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>>30% loss of gaming performance after 10.6.7

K

KPOM

macrumors P6
Oct 23, 2010
18,311
8,326
BlackMax said:
Reading posts like this has me seriously considering skipping the 10.6.7 patch altogether on my 11" MBA. All I can figure is that Apple must have modified the NVIDIA GeForce 320M drivers for the worse. The much worse.
Click to expand...

We'd need a more complete set of benchmarks to make that conclusion. Anyway, note that Apple did say that 10.6.7 was geared both to address performance and an issue that could cause a kernel panic. I was getting panics left and right (though Apple's solution was to replace the logic board), so perhaps they throttled down the 320m because it was causing issues.

Anyway, they'll definitely need to patch either 10.6.7 or iTunes 10.2.1 to fix the iTunes issue, so hopefully they address any performance issues, as well.

I did notice this, though:

http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/forum/topic/2267599143

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2795016&tstart=0
 
G

GreyMatta

macrumors regular
Jul 29, 2007
212
0
England
KPOM said:
We'd need a more complete set of benchmarks to make that conclusion. Anyway, note that Apple did say that 10.6.7 was geared both to address performance and an issue that could cause a kernel panic. I was getting panics left and right (though Apple's solution was to replace the logic board), so perhaps they throttled down the 320m because it was causing issues.

Anyway, they'll definitely need to patch either 10.6.7 or iTunes 10.2.1 to fix the iTunes issue, so hopefully they address any performance issues, as well.

I did notice this, though:

http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/forum/topic/2267599143

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2795016&tstart=0
Click to expand...

I read those threads trying to find a fix so I was aware i wasn't the only one

I also found a thread that mentions trying to install some Quadro 4000 kexts from an nVidia 10.6.7 fix but it just borked my display and SC2 complained of support for my Graphics card so I ran the 10.6.7 update again to get things back

hope Apple fix this soon (need my SC2 fix)
 
Susurs

Susurs

macrumors 68000
Jun 18, 2010
1,609
11,017
Regarding XBench... It does not matter if the number of performance decreased is 30 or 5-10%. The main thing is that it is decreased and on purpose or not but letting such thing happen is not acceptable. Not to even talk about other problems in 10.6.7. I did not bought an Apple computer to sit and look for solutions on different errors with it neither did any of you bought it for this reason I believe...
 
Susurs

Susurs

macrumors 68000
Jun 18, 2010
1,609
11,017
Looking at Apple discussion thread and Blizzard forums it seems that MBP's are suffering from this issue (low FPS in Starcraft) too...
 
C

Cerano

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 28, 2010
268
1
the apple support forums thread is mine

its my apple id

anyway is apple aware of this issue? Im afraid if i downgrade back to 10.6.5 or 6 ill lose my data and i dont have a hdd to back it up with :mad:
 
C

Cerano

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 28, 2010
268
1
Susurs said:
Regarding XBench... It does not matter if the number of performance decreased is 30 or 5-10%. The main thing is that it is decreased and on purpose or not but letting such thing happen is not acceptable. Not to even talk about other problems in 10.6.7. I did not bought an Apple computer to sit and look for solutions on different errors with it neither did any of you bought it for this reason I believe...
Click to expand...

agreed this is a major issue how do we bring it up to apple?
 
Scottsdale

Scottsdale

Suspended
Sep 19, 2008
4,473
283
U.S.A.
Apple did this exact same thing back in one of the early updates. OpenGL finally improved later with another update. We discussed it back then. The thing is, is this only happening to the MBA or is it happening to all Macs? If it's just the MBA, then perhaps the conspiracy is to ensure the MBA benchmarks for graphics are lower than the next generation MBA with a worthless SB IGP? This could mean really bad things for the MBA. So someone please report back and let us know is this an MBA only trait or is OpenGL in 10.6.7 worse for all Macs? For all of those that do want an MBA with SB IGP in June, this may be the news you have been waiting for, whether it means a better MBA for you or not.
 
C

Cerano

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 28, 2010
268
1
Scottsdale said:
Apple did this exact same thing back in one of the early updates. OpenGL finally improved later with another update. We discussed it back then. The thing is, is this only happening to the MBA or is it happening to all Macs? If it's just the MBA, then perhaps the conspiracy is to ensure the MBA benchmarks for graphics are lower than the next generation MBA with a worthless SB IGP? This could mean really bad things for the MBA. So someone please report back and let us know is this an MBA only trait or is OpenGL in 10.6.7 worse for all Macs? For all of those that do want an MBA with SB IGP in June, this may be the news you have been waiting for, whether it means a better MBA for you or not.
Click to expand...

dont think so mate... is apple so underhanded? also this seems to be affecting MBPs with discrete ATIs
 
impulse462

impulse462

macrumors 68020
Jun 3, 2009
2,097
2,878
Scottsdale said:
Apple did this exact same thing back in one of the early updates. OpenGL finally improved later with another update. We discussed it back then. The thing is, is this only happening to the MBA or is it happening to all Macs? If it's just the MBA, then perhaps the conspiracy is to ensure the MBA benchmarks for graphics are lower than the next generation MBA with a worthless SB IGP? This could mean really bad things for the MBA. So someone please report back and let us know is this an MBA only trait or is OpenGL in 10.6.7 worse for all Macs? For all of those that do want an MBA with SB IGP in June, this may be the news you have been waiting for, whether it means a better MBA for you or not.
Click to expand...

