If you plan on buying Far Cry 2 for your MBP, expect to run it on all low settings. I just ran a test on my MBP and SR Lab says it only meets minimum requirements. The problem is the video card, which failed to meet recommended specs.
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Far Cry 2 -- Mbp Impressions
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Have you tried running the game or just use the SR lab? I remember when I had a X300 video card in a laptop, I still ran FEAR in med settings with 30 FPS while all the "recommendations" said I couldn't run the game even under LOW settings.
Infact, is the game out yet?
Infact, is the game out yet?
You may be able to play Far Cry 2 on higher settings. Every time I would boot my mbp into Windows and play Half-Life 2 Episode 2, it would run choppy as hell. Now after a while I realized it runs very smooth IF I play a less graphically demanding game before (such as Roller Coaster Tycoon 2). At the point where I switched games, the laptop was pretty hot with the fans spinning.
So basically, all you need to do is "warm" your GPU up by playing a less demanding game. Promise me, it works very well.
So basically, all you need to do is "warm" your GPU up by playing a less demanding game. Promise me, it works very well.
I was just saying that when I play graphically demanding games right after boot up, they lag. If I boot up, play a less graphically demanding game and then play a more graphically demanding game after the fans spin up and the laptop heats up.
You literally let it "warm" up.
You literally let it "warm" up.
That kinda makes no sense since our video card perform WORSE under warm conditions due to threat of overheating.
Yeah... you'd think it would be worse, but it performs worse when it's on the cooler side... I don't know why.
if it gets too hot, there are going to be problems. the performance is about the same, regardless of temperature. but when it gets too hot, its reliability goes down. if your card is clocked at say 500/700.... it will be 500/700 regardless of if it's cold or warm.
Optimum GPU temp.
All GPUs function better within a certain temperature bracket, commonly between 50 degrees to 70 degrees. The reason for this is microscopic, the electrical current within the components have less resistance at higher temperatures, allowing them to move faster. This allows faster processing, and therefore better frame-rates.
If your frame-rates suffer between 50 - 75 degrees, get the card checked where you bought your laptop. Chances are the soldering spots are loose!
All GPUs function better within a certain temperature bracket, commonly between 50 degrees to 70 degrees. The reason for this is microscopic, the electrical current within the components have less resistance at higher temperatures, allowing them to move faster. This allows faster processing, and therefore better frame-rates.
If your frame-rates suffer between 50 - 75 degrees, get the card checked where you bought your laptop. Chances are the soldering spots are loose!
Far Cry 2 should run decent enough I'm guessing. Crysis & Crysis Warhead run pretty decent on 15" MacBook Pro's as well. While Far Cry 2 doesn't use the same engine, it seems pretty similar for the most part, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.
These kind of games often have a large community following as well, with people releasing customized files which tweak the game into running smoother.
These kind of games often have a large community following as well, with people releasing customized files which tweak the game into running smoother.
Far Cry 2 -- Mbp Impressions
MacBook Pro / 2.4 GHz Intel C2D (Penryn) / 2GB RAM / 256mb 8600m GT
Running under Windows XP Home SP2 32-bit
(Take note that I did not OC my GPU -- but OC'ing will improve performance)
Game settings:
1440x900
AA Off
V Sync On
All settings LOW
HDR and Bloom Off
I was surprised at how Far Cry 2 ran on the MBP. At low settings, the game still looks very good. Other games such as Crysis, the game looked terrible on low settings -- but Far Cry 2 is the exact opposite. There is a very noticeable difference between medium and low settings. At medium settings, the game ran at an average of 30fps but it becomes unplayable (read on).
Playing Far Cry 2 at low settings and at 1440x900 resolution, the game ran at a smooth 40fps. This includes running around, driving around, even in firefights the game maintains 40fps and will not drop below 35 (note that I had v sync on). However, the framerates will drop dramatically when you set things on fire and around multiple explosions. When I set the grass on fire, the framerate dropped from 40fps to 25fps. However, with vsync on the game still played rather smooth at 25fps and did not cause any stuttering.
Like I said, I did not OC my GPU like I usually do. OC'ing will increase performance, but I do not know by how much -- maybe a few FPS, but hopefully enough to decrease the framerate drop when around fire and multiple explosions. My MBP is pretty average, and those of you with the newer MBPs or even the 512mb 8600m would more than likely see a somewhat increase in performance.
Again, the game running at low settings will not steer you away from the game if you're looking for some eye candy. As previously stated, the game is beautiful even on low settings and if you mess around with the settings, you can get a good increase in visual quality with minimum cost of performance. I would definitely recommend this game because it not only plays well on your MBP, but it's also a fun game.
