rec.autos.simulators

> Note:  I have not updated this for about 30-days.....and depending on
> your system, video card and drivers....you may now be able to utilize
> "anistropic" filtering for N4....but I have not tested this (it works
> great in GPL).  So, you might want to research that section a little
> bit.

> Regards,

> Tom

>  "Tweaks and Settings" for N4

> ****************
> General Settings
> ****************
> **Desktop Color:  Set to 16-bit color.
> **DirectX: Use a DX 8.0 compatible driver(NvRef drivers 7.0 or higher,
> 12.0 and up for GF3 cards, or the 21.81 new drivers work great).
> **OpenGL or D3D?:  Run OpenGL for N4 in "XXXX"x16 (use a res compatible
> with your CPU speed and ram).
> **Monitor:  Obtain the latest drivers for your monitor...DO NOT USE
> Windows "Plug and Play" monitor drivers!  Set your refresh rate at the
> highest setting you are allowed for your monitor at the specific screen
> res you run N4 at.

> ********************************
> Advanced Settings Tab For OpenGL
> ********************************
> In The Scroll Down Box:
>    [*]Enable Buffer Region Extension. (Checked)
>    [*]Allow the dual planes extension to us local video memory.
> (Checked)
>    [*]Use fast linear-mipmap-linear filtering. (Checked)
>    [ ]Enable anistropic filtering. (Unchecked)

> Individual Scroll Down Boxes:
>    Default Color Depth for Textures: [Always Use 16 bpp]
>    Buffer Flipping Mode:             [Use page flip]
>    Vertical sync:                    [Always off]
>    Full Scene Antialiasing Method:   [Always off]
>    (note: this is not here on a GF3 card which has its own antialiasing
> screen)

>    Use up to [62] MB of system memory for textures in PCI mode.

> **************************
> Mother Board BIOS Settings
> **************************
>    Video BIOS Shadow............[Disabled]
>    Video BIOS Cache.............[Disabled]
>    Palette Snoop................[Disabled]
>    AGP Turbo (or Fast Write)....[Enabled]*
>    AGP Aperture Size (MB).......[128]*
>    AGP ISA Aliasing.............[Disabled]*
>    AGP Secondary Lat Timer......[20h]*
>    AGP Data Transfer Mode.......[4x]*
>    K7 Clk_Cntrl Select..........[Optimal]*
>    PnP Aware OS.................[Yes]
>    Resources Controlled by......[Auto]
>    Assign IRQ to VGA............[Yes]

> Note: (*) Items above will appear only on mobos with 2x/4x compliant AGP
> bus.  If you don't have one of these mobos now, DO NOT waste your time
> and money to purchase a fast Nvidia card....its a complete waste!

> DO NOT FLASH or upgrade your system BIOS UNLESS YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS
> WITH YOUR MOBO....that are **specifically addressed** in the BIOS
> upgrade (see the Readme.txt file for your BIOS flash upgrade).  Flashing
> your system BIOS is risky business....and you can render your mobo
> completely inoperable if you screw even the slightest thing up in
> following the steps.  You've been warned!  Ask Dave Henrie!

> ********************
> Mobo Chipset Drivers
> ********************
> Your mobo contains two "chips" similar to your CPU chip (but smaller)
> that control all the functions of your mobo (system bus, AGP bus, IDE
> controllers, etc.).  The one located closest to the CPU is called the
> "northbridge" chip, and the one furthest away is called the
> "southbridge" chip.  The northbrigde chip is very important for video
> graphics since it controls the system bus and AGP bus (among others).
> THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR GRAPHIC'S CARD SPEED
> AND STABLE OPERATION IS INSTALL AND MAINTAIN THE CHIPSET DRIVERS IN THE
> LATEST **DRIVER VERSION**.  This applies to Intel and AMD platforms, but
> is critical in all AMD platforms!

> There are several "chipset" manufacturers and you must determine which
> one you have on your mobo.  I can tell you that VIA is the most popular,
> but ALI and AMD also make chipsets.  Once you've determined which you
> have, go to that manufacturer's website (bookmark it...you will need to
> check for version updates at least monthly).  Download and very
> carefully install the latest chipset drivers for your mobo.  This is an
> area where I have seen the most improvement in frame rates and graphic
> quality.  DO NOT DO THIS CASUALLY.....READ AND FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT AND
> HOW YOU ARE TO INSTALL THESE CHIPSET DRIVERS!

> Chipset drivers can easily get corrupted with normal
> operations....especially running a lot of pc games.  I install mine
> every week.....whether needed or not.  You can "over-write" install
> them....its very simple to do once you have the routine down.

