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    Gaming on the go and xp

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by 00fez, Jan 12, 2008.

  1. 00fez

    00fez Notebook Deity

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    Evenin' guys and girls. Through my many trials with my new mbp, I've noticed how there has been a massive decrease in performance when I try to game on xp when I'm running on the battery, like in WoW I go from 50-60fps avg to 15fps avg.

    The most obvious explanation is that xp underclocks the processor to save battery, or something. Is there a program that lets me run the game as if I was plugged in?
     
    00fez, Jan 12, 2008
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  2. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    Change the battery settings to "high performance".
     
    Lithus, Jan 12, 2008
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  3. Arquis

    Arquis Kojima Worshiper

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    Yep, even "normal" would do. When you unplug your setting automatically switches to "Beter Battery Life" which descreases performance. However, trying to game on a battery will be a very short-lived experience. Have fun with those 10 minutes, lol.
     
    Arquis, Jan 12, 2008
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  4. Grey728

    Grey728 Notebook Evangelist

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    There's also a built in power saving feature on nVidia's drivers called PowerMizer which is automatically set to "Power save" when running on battery. Try setting that to max performance instead or disable Powermizer completely. Also, if you're using BETA nvidia drivers from laptopvideo2go, powermizer does not function correctly unless you use the 168.28 BETA drivers (latest beta release for windows XP). See more info on Laptopvideo2go's website for drivers that best suite you.
     
    Grey728, Jan 12, 2008
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  5. 00fez

    00fez Notebook Deity

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    Thanks guys, I'll give that a try. Don't how I've never seen the high performance thing before...
     
    00fez, Jan 12, 2008
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  6. hollownail

    hollownail Individual 11

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    I'm curious about something with gaming in the MBP... Heat is the #1 thing that damages batteries and decreases their overall battery life right? Well, when you game, the laptop is at it's hottest, since everything is pretty much going balls to wall... So would it be better to remove the battery while gaming?

    Of course, granted that you could keep the magsafe from coming disconnected (always comes out when I play WoW)...
     
    hollownail, Jan 12, 2008
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  7. Arquis

    Arquis Kojima Worshiper

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    I believe the performance significantly lowers if the battery is removed. But the battery itself does not get hot, other areas do.
     
    Arquis, Jan 12, 2008
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  8. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    Your battery is going to die no matter what. Granted it may last a week longer if kept in the Antarctic, but it's inevitable.
     
    Lithus, Jan 12, 2008
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  9. enter260

    enter260 Notebook Consultant

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    Ya I believe it only runs on one core if the battery is removed? I could be wrong...
     
    enter260, Jan 12, 2008
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  10. Syrc

    Syrc Notebook Consultant

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    If you game with the battery removed it undervolts(?) the processor, something about Apple not wanting the computer to draw more power than the power cord can supply. Also 00fez, if you're gaming at "better performance" on battery you will probably only be able to play for 30-45 minutes before your battery runs dry.
     
    Syrc, Jan 12, 2008
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  11. kgeier82

    kgeier82 Notebook Deity

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    use the battery, leave it in always. there is no point in babying it like others have said. it will die, when its ready to die.

    then again, you can choose to be one of the people i laugh @ who uninstalls their battery when on AC.
     
    kgeier82, Jan 12, 2008
    #11