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Running Portal on GMA950 Chipset Problems

Chase817

Chase817

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 6, 2008
95
0
Hey guys, after using Bootcamp for a while, Steam finally came to Mac. I first transferred over Portal (only compatible game in my library) and tried to run it. The intro movie was displayed, and I saw the usual blurry test chamber pic with the loading sign, the screen then goes black for a moment. I am then awakened by an almost seizure-inducing flashing of that same main menu pic, only it isn't loading anymore. There is no text in the menu, but I can hear the music. I managed to somehow launch the game while clicking around blindly while enduring a rapidly flashing screen. I then see the standard wake-up scene in the chamber, only it's dark and there seems to be textures missing, they are all weird looking and dark. Plz help. It worked fine in Windows :(
 
S

Spree

macrumors newbie
Dec 26, 2007
13
0
Same exact thing happening here, including the model -- mid-summer 07.

Why does it work on Windows or Crossover but not natively? Or is Steam just emulating it as well?
 
Chase817

Chase817

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 6, 2008
95
0
This may be because Windows gives more memory to your graphics. (256mb I think) While Mac OS only gives the chip 64mb. I don't know why the screen flashes though :confused:
 
G

G-Force

macrumors 6502a
Nov 25, 2006
659
22
As far as I know, GMA 950/GMA X3100 are unsupported in Mac OS X by Steam. Their OpenGL drivers are really bad in OS X, so don't get your hopes up it will ever be supported...
 
reberto

reberto

macrumors 65816
Jul 20, 2005
1,224
0
The 950 and X3100 cards are not supported by Valve for OS X. They stated that at the start and Steam should warn you when you try to open the game about your GPU not being up to running the game. Don't waste your time trying to get your game running in OS X, because even if you do it's gonna be sub-10fps.
 
Vader

Vader

macrumors 65816
Oct 11, 2004
1,211
1
Saint Charles, MO
If it works through windows, shouldn't there be a way to work in OSX on the same hardware? A patch for the graphics driver or something should become available, right?
 
C

Cougarcat

macrumors 604
Sep 19, 2003
7,766
2,553
Vader said:
If it works through windows, shouldn't there be a way to work in OSX on the same hardware? A patch for the graphics driver or something should become available, right?
Click to expand...

That would require Apple/Intel to fix the 950's drivers. Probably not going to happen, seeing as Apple hasn't used the 950 in years. We might see some general improvements in the 10.6.4 update, but they'd be minor.

Anyway, it doesn't really matter. It might run in windows, but it wouldn't be a very enjoyable experience.
 
C

cathyy

macrumors 6502a
Apr 12, 2008
727
4
Vader said:
If it works through windows, shouldn't there be a way to work in OSX on the same hardware? A patch for the graphics driver or something should become available, right?
Click to expand...

Are you serious? I haven't heard of anyone playing these games on a GMA950 under Windows, let alone the X3100. I know some people tried to run TF2 (same engine version as portal) with the X3100 and it couldn't run either.
 
dmr727

dmr727

macrumors G4
Dec 29, 2007
10,129
4,318
NYC
Hey guys. I have a Mac IIx, and I've been having trouble getting Portal to run at acceptable frame rates under Steam (less than 10fps). I'm currently using Apple's Macintosh Display Card 8/24. How fast do you think it'll be if I upgrade to an 8/24 GC? Or do you think it'll make more sense for me to wait for Apple to update the video drivers (I'm currently running System 6.0.5)?
 
S

savvos

macrumors regular
Sep 8, 2007
178
0
I'm running Portal in a window at the lowest rez on my X3100 MacBook in OSX and everything turned down except textures and models, which are set to high. It's a little choppy sometimes, but definitely playable. Using a trackpad gets in the way much more than the frame rates do. (Yes, this is practically an anti-game setup, but I'm playing it because Valve graciously offered the game for free.)
 
W

wilycoder

macrumors 6502
Aug 4, 2008
337
0
savvos said:
I'm running Portal in a window at the lowest rez on my X3100 MacBook in OSX and everything turned down except textures and models, which are set to high. It's a little choppy sometimes, but definitely playable. Using a trackpad gets in the way much more than the frame rates do. (Yes, this is practically an anti-game setup, but I'm playing it because Valve graciously offered the game for free.)
Click to expand...

Christ. Why even bother...
 
RedTomato

RedTomato

macrumors 601
Mar 4, 2005
4,154
437
.. London ..
savvos said:
I'm running Portal in a window at the lowest rez on my X3100 MacBook in OSX and everything turned down except textures and models, which are set to high. It's a little choppy sometimes, but definitely playable. Using a trackpad gets in the way much more than the frame rates do. (Yes, this is practically an anti-game setup, but I'm playing it because Valve graciously offered the game for free.)
Click to expand...

How? I have the same system as you (X3100, 2.2ghz) but Portal won't run in OSX. I've set the options to -width 640 -height 480, but Steam still tells me my graphics card isn't supported :(
 
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