Gaming Performance Issues

B

bosox0408


Joined
May 23, 2012
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Hi,

I have an early 2008 MacBook Pro 17" with 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor and 4 GB Ram. My computer has a 320 GB hard drive, 160 of which is unused.

I have been having issues lately with performance while playing games. Early on in my computer's life I could play World of Warcraft on mostly high video settings and get an FPS of 20-25. Now, I am playing Diablo III on the lowest settings, with a resolution of 800x600 (Out of my screens max of 1920x1200), and I am getting a FPS rate of MAYBE 8-10.

Does anyone have any idea why this might be? Don't try to convince me that Diablo III's graphics are more complex... I've had the same issue with Civilization V, Age of Empires III, and Warcraft III recently. I'm trying to hold off until June-ish to get a new one, or whenever they are going to release the new MBPs. Any tips / tricks to help speed up my computer?
 
pigoo3

pigoo3

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
May 20, 2008
Messages
44,212
Reaction score
1,424
Points
113
Location
U.S.
Your Mac's Specs
2017 15" MBP, 16gig ram, 1TB SSD, OS 10.15
bosox0408 said:
Hi,

I have an early 2008 MacBook Pro 17" with 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor and 4 GB Ram. My computer has a 320 GB hard drive, 160 of which is unused.

I have been having issues lately with performance while playing games. Early on in my computer's life I could play World of Warcraft on mostly high video settings and get an FPS of 20-25. Now, I am playing Diablo III on the lowest settings, with a resolution of 800x600 (Out of my screens max of 1920x1200), and I am getting a FPS rate of MAYBE 8-10.

Does anyone have any idea why this might be? Don't try to convince me that Diablo III's graphics are more complex... I've had the same issue with Civilization V, Age of Empires III, and Warcraft III recently. I'm trying to hold off until June-ish to get a new one, or whenever they are going to release the new MBPs. Any tips / tricks to help speed up my computer?
Click to expand...

You've possibly ignored one VERY important part of the "performance equation"...and that's the video hardware. The video hardware in your 17" MacBook Pro is the GeForce 8600M GT. If you take a look at the MINIMUM video hardware requirements for Diablo 3...it says "NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT":

Diablo III System Requirements - Battle.net Support

So the reason why you're getting low frame rates is your MBP only meets the MINIMUM video requirements.

I'm sure things will be better when you're able to get a newer computer "June-ish".:)

- Nick
 
OP
B

bosox0408


Joined
May 23, 2012
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
1
pigoo3 said:
You've possibly ignored one VERY important part of the "performance equation"...and that's the video hardware. The video hardware in your 17" MacBook Pro is the GeForce 8600M GT. If you take a look at the MINIMUM video hardware requirements for Diablo 3...it says "NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT":

Diablo III System Requirements - Battle.net Support

So the reason why you're getting low frame rates is your MBP only meets the MINIMUM video requirements.

I'm sure things will be better when you're able to get a newer computer "June-ish".:)

- Nick
Click to expand...



Ahh, you are probably right. But is it really more demanding on my video card than WoW?
 
pigoo3

pigoo3

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
May 20, 2008
Messages
44,212
Reaction score
1,424
Points
113
Location
U.S.
Your Mac's Specs
2017 15" MBP, 16gig ram, 1TB SSD, OS 10.15
bosox0408 said:
Ahh, you are probably right. But is it really more demanding on my video card than WoW?
Click to expand...

Here's what Battlenet says are the system requirements for WOW:

World of Warcraft System Requirements - Battle.net Support

They don't even mention video hardware under the minimum requirements for the Macintosh.

But look at it this way...WOW was released in 2004 (I'm not sure of the exact release date for the Macintosh):

World of Warcraft - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But you would be kidding yourself BIGTIME if you thought that video hardware requirements for a game released in 2012 (Diablo 3) wouldn't be SERIOUSLY more demanding than a game released in 2004 (World of WarCraft).

HTH,:)

- Nick
 
OP
B

bosox0408


Joined
May 23, 2012
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
1
pigoo3 said:
Here's what Battlenet says are the system requirements for WOW:

World of Warcraft System Requirements - Battle.net Support

They don't even mention video hardware under the minimum requirements for the Macintosh.

But look at it this way...WOW was released in 2004 (I'm not sure of the exact release date for the Macintosh):

World of Warcraft - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But you would be kidding yourself BIGTIME if you thought that video hardware requirements for a game released in 2012 (Diablo 3) wouldn't be SERIOUSLY more demanding than a game released in 2004 (World of WarCraft).

HTH,:)

- Nick
Click to expand...


Thanks for the help... That seems to make sense. Any good program / strategy you know of so I can maximize what I actually do have?
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top