PC gaming question

Omar Mubarak · Mar 22, 2013

Hello, I have recently bought a MacBook Pro with retina display and I'm loving it! I'm using it for a bit of gaming, and in the actual game (Skyrim for example), every time I move the camera, the whole screen looks a bit weird and I can't focus on the game. I can't really describe it, it's as if I'm not seeing the game correctly, and after I stop moving the camera, I see everything normally. I'm running this game on Ultra settings with anti-aliasing off (seeing I have FXAA on), and this game runs like butter! Which Is probably the thing that baffled me the most! The specs are:
2.6 GHz Intel Core i7 with 6MB shared L3 cache.
8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 Memory.
GeForce GT 650M (factory over clocked at 900 GPU clock and 2500 memory clock) with 1 GB GDDR5 VRAM.

Is it that I'm simply new to PC gaming and that I'll adjust? This happened to pretty much every game I played, and I would really much appreciate it if someone were able to fix this problem for me.

Thank you for reading and for any future answers.

Feldmarschall · Mar 22, 2013

Well if your frame rate drops below 30fps you'll get headache for sure if not used to it. Check your framerate, install FRAPS and it will run under game.

DarkSable · Mar 22, 2013

Yeah, no, that's either a driver error or the fact that you're trying to play skyrim on ultra with a graphics card that barely handles powerpoint.

bgunner · Mar 22, 2013

Have you tried to turn the graphics settings down? the GTX650M is closer in performance to a GTX 640 than a standard GTX 650. that system cant be giving a smooth frame rate at all on ultra. so give it a try and let us know if the problem is still there.

DarkSable · Mar 22, 2013

bgunner :

A standard 650 would run skyrim smoothly on medium, at 1080p. A 650m, well... might handle low?

Omar Mubarak · Mar 22, 2013

DarkSable :

Well, seeing that is what GeForce experience says is the "Optimal settings", I don't think so.

J_E_D_70 · Mar 22, 2013

2560x1600 or 2880x1800?

Either way, you are asking a LOT out of that level of mobile GPU. They only test up to 1080p at the link below and it comes up as "red" on ultra at that resolution. Realize you're getting more performance by dropping the AA, but your pushing *twice* as many pixels as these tests.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/The-Elder-Scrolls-V-Skyrim-Benchmarks.66057.0.html

Have you tried running stock high, medium, and low to see if the effect is the same?

DarkSable · Mar 22, 2013

Omar Mubarak :

The only entry that the GeForce experience has is for a 560... you have a 650M which isn't NEARLY as close to competent.

EDIT: Also, at that high of a resolution, it's a mix of low and medium, so I have no idea where you're getting your information: http://www.geforce.com/games-applications/pc-games/elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/ops/Elder-Scrolls-V-Skyrim-GeForce-GTX-560-OPS

Omar Mubarak · Mar 22, 2013

DarkSable :

Let's keep this a friendly conversation

Just used FRAPS, the FPS was mostly in the 40's outdoors, and constant 60 indoors, sometimes dipping to the 30's when lost of plants are present.
Actually, it's more like a "I can't keep up with the camera moving" kind of thing.

DarkSable · Mar 22, 2013

Omar Mubarak :

Well if you're happy with your settings, then you're happy.

As for keeping up with the camera, do you have motion blur on?

Omar Mubarak · Mar 22, 2013

J_E_D_70 :

The resolution is on 1920x1200, and as said below, mid 40's outdoors dropping to 30's when lots of plants present, constant 60 indoors. Pretty sure the problem isn't hardware related.

Omar Mubarak · Mar 22, 2013

DarkSable :

All settings are on and maxed except for shadows and anti-aliasing, so I guess. I'll turn it off and see.

No motion blur, though there is this option called "Radial blur"

DarkSable · Mar 22, 2013

Omar Mubarak :

And does the problem get better at all if you disable it? That sounds like motion blur that applies when turning.

rostrow416 · Mar 22, 2013

maybe you do just need to get used to it, but you have to consider turning down graphics settings. by all accounts that card has enough to handle with the retina display, let alone gaming on ultra. even though apple clocks the 650m fairly high, it just doesn't have the raw power.

Omar Mubarak · Mar 22, 2013

DarkSable :

Put radial blur on low and that pretty much fixed my problem. Plus I got a 10 FPS increase which I think can be used to get anti-aliasing up to 2x. Thanks dude!

Omar Mubarak · Mar 22, 2013

rostrow416 :

My common sense suggested that, even before buying this laptop, that it was impossible for this GPU to game on 2880x1800, I play all games on 1920x1200 (which is the highest resolution I can go up to which has a 16:10 ratio AND provides good FPS), thanks for the answer!

DarkSable · Mar 22, 2013

Omar Mubarak :

First, you're welcome, and I'm glad I could help figure it out!

And yeah, I'm actually amazed you're getting numbers you're happy with with settings that high.

Omar Mubarak · Mar 22, 2013

DarkSable :

Omar Mubarak :

First, you're welcome, and I'm glad I could help figure it out!

And yeah, I'm actually amazed you're getting numbers you're happy with with settings that high.

I am too lol, never thought that Apple, of all companies was able to make a laptop that actually plays Skyrim well!

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