> *******************************
> Windows Virtual Memory Settings
> *******************************
> Many sim racers have had problems with "screen stutter"....usually
> occurring as the car is entering a turn.  This happens at this point
> because the FPS slows....just as the requirements for a faster FPS are
> greater (when turning...the screen is rapidly changing the scenery and
> background).  If your system is at the same time accessing the Windows
> Swap file (located on your hard-drive)....you can get this screen
> stutter (a brief, usually less than a second "freeze" of the screen).
> This can occur independently of the type of video card you use....and
> the amount of system RAM (although that doesn't totally make sense to
> me....but I get this screen stutter on both my systems, one has 512 MB
> of ram, the other has 738 MB of ram...so go figure?).

> One way to reduce or eliminate this problem is to remove Windows from
> control of your Virtual Memory (that's the swap file).  Windows will
> increase and decrease it as needed (on your hard drive)....and as that
> area of your hard drive becomes fragmented, Windows doesn't clean it up
> for you (nor does defragmenting your hard drive....that only defragments
> the area of the hard drive outside of this swap file)...it will just
> keep taking more and more drive space to satisfy its (often incorrect)
> evaluation of how much "virtual memory" it needs for the ops you are
> running.

> The **Quick Fix**.....is to take control of your Swap File hard drive
> space allocation.  To do this, follow these directions:
>   1. Go to the "Windows Virtual Memory" settings box (right click "My
> Computer" -select- "Properties" - select- "Performance Tab" -select-
> "Virtual Memory" [button] on lower right side of box.
>   2. Select "Let me specify my own Virtual Memory settings." bullet.
>   3. Set the Minimum and Maximum **to the same value**....this is very
> important! [This will keep the swap file from being re-sized all the
> time.]
>   4. Set the value at something between 2x to 4x your physical RAM
> memory (remember the Value is entered in KB, not MB).  Example: With 128
> MB ram, at 2.5xRAM = 320 MB (entered as: 3200 KB in the box).
>   5. Restart your computer as Windows requests.
>   6.  Go back and make sure the settings you made are still there....and
> check this regularly.  Windows has a nasty habit of deleting this stuff
> all the time....and taking back over the management of VM.  I've never
> been able to figure out a "pattern" for when Windows does this....I just
> know that half the time....when I check this.....Windows has taken back
> control of VM and I have to reset it to the above settings.

> ***DOING THIS WILL SOLVE THE N4 FRAME STUTTER......assuming you have no
> other "issues" with IRQ sharing and so forth.  I also found this solves
> the same problem in GPL...when using the high-res cockpits and race
> tracks.

> The **Long-Term Fix**.....is to purchase software that will allow you to
> defragment the area of your hard-drive that is allocated for the swap
> file.  These programs can also allow you to partition your HD so you can
> locate the swap file in this partition, which will reduce resizing and
> fragmentation even further.  There are several programs to do this, ask
> around.  I don't use them, because I just "fdisk" and "format C" my HD
> regularly....having a "clone" of my "race box" system and programs on a
> CD.  Its much easier, and completely refreshes my system (I usually do
> this monthly).

> ***********************************************************
> HEAT....It Is Now A Major Issue - What You Can Do About It!
> ***********************************************************
> This has become a major issue, even though the computer manufacturers do
> not want to make that public.  If you are regularly playing 3D games, or
> sim racing weekly or daily.....the biggest favor you can do for yourself
> is deal with the heat issue now!

> The Heat Rule:  The hotter your computer runs (CPU, mobo circuitry,
> video card chips and circuitry, other PCI card chips and
> circuitry)....THE SLOWER YOUR COMPUTER RUNS!

> I don't mean "a little slower" either....its a BIG-Time a lot slower!

> Example:  My systems gets scores of around 9200 on 3DMark2000.  If I
> turn off all my fans (except the CPU fan...never turn it off)....wait 10
> mins, then run 3DMark2000.....the best score I get is in the low 7000's.
> If you think "heat" is not an issue...you are kidding yourself.

> If you are running an AMD platform, and an Nvidia GF2 or GF3.....if you
> don't adequately cool your cards and CPU case....you are just wasting
> time and money.....go buy a Compaq or HP computer and write email to
> someone.....stop sim racing! .....lol....  Your system will be "buggy
> and slow"....for ever (until it fails).

