Choppy Graphics 10.6.3 on 13" Unibody Macbook

Mac :) · Mac :) #1 (**permalink**)

04-11-2010, 09:42 AM

Hey people

Im running 10.6.3 on a 13" Aluminium Macbook (5,1) and am experiencing choppy / laggy graphics with the NVidia GeForce 9400M graphics card but only when running on battery power. When I am running on AC power, the graphics are smooth with no issues.

The graphics are choppy when opening the dashboard, expose, spaces and opening stacks from the dock on battery but fine on power

This is a really annoying issue and want to know how to sort it.

Thanks in advance

(System Specs - 160gb HDD (112gb spare) - 2gb Ram - 2GHz Core 2 Duo)

osxx · osxx #2 (**permalink**)

04-11-2010, 10:32 AM

I would take it to an Apple store and have them give it a look sounds like the hardware
may have an issue.

Doug b · Doug b #3 (**permalink**)

04-11-2010, 12:23 PM

Here's a good question (I think). Before you did the combo update, and were on 10.6.2, were you experiencing the same issues ?

Doug

P.S. Also, when you upgraded to Snow Leopard, did you do a clean install (reformatting the HD) or did you just update and leave everything else in tact.

Mac :) · Mac :) #4 (**permalink**)

04-11-2010, 12:55 PM

Hey Doug

On 10.6.2 I did have the same problems and when i upgraded to SL, i did an upgrade rather than clean install

Doug b · Doug b #5 (**permalink**)

04-11-2010, 02:36 PM

And what about on 10.5.3? Same issues ? If so, then bring it in to Apple before your warranty expires. Sounds fishy.

Doug

Mac :) · Mac :) #6 (**permalink**)

04-11-2010, 04:18 PM

Cheers Doug

I seem to recall having absolutely no issues whatsoever with Leopard, its just ever since i installed Snow Leopard i've had jittery / choppy graphics issues.

1 interesting thing is that whenever i play a game on battery power, the graphics are fine and the same as they are on AC power.

Doug b · Doug b #7 (**permalink**)

04-11-2010, 08:31 PM

You might think me crazy, and the suggestion to be a bit overkill but... How about backing your stuff up and reformatting your HD and starting from scratch with SL ? I take it you've run Onyx or at the least have gone into utilities and have run disk utility to repair permissions ? If not, try that first. I personally have never had a good experience in trying to upgrade an OS without a fresh install/reformat. I now make it a habit to reformat my HD's and even zero out the disk (regular pass is fine) before installing a new OS version.

Doug

Mac :) #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 03, 2009 Posts: 25	04-11-2010, 12:55 PM Hey Doug On 10.6.2 I did have the same problems and when i upgraded to SL, i did an upgrade rather than clean install 13" Aluminium Unibody MacBook (5,1) / 2Ghz / 2GB / Snow Leopard 10.6.3
	QUOTE Thanks

Doug b #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 22, 2008 Location: Forest Hills, NYC Posts: 3,339 Mac Specs: 15-inch Early 2008; Processor 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo; Memory 4 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 10.7.5	04-11-2010, 02:36 PM And what about on 10.5.3? Same issues ? If so, then bring it in to Apple before your warranty expires. Sounds fishy. Doug Alternatives to iTunes click here !
	QUOTE Thanks

Mac :) #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 03, 2009 Posts: 25	04-11-2010, 04:18 PM Cheers Doug I seem to recall having absolutely no issues whatsoever with Leopard, its just ever since i installed Snow Leopard i've had jittery / choppy graphics issues. 1 interesting thing is that whenever i play a game on battery power, the graphics are fine and the same as they are on AC power. 13" Aluminium Unibody MacBook (5,1) / 2Ghz / 2GB / Snow Leopard 10.6.3
	QUOTE Thanks

Doug b #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 22, 2008 Location: Forest Hills, NYC Posts: 3,339 Mac Specs: 15-inch Early 2008; Processor 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo; Memory 4 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 10.7.5	04-11-2010, 08:31 PM You might think me crazy, and the suggestion to be a bit overkill but... How about backing your stuff up and reformatting your HD and starting from scratch with SL ? I take it you've run Onyx or at the least have gone into utilities and have run disk utility to repair permissions ? If not, try that first. I personally have never had a good experience in trying to upgrade an OS without a fresh install/reformat. I now make it a habit to reformat my HD's and even zero out the disk (regular pass is fine) before installing a new OS version. Doug Alternatives to iTunes click here !
	QUOTE Thanks

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Choppy Graphics 10.6.3 on 13" Unibody Macbook

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Mac :) #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 03, 2009 Posts: 25	04-11-2010, 09:42 AM Hey people Im running 10.6.3 on a 13" Aluminium Macbook (5,1) and am experiencing choppy / laggy graphics with the NVidia GeForce 9400M graphics card but only when running on battery power. When I am running on AC power, the graphics are smooth with no issues. The graphics are choppy when opening the dashboard, expose, spaces and opening stacks from the dock on battery but fine on power This is a really annoying issue and want to know how to sort it. Thanks in advance (System Specs - 160gb HDD (112gb spare) - 2gb Ram - 2GHz Core 2 Duo)
	QUOTE Thanks

osxx #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 19, 2008 Location: houston texas Posts: 3,935 Mac Specs: 15 MacBook Pro 2009 32GB iPad 4 32GB iPhone 5 Apple TV 3 AEBS/AE	04-11-2010, 10:32 AM I would take it to an Apple store and have them give it a look sounds like the hardware may have an issue.
	QUOTE Thanks

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