Geek Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 <div class="KonaBody"><p><img src="http://osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/skyrim-mac.jpg" alt="Skyrim on a Mac" title="skyrim-mac" width="620" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23647" /></p> <p>Will Elder Scrolls V Skyrim run decent on your Mac? If your Mac is relatively new (2009 models and up) the answer is <em>probably</em>, but before you go jumping into Bootcamp, installing Windows on another partition, and buying the game, let’s check to be certain that it will run on your hardware, and run at an acceptable rate for that matter.</p> <p>First up, here are the general Skyrim system specs for those who are savvy enough to take this information and make a decision on that alone:</p> <p><span id="more-23644"></span></p> <p><strong>Recommended Specs</strong> – (For running Skyrim on “High” settings at 1920×1080 resolution)</p> <ul> <li>Quad-core Intel CPU</li> <li>4GB System RAM</li> <li>6GB free HDD space</li> <li>DirectX 9 compatible NVIDIA or AMD ATI video card with 1GB of RAM (Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 or higher; ATI Radeon 4890 or higher)</li> </ul> <p><strong>Minimum Specs</strong> – (For running Skyrim on “Low” settings at 1920×1080 resolution)</p> <ul> <li>Dual Core Intel 2.0GHz or better</li> <li>2GB System RAM</li> <li>6GB free HDD Space</li> <li>Direct X 9 compliant video card with 512 MB of RAM</li> </ul> <p>Both cases you’ll need a DirectX compatible sound card but all Macs have those so that isn’t an issue. The first thing to notice is that in terms of RAM and CPU, nearly all modern Macs meet or exceed those specs, so what you really want to focus on is the graphics card chipset and video RAM (VRAM). </p> <h2 style="font-size:1.2em;">Step 1) Find Mac Graphics & GPU Info</h2> <p>What we’re going to do is retrieve the graphics card info from your Mac and then search a giant list of compatible GPU’s to see if and where it appears on a giant list below, this will let you know if your Mac can handle running Skyrim.</p> <ul> <li>Hold down the Option key and click on the Apple menu in the upper left corner, select the top result which is “System Information”</li> <li>Now in System Profiler, look under the “Hardware” list and click on “Graphics/Displays”</li> <li>Look next to “Chipset Model” (see the red square in screenshot) and <em>copy the numerical value of the chipset </em>into your clipboard</li> <p><img src="http://osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/check-mac-gpu-info.jpg" alt="Check Mac GPU info" title="check-mac-gpu-info" width="590" height="155" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23645" /></p> <li>Check out the value next to “VRAM (Total)” as well, highlighted in blue in the screenshot, the higher this is the better, with lower values greatly reducing the texture and resolution quality you can run the game</li> </ul> <h2 style="font-size:1.2em;">Step 2) Search GPU List for a Match</h2> <p>There’s really one one step here, it’s using that chipset info to see if you can find a match from the huge list of video cards below:</p> <ul> <li>Come back to this web page and hit <strong>Command+F</strong> in your browser window, then paste in that numerical value and hit return to search the giant video card list below</li> </ul> <p><strong>Find a result?</strong> Congrats, you can probably run Skyrim, scroll up to see where the assumed graphics settings will be. If you’re barely on the edge, you may want to reconsider. If you’re in doubt, don’t risk wasting the money and just play the console version that is guaranteed to work well.