Mac OS X 10.5.2 brings big FPS gains
by Eliah Hecht 
Feb 11th 2008 at 8:30PM
Ever since a few WoW patches ago, many of us Mac users have been, honestly, suffering with much lower framerates than we should be seeing, given the hardware we're on. Fortunately, it looks like the just-released 10.5.2 system update will give a lot of help in that department, along with many other system fixes. Tipster Jason went from 27.5 FPS to between 45 and 60 FPS on his iMac after installing 10.5.2 and the Leopard Graphics Update (which also just came out today and requires 10.5.2), and our own Adam Holisky went from 30 to 50 FPS on his own first-gen Intel iMac. I didn't have the presence of mind to test my WoW before updating, but it's certainly running silky smooth now on my MacBook Pro. Go now, good Leopard-using readers, and run your Software Updates (always a good idea to back up before major updates, though). Those of you who have updated, are you seeing performance benefits?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Milktub Feb 11th 2008 8:49PM
I can't imagine 50fps ... at the lowest video settings, and dead, in an instance, I'm lucky to get 30fps.
Balthezor Feb 11th 2008 9:06PM
I like that you used 10.5.1 in rare blue and 10.5.2 in epic purple. I gave a satisfied hah when i seen that.
Epic indeed.
Zach Feb 11th 2008 9:19PM
Oooh! Clever! I didn't even see that. Framerates aren't my problem, though. Playing from Asia, I never see my latency ever drop below three digits. :(
Jason Feb 11th 2008 9:28PM
I sure hope it's more stable. On 10.5.1 I would get a number of crashes during a play sessions and kernel panics were not uncommon.
I still don't get why apple doesn't allow ATI and Nvidia to post mac drivers on their sites.
kapowaz Feb 12th 2008 9:10AM
Apple integrate their drivers into software updates so as to ensure that a given version (e.g. 10.5.2) of Mac OS X will always have the same underlying driver software. It's inconvenient for power users looking to eke that little bit more from their hardware, but it's also good for consumers in ensuring that drivers are perfectly stable (having been through a release test cycle with all the other components of the software update).
Tim Buckingham Feb 11th 2008 9:30PM
I went from ~42fps in a windowed mode (max settings) in an Inn to a constant 60fps.
I'm getting ~58fps outside in the Hellfire Peninsula now.
MacBook Pro 2.2GHz, 4GB of RAM, Geforce 8600M.
So the graphics update + 10.5.2 doesn't just improve on the ATI drivers :)
token Feb 11th 2008 9:45PM
Any comments on 10.5 for PPC?
I've hesitated to upgrade to Leopard on my Power Mac G5 because I'd heard from a few people that they took performance hits in WoW.
Charlie Taylor Feb 11th 2008 9:47PM
I've got a Dual 2Ghz G5 that I just installed 10.5.2 and the graphics update on, and it's a huge improvement! It's almost back to pre-leopard levels, and in some places better!
token Feb 11th 2008 10:10PM
Thanks Charlie. I will have to revisit the issue of upgrading now. :)
Melenor Feb 11th 2008 10:21PM
I went from 75 FPS max settings/resolution running Windows on my Mac to 75 FPS after updating to 10.5.2 . Truly stellar work the folks at Apple are doing.
My dock is still choppy, and so are my Spaces especially. Great to know that OpenGL isn't useless for running WoW, but how about they implement it into the core OS first? I really had my hopes up for the smooth-as-silk Tiger exposé transitions to return. OS-wide FPS is still cut in half.
uptownkungfu Feb 11th 2008 10:36PM
From 12 FPS to 12 FPS.
Yeah. =\
Melina Feb 11th 2008 10:43PM
lol, Me too on the 12 fps to 12 fps. I was all excited when I read this but, noooo, not for me, these improvements.
Erm, I'm guessing you're on a 2-year-old macbook as well?
Fortunately, I never see latencies above 40 ms--I consider it as karmic repayment for having to suffer through choppiness at minimum settings.
doyesac Feb 11th 2008 11:12PM
This is like Christmas in... um... February.
I upgraded twice, at the same time: from a MacBook with 10.4 (far from ideal for WoW, but passable) to a new iMac with 10.5 — so I already saw huge upgrades in graphics. If it's even better as soon as the upgrade (downloading now!) installs, then all I have to say is woot!
@Melanor — have you upgraded you memory? My dock in 10.5 was choppy too, but after adding 2G ram (for a total of 3) everything smoothed out.
Melenor Feb 12th 2008 2:58AM
I added 2GB to mine as soon as I got it (October '07), for a total of 4 ^_^ I don't think that is the problem. I have both the PC and Mac versions of WoW on the laptop, and can boot between the two, and always choose Windows because it's simply twice as fast. The Tiger to Leopard switch was what impacted my frame rate on OS X, similar to if I were to run Vista instead of XP (although maybe not THAT bad).
fhb Feb 12th 2008 1:11AM
tested on a dual core power mac G5 2.3 GHz, nvidia 7800 vid card, mounted above aldor rise looking over shatt, all settings at max, no characters in view
10.5.1: 20fps
10.5.2: 20 fps
10.5.2 + graphics update: 23fps
not much of a change, but the fps seems a bit more stable when opening other windows in wow
Knard Feb 12th 2008 10:19AM
I'm on a G4 Powerbook 1.67 Ghz, single core, 2 gigs ram.
My framerate doesn't go above 30, and I'm wondering. I'm fine with the 30fps, it's the 4 fps I get in shat or big BG fights that's the problem. (I'm running everything on minimum settings).
I'm still running tiger, and wondering if upgrading to Leopard is would net me any improvements.
Any advice?
Zac Tolley Feb 12th 2008 2:37AM
Well my Mac Pro with its 8800GT comes today so it'll probably be 30fps to 100fps, sigh
SaintStryfe Feb 12th 2008 3:14AM
I generally get 35-45 on my iMac C2D (the first Intel iMac) with 1.5g of RAM and a 2ghz processor... let's see what happens, non? I'll update later!
SaintStryfe Feb 12th 2008 3:53AM
I update and of course, the Network is down except for Port 80. The geniuses running our college network do this all the time when they're 'upgrading' (BKA running around screaming "OH MY GOD I'M GOING TO GET FIRED FOR TAKING THE CREDIT PROCESSING DOWN!".
So I'll let you know. If it's anything, the login screen looks smoother!
SaintStryfe Feb 12th 2008 4:33AM
ok, things are back up and I can confirm a modest increase in speeds - 5-10 more FPS (In a busy screen time in SHatt I could dip as low as 15 FPS, now I'm getting 25, which is a segnifigant increase, plus it looks much smoother.)
IN general standing around IF, I was getting 70 FPS where before 55 was more common.
Generally, an improvement. Aces Apple and Blizzard. Keep it going. I'll update a bit later with info from my MacBook and see if that has a difference.