Probs with Windows DirectX games in Parallels

campbelr · 03-01-2008, 11:51 AM

You guys have been a great help (two for two so far!), so I'm wondering if you could help me with my son's problem. We installed a Lucas Arts game (Empire At War) on my MacBook Pro 2.33 GHz (1.5GB RAM), following a successful install of Parallels and Windows XP. Unfortunately, the game won't run; something to do with not being able to run the 3D graphics. The game supposedly supports the graphics card in the MacBook Pro. Am I missing a graphics driver or something? Help!

I did install Windows XP via Boot Camp on my MacPro tower and the game works fine. However, I noticed that following the Boot Camp install, Apple had a few drivers loaded from the OS10.5 disc.

So I really don't want to have to reboot every time my son wants to play a game... can Parallels really do this?

Many thanks! I feel like I owe you guys money for all the advice

Bob

HazyJMac · 03-01-2008, 04:26 PM

What version of paralells are you running. The first release didn't handle 3D graphics. You may need to upgrade. But its gonna cost ya.

campbelr · 03-01-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HazyJMac


	What version of paralells are you running. The first release didn't handle 3D graphics. You may need to upgrade. But its gonna cost ya.

I have the latest release...

DeltaMac · 03-01-2008, 05:08 PM

Give your game the best chance. Load Windows using a Boot Camp partition. You can use that partition with Parallels, also. You would reboot to the Windows partition when you want to play that game.

Las_Vegas · 03-01-2008, 06:21 PM

DeltaMac's right. Parallels and Fusion have to emulate video hardware in order to control display in a window through OS X. It doesn't support most 3D features. Boot Camp actually uses all of the native hardware of the Mac.

nikopolidis · 03-03-2008, 04:19 AM

Well, I agree with guys... BootCamp is the best app for Windows-gaming on Mac. Almost in all cases I use BootCamp for gaming. In all other cases and sometimes for gaming as well I use Parallels Desktop (if the game has not very high system and graphics requirements). So I recommend you:
1. Check game's system and graphics requirements. If they are high don't try to run it thru Parallels.
2. Check support pages on Parallels official website. They always help me if I have any problems. Information about 3D support, Parallels Knowledge Base, Parallels Support Forum.
Good luck!

setta · 03-03-2008, 04:40 AM

Parallels have a list of games. If it's not enough for you, use Bootcamp... I do the same thing.

campbelr · 03-03-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by setta


	Parallels have a list of games. If it's not enough for you, use Bootcamp... I do the same thing.

Thanks to all for the advice. I guess I'm just going to stick with Boot Camp. It seems to work well with these games. I'll just have to put up with the re-starts. Thanks!

Bob

03-01-2008, 11:51 AM	#1
campbelr Triple-A Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 60	Probs with Windows DirectX games in Parallels You guys have been a great help (two for two so far!), so I'm wondering if you could help me with my son's problem. We installed a Lucas Arts game (Empire At War) on my MacBook Pro 2.33 GHz (1.5GB RAM), following a successful install of Parallels and Windows XP. Unfortunately, the game won't run; something to do with not being able to run the 3D graphics. The game supposedly supports the graphics card in the MacBook Pro. Am I missing a graphics driver or something? Help! I did install Windows XP via Boot Camp on my MacPro tower and the game works fine. However, I noticed that following the Boot Camp install, Apple had a few drivers loaded from the OS10.5 disc. So I really don't want to have to reboot every time my son wants to play a game... can Parallels really do this? Many thanks! I feel like I owe you guys money for all the advice Bob

03-01-2008, 04:26 PM	#2
HazyJMac Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 464	What version of paralells are you running. The first release didn't handle 3D graphics. You may need to upgrade. But its gonna cost ya. __________________ Do you love it, Do you hate it, There it is the way you made it. FZ

03-01-2008, 06:21 PM	#5
Las_Vegas League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 5,875	DeltaMac's right. Parallels and Fusion have to emulate video hardware in order to control display in a window through OS X. It doesn't support most 3D features. Boot Camp actually uses all of the native hardware of the Mac. __________________ Las_Vegas -- Ts'i mahnu uterna ot twan ot geifur hingts uto. -- Sometimes I wonder… Why is that Frisbee getting Larger? …and then it hits me. -- Disposable thumbs make me specialer than most animals…

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03-01-2008, 05:08 PM	#4
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,959	Give your game the best chance. Load Windows using a Boot Camp partition. You can use that partition with Parallels, also. You would reboot to the Windows partition when you want to play that game.

03-03-2008, 04:19 AM	#6
nikopolidis Triple-A Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 104	Well, I agree with guys... BootCamp is the best app for Windows-gaming on Mac. Almost in all cases I use BootCamp for gaming. In all other cases and sometimes for gaming as well I use Parallels Desktop (if the game has not very high system and graphics requirements). So I recommend you: 1. Check game's system and graphics requirements. If they are high don't try to run it thru Parallels. 2. Check support pages on Parallels official website. They always help me if I have any problems. Information about 3D support, Parallels Knowledge Base, Parallels Support Forum. Good luck!

03-03-2008, 04:40 AM	#7
setta Triple-A Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 82	Parallels have a list of games. If it's not enough for you, use Bootcamp... I do the same thing.