</p> <p><strong>Don’t see a match? </strong>Try searching for a variation of the chipset (320M vs GeForce 320) to see if that’s how it’s listed instead. Remember, this list is intended for PC users and not Mac users, and sometimes the GPU is listed or named slightly different.</p> <p><strong>Still don’t see a match?</strong> It probably won’t run, this includes most of the Intel chipsets, sorry! Go for the Xbox or PS3 versions instead.</p> <h3 style="font-size:1.2em;">Super Huge Skryim Video Card List</h2> <p>Below is the humungous list from <a href="http://forums.bethsoft.com/index.php?/topic/1248590-unofficial-will-my-pc-run-skyrim-thread-46-w-hardware-guide/">the Bethesda Software forums</a> of compatible video cards grouped by their expected performance. We’re listing video cards that are beyond what would ship with Macs because some of you may have upgraded yourself or you may be running a Hackintosh, or maybe you’re just curious for your household PC. This list is repeated verbatim, they’re obviously geared towards Windows/PC users so there are plenty of GPU’s that won’t be relevant to us in the list: —-</p> <blockquote><p> Personal Computer</p> <p>Very High / Extremely High:</p> <p> GeForce Mars II Dual GTX 580 3GB Radeon HD6990 4GB GeForce GTX 590 3GB Radeon HD6870X2 2GB Radeon HD5870X2 4GB Radeon HD5970 4GB Radeon HD5970 2GB GeForce GTX 580 3GB GeForce GTX 580 1536MB – GeForce GTX 460 2Win 2GB Radeon HD6970 2GB GeForce GTX 570 1280MB GeForce GTX 480 1536MB Radeon HD6950 2GB Radeon HD6950 1GB GeForce GTX 295 1792MB Radeon HD4870X2 2GB Radeon HD5870 2GB Radeon HD5870 1GB GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB GeForce GTX 470 1280MB Radeon HD6870 1GB GeForce GTX 560 1GB Radeon HD5850 1GB Radeon HD6850 1GB GeForce GTX 460 2GB GeForce GTX 285 2GB GeForce GTX 460 1GB GeForce GTX 465 1GB Radeon HD4850X2 2GB Radeon HD4850X2 1GB GeForce GTX 285 1GB</p> <p>High / Very High:</p> <p> GeForce GTX 460 768MB GeForce GTX 460 SE 1GB Radeon HD5830 1GB Radeon HD6790 1GB GeForce GTX 275 1792MB Radeon HD4890 2GB GeForce GTX 280 1GB GeForce GTX 275 896MB GeForce 9800GX2 1GB Radeon HD4890 1GB GeForce GTX 260-Core 216 896MB GeForce GTX 550 Ti 1GB Radeon HD4870 1GB Radeon HD5770 1GB / HD6770 1GB Radeon HD4870 512MB GeForce GTX 260 896MB</p> <p>Medium / High:</p> <p> GeForce GTS 450 1GB Radeon HD3870X2 1GB Radeon HD5750 1GB / HD6750 1GB GeForce GTS 250 1GB Radeon HD4850 1GB GeForce 9800GTX+ 512MB/GTS250 512MB GeForce 8800 Ultra 768MB Radeon HD4850 512MB GeForce 9800GTX 512MB GeForce 8800GTX 768MB Radeon HD4770 512MB GeForce 8800GTS 512MB (G92) Radeon HD6670 1GB Radeon HD4830 512MB Radeon HD5670 1GB Radeon HD5670 512MB Radeon HD6570 1GB GeForce 8800GT 1GB/9800GT 1GB GeForce 8800GT 512MB/9800GT 512MB Radeon HD2900XT 1GB Radeon HD4730 512MB GeForce 9600GT 1GB GeForce 9600GT 512MB/GTS240 512MB GeForce GT 240 1GB GeForce GT 240 512MB Radeon HD2900XT 512MB Radeon HD3870 512MB GeForce 8800GTS 640MB (112SP) GeForce 8800GTS 640MB Radeon HD4670 1GB Radeon HD4670 512MB Radeon HD2900Pro 512MB Radeon HD3850 512MB GeForce 8800GT 256MB GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GeForce 8800GS 384MB/9600GSO 384MB GeForce 9600GSO 768MB GeForce 9600GSO 512MB (G94)</p> <p>Low / Medium:</p> <p> Radeon HD5570 1GB GeForce GT 430 1GB Radeon HD6450 1GB GeForce GT 520 1GB Radeon HD5550 1GB Radeon HD3850 256MB GeForce 7950GX2 1GB GeForce 7900GX2 1GB Radeon X1950XTX 512MB GeForce 7800GT Dual 512MB Radeon X1900XTX 512MB Radeon X1900XT 512MB GeForce 7900GTX 512MB