Ok, what the hell should I do? (Options for playing FFXIV)

[archibaldcrane]

Like many people on these forums, I'm looking at getting a new computer to play FFXIV. I played FFXI exclusively on PC - first on my old XP machine, then on bootcamp on my 2007 iMac (which ran beautifully).

However, this iMac isn't going to cut it for XIV obviously. I need to make some decisions. The reason I have a Mac is for Final Cut Studio, which I use for editing projects and such (I'm a television editor). So, for XIV I feel I have 4 options:

1.) Buy or build a bargain $600 PC (and more on a monitor) build that will pretty much exclusively be used for XIV, since I'll still be editing on my iMac.

2.) Buy a $2500+ Mac Pro (and more on a monitor), bootcamp Windows 7, and use it to play XIV on the partition and have a nice upgrade for my video editing on Snow Leopard.

3.) Build a Hackintosh (Snow Leopard running on PC Hardware, Windows 7 on other partition or drive). I haven't seriously considered this option, but it looks like it keeps getting easier, and it seems like it would be like option #2 but cheaper. From what I read they are pretty stable, but considering some of the extremely intensive HD multi-cam editing stuff I will be doing with it, it would really need to kick ass and not crash - a couple days of missed employment because my rig fucks up would wipe out any cost savings.

4.) Wait it out and play on PS3 (Not appealing as I don't want to miss out on 3rd party apps like Windower/Distance/whatever people make up for XIV.)

I'm really torn. Option 1 is cheapest but if XIV sucks or I don't like it or whatever, it's a lot to drop for a machine I really won't use otherwise (I don't really play PC games much). Option 2 is the most expensive but ideal for my professional stuff. Option 3 is cool but I'm just uncertain how reliable it would be for professional stuff, and Option 4 is best in case I don't end up liking XIV but if I do like it it's such a wait to start playing and bleh.

Ideas, thoughts, experiences with Hackintosh especially would be helpful. Push me in a direction!

[Evanos]

I'd go with option #1 personally. Generally, you can save a decent amount of money if you play it right with each of the parts, too. For example, I grabbed a brand new but very far marked down Cooler Master case on Craigslist, and I bought a bunch of parts from reputable sellers on overclock.net. Overall, on my new FFXIV build I saved at least 50% of what I would have spent if I paid marked prices.
Another benefit to option #1 is you could buy a system that can handle FFXIV now, and do minor upgrades later when they become more affordable (for example: higher end graphics cards that dive quickly in price, etc).

For option #2, do use the machine for work? Do you own your own company (incorporated or anything?)? If so, there are creative ways you could write off your purchase and not end up too far behind in the long run.

Like many people on these forums, I'm looking at getting a new computer to play FFXIV. I played FFXI exclusively on PC - first on my old XP machine, then on bootcamp on my 2007 iMac (which ran beautifully).

However, this iMac isn't going to cut it for XIV obviously. I need to make some decisions. The reason I have a Mac is for Final Cut Studio, which I use for editing projects and such (I'm a television editor). So, for XIV I feel I have 4 options:

1.) Buy or build a bargain $600 PC (and more on a monitor) build that will pretty much exclusively be used for XIV, since I'll still be editing on my iMac.

2.) Buy a $2500+ Mac Pro (and more on a monitor), bootcamp Windows 7, and use it to play XIV on the partition and have a nice upgrade for my video editing on Snow Leopard.

3.) Build a Hackintosh (Snow Leopard running on PC Hardware, Windows 7 on other partition or drive). I haven't seriously considered this option, but it looks like it keeps getting easier, and it seems like it would be like option #2 but cheaper. From what I read they are pretty stable, but considering some of the extremely intensive HD multi-cam editing stuff I will be doing with it, it would really need to kick ass and not crash - a couple days of missed employment because my rig fucks up would wipe out any cost savings.

4.) Wait it out and play on PS3 (Not appealing as I don't want to miss out on 3rd party apps like Windower/Distance/whatever people make up for XIV.)

I'm really torn. Option 1 is cheapest but if XIV sucks or I don't like it or whatever, it's a lot to drop for a machine I really won't use otherwise (I don't really play PC games much). Option 2 is the most expensive but ideal for my professional stuff. Option 3 is cool but I'm just uncertain how reliable it would be for professional stuff, and Option 4 is best in case I don't end up liking XIV but if I do like it it's such a wait to start playing and bleh.

Ideas, thoughts, experiences with Hackintosh especially would be helpful. Push me in a direction!

[archibaldcrane]

For option #2, do use the machine for work? Do you own your own company (incorporated or anything?)? If so, there are creative ways you could write off your purchase and not end up too far behind in the long run.

Option 2 or 3 I would count as a work expense. I'm not currently incorporated but considering it - I would just itemize otherwise. So yes, that would help mitigate some of the cost, a $2500 Mac Pro and $600 in monitors would end up being just over $1000 in tax savings, making the cost not nearly as rough. Good point.