>       ****The Good News Is You Don't Have To Be A Computer "Techy" To
> Fix This****
> This stuff is NOT....high-tech stuff.  First of all, I buy all my fans
> and cooling devices, temp gauges etc. at one place.  www.3dfxcool.com
> Its a small company, run from home (Seattle).  I have been

> Note:  I have not updated this for about 30-days.....and depending on
> your system, video card and drivers....you may now be able to utilize
> "anistropic" filtering for N4....but I have not tested this (it works
> great in GPL).  So, you might want to research that section a little
> bit.

> Regards,

> Tom

>  "Tweaks and Settings" for N4

> ****************
> General Settings
> ****************
> **Desktop Color:  Set to 16-bit color.
> **DirectX: Use a DX 8.0 compatible driver(NvRef drivers 7.0 or higher,
> 12.0 and up for GF3 cards, or the 21.81 new drivers work great).
> **OpenGL or D3D?:  Run OpenGL for N4 in "XXXX"x16 (use a res compatible
> with your CPU speed and ram).
> **Monitor:  Obtain the latest drivers for your monitor...DO NOT USE
> Windows "Plug and Play" monitor drivers!  Set your refresh rate at the
> highest setting you are allowed for your monitor at the specific screen
> res you run N4 at.

> ********************************
> Advanced Settings Tab For OpenGL
> ********************************
> In The Scroll Down Box:
>    [*]Enable Buffer Region Extension. (Checked)
>    [*]Allow the dual planes extension to us local video memory.
> (Checked)
>    [*]Use fast linear-mipmap-linear filtering. (Checked)
>    [ ]Enable anistropic filtering. (Unchecked)

> Individual Scroll Down Boxes:
>    Default Color Depth for Textures: [Always Use 16 bpp]
>    Buffer Flipping Mode:             [Use page flip]
>    Vertical sync:                    [Always off]
>    Full Scene Antialiasing Method:   [Always off]
>    (note: this is not here on a GF3 card which has its own antialiasing
> screen)

>    Use up to [62] MB of system memory for textures in PCI mode.

> **************************
> Mother Board BIOS Settings
> **************************
>    Video BIOS Shadow............[Disabled]
>    Video BIOS Cache.............[Disabled]
>    Palette Snoop................[Disabled]
>    AGP Turbo (or Fast Write)....[Enabled]*
>    AGP Aperture Size (MB).......[128]*
>    AGP ISA Aliasing.............[Disabled]*
>    AGP Secondary Lat Timer......[20h]*
>    AGP Data Transfer Mode.......[4x]*
>    K7 Clk_Cntrl Select..........[Optimal]*
>    PnP Aware OS.................[Yes]
>    Resources Controlled by......[Auto]
>    Assign IRQ to VGA............[Yes]

> Note: (*) Items above will appear only on mobos with 2x/4x compliant AGP
> bus.  If you don't have one of these mobos now, DO NOT waste your time
> and money to purchase a fast Nvidia card....its a complete waste!

> DO NOT FLASH or upgrade your system BIOS UNLESS YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS
> WITH YOUR MOBO....that are **specifically addressed** in the BIOS
> upgrade (see the Readme.txt file for your BIOS flash upgrade).  Flashing
> your system BIOS is risky business....and you can render your mobo
> completely inoperable if you screw even the slightest thing up in
> following the steps.  You've been warned!  Ask Dave Henrie!

> ********************
> Mobo Chipset Drivers
> ********************
> Your mobo contains two "chips" similar to your CPU chip (but smaller)
> that control all the functions of your mobo (system bus, AGP bus, IDE
> controllers, etc.).  The one located closest to the CPU is called the
> "northbridge" chip, and the one furthest away is called the
> "southbridge" chip.  The northbrigde chip is very important for video
> graphics since it controls the system bus and AGP bus (among others).
> THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR GRAPHIC'S CARD SPEED
> AND STABLE OPERATION IS INSTALL AND MAINTAIN THE CHIPSET DRIVERS IN THE
> LATEST **DRIVER VERSION**.  This applies to Intel and AMD platforms, but
> is critical in all AMD platforms!

> There are several "chipset" manufacturers and you must determine which
> one you have on your mobo.  I can tell you that VIA is the most popular,
> but ALI and AMD also make chipsets.  Once you've determined which you
> have, go to that manufacturer's website (bookmark it...you will need to
> check for version updates at least monthly).  Download and very
> carefully install the latest chipset drivers for your mobo.  This is an
> area where I have seen the most improvement in frame rates and graphic
> quality.  DO NOT DO THIS CASUALLY.....READ AND FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT AND
> HOW YOU ARE TO INSTALL THESE CHIPSET DRIVERS!

> Chipset drivers can easily get corrupted with normal
> operations....especially running a lot of pc games.  I install mine
> every week.....whether needed or not.  You can "over-write" install
> them....its very simple to do once you have the routine down.

