Setting programs to run on certain video cards?

[tannerwoodworth]

Does anybody know how to get a program to run on a different video card other than the default? I have a game that isn't supported by intel graphics cards and I need a NVIDIA card, Which I do have and is supported by the game. I was wondering if anybody knew how to do this or if this was possible? Thanks in advance guys!

 

[McYukon]

Mac OS should auto-switch for you, if it doesn't go into the energy saver preferences and turn off Automatic Switching. OS X will then use the high end card for everything.

 

[tannerwoodworth]

I'm not sure if the NVIDIA is the higher graphics card. Perhaps I'm overlooking something? All I know is that the support techs said that the NVIDIA card would work. The game is Killing Floor and I'm trying to launch it through steam if that helps at all?

Intel Card:
http://i.imgur.com/fB5EeTN.png

NVIDIA Card:
http://i.imgur.com/p8mJKVK.png

The game just opens, and I get a black screen and then it closes. I've tried Uninstalling/re-installing checking the integrity of the game. I'm just out of ideas.

EDIT: Added more info

 

[chscag]

The nVidia card is the one which should be used. The Intel graphics that are included are integrated and will borrow memory from the system. The nVidia GPU is discrete.

 

[tannerwoodworth]

So any idea why the game might not be working? Pardon my ignorance.

 

[chscag]

Sorry, I'm not a gamer but have you checked the system requirements for the game? And are you certain that your system meets those requirements?

 

[tannerwoodworth]

This all that was given

OS: OS X version Leopard 10.5.8, Snow Leopard 10.6.3, or later.
Processor: Intel Mac
Graphics: Nvidia or ATI GPU (Intel GPUs unsupported)

And I'm running on OSx10.9

 

[pigoo3]

This all that was given

OS: OS X version Leopard 10.5.8, Snow Leopard 10.6.3, or later.
Processor: Intel Mac
Graphics: Nvidia or ATI GPU (Intel GPUs unsupported)

And I'm running on OSx10.9

The biggest problem I see is that your Mac is running OS 10.9. OS 10.9 is a long way from OS 10.5.8. So I would say confirm that Killing Floor is compatible with OS 10.9.

Since OS 10.9 was only released a short time ago...it's possible the developer (if they intend to release an OS 10.9 patch)...hasn't released an OS 10.9 patch yet.

My question to you is...Have you ever successfully played this game on your Mac...and if so...what OS version was it running?

- Nick

 

[tannerwoodworth]

I thought about that as well, I never had it working I don't think I had even downloaded the game till 10.9 came out? I might of had it with 10.8 but if I did it didn't work then. I suppose I'll just begin the waiting game or dust of my old PC...

Thanks again for all of the responses guys! Appreciate it!

 

[harryb2448]

Think the problem is to do with the age of the game. OS X.5 Leopard indicates it is a PowerPC application. These did run under Rosetta on Snow Leopard OS X.6 however Rosetta was culled from Lion and onwards.

 

[tannerwoodworth]

That's a very good point, thanks!

 

[pigoo3]

OS: OS X version Leopard 10.5.8, Snow Leopard 10.6.3, or later.

Similar to what Harry mentioned. The OS description written above is what was done when Macintosh computers were transitioning from PPC apps. to Intel apps. This occurred roughly around 2006/2007.

So I'm guessing that this game was originally from that time period. I'm going to say that developers aren't always that good about keeping a 6-7 year-old Macintosh app. (especially games) compatible with the latest OS 6-7 years later. Unless the game is VERY popular...and still selling well.

I noticed that this game is on "Steam" so that could be good as far as compatibility with OS 10.9. That's why I mentioned looking into 10.9 compatibility. If it's still on Steam...there may be more of an effort to make it 10.9 compatible.

- Nick

 

[tannerwoodworth]

I can only hope, if not it's really no biggie. Like I said, I might just get around to pulling out my old PC and putting that back together to play it haha. But seriously thanks for the help guys.

 

[mrplow]

Killing floor is a PC port.
It requires an Intel Mac.

The forums are littered with issues for it. The developers always ask for logs but have never come back with a robust solution.

Some suggest adding or removing the "-Window" startup option for the game in Steam.

others suggest you delete a couple of ini files

/Users/(User)/Library/Application Support/Killing Floor
there should be two folders, cache and system.
from the cache folder, delete cache.ini
from the system folder, delete killing floor.ini
restart steam and run killing floor

The devs support forum on Steam is here:
Killing Floor Mac Support - Tripwire Interactive Forums