Windows on a Mac for gaming?
August 20, 2010 6:04 AM Subscribe
I'd like to know your opinions and recommendations on running Parallels or VMWare when I upgrade to my future MacBook Pro for relatively light Windows gaming.
I use a Mac for business (graphic design/art direction) and want to be able to play various Windows-only RPGs. I know Bootcamp is a better option performance-wise, but I don't want to have to reboot every time I want to play. I often freelance at home with my laptop and like to take breaks from work on my Mac to play games and Parallels seems to be a decent answer. I want to be able to switch back and forth. Also, I want to play new and old-school RPGs (Drakensang 2, Risen 2, Baldurs Gate 2, etc.) mostly, and maybe a MMORPG if something comes up that interests me… I don't want to run a bunch of first person shooters, for example. And I do not want to buy a separate machine for gaming.
Has anyone used Parallels? Does it work well- and simply? Does it slow overall Mac performance quite a bit? I do graphic files, but no monster-sized ones. I just want to be able to switch back and forth without crashes and taking performance hits.
I've read tech reviews, but obviously gaming tends to be only a small portion of reviews. And places like Amazon have the typical Love or Hate reviews.
VMware is another option where I've heard mixed reviews. From what I've read, Parallels seems like a more favored choice. Anyone have an opinion on this?
I've heard of Crossover Games as well, but even on their website it's explained some games work and some just don't. Plus, the process seems more convoluted to me and I don't know if I'd be able to install updates and patches or mods - something that I will need to have happen.
By the way, my next Mac will be a top of the line 15" MacBook Pro, with RAM maxxed out and best processor... can't tell you the exact one because I'm waiting for the Apple product update before I buy. Obviously money isn't a huge issue for me, but I don't want to waste money trying different emulators - And I don't want to install an emulator and have it negatively impact my Mac.
Please let me know your experiences and opinions using Parallels and VMware for gaming. What are the downsides of having Parallels (or VMware) on my future Mac? Thanks.
I use a Mac for business (graphic design/art direction) and want to be able to play various Windows-only RPGs. I know Bootcamp is a better option performance-wise, but I don't want to have to reboot every time I want to play. I often freelance at home with my laptop and like to take breaks from work on my Mac to play games and Parallels seems to be a decent answer. I want to be able to switch back and forth. Also, I want to play new and old-school RPGs (Drakensang 2, Risen 2, Baldurs Gate 2, etc.) mostly, and maybe a MMORPG if something comes up that interests me… I don't want to run a bunch of first person shooters, for example. And I do not want to buy a separate machine for gaming.
Has anyone used Parallels? Does it work well- and simply? Does it slow overall Mac performance quite a bit? I do graphic files, but no monster-sized ones. I just want to be able to switch back and forth without crashes and taking performance hits.
I've read tech reviews, but obviously gaming tends to be only a small portion of reviews. And places like Amazon have the typical Love or Hate reviews.
VMware is another option where I've heard mixed reviews. From what I've read, Parallels seems like a more favored choice. Anyone have an opinion on this?
I've heard of Crossover Games as well, but even on their website it's explained some games work and some just don't. Plus, the process seems more convoluted to me and I don't know if I'd be able to install updates and patches or mods - something that I will need to have happen.
By the way, my next Mac will be a top of the line 15" MacBook Pro, with RAM maxxed out and best processor... can't tell you the exact one because I'm waiting for the Apple product update before I buy. Obviously money isn't a huge issue for me, but I don't want to waste money trying different emulators - And I don't want to install an emulator and have it negatively impact my Mac.
Please let me know your experiences and opinions using Parallels and VMware for gaming. What are the downsides of having Parallels (or VMware) on my future Mac? Thanks.
I bought a copy of VMWare a couple of years ago. At the time, it had better reviews than Parallels, though I don't know what the situation is like today. I found it disappointing to play games with, even casual ones: it was a complete resource hog and its performace was pretty laggy. Obviously you'll have a faster system than I do (two-year-old MacBook Pro, maxed ram) but I can't recommend it for gaming.
