Leopard Graphics Update and Intel GMA X3100

[j-a-x]

I am curious what exactly was updated in the Leopard Graphics Update for my MacBook 2.2 Ghz (X3100 graphics).

After installing the Leopard Graphics Update, I get the following info in "openGL Extensions Viewer"
(http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/17087/opengl-extensions-viewer)

OpenGL driver version check (Current: 1.2 APPLE-1.5.24, Latest known: 1.2 APPLE-1.5.18):
Latest version of display drivers found
According the database, you are running the latest display drivers for your video card.


Does anybody want to run the extensions viewer and see what the driver version is in 10.5.1? I am guessing it is the "latest known" one, 1.5.18. This should confirm whther the X3100 drivers have actually been updated in Leopard 10.5.2.

I also wouldn't mind comparing the OpenGL Extensions Viewer benchmarks and compare the FPS in Leopard 10.5.1 and 10.5.2. Does anybody still have 10.5.1 installed who could run the benchmarks to compare with me?

 

[minutePulsation]

I just checked it before installing.

Current: 1.2 APPLE-1.5.18, Latest known: 1.2 APPLE-1.5.18

So it looks like it's been updated.

 

[j-a-x]

Cool, so that confirms that the drivers are updated to 1.2 APPLE-1.5.24.

That's good news.

Did you happen to run the frame rate benchmark test before updating?

 

[minutePulsation]

Cool, so that confirms that the drivers are updated to 1.2 APPLE-1.5.24.

That's good news.

Did you happen to run the frame rate benchmark test before updating?

No I didn't

I really should have. XBench isn't any better in the OpenGL front... but my CPU marks are up by 15 points.

 

[j-a-x]

No I didn't

I really should have. XBench isn't any better in the OpenGL front... but my CPU marks are up by 15 points.

All of my Xbench scores are within what I guess is the margin of error (+/- 5) between 10.5.1 and 10.5.2.

The Xbench OpenGL test is really bad, it gives a higher score on a 6 year old powerbook G4 as a MacBook. But this OpenGL Extensions Viewer program gives me a much higher score for openGL than the old powerbook so I am thinking its a better way to benchmark. It's a dedicated openGL program and it runs multiple openGL tests instead of just one with Xbench.

What are your results? Do you have the X3100 card in your MacBook?

I used the default settings and checked the "benchmark" button before running the test and I get the following results,

texturing - 223 fps
locked arrays - 301 fps
multitexture - 268 fps
vertex program - 238 fps
shading language - 117 fps
pixel buffer object - 64 fps

Does anybody have any Open GL Extensions Viewer benchmark results before and after the 10.5.2 update?

 

[dailydisco]

I was really hoping for a big improvement with the graphics update. Does 1.2 Apple 1.5.24 mean that this is OpenGL 1.2? I have been trying to get the OSX version of XBMC up and running, but apparently the X3100 graphics chip and driver is causing problems... people with the old 950 chip are all set, but from my log of XBMC, it is detecting OpenGL 1.2 and this is probably causing all the problems. The older and slower 950 can do OpenGL 1.4 or 1.5 at least.

For more info, www.osxbmc.com and www.xbmc.org

I run this on my Xbox but was really hoping to replace Front Row with XBMC since it plays everything and gives you fabulous control over buffering and skins. I just hope something can be done about this X3100... I had no idea this would be an issue when I bought the MacBook (my first Mac...hope it isn't my last, but this kind of game with drivers is not a good sign)

 

[j-a-x]

I am not sure, but my old G4 powerbook reports 1.5 NVIDIA-1.5.24 and the drivers for the NVIDIA GeForce card in it are much more mature. So maybe that means OpenGL 1.5? It also says Shading language version: 1.20 on my old mac (and same with my MacBook)... not sure what that means though.

One thing that is interesting about this program is it lets you run the benchmarks with the software renderer and compare with the results from the hardware renderer. It's amazing the difference the hardware makes (though not surprising).

 

[j-a-x]

From what I can tell, it says openGL 1.4 has some unsupported features, but openGL 1.5 seems to be totally supported. Here is a summary.

Core features
v1.1 (100 % - 7/7)

v1.2 (100 % - 8/8)

v1.3 (88 % - 8/9)

v1.4 (80 % - 12/15)

v1.5 (100 % - 3/3)

v2.0 (80 % - 8/10)

v2.1 (66 % - 2/3)


I would be interested to see how that compares to leopard without the graphics update.

 

[TheManKinahan]

I was really hoping for a big improvement with the graphics update. Does 1.2 Apple 1.5.24 mean that this is OpenGL 1.2? I have been trying to get the OSX version of XBMC up and running, but apparently the X3100 graphics chip and driver is causing problems... people with the old 950 chip are all set, but from my log of XBMC, it is detecting OpenGL 1.2 and this is probably causing all the problems. The older and slower 950 can do OpenGL 1.4 or 1.5 at least.

For more info, www.osxbmc.com and www.xbmc.org

I run this on my Xbox but was really hoping to replace Front Row with XBMC since it plays everything and gives you fabulous control over buffering and skins. I just hope something can be done about this X3100... I had no idea this would be an issue when I bought the MacBook (my first Mac...hope it isn't my last, but this kind of game with drivers is not a good sign)

You must have hacked my life or something, because this describes me and my predicament perfectly. Its also holding back TF2 and crossover. In windows this type of thing typically gets resolved quickly, overall the whole switching experience has been pretty cool. I'm just baffled as to why perfect drivers for a signature product wouldnt be an almost instantaneous and total effort.

 

[dailydisco]

You must have hacked my life or something, because this describes me and my predicament perfectly. Its also holding back TF2 and crossover. In windows this type of thing typically gets resolved quickly, overall the whole switching experience has been pretty cool. I'm just baffled as to why perfect drivers for a signature product wouldnt be an almost instantaneous and total effort.

Ha! Yeah, from the looks of the forum and number of people who have looked at my X3100 thread at xbmc.org, I think there are a lot of people who are having this same problem. I wish there was a way of getting a loaner MacBook from Apple to the developers so they can work the problem. I know it is open source and all, but XBMC has been called the best media center by many folks...and that was using standard def on the old Xbox. I can see this as being a reason to buy a mac, seriously. It just becomes a problem when it doesn't work on all macs (which is pretty insane if you ask me... they have such a limited line of computers, everything should work!).

If anyone know of a developer's resource for getting a loaner macbook to one of the OSX-XBMC developers, please let me know!