I've played FFXI across many computers so far since Jan 2004. I've used desktops, laptops, AMD, Intel, Dual Cole etc etc
I know how to hack the registry and tweak all that stuff and I know about all the graphics guides. I keep my drivers up to date and can turn off processes that hog CPU since apparently FFXI mostly taxes the CPU and ignores the video card...
But, I've always had the same problem when trying to fix framerate and the speed of the game. It always feels like I've got a good setting going then I try to be a perfectionist and lose it forever. It's infuriating that across generations of computers, each one seems to run FFXI just as well as the last. There are some improvements of course, but I can never really pump up the graphics too high without BRD songs going choppy, or Raging Fists turning the game Baywatch on me.
I'd figure with AMD Dual Core + NVidia GeForce + 2 Gig DDR2 should allow me higher resolution than my old Centrino laptop! I saw people years ago using 2048x2048 and to this day I cannot acheive that reliably.
Maybe the slowdown was there for them and they didn't mind? I dunno... Any suggestions to those out there who demand maximum quality and performance out of their game?