"As part of the normal ongoing process to improve performance, we put in new console variables from time to time which help end users, IHV's and platform providers experiment with alternative modes of operation. Based on some discussions we've been having, we added one to the Mac Source engine in particular, which we could use some user feedback on.

If you have any of the Mac Source games installed (Portal, HL2, TF2), please try this option out; you can flip it on or off during gameplay using the dev console.

gl_bufmode 1

The default state which everyone is running is zero. Try setting it to 1 as shown and see if you notice a difference, positive, negative, or unchanged. If you find an interesting outcome, good or bad, please follow up on this thread."

See the linked thread for user's results with it enabled and disabled as well as comments on other issues/tips. (Some noted little gains (a few fps to 5) although some claimed significant improvements.)

"I wanted to relate my recent experience with AppleCare and Apple Support. I have a 15" 2007 MacBook Pro with the Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT. When I buy Apple computers, I always buy AppleCare (I am in academia, so the academic discount and the cost of AppleCare just about cancel each other out.) Despite all the horror stories about the 8600M GT, (Ref: Flawed (pkg) GPU in MBPs made from appx May 2007 to September 2008 which have an extended GPU warranty ) I haven't had a problem with the graphics processor in my MBP, even though over the last year or so I have hammered it with days of video conversion and signal processing, sometimes driving the cpu and video card temps to over 200° F for sustained periods.
The problem I have had is with the batteries. The original battery failed at about 10 or 12 months. (Some earlier MacBook Pros also had issues with swollen/burst batteries. I thought those were all replaced by now but a couple weeks ago a reader sent a note he had one swell (first sign is hard to remove), which apple replaced.-Mike).
Apple was happy to replace it since it was within the first year warranty period and I had Apple Care. That battery lasted about 10 months before it also died. Again, Apple Support simply sent me a new battery with few questions asked. Well, that third battery (2nd replacement) also died in about 9 or 10 months.

(BTW: I assume the battery failures were not normal/typical examples (i.e. not just poor runtime from a high number of charge cycles, etc.) as most warranties (including AppleCare) have terms that note batteries are not normally covered except for defects - calling them consumables. I checked the AppleCare terms and conditions (here's the NA Applecare terms and conditions PDF) and under the "Limitations" section, item IX it says:

"Consumable parts, such as batteries, except in respect of battery coverage under APP for iPod or unless failure due to a defect in materials and workmanship"
(emphasis mine)

I'm sure there may be exceptions made at times, but asked him about the number of charge cycles these batteries had (not sure if he ever checked ASP for that info, if not just an estimate) and the battery failure mode.
But again since AppleCare repeatedly replaced the batteries, I assume it was not a normal ("used up") battery issue.-Mike)
(He later wrote)
I was aware of the bulging battery issue; didn't see any signs of that in any of mine. (That was an issue with some earlier models - I just posted a reminder about it since I'd had a reader recently that had one.-Mike) They would be fine for about 50 or so cycles, but by 75 or 80 cycles their health would fall off precipitously to less than 10%. Sometimes they wouldn't keep a charge in sleep mode for me to get from my office to my home (a 10 minute drive). This after being pretty careful about conditioning them every few months, etc. As one of the Apple support people said, "What are the chances of one person getting 3 flawed batteries?"

As it would happen, this latest battery failure is within a few months of the expiration of my Apple Care contract. This time, Apple Support did not want to replace the battery. Rather, they suggested that the system be tested for any problems with the logic board. I took it to an Apple Retail Store, where the Genius was willing to simply replace the battery, until I pointed out the open case file and said I wanted to follow through with the full checkup. So they shipped it off to the repair depot (in Texas?). It took a week, but I picked it up today. They replaced the logic board, one (of two) 1 GB RAM modules, the flex cable and the battery. I relate this tale so others are aware.

At the lab where I work there are other MBPs of the same vintage with the same types of problems, so I'm thinking this isn't an isolated case. One questionI now have is whether my new logic board has a revised Nvidia graphics chip. System profiler reports the graphics card as GeForce 8600M GT with Revision ID: 0x00a1, and ROM Revision: 3175. Of course, I didn't think to save the info before they shipped it out, so I don't know if that is different from the original or not. Any one know?
Best, Jerry"

Any replacement motherboards should not have the flawed 8600M (pkg issue, which could separate over time/thermal cycling). I suspect it may also have a later firmware than your original as well.
With most extended warranties, I suspect you'd have gotten only another battery (if that) - nice that they went this far even when you were near the end of the warranty period. I don't normally buy extended warranties but for laptops (especially expensive ones), it's definitely worth considering.
(I asked Jerry to report back if he saw any battery problems again with the new motherboard. i.e. Could it have been an SMC issue with the original one rather than a string of suspect batteries.)

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