Mac Pro 3,1 + Radeon 5770 = TF2 Performance Problems

ZennZero · 01:59 PM

So I just replaced the 8800GT in my 3,1 MP with a 5770. For some reason -- regardless of the graphics settings I choose -- I get a weird little graphical "hitch" in Team Fortress 2 (edit: and Half life 2) every couple of minutes. It almost looks like a severe lag spike, but I don't have the issue when using the 8800GT.

Any suggestions? The only "exotic" thing in my system is a Blackmagic Intensity card, but as it is sitting there idle I wouldn't think it is interfering (and again, it was never a problem with the 8800GT)...

dimme · Jan 6, 2011, 01:35 PM

I just did the same upgrade. I do not own Team Fortress 2 so I can comment on that problem. But I have not had any issues at all.
The only game I play is X plane and FSX in windows. I an getting 3x the frame rates in Xplane over the 8800GT plus some higher settings.

ZennZero · Jan 6, 2011, 01:48 PM

Well, it might be a Source engine thing -- I confirmed it happens in Half Life 2 as well, so that pretty much rules out the network as a possibility.

goMac · Jan 6, 2011, 02:00 PM

No issues like that here. Radeon 5870.

Running at least 10.6.5?

ZennZero · Jan 6, 2011, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goMac

No issues like that here. Radeon 5870.

Running at least 10.6.5?

Yup. Same problem under 10.6.5 and 10.6.6.

Beutelkatze · Jan 6, 2011, 04:14 PM

Seems to be something wrong on your side, my 5770 and 5870s work just fine with source games on the 1,1 MP.

ZennZero · Jan 7, 2011, 01:55 PM

I am actually a little closer to figuring this thing out. . . With the historical view of the CPU meter in Activity Monitor open, I see that these little hiccups correspond with small spikes of some system-level process (i.e. "red" colored CPU utilization).

Unfortunately, I am not fast enough to switch over the to process viewer and see what is causing the spike. Does anyone know of a means of logging the contents of the process list? Or some other means of seeing (either in real-time or historical) process activity while in-game?

goMac · Jan 7, 2011, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZennZero

I am actually a little closer to figuring this thing out. . . With the historical view of the CPU meter in Activity Monitor open, I see that these little hiccups correspond with small spikes of some system-level process (i.e. "red" colored CPU utilization).

Unfortunately, I am not fast enough to switch over the to process viewer and see what is causing the spike. Does anyone know of a means of logging the contents of the process list? Or some other means of seeing (either in real-time or historical) process activity while in-game?

This won't directly get you what you want, but check your Console and see if there is an event that corresponds with the spikes.

ZennZero · Jan 7, 2011, 04:32 PM

Good thought, but nothing that seems to correspond.

lewdvig · Jan 7, 2011, 08:51 PM

It sounds like the kind of problem I have when I over clock a video card. It get artifacts from the extra heat. In your case it could indicate a bad card.

You might want to get an exchange while you are in the return window.

ZennZero · Jan 10, 2011, 08:33 AM

I am pretty familiar with overheating artifacts, and this really doesn't match the typical symptoms...

I did have an idea however: I bet I could use Top and log the command prompt output. I am going to have to try that over the next few days.

In the meantime, 100 Internets to anyone with a potential solution.

gullySn0wCat · Jan 10, 2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZennZero

I am pretty familiar with overheating artifacts, and this really doesn't match the typical symptoms...

I did have an idea however: I bet I could use Top and log the command prompt output. I am going to have to try that over the next few days.

In the meantime, 100 Internets to anyone with a potential solution.

Get another (identical) card and test it. You will save yourelf hours of effort and what-ifs.

dusanv · Jan 10, 2011, 10:55 AM

Log into the MP using ssh via the laptop (any other machine really, OS X, Windows or Linux) and fire up 'top', watch 'top' as slowdowns happen?

