FFXI- graphics/sound lag on Macbook pro :: World of Warcraft

#1 Nov 09 2008 at 4:01 PM Rating: Decent

7 posts

I have searched extensively on answers to this question and I've gotten some vague ideas of what to do, but not a direct answer.

I recently installed a copy of Windows XP on my 15in Macbook Pro (the ones that came out right before the latest ones in late September/Early October 2008 or whatever). I did this in order to play Final Fantasy XI Online on my laptop. The machine is more than capable of running the game and I've read forum posts that had said that it works fine through bootcamp. I installed the game and was playing it just fine until one day the game began to lag really bad in areas where there were a lot of people or in other words something very demanding of the memory/graphics. I don't mean internet speed lag, I mean the computer would slow the game down to a crawl and the sound would be sort of garbled like it was some sort of feedback. It would happen periodically or if some sort of animation would start (spellcasting, etc)

I've tried everything from changing the settings of the game so that it's not as demanding to installing modified drivers for the graphics card (256mb Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT). I read that there may be some problems with the graphics and sound cards communicating which causes lag?

The computer also gets unnaturally hot while I run the game/windows in general. Could it be a cooling problem?

If anyone knows why this is happening or what I can do to fix it I would really appreciate some help or suggestions on where to find help. Thank you.

Edited, Nov 9th 2008 7:02pm by PaladinEriol

Edited, Nov 9th 2008 7:03pm by PaladinEriol

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#2 Nov 10 2008 at 9:39 PM Rating: Decent

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Normally this is a heat issue as Windows XP while in bootcamp runs hotter then it does in Mac 10.5.x

Make sure that everything is up to date with Apple Bootcamp drivers (3rd party won't always work so best to use apple's).

The next thing you can do is buy a laptop cooler to help keep the heat down a little.

The more drastic thing but always the best considering the mishap they had at the factory is dissemble your laptop and replace the thermal paste on the CPU and North bridge with the proper amount and god stuff, such as Artic Silver 5.

Just doing the paste will drop your computers internal temp by about 1~4c.

Cooler should keep your laptop well in range of a "normal" operating temp as well.

Mac's just naturally run hot in Windows XP/Vista. I think it's because of not being able to properly read the sensors (due to driver issues).

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#3 Nov 10 2008 at 10:43 PM Rating: Decent

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Ok, that explains he heating issue. Thanks!

Any ideas on the graphics/sound lagging problem?

edit*

Oh wait, my bad. You're saying the heating issue is CAUSING the graphics issue, I see. I'll try looking up some more drivers from Apple and see if that fixes it. I installed the ones on the software CD, but I'll see if the website has any new ones. Thanks again!

Edited, Nov 11th 2008 2:00am by PaladinEriol

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