Low FPS on WoW

Zython

Ok, I'm having a weird problem with WoW, and I thought this would be the best place to post, since this is more general. Anyhow, I run a 12-inch G4 Powerbook, with a 1.5 GHz processor, 768 MB RAM, and a GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB VRAM). I'm at the recommended for the processor and the video card, and half way between the minimum and the recommended for the RAM, but I'm regularly getting <10 FPS. What could be the problem. My latency is low, so it's not the internet connection. I have most of the in-game graphical settings set to the minimum, but nothing seems to help. My guess is that I may have some malware. If you think I'm right, could you recommend a Mac compatible malware detection/removal software. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

syndalis

That videocard is SORELY lacking for WoW as it stands right now.

Try running at a much lower resolution and see how that works for you.

My brand new Macbook Pro sometimes falls to 10FPS in Shatt.

Zython

syndalis wrote: »

That videocard is SORELY lacking for WoW as it stands right now.

Try running at a much lower resolution and see how that works for you.

My brand new Macbook Pro sometimes falls to 10FPS in Shatt.

On WoW or the computer itself?

Edit: I tried lowering the resolution of the computer, as WoW's won't go any lower. No visible change.

Echo

Shattrath eats computers alive. I blame the billion squidface NPCs with their psychotic giggling.

Zython

Echo wrote: »

Shattrath eats computers alive. I blame the billion squidface NPCs with their psychotic giggling.

I don't mind Shattrath. It's low frame rates at 25-mans that worry me.

Arrath

Zython wrote: »

Echo wrote: »

Shattrath eats computers alive. I blame the billion squidface NPCs with their psychotic giggling.

I don't mind Shattrath. It's low frame rates at 25-mans that worry me.

It'll get to be the same thing, really. God bless the lower raid cap, 25-mans are a lot easier on my computer than 40s. For raiding, be sure to turn spell effects allll the way down as once they get flying it'll really chug.

WoW may be built with an eye for less powerful computers, but that graphics card is too underpowered even for WoW.

I have a 1.8ghz processor, 512mb ram, and a 256mb radeon 9550 pro, in unpopulated areas with everything down (sometimes I have texture detail up for the pretties) I average high-teens low-twenties fps, in places like shattrath its single digits.

CripTonic

Arrath wrote: »

...turn spell effects allll the way down as once they get flying it'll really chug.

This question was much more specific in the WoW thread, but this is not an option on the encounter he specified over there.


Sadly, the only option is probably a hardware upgrade. I'm not an Apple man myself, but maybe someone else can point you in the proper direction. WoW is made to run on an Atari, but that doesn't mean it will run well.

Zython

Arrath wrote: »

Zython wrote: »

Echo wrote: »

Shattrath eats computers alive. I blame the billion squidface NPCs with their psychotic giggling.

I don't mind Shattrath. It's low frame rates at 25-mans that worry me.

It'll get to be the same thing, really. God bless the lower raid cap, 25-mans are a lot easier on my computer than 40s. For raiding, be sure to turn spell effects allll the way down as once they get flying it'll really chug.

WoW may be built with an eye for less powerful computers, but that graphics card is too underpowered even for WoW.

I have a 1.8ghz processor, 512mb ram, and a 256mb radeon 9550 pro, in unpopulated areas with everything down (sometimes I have texture detail up for the pretties) I average high-teens low-twenties fps, in places like shattrath its single digits.

About the video card. I'm sure it's outdated, but the box of BC recommends 64 MB VRAM, which I have. I was hoping for a more practical solution other than replacing my computer, but if that's the only option...

Edit: Maybe this is a sign I should invest in a desktop PC...

Edit 2: Crip, even with my spell details lowered, it doesn't help alot.

Dehumanized

Video RAM is unfortunately often the most useless piece of information to go off of when judging the worth of a card. ATI and nVidia are strongly at fault, their naming systems are designed to confuse and obfuscate.

Zython

Dehumanized wrote: »

Video RAM is unfortunately often the most useless piece of information to go off of when judging the worth of a card. ATI and nVidia are strongly at fault, their naming systems are designed to confuse and obfuscate.

Interesting. I guess I could end up investing in a desktop. Not just for WoW, but a Pentium Mac could open up my options to PC gaming in general.

ben0207

Yes, if there was such a thing as a Pentium Mac you could buy one

Also, check you have no errant processes in the background - indeed, quit everything while you play to free up the RAM.

powersurge

Doesn't sound like anythings really wrong just that you have an older laptop. My current laptop is pretty long in the tooth and the frame rate is awful even at the lowest settings (more so in towns) and its running a ATI 9200.

If your not planning to move away from the Mac I'd go with a Macbook Pro (normal macbook has intel graphics yuck) or one of the new iMacs for gaming.

ben0207

The current iMacs are fucking swish, man.

But personally I'm going for the new MBP soon as there's a new model.

Tav

Do you have "Smooth Mouse" enabled in graphics options? If so, turn that shit right off. That should really give you a big FPS boost.

Lewisham

Yep, you're getting normal framerates for your machine.

It doesn't really matter what the specs on the box say.

Mai-Kero

Get more ram. That's more important for you than the video card right now.

Dratatoo

Personally I believe the X86 version of WoW just runs better. I have a Powermac Dual G5 with 8GB of RAM and a 7800Gs and I get lower tens regarding FPS in the main city of the Outlands. Granted I use a unsupported / modified 7800 GS with 256MB vRAM, so take my word with a huge load of salt. My 4 year old shuttle (Backup-PC) with moderate 1GB, 3GHz Athlon and 7600 GT gets around 30 fps. At least there is a Powermac version, so I can log on and check the AH without having to start up my gaming PC.

The G4 is the bottom of the barrel regarding system requirements of WoW. If you are considering playing WoW on an Apple notebook I would also recommend the Macbook pro. Macbook air and the Macbook use Intel integrated graphic chipsets which sucks balls gaming wise.

edit: Turning of the illumination shader effects improve FPS on the Mac (PowerPC) version.

Zython

So how would a computer with the following specs perform? Not just for WoW, but PC gaming in general.

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM - 1x1GB
ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB memory

Would you recommend more RAM? (I can go to 2GB if necessary).

Dehumanized

Another stick of RAM would probably do you good, your motherboard probably supports dual channeling so you'll want to try to match exactly.

Zython

Dehumanized wrote: »

Another stick of RAM would probably do you good, your motherboard probably supports dual channeling so you'll want to try to match exactly.

A few things:

1. This is an iMac I'm thinking of buying.

2. According to Crucial, it doesn't support dual channeling.

And yeah, I'll probably add another 1GB RAM stick to it, since Apple overcharges for RAM.

Dratatoo

Hm, the macbook pro already comes with 8600. The ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB memory is the bottleneck and very lowed. According to some reviews I read it seems to have the same performance as a Geforce 6600 which is already several years old. Despite the directx10 compatibility don't consider using any of these features, because you most likely end up in the single digits - FSP wise.

If you go Desktop -> spend a few bucks more on on a low end 8800 - if you can get it for cheap. If you want to use a laptop the choice is rather limited. Go for a 8600 graphic card, this seems to be the good middle ground between performance and price. Sorry, I can't give you a good overview regarding the ATI performance and best "bang for the buck" opportunities.

Edit: Ah to late. - I just wonder why Apple replaced the 8600 in the iMac line? Probably to save the moneys.