CuppaManga

Open the Console (Applications > Utilities > Console) and watch what kind of errors appear from the time you launch CoH until it crashes.

Make sure you're running CoH with a user account that isn't "limited".

Also contact Customer Support, as they have a procedure for resetting the cache you can follow.

Check also if M-Audio has a newer driver.

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Memory Module: global_name

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What's the deal with that? If your memory modules were working right you should be getting the type and speed instead of...that. You did check them in the System Profiler Memory section didn't you?

Try removing the newest RAM from your computer first (make sure it's unplugged before you do that), a pair at a time. If you stop getting the "hold the power button and restart" screen then you've found the bad ones.

That screen you're getting btw is called a "kernel panic". It does produce a log, but for some reason they can't be posted to the forums. It's not hard to guess the cause though - it's usually bad RAM, a disk error, or bad driver software, the last of which is considerably more rare unless you install a lot of 3rd-party stuff that needs drivers. And usually you can guess which one it is by the timing of the crash.

The Mac Mini plays CoH very well, though you might not be able to max out all the settings like on a high-end PC. The video setting I use on my Macbook Pro is to turn the graphics slider up to maximum, and then switch on Advanced and turn World Detail down to 100%. You may have to reduce it a little more, or change the texture settings, based on how much RAM you have.

Supposedly the 9400M maps how much video memory it uses by how much RAM you have. If you have 2 GB of RAM the Mac Mini will struggle a bit with the textures (and 2 GB is juuust barely enough to run CoH anyway) and you may need to reduce the settings a bit more. Upgrading the RAM on a Mini is tricky, but it can be done - I think ifixit.com may have a guide.

In my experience, the Mac version has occasional stability issues (it doesn't crash the Mac, it just quits) that can often be mitigated by using /reloadgfx when you start to feel the video becoming more laggy. But since you have real stability issues on the PC, you'll probably find it an improvement that with a little practice you can control most of the issues. Your mileage may vary, but on my Macbook Pro I can usually play for hours without a crash - and when I do get one I can usually see it coming, because I was a few seconds too late using /reloadgfx.

There's a shorter version of why CoH is more demanding than most games: Wherever you're standing in-game has more textures than you have video memory.

Textures are copied back and forth from video memory to RAM to a swap file as you move around. And it has to happen quickly, because in CoH, you also can move from place to place a whole lot faster than with most games.

Because of the high video memory use all it takes is one tiny area of one VRAM chip to be bad and you've got broken triangles.

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I have auto-updates enabled so I don't have to micro-manage my drivers.

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That's problem #1. Download the driver directly from Nvidia, or Windows Update may just send you an OEM "vendor" driver that doesn't work.


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I would get a white screen (sometimes when logging in) and the game would freeze, but I could close it with task manager and go back to Windows just fine.

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And there's your clue why not to use Windows Update drivers. But it's not related to the triangles.


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The first thing I thought when I saw the graphics corrupt was overheating.

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It's not overheating, it's a defective video card - particularly bad video RAM. I had that happen with an EVGA, and it was thankfully covered under warranty. You need a new or replacement video card.

For future reference, the techies here seem cranky because every once in a while we get someone who posts with "I can't play, I *know* it's not my system, it's the game - devs fix the game so I can play!" Don't do that.

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Hi all,

I installed everything on my (Intell) Mac and then when I typed in my name and password, it didn't do anything. It got totally stucked and I had to turn off my Mac totally. And then start it upp again. My wife who also has a Mac ( also intell) She has exactly the same problem.
What can this be for problem?

Theo

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This sounds like a connection issue - right after you enter your name and password, the game client tries to contact a Login Server, sometimes for a really long time if there's a problem. You'd have to wait in excess of 2 to 3 minutes to get any kind of error response.

If you're using a firewall there are certain ports you need to un-block. I don't remember which ones they are, so you'll have to contact Support for more info on that. Additionally, if your ISP is having trouble reaching the CoH servers, Support may be able to help with that too.

Disconnects are not a known issue specifically with the Mac client - you should contact Customer Support about your internet connection.

The /reloadgfx command does not affect disconnects, it affects crashes by clearing out the video RAM and the problems it has associated with the Mac client.

Cmd-Return switches to/from windowed mode.

The fact is, CoH was designed for native Windows. So if you can run native Windows, even via Boot Camp, you'll have the best experience.

The Mac version, however, gives you the benefit of not having to restart the computer to use it. You can also use your familiar programs and music Mac side without going to extra effort to make it available Windows side. And for most it does that handily with very few tradeoffs.

Most importantly, it attracts the growing audience of Mac users who don't have Windows installed either on Boot Camp or a real PC, and have no intention of installing it.

