rec.autos.simulators

Help, I have recently entered the wonderful world of PC simulators using my
3D CAD workstation and have no real reference for what is 'normal'.  It
seems that my machine runs frame rates on N2 way below par (Everything on,
20 cars drawn ahead 5 behind, sound of 4 cars, 10 FRAMES/SEC - MAX
OBTAINABLE.
Computer = Dell XPS Pro200n, #9 Imagine series 2 w/4MB Vram, 96MB EDO RAM,
17" Sony Trinitron .25dp running at 1024X768 True color.  I have done a
full install, have added the 2 correct patches and run within WIN95.
Monitor resolution and color levels do not effect frame rate.  Am I missing
something or should I be getting better frame rates?   Any advice short of
scrapping my graphic card would be appreciated.

: Help, I have recently entered the wonderful world of PC simulators using my
: 3D CAD workstation and have no real reference for what is 'normal'.  It
: seems that my machine runs frame rates on N2 way below par (Everything on,
: 20 cars drawn ahead 5 behind, sound of 4 cars, 10 FRAMES/SEC - MAX
: OBTAINABLE.
: Computer = Dell XPS Pro200n, #9 Imagine series 2 w/4MB Vram, 96MB EDO RAM,
: 17" Sony Trinitron .25dp running at 1024X768 True color.  I have done a
: full install, have added the 2 correct patches and run within WIN95.
: Monitor resolution and color levels do not effect frame rate.  Am I missing
: something or should I be getting better frame rates?   Any advice short of
: scrapping my graphic card would be appreciated.

Try it in DOS.  Are you using fastvid?

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

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

Try www.scitechsoft.com first to download the Scitech Display Doctor.
Good Luck.

Dana Bailes

Well I would suggest that you dump Win95 on that PPro machine of yours!
Besides Win95 can't cache over 64 megs of ram anyway! Go with an NT /
Dos6.22 dual boot! Oh and go pick up one of those Rendition Vertite' Cards
for N2 it helps alot!

I also have a Dell (purchased last year) w/ a Imagine #9 Series 1 video card
w/ 4MB, and was dismayed to discovered later from Dell that this card only
uses 1/2 MB of its video memory under DOS.  Even though you say you're
running under Win95, maybe this limitation applies to you as well.  Something
to check on anyway...

I was about to s***the card for a different one when I called the
company (1-800-GET-NINE).  Turns out we're not the only ones
complaining about this problem.  They have a new BIOS release for the
card that they will send you for FREE that will allow all 4M VRAM to
be used in Windows *and* DOS.  It's a real small chip on the center of
the card.  Pop out the old one, snap in the new one, and you've got an
awesome video card.  I can run full detail with 20 cars showing and
full 39 car fields on a P166 with 64M RAM because of this BIOS update.

So call the company and get the BIOS update (you'll have to go to the
"About" screen on the Hawkeye Desktop Control Panel to get some
specific version and driver numbers for the company).  I got mine in
about two days via snailmail.

Believe me--it's worth it and the card can smoke now....

Matt
P.S.  One other thing--you still won't be able to change the refresh
rates in a full screen DOS mode with the card unless you download the
file rrapimgr.exe from the Number Nine website.  Run this TSR first (I
added it to the batch file) and it will let you pick your resolution
and refresh rate before you start the game.