Playing FFXI on Alienware m15x

[Sylvanis]

Need some help, hopefully someone can help get better performance out on my m15x. I've read through many of the post and gone through nvidia and Alienware sites for some answers but haven't found any.

Problem is, I have some of the worst FPS issues, I've never seen anything like this on any PC or laptop. FPS near 1 when running through Whitegate. Even during LS events, merit or exp parties, I normally need to face away from everyone so I can even play. Oh and this is playing FFXI at full screen, SE windower drops the FPS even more and the other Windower doesn't even work. Windower-lite does work but has the same performance as SE windower.

The Graphics are great, no edges or pixel images. And I'm playing at the highest performance settings.

I'm currently at work but this is what I pull off my order sheet. I have all the latest updates for all drivers.
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processors (6MB Cache, 800MHz FSB)
512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT
4GB Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
Windows Vista Home

Regarding Vista, I know many of my problems might go away if I switch to XP, but I like to stay away from buying another OS and its no guarantee if will fix my issues.
The GPU update can only come from Alienware. I cannot go to Nvidia's site and download the latest updates. I receive an error message on the updates not meeting hardware requirements. Which I believe is related to Alienware's own .int. I'm not sure on this though.

My PC, on a 7x00 nvidia 256mb (cant remember name) runs great. I can run 2 windowers with some drop in performance. My T60 Thinkpad runs FFXI just like a PS2 (possibly better), and has great FPS rates. I just cannot believe my Alienware laptop is having problems on FPS.

Any help? Thanks

[orinthia]

Could be antivirus scanner actively scanning every single file accessed by ffxi, thus killing all performance. There's a ton of files it needs to use constantly so putting the entire playonline folder into an ignore filter could help (or just turning off/snoozing active scan for the duration).

Could also be you're playing too high a resolution. My laptop that has an old pentium M 1.6ghz single core, ati 9000m 32meg, and 1gig of ram could play this game perfectly fine... at 800x600 heh. Any higher and it'll stutter and have the game text too damn small for my taste anyway.

Try different settings (be sure to modify your windower ini files to match), possibly set a filter in your antivirus for playonline's folder, and see how it does. I'm not very familiar with what's all installed along with windows in an alienware so there could also be crapware on it. Any other games perform like crap on your laptop?

add: Mafai probably covered this.

[Mafai]

It is definately an issue with nvidia and vista discussed in the sticky below:

http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/tech/...s-vista-4.html

I personally would try the .17 drivers first, then if that doesnt fix it do the .21's. Only because it is considered an upgrade if you need to try the second step you can skip all the BS driver removal (some would argue you should uninstall fully first).

If the stock drivers are not able to be used, you will need a modded INF file!

32 bit 169.17 drivers - http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/drivers/vista/169.17
64 bit 169.17 drivers - http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/drivers/vista64/169.17

32 bit 169.21 drivers - http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/drivers/vista/169.21
64 bit 169.21 drivers - http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/drivers/vista64/169.21

Notice the top has "Modded INF" and "Quickstart Guide". The modded INF is the file you will need to download to follow the directions in the Quickstart Guide. Good luck and post back your results!

In this case, your card is added with the modded INF, following the Quickstart Guide will allow you to install the drivers your need:

NVIDIA_G84.DEV_0409.1  = "NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT"

This is how you would fix a computer that accepts the stock drivers!

Fixes found in that thread include (depending on if you run 32/64 bit):
169.17 Drivers
32 bit -ftp://download.nvidia.com/downloads/...ional_beta.exe
64 bit -ftp://download.nvidia.com/downloads/...ional_beta.exe

169.21 Drivers
32 bit -http://us.download.nvidia.com/Window...glish_beta.exe
64 bit -http://us.download.nvidia.com/Window...glish_beta.exe

[Sylvanis]

Great, thanks for the help. Once I get home I'll give it try. The .inf update might be were I'm going wrong. hopefully once I use the modded inf it will accept the update.

I'll post what my findings are.