I've not had good luck with either Crossover or CrossoverGames. Neither worked well enough for me to buy them after the trial period was up.
Bootcamp, on the other hand, is flawless. Once you get it set up, it really is just like using a Windows machine. Macs shut down and boot up quickly, so you may find it's the easiest option for you even though it's a bit less convenient.
I wouldn't be worried about an emulator having a negative affect on your Mac. It's just a program. If you're not running it, it has no influence over the system.
posted by Georgina at 7:12 AM on August 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
I've not had good luck with either Crossover or CrossoverGames. Neither worked well enough for me to buy them after the trial period was up.
Bootcamp, on the other hand, is flawless. Once you get it set up, it really is just like using a Windows machine. Macs shut down and boot up quickly, so you may find it's the easiest option for you even though it's a bit less convenient.
I wouldn't be worried about an emulator having a negative affect on your Mac. It's just a program. If you're not running it, it has no influence over the system.
posted by Georgina at 7:12 AM on August 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Why don't you wait for your new Mac to arrive then download the demos and try which one works best for you? Performance varies based upon base hardware (which will be untested since you want to get a new MBP when the line is refreshed) and the game itself (which you seem to be specific with). Then you'll know exactly which is best and can buy that one.
posted by Brian Puccio at 7:24 AM on August 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Brian Puccio at 7:24 AM on August 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
I keep finding the graphics performance of the Virtual Machine systems to be disappointing and running BG2 under VirtualBox keeps running into problems with CD validation. Probably the best test is to download trial versions onto your hardware and see if the games run well enough to be worth the investment.
I do most of my MSWin gaming in a Boot Camp partition which is mostly flawless except for a tendency for my video card to glitch to rainbow snow now and then. In terms of MMORPG gaming, WoW has a very good co-developed native client. EVE Online has a buggy Cider port with secondary support. City of Heroes has a Cider port that's fairly strong but tends to have performance issues in large groups.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 8:58 AM on August 20, 2010
I do most of my MSWin gaming in a Boot Camp partition which is mostly flawless except for a tendency for my video card to glitch to rainbow snow now and then. In terms of MMORPG gaming, WoW has a very good co-developed native client. EVE Online has a buggy Cider port with secondary support. City of Heroes has a Cider port that's fairly strong but tends to have performance issues in large groups.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 8:58 AM on August 20, 2010
I've used Parallels on a 1st generation (think late 2006) Macbook Pro since I've had the machine. It has been very capable of handling older or low-resource games. I once played through Vampire Bloodlines under an earlier version of Parallels, for example. The fans in the machine really kicked in, but the game ran well. I wouldn't think that Baldur's Gate 2 would present much of a problem.
However, Parallels is definitely capable of forcing the computer to hit the page file particularly hard if you have much running in the background. This can really slow the whole machine to a crawl. A bit of tinkering should get everything to play nice together.
Bootcamp is the best solution, though it is a definite hassle to reboot constantly. However, you can set up Parallels to boot from your Bootcamp partition. This way you could have one Windows installation that you can use in either native or virtualized mode.
Sorry that I can't speak much to Virtual Box or VMWare as I haven't tried them. My vote is that Parallels will do what you're asking though.
posted by owls at 9:15 AM on August 20, 2010
However, Parallels is definitely capable of forcing the computer to hit the page file particularly hard if you have much running in the background. This can really slow the whole machine to a crawl. A bit of tinkering should get everything to play nice together.
Bootcamp is the best solution, though it is a definite hassle to reboot constantly. However, you can set up Parallels to boot from your Bootcamp partition. This way you could have one Windows installation that you can use in either native or virtualized mode.
Sorry that I can't speak much to Virtual Box or VMWare as I haven't tried them. My vote is that Parallels will do what you're asking though.
posted by owls at 9:15 AM on August 20, 2010
Seconding Brian Puccio on testing your virtual systems out it doubles the set up but the development on these programs isn't lockstep with hardware development & can vary considerably in efficiency.
