Why does my macbook pro not run games at full speed through the whole game?

[The Grantula]

I have been playing resident evil 4 for the gamecube on my macbook pro 15 inch and about halfway through the fps dropped to 50%. I don't know if there are just to many things going on during the game or if its something wrong with my laptop. Also on twilight princess for gamecube i can only reach 50% fps while i see other dolphin users on youtube using older less powerful computers and getting full speed. Would appreciate some help thank you.

2.3Ghz intel core i7
8GB ram
Intel HD Graphics 4000

[DJBarry004]

1- Which i7, specifically?

2- The GPU could have influence, as Intel GPUs tend to be weak.

3- It depends on the kind of games you´re playing (specify titles please).

[KHg8m3r]

Make sure you're on OSX 10.10

[NaturalViolence]

Your hardware isn't that good to begin with but I would check to see if it's overheating and throttling. Also which model of i7 do you have?

[ThePokeman92]

If the OP was correct about having an HD 4000, then it's the Ivy Bridge Macbook Pro which would make the 2.3GHz version the i7-3615QM. Additionally there should be a GT 650M in that model, so no need to use integrated graphics if plugged in, which might take a bit of strain off the CPU (not completely sure though, depends on the cooling system.

As for the specific model, it's either the mid 2012 or the very first Retina model. The 2013's started using Iris graphics and the 2011s used Sandy Bridge.

I'm unaware of the state of the OS X Dolphin performance, but on Windows with that hardware, Twilight Princess definitely should NOT be running at 50% if everything is set correctly. I have a 4710HQ and while it's newer and better performing, there's no way it's twice as powerful as the 3615QM. In order to get the best help though from those that know the OS X Build better, I recommend you post your graphics, audio, and config settings, check if the hyrule field hack is enabled (if it exists in OS X), and post a more complete list of system specs and OS so someone can help you out better.

@NaturalViolence could be correct about thermal throttling, it is a common problem with laptops running Dolphin, but in my experience the playback wouldn't be consistently 50%, when I experienced throttling it was often cycling between bursts at full speed and bursts of throttling at half speed or less.

[tential]

If the OP was correct about having an HD 4000, then it's the Ivy Bridge Macbook Pro which would make the 2.3GHz version the i7-3615QM. Additionally there should be a GT 650M in that model, so no need to use integrated graphics if plugged in, which might take a bit of strain off the CPU (not completely sure though, depends on the cooling system.

As for the specific model, it's either the mid 2012 or the very first Retina model. The 2013's started using Iris graphics and the 2011s used Sandy Bridge.

I'm unaware of the state of the OS X Dolphin performance, but on Windows with that hardware, Twilight Princess definitely should NOT be running at 50% if everything is set correctly. I have a 4710HQ and while it's newer and better performing, there's no way it's twice as powerful as the 3615QM. In order to get the best help though from those that know the OS X Build better, I recommend you post your graphics, audio, and config settings, check if the hyrule field hack is enabled (if it exists in OS X), and post a more complete list of system specs and OS so someone can help you out better.

@NaturalViolence could be correct about thermal throttling, it is a common problem with laptops running Dolphin, but in my experience the playback wouldn't be consistently 50%, when I experienced throttling it was often cycling between bursts at full speed and bursts of throttling at half speed or less.

I've been consistently throttled just recently. PC hadn't been cleaned in THAT long. A couple of bursts of compressed air and I dropped 30 C on all temps across the board. Before that, CPU was stuck at throttle temp, HDD was stuck at basically the point where it shouldn't even be operating and GPU was stuck at throttle as well consistently.

It's certainly possible. I'd have to take apart my laptop and really clean my GPU if I ever wanted to game on it again. Dota 2 doesn't run anymore .