Easing my computer's burden during 3D play

DustyElbows · 06-19-2018, 10:16 PM

I've just started to play all of my games out and am really enjoying the new 3D features! However, my poor laptop (MacBook Pro) has to turn it's fan on all the way up whenever I play 3D. I'm wondering if there are any settings I change to make the workload a little more manageable for the computer?

Orcin · 06-19-2018, 10:43 PM

Make sure to turn off the crowd animation. That should help.

jimmysthebestcop · 06-20-2018, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DustyElbows

I've just started to play all of my games out and am really enjoying the new 3D features! However, my poor laptop (MacBook Pro) has to turn it's fan on all the way up whenever I play 3D. I'm wondering if there are any settings I change to make the workload a little more manageable for the computer?

The fan will kick on when the cpu is under load. The fan will kick in 100% when it hits a certain temp thresh hold.

Besides settings of an individual game or program the 2 things you can do is keep the fans free of dust and debris. If it is more then 2 years old replace the thermal paste on the processor. The factory thermal paste is awful yes even at apple. New high grade thermal paste might save you 15 degrees. And if your fan is clogged up you can lower it even further.

The thing about dust is if you are not blowing it out all of the time. It becomes super dust which is extremely sticky. And usually requires 91% rubbing alcohol and a brush. Sometimes metal bristles if its that bad. I've seen plenty that bad.

Depending on the year of your Macbook Pro some of them are easy to take apart and perform this maintenance. Plenty of youtube and ifixit videos/guides.

So changing the settings might put less load on the cpu but necessarily doesn't mean you can skip maintenance. And fans and thermal paste are usually the last 2 things anyone thinks about.

good luck

Drstrangelove · 06-20-2018, 12:15 PM

When I traveled, I always brought both my work and personal laptops, and I found that they both got super hot as well. Eventually, I found something like an external laptop fan worked well for me. (They weren't Macbooks, but the same concept.) Laptops where the fan blows out the bottom (ime) really benefit from this.

https://www.amazon.com/external-lapt...20laptop%20fan

NoOne · 06-21-2018, 10:43 AM

settings :

FPS: if 60 isn't low enough, find a program that can limit it further. afterburner, dxtory can do this sort of thing and free.

check vid card settings -- in game and out. use lowest settings etc. anti-aliasing is a big one.. turn off or 2x etc.

don't defer to app... if that's an option... vid card settings should take precedent over the software for this endeavor.

if not sure what something is, google it... you will get good descriptions and be able to make an informed decision. can turn it all down/off then slowly increase quality until you encounter problems again, then dial it back a bit for best viewing pleasure.

think the game can only limit FPS to 60. all you need is ~30. for reference, when you watch a movie in a theatre it's only 24 FPS and that's full motion, right?

the reason they want it at 60 is due to refresh rate. you'll get less tearing or possibility of tearing and other visual hiccups if it's synced to refresh rate.

30fps will reduce heat significantly on a struggling video card vs 60, all other factors remaining the same.

also, it should be louder when playing a 3d game. check resource monitor for temp on gpu.. .if within specs, no worries. some fans are just loud. especially if a big-box store brand like hp or apple or acer etc.

you only have to worry about dust on the heat sync -- probably some sprawling chunk of metal to enhance surface area -- i've never experience the sticky stuff, lol, air-duster always works fine for me. (humidifier in room maybe?)

if it's 1-2 years old and you run it hot often, you may need to replace the thermal grease between heat sync and gpu/cpu (laptop easily could be cpu heavy for graphics too, if some intel junk vid card). just gonna call it 'gel' after this.

simple enough to do too... easier to diagnose if you have a frame of reference. e.g. i know roughly what my idle temps are for my cpu and gpu... when i see it slide a few degrees higher at idle over time, i know it's time to replace the gel.

if unsure of what screws to undo on vid card or laptop, there is almost assuredly a video how-to out there... google witha few keywords.

06-19-2018, 10:16 PM	#1
DustyElbows Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 225	Easing my computer's burden during 3D play I've just started to play all of my games out and am really enjoying the new 3D features! However, my poor laptop (MacBook Pro) has to turn it's fan on all the way up whenever I play 3D. I'm wondering if there are any settings I change to make the workload a little more manageable for the computer?

06-20-2018, 12:15 PM	#4
Drstrangelove Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 346	When I traveled, I always brought both my work and personal laptops, and I found that they both got super hot as well. Eventually, I found something like an external laptop fan worked well for me. (They weren't Macbooks, but the same concept.) Laptops where the fan blows out the bottom (ime) really benefit from this. https://www.amazon.com/external-lapt...20laptop%20fan Last edited by Drstrangelove; 06-20-2018 at 12:18 PM.

06-21-2018, 10:43 AM	#5
NoOne Banned Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 7,273 Infractions: 0/1 (3)	settings : FPS: if 60 isn't low enough, find a program that can limit it further. afterburner, dxtory can do this sort of thing and free. check vid card settings -- in game and out. use lowest settings etc. anti-aliasing is a big one.. turn off or 2x etc. don't defer to app... if that's an option... vid card settings should take precedent over the software for this endeavor. if not sure what something is, google it... you will get good descriptions and be able to make an informed decision. can turn it all down/off then slowly increase quality until you encounter problems again, then dial it back a bit for best viewing pleasure. think the game can only limit FPS to 60. all you need is ~30. for reference, when you watch a movie in a theatre it's only 24 FPS and that's full motion, right? the reason they want it at 60 is due to refresh rate. you'll get less tearing or possibility of tearing and other visual hiccups if it's synced to refresh rate. 30fps will reduce heat significantly on a struggling video card vs 60, all other factors remaining the same. also, it should be louder when playing a 3d game. check resource monitor for temp on gpu.. .if within specs, no worries. some fans are just loud. especially if a big-box store brand like hp or apple or acer etc. you only have to worry about dust on the heat sync -- probably some sprawling chunk of metal to enhance surface area -- i've never experience the sticky stuff, lol, air-duster always works fine for me. (humidifier in room maybe?) if it's 1-2 years old and you run it hot often, you may need to replace the thermal grease between heat sync and gpu/cpu (laptop easily could be cpu heavy for graphics too, if some intel junk vid card). just gonna call it 'gel' after this. simple enough to do too... easier to diagnose if you have a frame of reference. e.g. i know roughly what my idle temps are for my cpu and gpu... when i see it slide a few degrees higher at idle over time, i know it's time to replace the gel. if unsure of what screws to undo on vid card or laptop, there is almost assuredly a video how-to out there... google witha few keywords. Last edited by NoOne; 06-21-2018 at 10:46 AM.

06-19-2018, 10:43 PM	#2
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,879	Make sure to turn off the crowd animation. That should help.