rec.autos.simulators

With a p166 and 32 megs ram (no 3dfx), and running in DOS, I can only
get a frame rate of about 20 with graphics at a bare minimum.  Is this
normal?  Sierra says that it is the recommended requirements.  (except
for the 3d of course)  What can I do to speed things up a bit?  Are
there any web paged devoted to improving frame rates?

Would the addition of a 3dfx card alone be enough to fix things?

Many thanks for your help.  

First: don't you EVER believe the "minimum requirements" printed on a games
box.
Second: adding another 32 MB RAM *might* be the trick. The 3dfx version of
NASCAR 2 was even SLOWER on my good old 166 with 64MB, and I'd rather have
performance than graphics.

Ive found that 20 FPS is good.. anything less than 15fps and it get crappy
handling
on steering. With a 3dfx with all graphics on youll get maybe 25 fps.

It is the minimum requirement to get the game to run with a minimum of
features enabled. The recommended requirement is the minimum required to
have an enjoyable game. My 200 MMX and 12MB Voodoo II runs fine in 3dfx
mode. I wouldn't want to go any slower. Look at upgrading your 166 to a 200
if your motherboard can take it. I have also seen no-name brand Voodoo IIs
going for around $100. I don't think it will work in your 166 but it would
in a 200. 200s are getting pretty cheap now.

Robert

Adding a 3dfx or rendition card will make it
a lot better.  You shouldn't even hesitate
to make that addition.  It will be the best
$50 you ever spent on a piece of computer
equipment.

My AMD K6-166 with a rendition V1000 card
would nearly max out the frame rate of N2
with all details on.  I'd suggest putting
a V2100 or V2200 rendition card in your
computer.

There is no need to go from a 166 to 200 cpu.
There would be hardly any difference at all.
I don't know where the comment about a 3dfx
card not working on a 166 came from, but it
isn't true.

--
Pat Dotson
IMPACT Motorsports
http://www.impactmotorsports.com/pd.html

I agree, my old p166 mmx with 64megs ram, and v1000 nearly always puts out 30
fps on nr1999 except at bristol when some corners drop to about 16 fps.  No
need to upgrade from this for nr1999.  

<snip>
% There is no need to go from a 166 to 200 cpu.
% There would be hardly any difference at all.
% I don't know where the comment about a 3dfx
% card not working on a 166 came from, but it
% isn't true.

Well a Voodoo2 will work with a 166, but the CPU will be a big
bottleneck for the the video card.  I would recommend going with one of
the newer Rendition cards and forego the Voodoo2 route, unless he plans
to upgrade to PII CPU in the near future.

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Rendition? Are you actually joking or something? Any
3dfx Voodoo1 card will do just fine. Plus he will be able to
use it with just about anyother 3d game he may be interested
in. If he was into flightsims and took you advice on the rendition
card, he would be screwed.

Bull. I saw a 23% increase in performance be going to
a 200MMX. I suppose now you will say that you meant
a normal 200 Pentium. Right. The MMX CPU has a level1
cache which will give a performance increase of 15%-20%
right off the bat.

Correct. Maybe he was mistaken about a 3dfx Voodoo card
not working with a P5-166. That will work too, but you will see
a 2x performance gain vs a Voodoo1 only if you are using
a fast P2.

--
Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes.

cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com

Really. What if he wanted to play LB2, F-15, F1RS or even EAW?
A rendition will sure help then.

Rendition.. What a jokester you are.
--
Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes.

cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com