How to Play Games in 3D on Mac

Playing 3D games is possible on most Mac computers

Playing games in 3D on a Mac computer is important for consumers who like to play video games for entertainment. Unlike Windows computers, the Mac platform is not as focused on gaming and, in turn, the graphics abilities of some Mac computers are toned down. Despite this, most Macs can play games in 3D, either by way of an integrated graphics accelerator from Intel or dedicated graphics cards, which are built by NVIDIA. However, before investing in an expensive game, make sure that it will run properly on your Mac.

Instructions

1. Determine what video card you have. First, click the "Apple" in the upper-left corner of the screen. Next, click "About This Mac". Select "More Info..." when the computer information window appears. In the ensuing two-column menu, choose "Graphics/Displays" under the "Hardware" tab. Make note of the chipset type (for example, GeForce 9400M) and the amount of memory (for example, 256 MB). Some Mac computers have an Intel GMA graphics card, which is a type of integrated card that does not have a dedicated graphics processor. This can slow down 3D game performance, but many games will still run without problems.

2. Find "Mac Games". Each game will have its own graphics requirements. Some games will require only an Intel processor or a certain version of Mac OS X, which means that the 3D game can run regardless of the graphics processor. Others will require a specific graphics processor or amount of VRAM. Just make sure that your machine meets the game's requirements.

3. Download and install tjhe demo. Before spending hard-earned money on a 3D game, see if a demo download is available. This will let you verify that the game runs acceptably.

4. Install the 3D game. When you purchase the game, insert the DVD and follow the installation instructions.

5. Launch the game. The first time you run the software you will be asked to set up the graphics options. Most games have an auto configuration option that chooses by default the settings that give the best performance.

6. Adjust the settings. As you play a game longer, you may increase or decrease the graphics quality options to yield the best performance.

Tips & Warnings

• Just because a 3D game has stated minimum requirements, it may still run on your Mac. Be sure to download a demo and verify compatibility before purchasing the full version. Additionally, some older 3D Mac games may display warning messages before they load on newer Intel-based Macs. These games should be forward compatible, so continue to launch the game.

References

• Apple: Game Demos and Downloads
• Apple: Mac OS X Games