated x3100 intel graphic, which is equal to a mid range graphic card, 4 GENERATIONS AGO. Think ATI 9600, but a little bit slower. You can probably play eq2 with everything turn down to a minimum, and even then good luck on raiding.

ps: Why in the world would you buy a $1700 macbook air, when you can get a macbook pro for $1800.

Iryssinia · 02-20-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emanji

ps: Why in the world would you buy a $1700 macbook air, when you can get a macbook pro for $1800.

Because people buy (and have since the Mac years) for design and "cool factor" instead of functionality, unless they're in the graphics design or video editing fields.

The real question is...why would you buy a Macbook Pro for $1800 or a Macbook Air for $1700 when you can get a laptop from a PC OEM with the same or better performance specs for $1200 or less, or get a really -nice- one that will stay current for a much longer time for a few hundred more?

It's for the design (and Apple really does rock product design).

Iryssinia · 02-20-2008, 07:49 PM

Oh, and regarding actually getting it to run if you are set on getting a Mac...

Pinski was spot on...boot camp WinXP or Linux with Wine. EQ2 runs great on my laptop (AMD x2 Turion, 2 gig ram, 7900 mobile nVidia card) under wine in Ubuntu Linux, and I actually get a few more FPS out of it due to the lower overhead of the OS itself in Linux than in WinXP or Vista.

Emanji · 02-20-2008, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iryssinia

Because people buy (and have since the Mac years) for design and "cool factor" instead of functionality, unless they're in the graphics design or video editing fields.

The real question is...why would you buy a Macbook Pro for $1800 or a Macbook Air for $1700 when you can get a laptop from a PC OEM with the same or better performance specs for $1200 or less, or get a really -nice- one that will stay current for a much longer time for a few hundred more?

It's for the design (and Apple really does rock product design).

Specs for the 15in Macboook Pro.

2.2 GHZ C2D
2gb ram
120GB HD
15.4 LED display 1440x900
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
802.11n
bluetooth 2.0
built in insight camera
backlid keyboard

I'm sorry but that's a WHOLE LOT of functionality.

Pinski · 02-20-2008, 11:38 PM

Sadly, Apple makes great laptops, design, functionality, everything. They can run just about any X86/X64 OS you want.

It's too bad their X11 implementation is lacking Shader support tho

Just need to find a way to get WineX to actually fucking work, specially since I think it uses the Native Display, instead of X11.