Paxil, does your Macbook Pro have 256 or 512 video RAM?

I just played through an entire Lars Hansen arc in Striga (part outdoor, part instanced, kill-all, one death leading to an SG base run) without using /reloadgfx even once. I didn't crash once during the entire mission run, or when I went back to the base and to Talos Island. I felt Talos was laggy, and it finally crashed as I entered Wentworths.

That was about an hour of relatively harsh gaming (lots of zoning, and I move through missions fast solo) without a crash, and I would have gone longer if I wasn't purposely avoiding using /reloadgfx.

This was on a late 2008 Macbook Pro (MacbookPro5,1) set to Higher Performance so it uses the 9600/512 video/vram instead of the 9400/256.

I'm starting to suspect in general though that the less VRAM + RAM you have, the more prone you will be to crashes.

Upon further review it seems the issue is still related to the memory leak/texture issue already on the drawing board for patching. For some reason it's magnified on iMacs with 256 MB of video RAM.

I just tested a 24" iMac with 4 gigs of RAM and nvidia 9400 at the Apple Store. CoH loaded and worked fine. Not sure what the issue is with other iMacs, so if you're having trouble please send a support request.

There seems to be a developing issue with the most recent iMac and CoH Mac Edition. I will be running a test as soon as I have access to an Apple Store.

Meanwhile, send a support request so they can track the issue as well.

There seems to be a developing issue with the Mac Edition and the most recent iMacs. I'll test it as soon as I have access to an Apple Store to see how it behaves.

Meanwhile, if you're having frequent crashing issues on a recent iMac, send in a Support request so they can track the issue.

"Your mileage may vary"?

Which Mac are you using and how much RAM?

Many of you may not know this, but using /reloadgfx properly is tricky. Following these guidelines may improve your results:

1. Do not use /reloadgfx just before zoning, as it may *cause* a crash.

2. After zoning into a laggy spot like Pocket D or a base, wait up to a minute for the textures to load and stabilize. Move slowly at first and give it a little time before using /reloadgfx. Using the command too early may actually prolong lag or increase the chance of a crash.

3. Turn on Advanced graphics settings and make sure your World Detail slider is set no higher than 100%. This seems to increase stability and reduce lag dramatically.

4. Try to upgrade your RAM to 4 GB or higher.

5. If you're using a new dual-graphics Mac with both the 9400 and 9600, set your graphics (in Energy Saver) to Performance.

6. Try to limit the number of applications you're running in the background when you're doing effects intensive missions.

A permanent fix should be on the way for Mac lag and crashes, but in the meantime these instructions should help you maximize play.

P.S. Yes, I've been following each of the guidelines above. If I hover by my SG's base for a few seconds and then run to the next room (rather than fly) I can usually then use the huge base lag-free. I've also reduced my crashing to maybe once a night, which seems to be on par with Vista.

If you're having to do hard boots you may have an issue with bad RAM. Do you have 3rd party RAM installed?

The crashes have been reduced...slightly...in Issue 14 for some people, but this issue is proving to be more complicated than it looks. Plus, there are TWO parties working on it - the CoH team, plus Transgaming - which adds complication and delays with communicating and testing.

As far as I've heard, a fix *is* coming, it's just taking longer than anyone thought. I know that much because I've been on the front lines nagging about it more than anyone.

Let us know what type of Mac you're running it on, and whether or not you have installed 3rd party RAM.

Try removing any custom drivers or software that came with it. If it's better behaved, then see if there's newer software available.

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My iMac 24" is STILL crashing. No patch in sight.

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Send in a support ticket. They may have a workaround involving clearing the system cache.

As far as I know there will still be a patch coming...eventually.

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Anyone else use a Macbook of any kind to play? What sort of specs?

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I use a Macbook Pro (late 2008) from time to time: 2.53 ghz, nvidia 9600 (set to "performance") or 9400 (set to "saving"), 4 gigs of RAM. It plays almost as well as my PC desktop with an nvidia 9800.

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After discovering that Command + Enter would put me into Window mode, I tried this. I found that my game running at 1920x1200 ran just as well, but the window decorations as well as the menubar forced part of the window to be rendered below the bottom of the visible area. As well, the OSX dock protruded into the game.

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This is about as close as you'll get, except you can right-click the dock and turn Dock Hiding on.

You also should be able to drag the CoH window off the main screen to another monitor's space.

Moonlighter, the Mac performance changes are supposedly on the agenda, but didn't make the Issue 14 release date. Hopefully it'll be soon.

As for increasing performance, try setting the graphics to the second-highest setting, and then turn on Advanced settings. Set the World Detail no higher than 100%.

Also, use /reloadgfx *after* zoning if things seem unusually laggy.