When you set up your Parrallels/vm system you assign it (tell it to share really) system resources- the more resources you assign it the quicker the virtual system will be able to perform, but at the expense of the remainder of the Mac system stuff.
If you go with say 8 gigs of ram, assign 6 to the virtual system, you will find it to very snappy, and the remaining 2 gigs for the mac system is enough to have a few minor programs running (mail, chat etc) without too much of a hitch. I've set up similar set ups for GIS mapping on a virtual machine on Macs, which can be pretty taxing on a system, and it runs without fuss.
Personally I've got 4 gigs available, 2 assigned to virtual & have no trouble at all with games like the old school ones you've listed.
Another thing I would suggest: telling Time Machine to just ignore the virtual filesystem- it usually isn't handled well by Time Machine, just back it up once in a while manually. Note: that advice is old - it might have been fixed by now (although I don't know how, so it appears to me to be unlikely).
posted by zenon at 9:20 AM on August 20, 2010
When you set up your Parrallels/vm system you assign it (tell it to share really) system resources- the more resources you assign it the quicker the virtual system will be able to perform, but at the expense of the remainder of the Mac system stuff.
If you go with say 8 gigs of ram, assign 6 to the virtual system, you will find it to very snappy, and the remaining 2 gigs for the mac system is enough to have a few minor programs running (mail, chat etc) without too much of a hitch. I've set up similar set ups for GIS mapping on a virtual machine on Macs, which can be pretty taxing on a system, and it runs without fuss.
Personally I've got 4 gigs available, 2 assigned to virtual & have no trouble at all with games like the old school ones you've listed.
Another thing I would suggest: telling Time Machine to just ignore the virtual filesystem- it usually isn't handled well by Time Machine, just back it up once in a while manually. Note: that advice is old - it might have been fixed by now (although I don't know how, so it appears to me to be unlikely).
posted by zenon at 9:20 AM on August 20, 2010
Response by poster: Wait- so I can do a Bootcamp install (I have one now so I'm familiar with it) and opt to have Parallels or VMWare use the Windows OS installed there?
Do you do that by first doing the Bootcamp install, then setting up Parallels and telling it to use the Bootcamp partition? If so, I might try that.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 9:31 AM on August 20, 2010
Do you do that by first doing the Bootcamp install, then setting up Parallels and telling it to use the Bootcamp partition? If so, I might try that.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 9:31 AM on August 20, 2010
No... dude, just use bootcamp. You then have a perfectly functioning dual boot Windows and OSX machine. Rebooting from one into the other takes no time at all, and there's no need for any third party software like Parallels or VMWare or anything like that.
posted by Biru at 9:39 AM on August 20, 2010
posted by Biru at 9:39 AM on August 20, 2010
Yes, you can have Parallels or VMWare use the Windows OS on Bootcamp. I've never tried doing both Parallels and VMWare on the same machine using the same Bootcamp partition, however.
My experiences:
VirtualBox was the only application that has ever caused my Mac Pro to kernel panic. That was enough for me to avoid it.
Parallels frequently caused random slowness of the host OS in ways that I could not tolerate. I haven't touched it in 2 years, so a new version may work better.
VMWare has always been my favorite, and has always seemed to have fairly high performance.
Both options have free trials, so see which one works better for you. This process is a lot less painful since they implemented automatic Windows installation/configuration in Parallels and VMWare.
posted by MonsieurBon at 9:49 AM on August 20, 2010
My experiences:
VirtualBox was the only application that has ever caused my Mac Pro to kernel panic. That was enough for me to avoid it.
Parallels frequently caused random slowness of the host OS in ways that I could not tolerate. I haven't touched it in 2 years, so a new version may work better.
VMWare has always been my favorite, and has always seemed to have fairly high performance.