I'll OC my GPU next time I play and give an update on how large the performance is. I OC my GPU to 575/800. Check back for an update if you're interested in seeing the results.
UPDATE:
It runs 10fps faster when I OC'ed my GPU. Average FPS went from 40 to 50 (with v sync on). The issue with the dramatic decrease in framerates whenever there's fire or multiple explosions was lowered, it now only goes from 50 35. But for the most part, it stays at 50.
MacBook Pro / 2.4 GHz Intel C2D (Penryn) / 2GB RAM / 256mb 8600m GT
Running under Windows XP Home SP2 32-bit
(Take note that I did not OC my GPU -- but OC'ing will improve performance)
Game settings:
1440x900
AA Off
V Sync On
All settings LOW
HDR and Bloom Off
I was surprised at how Far Cry 2 ran on the MBP. At low settings, the game still looks very good. Other games such as Crysis, the game looked terrible on low settings -- but Far Cry 2 is the exact opposite. There is a very noticeable difference between medium and low settings. At medium settings, the game ran at an average of 30fps but it becomes unplayable (read on).
Playing Far Cry 2 at low settings and at 1440x900 resolution, the game ran at a smooth 40fps. This includes running around, driving around, even in firefights the game maintains 40fps and will not drop below 35 (note that I had v sync on). However, the framerates will drop dramatically when you set things on fire and around multiple explosions. When I set the grass on fire, the framerate dropped from 40fps to 25fps. However, with vsync on the game still played rather smooth at 25fps and did not cause any stuttering.
Like I said, I did not OC my GPU like I usually do. OC'ing will increase performance, but I do not know by how much -- maybe a few FPS, but hopefully enough to decrease the framerate drop when around fire and multiple explosions. My MBP is pretty average, and those of you with the newer MBPs or even the 512mb 8600m would more than likely see a somewhat increase in performance.
Again, the game running at low settings will not steer you away from the game if you're looking for some eye candy. As previously stated, the game is beautiful even on low settings and if you mess around with the settings, you can get a good increase in visual quality with minimum cost of performance. I would definitely recommend this game because it not only plays well on your MBP, but it's also a fun game.
I'll OC my GPU next time I play and give an update on how large the performance is. I OC my GPU to 575/800. Check back for an update if you're interested in seeing the results.
UPDATE:
It runs 10fps faster when I OC'ed my GPU. Average FPS went from 40 to 50 (with v sync on). The issue with the dramatic decrease in framerates whenever there's fire or multiple explosions was lowered, it now only goes from 50 35. But for the most part, it stays at 50.
All GPUs function better within a certain temperature bracket, commonly between 50 degrees to 70 degrees. The reason for this is microscopic, the electrical current within the components have less resistance at higher temperatures, allowing them to move faster. This allows faster processing, and therefore better frame-rates.
If your frame-rates suffer between 50 - 75 degrees, get the card checked where you bought your laptop. Chances are the soldering spots are loose!
ehm components gets higher resistance as temperature rises.
I was quite interested in this game until I found out that a) there's no demo to check it runs properly, and b) the developers have implemented the same half-arsed DRM that Spore uses. Shame really
I've got the same MBP as the OP, FWIW.
I've got the same MBP as the OP, FWIW.
I've been looking for this info, thank you!
slightly more specifically though, i'd like to know how it runs on the 2.5 with 2.97 GB (in windows) and the 512MB card.
I'd like for the game to look decent (at least equivilent to the source engine games at max settings) and run at at least 40FPS, so if it doesnt i'd opt for the 360 version.
If anyone can let me know that'd be great!
slightly more specifically though, i'd like to know how it runs on the 2.5 with 2.97 GB (in windows) and the 512MB card.
I'd like for the game to look decent (at least equivilent to the source engine games at max settings) and run at at least 40FPS, so if it doesnt i'd opt for the 360 version.
If anyone can let me know that'd be great!
At low settings, Far Cry 2 looks better than the Source Engine at max settings.
And if your specs are better than mine, you should expect better performance.
Well, turns out you were WRONG. Far Cry 2 runs great at normal settings, and runs pretty good tweaking it to high.
All GPUs function better within a certain temperature bracket, commonly between 50 degrees to 70 degrees. The reason for this is microscopic, the electrical current within the components have less resistance at higher temperatures, allowing them to move faster. This allows faster processing, and therefore better frame-rates.
If your frame-rates suffer between 50 - 75 degrees, get the card checked where you bought your laptop. Chances are the soldering spots are loose!
Exactly what is this based on, because there's this physics website hosted by a college that begs to differ:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/restmp.html
Markov, it sounds to me like it's not so much that it's getting "warmed" up, but that one of your energy settings is the cause of this.