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BWANA

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Technology nut, Blogger, Gamer, and Podcaster
Articles Posted: 20  Links Seeded: 22
Member Since: 1/2006  Last Seen: 7/05/2007

Battlefield 2 On MacBook Pro

Thu Apr 6, 2006 4:25 PM EDT
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By Bwana
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It is done. Battlefield 2 runs on a MacBook Pro and as far as I'm concerned, it runs well enough for anyone interested in the game. It took me a good minute to get Windows XP installed and updated via Windows Update. I also installed Grisoft's free version of AVG for my Anti-virus fix. No anti-spyware at the moment, but I'm cool.

The Battlefield 2 install process was long and painful akin to it's PC counterpart. Being the smart person I am, I didn't have a backup of the 1.22 updater, so it felt good to download the 300MB patch again. (sarcasm for those impaired). The game was up and running about 11:30PM and I got a quick half game in with FRAPS running. I performed a benchmark using the tool and got these results: Min - 21fps, Max - 85fps, Avg - 53fps.

As this graph depicts, I put all the graphic settings on "Medium" and turned off Anti-aliasing. I figured this would be a good place to start since the game looks quite acceptable with these settings. I'll do more tweaks and settings changes tomorrow when I have more time. I am very pleased with the outcome and I highly recommend the MacBook Pro to anyone who is looking for a MacOS X/Windows XP solution with Battlefield 2 support!

I posted a little video clip of me playing the game. It's short and sweet, but you'll get the idea.

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jena13

Hm.. pretty decent minimum specs on that game too. I've been wondering how the more complex games were going to play on the WinXP-enabled Macs, given that the graphics cards available are a little underwhelming. Your report makes me cautiously optimistic, though I don't actually play Battlefield 2 myself. :)

  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Thu Apr 6, 2006 12:21 PM EDT
Doug Nelson

Thank you for posting this, it was honestly my biggest concern about the dual-booting.

  • 1 vote
Reply#2 - Thu Apr 6, 2006 5:03 PM EDT
jody polk

sorry if this is a derail, but this seems like the most appropriate place to post this...

a href=" (i can't post links yet, apparently)

looks really promising.

    Reply#3 - Thu Apr 6, 2006 5:07 PM EDT
    jody polk

    ^

      #3.1 - Thu Apr 6, 2006 5:08 PM EDT
      Reply
      Zaki

      that's awesome. If my laptop ever dies, now I know that the MacBook Pro is a good choice due to the dual-boot. I got windows and I wish I had iCal. lol.

      Although once Google Calendar comes out, I shouldn't have to worry anymore! :D

        Reply#4 - Thu Apr 6, 2006 5:52 PM EDT
        Brandon Hill

        macbooks unite.

          Reply#5 - Thu Apr 6, 2006 6:27 PM EDT
          C HaddadDeleted
          Brandon Hill

          i wonder if having the windows framework on the mac could potentially increase availability to those ultra sneaky viruses i always hear about that imbed themselves deep down in the system... one reason i love my mac is how ive never had a virus related issue. i don't want to ruin that.
          i don't know much about windows, any guesses?

            Reply#7 - Thu Apr 6, 2006 8:20 PM EDT
            Patrick Yan

            unless those viruses can jump from ntfs/fat32 drives to hfs+ drives i doubt it

            • 2 votes
            #7.1 - Thu Apr 6, 2006 10:15 PM EDT
            Reply
            footballplayr69

            Boot Camp was a great idea. It keeps the Mac partition secure, because Windows can't even see it, so nothing can even jump. My dad before said that he wouldn't get a Mac. Now he said he'd strongly consider it.

            • 1 vote
            Reply#8 - Thu Apr 6, 2006 10:26 PM EDT
            Kai

            Thanks for the update. Honestly the glimmer in my eye in this whole XP on mac scenario was the hopes that I could play Battlefield2 without having to buy a PC. Glad to know it works! Now I'll just wait for the new intel towers to come out and i'm all set.

              Reply#9 - Thu Apr 6, 2006 10:32 PM EDT
              Rob Goodlatte

              How much RAM does your macbook have?
              What resolution was BF2 running at?

              Thanks for testing this out.

                Reply#10 - Fri Apr 7, 2006 12:57 AM EDT
                Bwana

                1GB RAM, 2Ghz Core Duo

                BF2 was running at 1024x768 @ 75Hz

                  #10.1 - Fri Apr 7, 2006 9:26 AM EDT
                  I SPY

                  Awesome news BwanaI've added you yo my watch list.

                    #10.2 - Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:32 AM EDT
                    Reply
                    Oscarinho

                    I got my extra 1GB Memory and I run BF2 superb at 40FPS on all high (except dynamic lighting and texture medium) x6AA.

                    If you have the system that I have, you definitely need 2GB RAM to compliment the video card to get the best out of it.

                    My system:

                    MacBook Pro 2.1Ghz
                    2GB RAM
                    100GB Hard Disk - 5400rpm
                    20GB Dedicated to Windows XP
                    256MB Radeon x1600 Video

                    Also, for those who don't like to use the keyboard on the laptop while playing, check out this gaming keypad.

                    (Your palm will no longer burn on the handrest, nor will your pinky get a cramp trying to find the control key.)

                    Peace,
                    Oscar

                      Reply#11 - Wed Aug 2, 2006 10:06 AM EDT
                      Oscarinho

                      Sorry, the link for the gamepad did not appear. www.newegg .com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823146004 (delete the space before .com)

                        Reply#12 - Wed Aug 2, 2006 10:12 AM EDT
                        Li@m

                        thats awsome I have a mac and I;ve been trying to figure out how to play BF2 on it For a LONNNG time.

                          Reply#13 - Thu May 31, 2007 8:45 PM EDT
                          Li@m

                          THANK YOU

                            Reply#14 - Thu May 31, 2007 8:54 PM EDT
                            Li@m

                            Will it work On the new Macs with the monitor in the screen and built in webcam??

                              Reply#15 - Thu May 31, 2007 9:08 PM EDT
                              Ralph-1438462Deleted
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