If its happening to the other MBP's then its probably an OpenGL issue or drivers issue. Just the fact that Apple keeps harping that the MBA's are the next generation of Macbooks, I have a hard time believing they would sabotage this generation of MBA's.

Who knows.
 
chrono1081

chrono1081

macrumors G3
Jan 26, 2008
8,732
5,217
Isla Nublar
GreyMatta said:
after installing 10.6.7 I was getting around 40fps at medium settings in SC2 this was after going from 10.6.6 to 10.6.7.

I decided to do a bit of a clean up of my OS and do a clean install so I used my USB stick to reinstall everything and then did a software update to take me to 10.6.7 I now get 8-9fps in SC2 at medium settings.

any body have any ideas to rectify this?
Click to expand...

http://www.Apple.com/feedback



Cerano said:
agreed this is a major issue how do we bring it up to apple?
Click to expand...

http://www.Apple.com/feedback

Seriously this is the only way. No amount of forum talk including the Apple message boards should be considered as reporting the problem to Apple. Only leaving direct feedback will ensure that Apple gets the news.
 
KnightWRX

KnightWRX

macrumors Pentium
Jan 28, 2009
15,046
4
Quebec, Canada
chrono1081 said:
http://www.Apple.com/feedback

http://www.Apple.com/feedback

Seriously this is the only way. No amount of forum talk including the Apple message boards should be considered as reporting the problem to Apple. Only leaving direct feedback will ensure that Apple gets the news.
Click to expand...

That link should not be used for support issues like a performance degradation. It is not a product support contact. Use the proper support channels (either Applecare or the Genius bar) if you are having performance degradation. Be ready to show results with both 10.6.6 and 10.6.7.
 
res1233

res1233

macrumors 65816
Dec 8, 2008
1,127
0
Brooklyn, NY
Benjy91 said:
Can you not simply roll back the drivers like on Windows?
Click to expand...

Windows only has that because it's designed to operate with tons of devices, so it's definitely possible you'll want to revert back to older drivers... This kind of thing should never happen considering how much control apple has over the entire process. Do they even run benchmarks?

It seems to me that all Apple seems to care about is stability, and while that's just fine and dandy, they often do it while sacrificing performance. It sure would be nice if they could find some sort of middle-ground... Although to be honest, you don't buy an MBA for performance. It seems to me that the majority of people who buy macs with integrated graphics, want macs for the stability, rather than the performance.
 
Hastings101

Hastings101

macrumors 68020
Jun 22, 2010
2,355
1,482
K
untype said:
I really hope that this is some kind of oversight and not an intentional crippling of the Air. I've heard all kinds of conspiracy theories regarding products that are too close in performance and price so the manufacturer slows one down/kills performance so it is somewhat worse.
Click to expand...

iPhone 3G meets iOS 4 >_>

I'm sure it could happen to the Macintosh line as well.
 
D

DKfraDK

macrumors newbie
Jan 29, 2010
21
0
I have a 13" Macbook Air 1,86 GHz, 4gb ram.

I have no Xbench results from 10.6.6.

I just ran it now under 10.6.7, and my openGL results match the OP's under 10.6.6

Spinning Squares 106.23 - 134,76 fps.

So I guess that im just lucky :cool:
 
G

GreyMatta

macrumors regular
Jul 29, 2007
212
0
England
DKfraDK said:
I have a 13" Macbook Air 1,86 GHz, 4gb ram.

I have no Xbench results from 10.6.6.

I just ran it now under 10.6.7, and my openGL results match the OP's under 10.6.6

Spinning Squares 106.23 - 134,76 fps.

So I guess that im just lucky :cool:
Click to expand...

Not really, try running SC2 or another game and see what the performance is like,

I have terrible (8-9 fps used to be about 40fps) performance in SC2 but my Xbench scores are more or less the same as yours.
 
Susurs

Susurs

macrumors 68000
Jun 18, 2010
1,609
11,017
DKfraDK said:
I have a 13" Macbook Air 1,86 GHz, 4gb ram.

I have no Xbench results from 10.6.6.

I just ran it now under 10.6.7, and my openGL results match the OP's under 10.6.6

Spinning Squares 106.23 - 134,76 fps.

So I guess that im just lucky :cool:
Click to expand...

Just that he's got 11' ultimate...
 
BlackMax

BlackMax

macrumors 6502a
Jan 14, 2007
901
0
North Carolina
KPOM said:
I was getting panics left and right (though Apple's solution was to replace the logic board), so perhaps they throttled down the 320m because it was causing issues.
Click to expand...

It would make me very sad if this was all just an attempt to improve the stability of some Apple notebooks as my MBA has been rock solid whether playing SC2, watching movies or whatever.

OS X 10.6.6 Forever! :D
 
Scottsdale

Scottsdale

Suspended
Sep 19, 2008
4,473
283
U.S.A.
Cerano said:
dont think so mate... is apple so underhanded? also this seems to be affecting MBPs with discrete ATIs
Click to expand...

I didn't know if it was just happening to the MBA... I put a question mark there. I know the last time it affected all Macs. It is pretty sad actually. The quality control is crap! I refuse to update until all of the results come in and after a few weeks. I refuse to update to .7 at this time.
 
B

blow45

macrumors 68000
Jan 18, 2011
1,576
0
10.6.7 is a dud for sure, and sl, has slowly become a dog with each incremental release except the first couple, that's my general impression at least.
 
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