Whatever has been patching in, I noticed the problem first about 2 months ago. I have 2 accounts, and I run two laptops:
System 1
Model: Dell Precision M4300OS: Windows XP ProProcessor: Intel Core2 Duo T7300 @ 2.00 GHzMemory: 3.50 GB RAM (1.99 GHz)Video: NVidia Quadro FX 360M
System 2
Model: MacBook Pro OS: Vista 32bit on 80GB Windows Partition (Boot Camp)Processor: Intel Core2 Duo T8300 @ 2.40 GHzMemory: 4.0 GBVideo: NVidia GeForce 8600 GT
I ran 2 windowed clients of this game flawlessly on the original (Dell) system when I returned to this game a year and a half ago at Balanced settings. Today, I can't even run one client on Extreme Performance settings, windowed or otherwise, even after a complete format of the system and a re-install of the game. The framerate is simply unplayable.
I was able to run 2 windowed clients of this game flawlessly on the MacBook Pro up until late summer using balanced settings, when I had to turn the settings down to extreme performance in order to preserve framerate. Two patches ago, I was only able to run one client without suffering severe performance degradation while using extreme performance settings. At best today, I can play one client (windowed) at Very High Perfomrance Settings while noticing only minimal performance/framerate loss. Extreme Performance Setting is still playable, at the moment.
The strangest difference between both systems was the way performance issues presented themselves between the systems. The Dell (up until 3 patches ago) was able to run the game, but every 5 minutes I would experience approximately 3 minutes of massive framerate loss (on the other computer I would appear to run around in circles for 3 mintues), and during this period I had no game response whatsoever. It would correct itself, then it would be smooth playing for another 5 minutes, and then the cycle repeated. This was enough to render the game unplayable on the Dell for most situations, and first presented itself in or around September. It was the week before Halloween when performance became such an issue that I was unable to stand it any longer.
It seems that with every patch the problem intensifies. I have not noticed any improvements whatsoever, despite any "fixes" that have been made. The problem has remained the same, worsening with each patch, noticed on both systems.
I have recently ordered a rather beefy i7 Desktop, however, if I notice any performance issues whatsoever, I'm gone. Sorry Sony, but this is unacceptable. One of the major reasons I continued to play EQ2 was because it was Laptop friendly and compatible with older systems (if you consider a 1 year old and 2 year old system "older"), and I'm on the road quite a bit. My budget only allows me to upgrade every so often, and I generally operate on 3 systems (Mac/PC/Laptop/Desktop), but I consider myself privileged in that my computers are a business expense. Most aren't so lucky. If many others are experiencing what I've been experiencing, this issue is going to drive players away.