Looking to optimize Dolphin for wii games [macbook pro]

golla · 10-26-2011, 01:12 PM #1

I've been trying to find a way to speed up dolphin because currently wii games lag badly, and there are some display issues (invisble coins and blocks for one thing), and all I can find are video's for general installation or for older version's of dolphin where the UI doesn't look the same at all.

here's my current set-up for Dolphin
[Image: Screenshot2011-10-25at80335PM.png]

[Image: Screenshot2011-10-25at80335PM.png]

[Image: Screenshot2011-10-25at80353PM.png]

[Image: Screenshot2011-10-25at80418PM.png]

[Image: Screenshot2011-10-25at80438PM.png]

golla · 10-26-2011, 02:44 PM #2

Bump, also just tried kirby return to dreamland and got a unknown pointer error, which caused dolphin to crash, Just thought I'd post this as well while I'm on the subject.

anon4453 · 10-26-2011, 05:24 PM #3

you never listed your specs im guessing they are quite weak if your getting lag in most/all games, you could try boot camp and win7/directx 9.

golla · 10-27-2011, 02:45 AM #4

(10-26-2011, 05:24 PM)anon4453 Wrote: you never listed your specs im guessing they are quite weak if your getting lag in most/all games, you could try boot camp and win7/directx 9.

Sorry forgot the specs:

Processor Name: Intel Core i7
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
RAM: 4 GB
Processor Interconnect Speed: 4.8 GT/s

Video cards
Intel HD Graphics:

Chipset Model: Intel HD Graphics
Type: GPU
Bus: Built-In
VRAM (Total): 288 MB

NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M:

Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M
Type: GPU
VRAM (Total): 512 MB

Actually for GC games, there is almost no lag, besides games like Mario kart double dash and Need for speed underground.

**NaturalViolence** · (This post was last modified: 10-27-2011, 09:28 AM by NaturalViolence.)

You have two options.

1. Use bootcamp to run windows 7 and use the windows builds (this will help a bit but I can't promise any miracles)

or

2. Buy a sledgehammer, destroy your mac, post the video on youtube, then build a high end PC and overclock.

golla · 10-27-2011, 03:23 PM #6

Still waiting for an intelligent answer...

**LordVador** · (This post was last modified: 10-27-2011, 06:42 PM by LordVador.)

(10-27-2011, 03:23 PM)golla Wrote: Still waiting for an intelligent answer...

NaturalViolence just meant it's hard to get excellent performance with a Mac (to use Dolphin). You could easily find an endless list of guys with the same "issue" on this forum. One of your main problem is that you're sentenced to use OpenGL and it's annoying for a lot of games (not all though)

golla · 10-28-2011, 01:35 AM #8

(10-27-2011, 06:42 PM)LordVador Wrote: NaturalViolence just meant it's hard to get excellent performance with a Mac (to use Dolphin). You could easily find an endless list of guys with the same "issue" on this forum. One of your main problem is that you're sentenced to use OpenGL and it's annoying for a lot of games (not all though)

I see, thanks for explaining Smile

, So does that mean that even if my mac out-preforms let's say person X's pc laptop, person X is still more likely to be able play wii games because of the OpenGl's clunkiness.

So there's really nothing that can be done?
I do dual-boot, Mac's still my preferred OS however.

**NaturalViolence** · (This post was last modified: 10-28-2011, 05:34 AM by NaturalViolence.)

Quote:Still waiting for an intelligent answer...

I'm serious though, those really are your only two options. Your settings are already perfect so your performance isn't going to get any better without a hardware upgrade. That requires getting rid of your mac since if you're using an imac, which is what I'm assuming, then you can't upgrade the core components since apple doesn't use a modular design with its imac systems.

Your other option is to use bootcamp with windows 7 since you MIGHT gain SOME performance that way, but I can't promise any miracles as I said before. It is true that the d3d9 backend in dolphin is usually significantly faster than the openGL backend for windows users however it is important to note that openGL performs a lot better in macosx than it does in windows so I don't think you'll see much of a difference, but it's worth a shot.

Quote:I do dual-boot, Mac's still my preferred OS however.

Well try running the windows builds of dolphin in windows and see if things improve.

I'm not trying to be an asshole and I'm not trolling, I'm just telling the trust. Those are your two best options whether you like it or not.

golla · 10-28-2011, 05:38 AM **#10**

(10-28-2011, 05:25 AM)NaturalViolence Wrote:
Quote:Still waiting for an intelligent answer...

I'm serious though, those really are your only two options. Your settings are already perfect so your performance isn't going to get any better without either a hardware upgrade. That requires getting rid of your mac since if you're using an imac, which is what I'm assuming, then you can't upgrade the core components since apple doesn't use a modular design with its imac systems.

Your other option is to use bootcamp with windows 7 since you MIGHT gain SOME performance that way, but I can't promise any miracles as I said before. It is true that the d3d9 backend in dolphin is usually significantly faster than the openGL backend for windows users however it is important to note that openGL performs a lot better in macosx than it does in windows so I don't think you'll see much of a difference, but it's worth a shot.

Quote:I do dual-boot, Mac's still my preferred OS however.

Well try running the windows builds of dolphin in windows and see if things improve.

I'm not trying to be an asshole and I'm not trolling, I'm just telling the trust. Those are your two best options whether you like it or not.

Thank you. Sorry for the insults. It's just being a Mac user I'm used to being trolled simply for using my OS. But now that I know what you ment, I'll try the windows version. I was just wondering if I could lower the graphics, or some unneeded lighting tricks to make the games run faster.

Any thoughts on the pointer issue however?