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1 of 1- Tigger_B
- Admiral
Offline - Registered: 7/12/2022
- Posts: 69
C-Map Discover X Chart Rendering
Hi All,
I am one of the strange folk who use Exp in a Parallels VM environment on a MacBook Pro. I recently changed the laptop, and at the same time switched from Exp 4D to Exp X and bought some Discover X charts.
After installing, and overcoming one or two initial set up challenges, I tried to switch from World Map to C-Map view. The World Map was clear, but the C-Map charts I had downloaded were very distorted ('smeared') at all states of zoom and across all the charted areas.
From chatting with Nick he suspects it may be associated with the graphics drivers embedded within the Parallels environment, so I have an open help case with the Parallels tech support team.
My question - has anyone had a similar experience and can offer some help / guidance / ideas on how I can fix this?
Thanks in advance...
- Astolfo
- Admiral
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- From: Seattle, WA USA
- Registered: 8/12/2022
- Posts: 60
Re: C-Map Discover X Chart Rendering
CMAP-X requires a lot more CPU/GPU ticks (~30%-40%) than 4D.
As Nick said check your you drivers, not just Parallels.
- Tigger_B
- Admiral
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- Registered: 7/12/2022
- Posts: 69
Re: C-Map Discover X Chart Rendering
Thx Astolfo,
It's a new M5 Pro chip in a MacBook with 48GB RAM and 16 core GPU, metal 4 supported etc.
I would hope that this machine should be capable of handling the demands of C-Map X charts, and I believe that the graphics drivers are embedded in the OS so not possible to update.
Maybe the just released macOS27 does something different, so I will test this just in case...
- •
Thread Starter- Nick
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- Registered: 9/16/2015
- Posts: 3,505
Re: C-Map Discover X Chart Rendering
I don't know anything about Parallels, but am a little surprised you can't update the graphics drivers.
- Tigger_B
- Admiral
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- Registered: 7/12/2022
- Posts: 69
Re: C-Map Discover X Chart Rendering
I know 
I can only share what I have found doing my research. MacOS has the graphics drivers bundled within it, so everything comes in the OS updates. Parallels uses a virtual display adapter which is either within the 'Parallels Tools' package, or in the main application.
In both cases it seems that the latest version of software = latest version of the drivers.
- •
Thread Starter- Tigger_B
- Admiral
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- Registered: 7/12/2022
- Posts: 69
Re: C-Map Discover X Chart Rendering
Exactly - and the newer Macs (those since late 2020 and all the Silicon MX chips) have this 'unified architecture' without separate graphics cards.
The Parallels Support Team have concluded there is nothing that they can 'fix' to resolve this, so it has been handed to the Development Team for consideration in future releases. They can't be clear when, or even if, it will be addressed, so my working assumption for now it that the C-Map X option isn't possible for me. 
I'm now thinking of the ENC route...
- •
Thread Starter- Nick
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- Registered: 9/16/2015
- Posts: 3,505
Re: C-Map Discover X Chart Rendering
... or use a Windows computer.
- Tigger_B
- Admiral
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- Registered: 7/12/2022
- Posts: 69
Re: C-Map Discover X Chart Rendering
Very true! 
I spend a lot of time travelling for work, using the Mac, so all Exp race planning & preparation is done 'on the road' to enable me to jump on ready to go.
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