ZennZero · Jan 10, 2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gullySn0wCat

Get another (identical) card and test it. You will save yourelf hours of effort and what-ifs.

Sadly, I am fresh out of Radeon 5770s.

ZennZero · Jan 10, 2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dusanv

Log into the MP using ssh via the laptop (any other machine really, OS X, Windows or Linux) and fire up 'top', watch 'top' as slowdowns happen?

Good call, that is easier than trying to do it all locally. Thanks!

Jan 6, 2011, 01:21 PM	#1
ZennZero macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Germany	Mac Pro 3,1 + Radeon 5770 = TF2 Performance Problems So I just replaced the 8800GT in my 3,1 MP with a 5770. For some reason -- regardless of the graphics settings I choose -- I get a weird little graphical "hitch" in Team Fortress 2 (edit: and Half life 2) every couple of minutes. It almost looks like a severe lag spike, but I don't have the issue when using the 8800GT. Any suggestions? The only "exotic" thing in my system is a Blackmagic Intensity card, but as it is sitting there idle I wouldn't think it is interfering (and again, it was never a problem with the 8800GT)... Last edited by ZennZero; Jan 6, 2011 at 01:59 PM.
	0

Jan 6, 2011, 01:35 PM	#2
dimme macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SF, CA	I just did the same upgrade. I do not own Team Fortress 2 so I can comment on that problem. But I have not had any issues at all. The only game I play is X plane and FSX in windows. I an getting 3x the frame rates in Xplane over the 8800GT plus some higher settings. __________________ MacPro 2.8 Quad-Core, 10GB ram, ATI 5770 Lot's of drives, Magic Trackpad, wacom tablet MBP 2.4 SR
	0

Jan 7, 2011, 08:51 PM	#10
lewdvig macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: South Pole	It sounds like the kind of problem I have when I over clock a video card. It get artifacts from the extra heat. In your case it could indicate a bad card. You might want to get an exchange while you are in the return window. __________________ Zealot without a cause. I run an orchard.
	0

Jan 10, 2011, 10:55 AM	#13
dusanv macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2006	Log into the MP using ssh via the laptop (any other machine really, OS X, Windows or Linux) and fire up 'top', watch 'top' as slowdowns happen? __________________ Mac Pro 2.33GHz octo, 8 GB, Radeon 4870, BT/WiFi, 30'' Dell LCD 17'' unibody MBP
	0

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Jan 6, 2011, 01:48 PM	#3
ZennZero Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Germany	Well, it might be a Source engine thing -- I confirmed it happens in Half Life 2 as well, so that pretty much rules out the network as a possibility.
	0

Jan 6, 2011, 02:00 PM	#4
goMac macrumors 601 Join Date: Apr 2004	No issues like that here. Radeon 5870. Running at least 10.6.5?
	0

Jan 6, 2011, 04:14 PM	#6
Beutelkatze macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: UK/Germany	Seems to be something wrong on your side, my 5770 and 5870s work just fine with source games on the 1,1 MP.
	0

Jan 7, 2011, 01:55 PM	#7
ZennZero Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Germany	I am actually a little closer to figuring this thing out. . . With the historical view of the CPU meter in Activity Monitor open, I see that these little hiccups correspond with small spikes of some system-level process (i.e. "red" colored CPU utilization). Unfortunately, I am not fast enough to switch over the to process viewer and see what is causing the spike. Does anyone know of a means of logging the contents of the process list? Or some other means of seeing (either in real-time or historical) process activity while in-game?
	0

Jan 7, 2011, 04:32 PM	#9
ZennZero Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Germany	Good thought, but nothing that seems to correspond.
	0

Jan 10, 2011, 08:33 AM	#11
ZennZero Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Germany	I am pretty familiar with overheating artifacts, and this really doesn't match the typical symptoms... I did have an idea however: I bet I could use Top and log the command prompt output. I am going to have to try that over the next few days. In the meantime, 100 Internets to anyone with a potential solution.
	0

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