Mac Mini -Star Wars the Old Republic

[cbenj1976]

I'm a noob when it comes to comp specs.  I'm thinking of getting a 2011 mac mini to serve as my entertainment hub (netflix, hulu, iTunes, garageband etc)  I was wondering if the mini will run SWTOR well.
  Here are the specs:
Intel® Core™ i5 processor
Features a 3MB L3 cache and 2.3GHz processor speed.
Intel® Core™ i5 processor
2GB DDR3 memory
500GB hard drive (5400 rpm)
Intel® HD Graphics 3000

I have found that I would have to run bootcamp and install Windows 7.

Thank you

[Joey]

Hi. Those Mac mini specs would run Star Wars: The Old Republic smoothly at low graphics settings. Don't forget to go to the Intel driver site and update to the latest Windows drivers or else you are guaranteed to get an error.

[cbenj1976]

I actually ended up getting the next model up with same processor but 4gb RAM and an AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics card.  So to update the intel driver, do I do that after I install windows on bootcamp? or is that something I do while in Lion.  Thanks, I really appreciate your help!

[Joey]

Good choice selecting the model with the AMD Radeon HD 6630M

To update that driver you must be logged into Windows then download and install the driver below. I am not sure if you will have Windows 7 32 or 64-bit installed so I included both links. (Only install 1.)

* Windows 7 32-bit: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/radeonmob_win7-32.aspx#2

* Windows 7 64-bit: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/radeonmob_win7-64.aspx#2

After the proper driver is installed you must restart your computer.

[cbenj1976]

Also, does it matter which windows OS i use? (XP, vista, win 7) I'm going to be using the windows side of my mac for gaming and one grading software (I'm a teacher).

[Joey]

Windows XP would be the best choice. The main reason is that Windows XP takes up less system resources than Vista and 7, so more CPU power and RAM devoted to SWTOR.

Side Note: I've worked as a tech at public schools for several years. Please backup your grades, Microsoft Office files and everything important to 2 places (Mac computer and USB drive). Backup daily. I have had numerous teachers freak out, some in tears because their computer crashed and they lost all of their grading, class instruction data. Luckily I knew how to recover their data and got it for most of them. Otherwise they would have to go pay a service $150-$250. Some computer crashes were so bad I could not get any data. They were gone for good, unless they took it to a special hard drive lab that charged them $500-$2,000.

Sorry for the rant. You just brought back memories. haha 

[cbenj1976]

@joey,  I do back up all the time even though our grades are kept on an external server outside the building.  Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it.  Happy New Year!

[cbenj1976]

Ok, new problem.  I installed a XP SP2.  Windows XP seems to run fine in bootcamp.  However, I can't connect to the internet.  Suggestions?

[Joey]

You need to download and install the Windows version of your network card drivers. Boot into Mac OS and then look at the Mac hardware specs. See what the exact make and model is of your network card. (Example: Realtek PCIe GBE)

[jffjnny]

This is relative to me. I have a MBP, I want to run windows with parallels 7. My specs are as follows.

13" MBP
2.7 Ghz i7
4GB DDR 3 RAM
500 GB HDD
Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB

Will it run? I installed it and set to low, but couldn't get a very high fps. It was extremely laggy. Will drivers fix this somehow? Please help, I don't want to buy a new computer. If I have to, I was thinking about that same mac mini, 6630M, 8GB RAM, 500 HDD, i7. It's about the same machine I already have internal, except for the GPU and RAM.

[Joey]

This is relative to me. I have a MBP, I want to run windows with parallels 7. My specs are as follows.

13" MBP
2.7 Ghz i7
4GB DDR 3 RAM
500 GB HDD
Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB

Will it run? I installed it and set to low, but couldn't get a very high fps. It was extremely laggy. Will drivers fix this somehow? Please help, I don't want to buy a new computer. If I have to, I was thinking about that same mac mini, 6630M, 8GB RAM, 500 HDD, i7. It's about the same machine I already have internal, except for the GPU and RAM.

Hello. Thanks for posting your MacBook Pro specs. Yes, it can run Star Wars: The Old Republic smoothly at low settings. Follow my guide below to optimize your MBP to run SWTOR smoothly.

#1 – It is very important to fully update Windows 7. Make sure all of the updates are installed then restart your PC. Check for new updates that popped up after the restart.
If you need it I created a tutorial on this subject: http://www.cleartechinfo.com/How-To-Update-Windows-7-Microsoft-Windows-Update

#2 – Download and install the latest drivers for the Intel HD graphics card from the Intel website. Here is the link: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/

If for some reason the Intel HD graphics driver from the Intel website does not install you need to manually uninstall the graphics driver. Then manually install the driver from the website. In this scenario you need to download the "zip" version of the driver from the Intel site. And follow the instructions it gives you on how to install it.

Here is a screenshot I took of how you manually uninstall the graphics driver via the Windows Device Manager.
http://i.minus.com/jL2moCGXIqZ0q.png

#3 – Restart your computer after the graphics drivers are finished installing

#4 – Download and Install the Free version of “Game Booster”: http://www.iobit.com/gamebooster.html
In case you need it, the latest video tutorial I created was on how to install and optimize Game Booster. The video is at the end of the article: http://www.cleartechinfo.com/How-To-Get-Less-Lag-Higher-Frame-Rates-running-PC-Games-Game-Booster

#5 – Run Game Booster, then Run SWTOR (but DO NOT play it yet).

#6 - Go into the graphics settings, max the resolution of your 13” MBP. Then copy every other single graphics setting in the screenshot I took.
http://i.minus.com/jKyprc8d4Bucz.png

#7 – Play SWTOR.

[cbenj1976]

You need to download and install the Windows version of your network card drivers. Boot into Mac OS and then look at the Mac hardware specs. See what the exact make and model is of your network card. (Example: Realtek PCIe GBE)

Joey, how do I do this?

[Joey]

Try using this Mac app. It scans your Mac and then lists your Hardware specs.
http://www.mactracker.ca/