Both options have free trials, so see which one works better for you. This process is a lot less painful since they implemented automatic Windows installation/configuration in Parallels and VMWare.
posted by MonsieurBon at 9:49 AM on August 20, 2010
Am I missing something though? Why would you want to emulate, especially with a Bootcamp install there, when you can run Windows natively?
posted by Biru at 9:59 AM on August 20, 2010
posted by Biru at 9:59 AM on August 20, 2010
Response by poster: I'm considering an emulator because often while I'm working at home I have periods of downtime where I'd like to pop-in and play a game for a while, and pop back and forth to check email, etc. That's among the reasons why I play RPGs... I can pause or save as necessary. I don't want to have to close all my applications and files, reboot, re-open files and applications, reboot, etc.
Remember - I will have the maximum amount of RAM (8GB, likely) and the fastest MacBook Pro processor available.
In short, I want to be able to switch back and forth. Also, I'm not solely interested in old games. I'd like to play the new Drakensang when it comes out, the Witcher 2, and other new games as well. These are 3D games... would they work OK?
Bootcamp works, and I understand it. I'm just considering emulator as an option and want opinions on it. This is not some critically important issue in my life, but I'm asking the question anyway. I want to get an idea if it's worthwhile or a waste of time and money.
Please keep the opinions coming and thanks all!
posted by jeff-o-matic at 11:26 AM on August 20, 2010
Remember - I will have the maximum amount of RAM (8GB, likely) and the fastest MacBook Pro processor available.
In short, I want to be able to switch back and forth. Also, I'm not solely interested in old games. I'd like to play the new Drakensang when it comes out, the Witcher 2, and other new games as well. These are 3D games... would they work OK?
Bootcamp works, and I understand it. I'm just considering emulator as an option and want opinions on it. This is not some critically important issue in my life, but I'm asking the question anyway. I want to get an idea if it's worthwhile or a waste of time and money.
Please keep the opinions coming and thanks all!
posted by jeff-o-matic at 11:26 AM on August 20, 2010
I suppose, I just never saw it as much of a hassle. I have the current MacBook Pro, Core i5, Snow Leopard and Windows 7. I just timed it from pressing reboot in Windows to being up and typing this in the Mac, it took 1 minute, 14.6 seconds. It would have been quicker were it not for the CD in the drive which did a bit of spinning up as the MacBook tried to see if it was bootable...
posted by Biru at 11:38 AM on August 20, 2010
posted by Biru at 11:38 AM on August 20, 2010
Yes, you can have VMWare Fusion run the Windows OS you have installed via Boot Camp.
I use it so if I want to run a Windows app (like MS Money) and dont want to reboot out of OSX, I just fire up Fusion, it boots the Windows 7 that is installed on the Boot Camp partition, I can do my thing in Money and shut down.
If I want to play a game (like Half Life 2, say) I will reboot into Windows 7 on Boot Camp and have better performance than under VMWare. When I'm done playing, I just reboot into OSX.
The key is to install Windows via Boot Camp FIRST, get it all set up and patched and everything, THEN install VMWare. Ive done it a few times and VMWare has always auto-detected the Windows installed via Boot Camp and configured itself.
Memail me if you want more details.
posted by Fiat124 at 9:07 AM on August 22, 2010
I use it so if I want to run a Windows app (like MS Money) and dont want to reboot out of OSX, I just fire up Fusion, it boots the Windows 7 that is installed on the Boot Camp partition, I can do my thing in Money and shut down.
If I want to play a game (like Half Life 2, say) I will reboot into Windows 7 on Boot Camp and have better performance than under VMWare. When I'm done playing, I just reboot into OSX.
The key is to install Windows via Boot Camp FIRST, get it all set up and patched and everything, THEN install VMWare. Ive done it a few times and VMWare has always auto-detected the Windows installed via Boot Camp and configured itself.
Memail me if you want more details.
posted by Fiat124 at 9:07 AM on August 22, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Runes at 6:18 AM on August 20, 2010