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tkmd · Jul 4, 2004, 08:05 PM

So I heard about the hype about Halo so I just bought it from Comp USA. So far the game is pretty cool, but considering I have the top-of -the-line PB (1.5Ghz/1.25GB/128VRAM) I was expecting better framerates. I know that Macs are poor at games, but what settings do PB owners have the game at to optimize framerates so they dont slow down during action scenes and still look decent? Is there any gain in FR in updating the patches (I have version 1.02) offered by Macsoft- considering I wont do much online gaming?

Thanks

rag on a muffin · Jul 4, 2004, 11:08 PM

well, actually you can thank apple for screwing over your frame-rates. in 10.3.4, there is a graphics card "update" that just totally ruined my performance, and have not come out with an update to fix this. i simply reverted to 10.3.3 so i could play all my 3d games again.

tkmd · Jul 5, 2004, 09:10 AM

Then how can I get back to 10.3.3 if the computer came with 10.3.4 from the factory? The Panther CD I have cant load on the computer so I guess I am stuck with 10.3.4.

Anybody with some good suggestions using thier PB and halo?

kafoochy · Jul 6, 2004, 04:03 PM

Originally posted by tkmd:
Then how can I get back to 10.3.3 if the computer came with 10.3.4 from the factory? The Panther CD I have cant load on the computer so I guess I am stuck with 10.3.4.

Anybody with some good suggestions using thier PB and halo?

I don't think you will be able to. Apple replaced my 1.25Ghz AluBook with a 1.5Ghz because of the problems I was having with it. I cloned the hard drive, but the computer wouldn't boot unless I "updated" the hard drive. The genius at the Apple Store said that they have a special updater to use to put the old images (10.3.3) or so, on the new display models but that he couldn't give it to me, once again thanks Apple. I however was able to use the System Install/Recovery DVD to "Update" my system to 10.3.4 and everything ran fine. I'd suggest turning off some of the special features, and turn down the resolution a bit. I'm pretty happy with Halo on my 1.5Ghz 64mb VRAM even with Halo on XBox as well. Why am I still happy with Halo when I have my roommates have it on XBox? Because I know that the PC port sucks just as much as the Mac version. Halo is probably one of the most played games today, yet the PC version a horrible port of the console game. This has been extremely well documented. Make sure you quit all applications before playing, and possibly restart. I'm at work right now, or else I'd try to find more advice.

iREZ · Jul 6, 2004, 04:19 PM

HALO is a fun game even with low settings, just turn off the eye candy. Graphics are just icing on a cake, you won't eat a cake that tastes like crap but has good tasting icing, but you would eat a cake with no icing that tastes good. Halo is a very fun to play, turn off all settings till you get maximum performance, then add stuff slowly to find your best setup. Fun factor should be the reason you play a game, graphics are just icing on the cake.

kafoochy · Jul 6, 2004, 04:32 PM

Originally posted by tkmd:
So I heard about the hype about Halo so I just bought it from Comp USA. So far the game is pretty cool, but considering I have the top-of -the-line PB (1.5Ghz/1.25GB/128VRAM) I was expecting better framerates. I know that Macs are poor at games, but what settings do PB owners have the game at to optimize framerates so they dont slow down during action scenes and still look decent? Is there any gain in FR in updating the patches (I have version 1.02) offered by Macsoft- considering I wont do much online gaming?

Thanks

I also meant to comment in my original post that Mac's aren't necessarily poor at games. They usually aren't quite as good as their PC counterparts but they are by no-means poor. The Radeon Mobility 9700 is one of the best mobile graphics chipsets you can put in a laptop today, and is especially good with 128mb of Ram.

Sorry, but I was a little taken aback by your first comment. Just turn down the resolution to 800x600 and you'll have very nice framerates and basically just play around with the settings, FSAA and shaders have a huge affect on performance. I also forgot to mention in my first post to go to the Energy Saver, then go to Options and change the Processor speed/load or whatever it says from Automatic or Lowest to "Highest" This may help things as well.

rag on a muffin · Jul 6, 2004, 09:56 PM

get halo 1.5. it did wonders for my friends computer.

Frumpy · Jul 7, 2004, 10:12 AM

Same problem with the Panther discs that I own and my new PB 12". I updated my PB to 10.3.4 shortly after it was released, and when I tried to revert back to 10.3.3 the disc would start to load, show the Apple sign, and then graphically glitch it to make it look like it had overlapped on the screen. It just freezes at that point. Thanks Apple. So now I can't even load up my original Panther discs?!