You certainly can run the MBP with the charger connected even with the battery disconnected. I do not recommend that because the OSX will throttle the CPU and performance will be degraded.
If you want the best of the best, then dedicated graphics is clearly the way to go, as we found in our review of that machine. However, if you're looking to save a couple hundred dollars, the integrated graphics version of the 2014 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display (Starting at $1,999, MSRP $2,499 as reviewed) is appealing. Pulp ($9.99): Pulp is a must-have app for a news junky, combining multiple news feeds in a single. With a Retina MacBook Pro at the More Space setting (1920-by-1200) sitting next to a 15-inch 2011 MacBook Pro at 1440-by-900, the extra room on the Retina MacBook Pro is quite noticable. Why the Retina display matters when buying a MacBook Pro refurbished If you want the best quality display available, make sure you go for a model with the Retina display. What's awesome with buying a refurbished or used MacBook Pro is that all models that have been released since 2012 come with a Retina.
Wohl wrote:
I ask because once I load Steam and install a game, I can only play for about 45 minutes, while plugged in with the original 85W adapter, before the battery is at 5%.
Is this normal behavior for this laptop?
What ever you are running must be a serious resource hog. In rare situations, when the charger is connected but additional electrical resources are required, the battery is tapped to make up the difference. This may be what is happening.
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Try a SMC reset and see if there is a difference:
Macs have never had a good reputation as game machines.
Ciao.
Apr 6, 2016 10:40 AM
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