Radeon X1950XT 256MB Radeon X1900XT 256MB GeForce 7900GTO 512MB GeForce 7800GTX 512MB GeForce 7950GT 512MB Radeon X1950Pro 512MB Radeon HD2900GT 256MB Radeon X1950Pro 256MB Radeon HD4650 512MB GeForce 8600GTS 512MB GeForce 8600GTS 256MB GeForce 7900GT 512MB GeForce GT 220 1GB GeForce GT 220 512MB GeForce 9500GT 1GB GeForce 9500GT 512MB Radeon X1800XT 512MB GeForce 7900GS 512MB GeForce 8600GT 512MB Radeon X1950GT 512MB Radeon X1900GT 256MB Radeon X1800XT 256MB GeForce 7900GT 256MB GeForce 7800GTX 256MB GeForce 7800GS Bliss+ 512MB Radeon X1900GT Rev2 256MB GeForce 7800GT 256MB Radeon X1800XL 256MB GeForce 7800GS 256MB Radeon X1800GTO 256MB GeForce 8600GT 256MB Radeon X1650XT 256MB GeForce 7600GT 256MB Radeon HD2600XT 256MB Radeon HD3650 256MB Radeon HD4550 512MB Radeon HD5450 512MB</p> <p>Very Low / Low:</p> <p> Radeon X850XTPE 256MB Radeon X850XT 256MB GeForce 7600GTS 256MB Radeon HD2600Pro 256MB Radeon X800XT/PE 256MB GeForce 6800Ultra/EE 256MB GeForce 6800GT 256MB GeForce 6800GS 256MB Radeon X800XL 256MB Radeon X800GTO 256MB/X800GTO2 256MB Radeon X850Pro 256MB Radeon X800Pro 256MB Radeon X800GTO 256MB GeForce 6800GS AGP 256MB GeForce 9400GT 512MB GeForce GT 210 512MB GeForce 8500GT 256MB Radeon X1650Pro 256MB Radeon X1600XT 256MB GeForce 7600GS 256MB Radeon HD2400XT 256MB GeForce 6800 256MB Radeon X800GT 256MB Radeon X800 256MB Radeon X1300XGE 512MB Radeon X1300XT 256MB Radeon X1600Pro 256MB Radeon HD4350 512MB Radeon HD3450 256MB GeForce 8400GS 256MB GeForce 6800XT/LE 256MB GeForce 7300GT 256MB GeForce 6600GT 256MB Radeon HD2400Pro 256MB</p> <p>EXTREME: These cards SHOULD max the game at full 1080p, without any problems.</p> <p> Radeon HD 6990M Nvidia GTX 580M Nvidia GTX 485M Radeon HD 6970M Nvidia GTX 570M Radeon HD 6950M Radeon HD 4870 X2</p> <p>HIGH: These cards should run Skyrim at high setings, give or take a little depending on the resolution. They will definitely play Skyrim well.</p> <p> Nvidia GTX 480M Nvidia GTX 470M Nvidia GTX 560M Radeon HD 5870M Radeon HD 6870M Nvidia GTX 460M 1.5GB Nvidia GTX 460M 1GB Nvidia GTX 285M</p> <p>MEDIUM/HIGH: These cards should be around medium/high settings give or take a little depending on the exact resolution. Some of these cards are showing their age but should still be more then sufficient for Skyrim.</p> <p>Radeon HD 4870 Nvidia GTX 280M Radeon HD 3870 X2 Radeon HD 3850 X2 Radeon HD 4850 Nvidia GTX 260M Nvidia GTX 9800M Nvidia 555M GT 2GB Nvidia 555M GT 1GB Radeon HD 6850M Radeon HD 5850M Radeon HD 6770M Nvidia 9800M GT / 8800M GTX Nvidia GT 445M Nvidia GTS 360M Radeon HD 6750M Nvidia GT 550M Nvidia GTS 260M Nvidia GTS 160M Nvidia GTS 9800M Radeon HD 6830M Radeon HD 5830M Nvidia 9800M GS Radeon HD 4830M Radeon HD 6730M Radeon HD 5770M</p> <p>MEDIUM: These cards should be around solid medium settings give or take a little depending on the resolution. These cards should be on par with the console version graphically or even a bit higher.</p> <p> Nvidia 8800M GTS Radeon HD 5750 Nvidia 540M GT Radeon HD 5730 Radeon HD 6670M Nvida 435M GT Radeon HD 6650M Nvidia 350M GTS Nvida 250M GTS Radeon HD 6630M Radeon HD 5650M Nvidia 525M Radeon HD 4670M Nvidia 425M Nvidia 9700M GTS Nvidia 335M GT Radeon HD 3870M Radeon HD 4650M</p> <p>MEDIUM/LOW: These cards should run Skyrim, with the right tweaks you could probably get them to look as good as the console version. The farther you get down the list the closer you are to low end.