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Sudden rMBP graphic performance issues

Hello,

I've a MacBook Pro with Retina display, running 10.8.2 and Win7 64-bit (via Bootcamp).


It's since a couple of days now, that I'm noticing a sharp drop in my rMBP's graphic performance. This is best observed in games, running both on OSX and Windows. For example, I've played a lot of Diablo 3 with this computer, under OSX, on standard resolution (not retina), and it played very well, and really smooth. When I ran it today, it lags really bad (i.e., running at very low FPS). It's unplayable. This shift occured overnight. One time it worked, then suddenly it doesn't.


I've observed this playing Borderlands 2, under Windows (Bootcamp). This game used to run just fine until this 'performance drop' occured.


Did some testing;

According to System Information, when I'm just browsing the internet, my machine is using the Intel HD 4000, and when I run Diablo 3, it then switches to the Geforce GT 650M. I get very poor performance. Then, while the game is running, I ran Activity Monitor only to see my system totally chilling. Had 93% CPU Idle, 10.5GB free RAM, hardly any disk activity @ peaks of 1MB/sec. I then ran atMonitor, which apparently monitors GPU load and temp. the GPU was at 99%, and I'm not sure about the temp. I assume it went up as well.


I'm not sure what exactly caused this shift. Is any familiar with this? Any bright ideas?


Thanks. All the best,

-w00fa

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Sep 29, 2012 8:36 PM

Reply
110 replies

Oct 1, 2012 9:14 PM in response to skater704

Are you connected to the wall? I read somewhere that you need to be connected. I think you should be able to see some sort of indication on the magsafe connector. The light will turn from green to orange (if the battery is fully charged), or go off then back on. Again, I read this somewhere, haven't tried it myself.

Oct 3, 2012 10:04 AM in response to w00fa

The SMC reset seems to be a temporary fix. From what I've observed, the framerates in Borderlands 2 are at 40-50 when i first boot into windows. But, if I've played for about one hour, they drop below 20. As a test, I left it paused and came back two hours later, the frame rate was unplayable at 5-10. To me, it seems to be a heat issue. When the fans are chugging hard, the frames per sec seem to be really low. Anyone else experience this?

Oct 3, 2012 10:56 AM in response to skater704

This is not the problem I have. I am playing in OSX, I close WoW/Diablo and shut the lid on the MacBook (sleep mode) unplug it, take it to another room (ironically the bedroom which is about 2-4 degrees cooler), plug it back in, open it up restart WoW/Diablo from launcher and frame rate has dropped to 5-10fps. The fans do not go at all. It sounds like your problem is a heat problem? Which I assume may be due to Windows. The other problem which most people on this forum seem to have is that the SMC somehow sets itself to the lowest possible setting so it isn't even possible for the computer to get hot as it is barely using anything. I have also noticed that where I have the energy saver set to highest graphics (not auto switching) it randomly switches back itself.


Unfortunately I live in the UAE and there is no real Apple service here, so I cannot report it until I am I'm the UK for Xmas.

Oct 3, 2012 11:28 AM in response to buttmonki

I have the same issue as you, SMC reset works. Doesn't seem related to heat as I can play as long as I want without issues, but waking up from sleep seems to be the issue.


I've called support several times, but they are pretty clueless here and it seemed to have happend with the latest EFI update, at least the timing seems right. I'll go by an apple store again, to see if that helps, but so far I have had no luck. They just ask me to re-install, which does not solve this issue.

Oct 3, 2012 12:55 PM in response to w00fa

Hi. I have problem with lags, and after reading this thread still cant find solution. I installed win7 via bootcamp and latest drivers from nvidia (306.23). After few days of normal gameplay, suddenly, i experienced lags - after playing mass effect 3 for 5 minutes I'm receiving lag tick every 1 sec, even after game closed and laptops cools down, it continues (i can see it on windows animations), only reboot helps, inspected through nvidia inspector - max temperature 72 degrease, 900/2500. What can i do?


SMC reset works only for limited amount of time, 1 day maximum, and then all goes around.

Oct 8, 2012 10:17 PM in response to w00fa

So looks like I may have stumbled on something that works, this is only for advanced users though and I take no responsibility for any issues arising from following the below steps.


Nvidia released new MacOS 10.8.2 drivers, but you need to change the .dist file before they will install. Generally nvidia drivers work with all their GPUs, but they only release drivers for GPUs they actually specifically tested, anyways.


First thing first, check that you are on MacOS 10.8.2 (Mountain Lion), installing these drivers on any other version of MacOS will break your system and you'll be unable to boot, you've been warned!


1) Install the latest Nvidia CUDA drivers found here, no need to change anything these install without having to modify anything

Link: http://www.nvidia.com/object/cuda-mac-driver.html


2) Install the latest Nvidia MacOS drivers, these does not support MacBook pro retina by default so you'll have to modify the package.

Link: http://www.nvidia.com/object/macosx-304.00.05f02-driver.html


3) After you download open the Retail-304.00.05f02-macosx file and shortly after a new window should open called NVIDIA Drivers. Inside is an icon looking like an open box and the filename is 304.00.05f02 Web Release.


4) Drag this box to your desktop


5) Right click the file on your desktop and select Show Package Content


6) Expand the Content folder and you'll see a file called Distribution.dist


7) Right-click and select open with, then Other...


8) Scroll down until you find TextEdit, double-click TextEdit


9) Locate this line: var found_hardware = 0;


10) change 0 to 1 so the line reads: var found_hardware = 1;


11) Close Textedit


12) Close Finder


13) Double click the 304.00.05f02 Web Release file that you copied to your desktop


14) Let it install, when it asks you to reboot, click reboot


15) Hope it works!


So far it's been working for me, but I only tested for a few hours, so no guarantees this fix is permanent, but for me it was worth a shot at least!


Message was edited by: teggo

Oct 8, 2012 11:04 PM in response to teggo

Good job, teggo!


I have to point out that since my first, and only SMC reset, I've yet to encounter graphics performance issues. I do make a lot of rebooting, to run Windows and back, and I regularly put my rmbp to sleep.


Here's to hoping I don't have to use this workaround 😀


Thanks again for the tip! Best,

-w00f

Sudden rMBP graphic performance issues

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