OSX Graphical glitches

[cluthz]

When I'm running Dolphin is have graphical issues, mostly with shadows in faces.
Tried in both 10.6.8 (Snow Leo) and 10.7.3 (Lion)
Picture from Xenoblade.

This does not happen on the same machine if I'm booting Ubuntu 12.04.

I've tried 3.0 stable. 3.0-634 and a few other builds, all same problem.
This does also happen in Baldur's Gate DA, but is fixed disabling Lightning, however that makes graphics looks really ugly in Xenoblade.

I guess since it doesn't happen in Ubuntu, it's not related to the OpenGL backend.

As for settings, it does not change (although some settings give other issues). JIT, JiTIL, same issues. AA or no AA, 1-16xAF .. I've tried checking and unchecking just about everything under Hacks and Enhancements.

My hardware is:
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500@4.0GHz
6GB DDR2 1067MHz (5-5-5-18)
Gigabyte GeForce GTX285 1GB
Games tested are both EU/PAL versions.

[Shonumi]

I guess since it doesn't happen in Ubuntu, it's not related to the OpenGL backend.

It's probably not OpenGL itself, which is just an API, but it's probably the drivers and the implementation of that said API. Check out this thread relating to the same issue you're having. The drivers you have on Ubuntu look like they're simply doing a better job with OpenGL.

The quality of OS X OpenGL drivers, so I've heard from other programmers, can be suspect at times. Dunno how OS X users are supposed to update their GPU drivers, but you should look into that. It might not help in the end though, if the drivers still are bad.

[cluthz]

It's probably not OpenGL itself, which is just an API, but it's probably the drivers and the implementation of that said API. Check out this thread relating to the same issue you're having. The drivers you have on Ubuntu look like they're simply doing a better job with OpenGL.

The quality of OS X OpenGL drivers, so I've heard from other programmers, can be suspect at times. Dunno how OS X users are supposed to update their GPU drivers, but you should look into that. It might not help in the end though, if the drivers still are bad.

NVidia drivers are pushed from apple itself and is automatically updated when you install an OS update. It is however possible to get drivers directly from www.geforce.com too. The drivers from apple are usually a few months behind latest windows release. The same is also the case for NVidias drivers for apple on their site. Not that it matter that much as the newest NVidia card used are 200 series for desktop and 300 series for mobile, unless you count Quadro cards. As for now the drivers on SL is 25x. versions and on Lion 27x. and they experience the same issues.

On a side note it seems Dolphin is much faster on Lion than Ubuntu, and SL is slightly faster than Ubuntu too. (I'm using prop drivers on Ubuntu btw)
This is not a very scientific test, but running entrance to colony9, circle around the market twice and run back. Watching FPS min/max:
Lion 31/40
SL: 26/37
Ubuntu: 24/37


Anyways, if someone uses a Mac with ATI/AMD graphics, could you please report back if this is an issue for you on not, too?

[cluthz]

Hi, i just wanted to update this again.

Iv'e updated to Mountain Lion and the issues still persist, the drivers have been updated too, but same issues.
No other games, neither Mac games or PC games running under wine have similar issues, so if there is a bug in the OSX drivers, it's just showing up in Dolphin and not in my other 80+ games.

It's pretty much only facial textures that looks bad too, and only under certain lightning conditions.

I picked up Pandoras Tower awhile back, and I haven't had time to play it much, but it seems unaffected by the issue I have in Xenoblade and Baldur's Gate. Since i don't own that many games I have no idea how widespread this issue is.

[ExtremeDude2]

I still don't understand why people don't believe it is a MAC issue XD

[Axxer]

The problem appears 2 fold:

1. Mac drivers for NVIDIA cards changed something that now causes issues with how some programs deal with lighting.
2. Dolphin deals with lighting using the method the new drivers screwed up.

So both Dolphin and the drivers could fix it.