Amazing system, FFXIV taking FPS hit. Why?

[origamikitsune]

Unfortunately, hardware does matter. If it didn't, you would be able to install MacOS out of the box onto a non-mac PC. However, you cannot. Also, if hardware didn't matter, then you would be able to install windows on a Mac WITHOUT bootcamp; however, you cannot (well, you can use something other than bootcamp; point is you can't just pull a Windows 7 Ultimate DVD out of the box and install it on a mac).

This had to do in part with the drivers for the system that you aren't usually aware of. Just popping into the system devices related to my motherboard... two ACPI devices, Composite Bus Enumerator, DMA Controller, two audio controllers, HPE Timer, PCI Bridge... I could go could go on.

The short version; hardware matters.

Which goes back to your question about why your upgrade could be causing problems. You upgraded to a GPU that has an M on it, that means mobility. That means there is most likely some integration between the GPU and the IGP. For nVidia cards on a PC based laptop this is called Optimus, and that integration can be turned off. On an iMac, however, we don't know if that integration can be turned off. It is entirely possible you don't even HAVE and IGP that is separate from your AMD Mobility device - they could be integrated in an Apple-only-way that is very proprietary. Also take into account that this integration between IGP/GPU even on a "newer" models can be less performance than older model. Such is the sin of "moble" "advanced" hardware.

This, I believe, is most likely.

On top of that, when it comes to laptops and all-in-ones, AMD has a history of partnering with various manufacturers in a way that forces the manufacturers to maintain their own drivers. For example, my Toshiba Laptop. I cannot simply download the latest Catalyst drivers from AMD and run them. In fact, they refuse to install (even if I try to force install them manually) because they are not the Toshiba branded drivers (which are v.8.something; I believe the current CC version is 11.something?)

So, to wrap it up, if you were on a "real" mac you would have less issues. Even PC users who use all-in-one PCs have issues. This tech forum is full of people looking for help and having the same issue... with PCs instead of macs. If you have to keep the mac, but can afford to upgrade, you need a MacPro. Like PC users, switching to a non-all-in-one design is ultimately the best bet. At the very least, you have a real video card in a real tower, and might find compatibility with Windows 7 a bit better.