</p> <p> Radeon HD 3850M Nvidia 420M GT Nvidia 330M GT Nvidia 240M GT Nvidia 7950M GTX Nvidia 9700M GT Nvidiia 230M GT Radeon HD 6490M Nvidia 325M GT Nvidia 130M GT Nvidia 7900 GTX Nvidia 9650M GS Nvidia 9650M GT Nvidia 8700M GT Nvidia 7800 GTX Nvidia 7900 GS Nvidia 9600M GT Nvidia 220M GT Nvidia 120M GT Radeon HD 6470M Nvidia GT 520M Radeon HD 3670M Nvidia 320M GT Radeom HD 2600M XT Mobility Radeon X1900 Mobility Radeon X1800 XT Mobility Radeon X1800 Nvidia 7800M Go Nvidia 9600M GS Nvidia 9500M GS Radeon 6370M Radeon HD 5470M Nvidia 415M GT Radeon HD 3650M Nvidia 310M</p> <p>LOW END: These cards will have trouble running the game if they even run it. The game probably won’t be very enjoyable on any of these. The cards on the top of this of this list may be sufficient, but its more of a judgement call. The cards on the bottom probably won’t run Skyrim at all.</p> <p> Nvidia 410M Radeon HD 4570M Radeon HD 6450M Radeon HD 5450M Radeon HD 2600M Nvidia G120M Nvidia 315M Nvidia 7600M GT Nvidia 9500M G Nvidia 8600M GS Nvidia 7700M Go Nvidia 6800M Mobility Radeon X1800XT Radeon HD 5430M Radeon HD 4550M Radeon HD 4530M Radeon HD 4350M Nvidia 305M Mobility Radeon X1700 Nvidia 7600 Go Mobility Radeon X800 Mobility Radeon X1600 Nvidia 6600M Go Mobility Radeon X1450 Radeon HD X700M Nvidia 110M G Radeon HD 4330M Nvidia 8400M GT Nvidia 105M G Nvidia 103M G Nvidia 9500M Ge Nvidia 102M G Nvidia 205M G Nvidia 9400M ION Radeon HD 6320M Radeon HD 6310M Radeon HD 3470M Nidia 9300M G ION 2 Nvidia 9200M GS Radeon HD 3450M Radeon HD 3430M Radeon HD 3410M Radeon HD 2400XT Radeon HD 4270M Radeon HD 4250M Radeon HD 4200M Radeon HD 2400M Nvidia 8400 GS Radeon HD 3200M Radeon HD 3100M Nvidia 8400M G Nvidia 8200M G Nvidia 7400M Go Nvidia 7300 Go </p></blockquote> <p>If and how well a Mac can run Skryim is a question that myself and many others have had over the last few days. After answering this question for a few friends and <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/osxdaily/status/135131557684977664">again on Twitter</a>, and then not finding any particularly easy answer online, I decided to write this up with the information I did find. Yes, it’s a Windows only game, but too many of us Mac users want to play Skyrim and it’s just not available for Mac OS X yet, so Bootcamp it is. If you can’t run this in on your Mac, there’s always Xbox 360 and PS3 too.</p> <p>If you’re looking for some more specific performance information and FPS tests, <a href="http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/skyrim-performance-benchmark,review-32318.html">check out Toms hardware</a>, although they are not Mac specific tests or GPU’s.</p> </div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/w4yjjiqeX-WvlEn_uAI1nzC-vCk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/w4yjjiqeX-WvlEn_uAI1nzC-vCk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/w4yjjiqeX-WvlEn_uAI1nzC-vCk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/w4yjjiqeX-WvlEn_uAI1nzC-vCk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?a=n6qobkgOm5c:-l560eeKegk:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?a=n6qobkgOm5c:-l560eeKegk:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?i=n6qobkgOm5c:-l560eeKegk:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?a=n6qobkgOm5c:-l560eeKegk:D7DqB2pKExk"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?i=n6qobkgOm5c:-l560eeKegk:D7DqB2pKExk" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?a=n6qobkgOm5c:-l560eeKegk:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?a=n6qobkgOm5c:-l560eeKegk:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/osxdaily/~4/n6qobkgOm5c" height="1" width="1"/> View the full article
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