New Mac Mini 2011 and SL?

[Jammie Weezles]

Does anyone know if the new base model of Apple Mac Mini (2011) with the integrated Intel HD 3000 gpu is capable of running SL?

 

If not, then how about the higher model with AMD Radeon HD 6630M?

 

Would other viewers (ie. Phoenix) be better?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[valerie Inshan]

I would vote for the AMD Radeon HD 6630M. And, yes, Phoenix does run faster than SL viewer V2. You could also give a try to Firestorm.

http://www.phoenixviewer.com/downloads.php

 

[Luc Starsider]

I agree with Valerie - go for the one with the AMD card. It will considerably perform better than the integrated Intel card. Actually, I wouldn't recommend the Intel one in any case, to anybody.

Viewers? Any should work. Try them all, and pick the one you find works best for you.

- Luc -

[Domitan Redenblack]

from Braise Bashly, 07-29-2011 08:06 PM

http://secondlife.lithium.com/t5/Second-Life-Viewer/Apple-OS-X-Lion-Compatibility/m-p/994507



I tested the new MacBook Air (10.5", 1.8 GHz i7, 4 Gb RAM, Intel Graphics 3000, Lion) with the latest (July 28, 2011) versions of the Second Life, Phoenix, and Firestorm Beta viewers.

FPS was recorded at each of two altitudes (25M and 2700M) using each of the four Render Quality Settings (Low, Mid, High, Ultra) for each of the three viewers.

Default settings were used with one exception: the draw distance was altered to 200M for each Render Quality Setting.

The Second Life viewer and FireStorm Beta had similar results (25M altitude Low:28 fps Ultra:10 fps) (2700M altitude Low:58 fps Ultra:37 fps). The 25M altitude was a texture and script rich rendering challenge and the 2700M altitude was a sky build with many fewer textures and scripts.

Subjectively all viewers performed well, rendering nice reflections in Ultra. I spent a few hours inLife using FireStorm Beta with varied activities, many teleports and sims and Firestorm performed perfectly. Bottom line. The new 2011 MacBook Air with OS X Lion performed perfectly with the three tested viewers.

[Domitan Redenblack]

from Braise Bashly, 07-29-2011 08:06 PM

http://secondlife.lithium.com/t5/Second-Life-Viewer/Apple-OS-X-Lion-Compatibility/m-p/994507



I tested the new MacBook Air (10.5", 1.8 GHz i7, 4 Gb RAM, Intel Graphics 3000, Lion) with the latest (July 28, 2011) versions of the Second Life, Phoenix, and Firestorm Beta viewers.

FPS was recorded at each of two altitudes (25M and 2700M) using each of the four Render Quality Settings (Low, Mid, High, Ultra) for each of the three viewers.

Default settings were used with one exception: the draw distance was altered to 200M for each Render Quality Setting.

The Second Life viewer and FireStorm Beta had similar results (25M altitude Low:28 fps Ultra:10 fps) (2700M altitude Low:58 fps Ultra:37 fps). The 25M altitude was a texture and script rich rendering challenge and the 2700M altitude was a sky build with many fewer textures and scripts.

Subjectively all viewers performed well, rendering nice reflections in Ultra. I spent a few hours inLife using FireStorm Beta with varied activities, many teleports and sims and Firestorm performed perfectly. Bottom line. The new 2011 MacBook Air with OS X Lion performed perfectly with the three tested viewers.