How do I optimize a MAC?

How do I optimize my SL on my connection and my Mac?


I have a broadband 20-22 in.. 1 out..

I have a LINKSYS router firewall - BEFSX41 - software settings?

I have an ”old” Mac G5 - (PowerPC G5 (3.0) - Busshastighet: 1.25 GHz) - L2-cache (per CPU): 512 K

Double 2,5 – including a fast Graphic card. ATI Radon 9800 Pro

I have some memory 4 gig

I always have the latest system by update

Can I use both processors? Can I speed it up?

*****

I am NOT technical expert. Cant script. Cant much about data. .so please IF any write and answer try to make it very educating. And yes I know I have a nice Mac.. its brothers old..

/Tina

There's nothing I know of to let you set it to use both processors. Shame, but that's the way it is.

I have a very similar set up to you. There are a couple of things you might like to try. First, find broadband optimizer (I think it's on Version Tracker) and run that. You might not need to, if it's your brother's old one he might have done it already).

Second, set the bandwidth in the SL preferences right over to the right (1500). Don't know about your router I'm afraid.

I'm not 100% sure about why, but anecdotal evidence, including mine, suggests that mac fps are rarely as good as PC fps, but, that's not a problem in most if not all situations because the way it handles them is different. I can, and have, coped quite happily on 5fps or less as long as the time dilation is fine and I'm not doing something like shooting people (which is very rare).

I gave a presentation on a crappy PC in an area I know well... got about twice the raw fps. Far, far worse performance and shed loads of artefacts. The numbers suggested (strongly) that I should have been much happier on the PC, but the truth of the experience was otherwise. Why that should be... don't know. Anyway, after that, it's all tweak the SL preferences to suit your needs. Mac's (seem) to run SL better in a window than full screen, and fps increase as you shrink the window size.

You should find you get a smooth performance with 160m+ draw range on that sort of set up btw, depending on your other preferences.

the ATI control panel's setting 'speed' over 'quality' for the second life app seems to make a really great difference to my macs that use ATI.

Hmmm?.. TKS!!

Never seen that until now... I make a TRY..

BUt what are FSAA multi or super??? And anisotropic filtering?


/Tina

First, collect data about your current performance. Fastest, slowest, various regions. Toherwise you won't really know if it is better.

What to measure? fps is the main thing, I think.

Then, over time, you can slowly change things. if things get better, great. If not, put that back and change something else. keep measuring.

The ”braodband optimizser” stopped my Safari....dead... it dont work anymore.. BUT the performance got some better in SL..

Thats all so far.,,and tks all for all suggestions. More are of course welcome.. ))

/Tina