[Evanos]

Option 2 or 3 I would count as a work expense. I'm not currently incorporated but considering it - I would just itemize otherwise. So yes, that would help mitigate some of the cost, a $2500 Mac Pro and $600 in monitors would end up being just over $1000 in tax savings, making the cost not nearly as rough. Good point.

Yeah, if that is the case, I'd go with that. Your performance obviously wouldn't be as strong as if you bought a PC of the same price range (before write-offs), but you would get a much better computer for doing work, and still more than capable of running FFXIV.

[archibaldcrane]

I've been trying to find benchmark scores on a Mac Pro, but haven't found one yet. Plenty of Macbook Pro and iMac ones, but I can't find one for a Mac Pro yet. Bleh.

[Evanos]

I've been trying to find benchmark scores on a Mac Pro, but haven't found one yet. Plenty of Macbook Pro and iMac ones, but I can't find one for a Mac Pro yet. Bleh.

What is the current graphics card in the Macbook pro?

[archibaldcrane]

What is the current graphics card in the Macbook pro?

They ship with an "nVidia GeForce GT 120 512mb". Optional upgrade is "ATI Radeon HD 4870 512mb".

Also, side note: Google is fast. Searching 'ffxiv benchmark "mac pro"' brings up ...this thread as the 2nd hit. /facepalm

Did find one guy who did it, not sure of his exact specs but here's his quote:

Ran the benchmark for the game on a mac pro 8core using the latest ATi card here at work and that ran very smoothly though only scoring 2100

super late edit: I realize you asked for the graphics card on a Macbook pro - I gave you the info for the current graphics card on the Mac Pro.

[Evanos]

They ship with an "nVidia GeForce GT 120 512mb". Optional upgrade is "ATI Radeon HD 4870 512mb".

Also, side note: Google is fast. Searching 'ffxiv benchmark "mac pro"' brings up ...this thread as the 2nd hit. /facepalm

Hmm, well 4870 is already getting a little dated as a graphics card goes. Just to give a little visual where it falls in the hierarchy here is Tom's Hardware's graphics card rankings:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...tx,2676-7.html

[archibaldcrane]

Hmm, well 4870 is already getting a little dated as a graphics card goes. Just to give a little visual where it falls in the hierarchy here is Tom's Hardware's graphics card rankings:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...tx,2676-7.html

The 2100 score I found one guy posted, seems pretty in-line with what the benchmark thread shows for the 4870 - highest in that thread is a 2285 with the 4870.

I know there are other video cards you can upgrade, but it's limited at the moment for Mac Pro bootcamp setups (because of drivers or whatever).

[jmc]

Well, if it helps...... it seems like the mac pro line is next in line for upgrades from apple. Considering they knocked out the updated mac mini recently, and the macbook pro's with the i7.

However, I don't follow macs enough to know when the next PC announcement might come around.

[xopher]

there needs to be a "FFXIV PC QUESTIONS HERE" thread.

[archibaldcrane]

there needs to be a "FFXIV PC QUESTIONS HERE" thread.

Well, this is more of a FFXIV Mac question so...

[xopher]

Well, this is more of a FFXIV Mac question so...

Are you saying a mac isn't a personal computer?

[archibaldcrane]

Are you saying a mac isn't a personal computer?

Was my cheeky smilyface not enough acknowledgment of this possibility for you?

Sorry my specific thread is cluttering up your tech forum or whatever.

[takethistoyourgrave]

Just a heads up that while it didn't benchmark incredibly well, FF14 beta is running swimmingly well (not perfect like a gaming PC, but capped FPS in most areas with most stuff on medium) on my iMac i5 quad core with Radeon HD 4850.

[archibaldcrane]

Just a heads up that while it didn't benchmark incredibly well, FF14 beta is running swimmingly well (not perfect like a gaming PC, but capped FPS in most areas with most stuff on medium) on my iMac i5 quad core with Radeon HD 4850.

Thanks for the input, that's encouraging. I wish my iMac could run it.

[Balthasar]

Now if only someone would run the benchmark on their ps3. All they'd need is to run Ubuntu on it and figure out a way to run the benchmark on Linux...

[Lyrai]

This is actually the TV I picked up recently to be using as a monitor for my upcoming PC. Loving it so far, and the price is pretty decent. Has enough ports in the back for everything you should need for gaming/PC hookups. Went with the 23 inch for the price, and because I'm not a fan of having something overly large that I'm going to be sitting so close to.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-2333HD.../dp/B0030CE6C8

[Korietsu]

Going to suggest there's no reason for a mac pro. Overpriced and that's coming from a mac fanboy. Build a cheap PC, keep editing on the iMac.

[archibaldcrane]

Going to suggest there's no reason for a mac pro. Overpriced and that's coming from a mac fanboy. Build a cheap PC, keep editing on the iMac.

I don't even have a firewire800 port on my iMac. A time will come very soon where I'll want a job using my own gear and I'll need at least FW800 for HD multicam video editing. The iMac has served me well for small projects, but it's not something I'd want to cut on 50 hours a week.

It's also a perception thing - if every post production company is using Mac Pros, and I'm positioning myself to be "renting out" my rig for gigs, I should be using what others use, regardless of whether it's completely necessary.