> *******************************
> Windows Virtual Memory Settings
> *******************************
> Many sim racers have had problems with "screen stutter"....usually
> occurring as the car is entering a turn.  This happens at this point
> because the FPS slows....just as the requirements for a faster FPS are
> greater (when turning...the screen is rapidly changing the scenery and
> background).  If your system is at the same time accessing the Windows
> Swap file (located on your hard-drive)....you can get this screen
> stutter (a brief, usually less than a second "freeze" of the screen).
> This can occur independently of the type of video card you use....and
> the amount of system RAM (although that doesn't totally make sense to
> me....but I get this screen stutter on both my systems, one has 512 MB
> of ram, the other has 738 MB of ram...so go figure?).

> One way to reduce or eliminate this problem is to remove Windows from
> control of your Virtual Memory (that's the swap file).  Windows will
> increase and decrease it as needed (on your hard drive)....and as that
> area of your hard drive becomes fragmented, Windows doesn't clean it up
> for you (nor does defragmenting your hard drive....that only defragments
> the area of the hard drive outside of this swap file)...it will just
> keep taking more and more drive space to satisfy its (often incorrect)
> evaluation of how much "virtual memory" it needs for the ops you are
> running.

> The **Quick Fix**.....is to take control of your Swap File hard drive
> space allocation.  To do this, follow these directions:
>   1. Go to the "Windows Virtual Memory" settings box (right click "My
> Computer" -select- "Properties" - select- "Performance Tab" -select-
> "Virtual Memory" [button] on lower right side of box.
>   2. Select "Let me specify my own Virtual Memory settings." bullet.
>   3. Set the Minimum and Maximum **to the same value**....this is very
> important! [This will keep the swap file from being re-sized all the
> time.]
>   4. Set the value at something between 2x to 4x your physical RAM
> memory (remember the Value is entered in KB, not MB).  Example: With 128
> MB ram, at 2.5xRAM = 320 MB (entered as: 3200 KB in the box).
>   5. Restart your computer as Windows requests.
>   6.  Go back and make sure the settings you made are still there....and
> check this regularly.  Windows has a nasty habit of deleting this stuff
> all the time....and taking back over the management of VM.  I've never
> been able to figure out a "pattern" for when Windows does this....I just
> know that half the time....when I check this.....Windows has taken back
> control of VM and I have to reset it to the above settings.

> ***DOING THIS WILL SOLVE THE N4 FRAME STUTTER......assuming you have no
> other "issues" with IRQ sharing and so forth.  I also found this solves
> the same problem in GPL...when using the high-res cockpits and race
> tracks.

> The **Long-Term Fix**.....is to purchase software that will allow you to
> defragment the area of your hard-drive that is allocated for the swap
> file.  These programs can also allow you to partition your HD so you can
> locate the swap file in this partition, which will reduce resizing and
> fragmentation even further.  There are several programs to do this, ask
> around.  I don't use them, because I just "fdisk" and "format C" my HD
> regularly....having a "clone" of my "race box" system and programs on a
> CD.  Its much easier, and completely refreshes my system (I usually do
> this monthly).

> ***********************************************************
> HEAT....It Is Now A Major Issue - What You Can Do About It!
> ***********************************************************
> This has become a major issue, even though the computer manufacturers do
> not want to make that public.  If you are regularly playing 3D games, or
> sim racing weekly or daily.....the biggest favor you can do for yourself
> is deal with the heat issue now!

> The Heat Rule:  The hotter your computer runs (CPU, mobo circuitry,
> video card chips and circuitry, other PCI card chips and
> circuitry)....THE SLOWER YOUR COMPUTER RUNS!

> I don't mean "a little slower" either....its a BIG-Time a lot slower!

> Example:  My systems gets scores of around 9200 on 3DMark2000.  If I
> turn off all my fans (except the CPU fan...never turn it off)....wait 10
> mins, then run 3DMark2000.....the best score I get is in the low 7000's.
> If you think "heat" is not an issue...you are kidding yourself.

> If you are running an AMD platform, and an Nvidia GF2 or GF3.....if you
> don't adequately cool your cards and CPU case....you are just wasting
> time and money.....go buy a Compaq or HP computer and write email to
> someone.....stop sim racing! .....lol....  Your system will be "buggy
> and slow"....for ever (until it fails).

>       ****The Good News Is You Don't Have To Be A Computer "Techy" To
> Fix This****
> This stuff is NOT....high-tech stuff.  First of all, I buy all my fans
> and cooling devices, temp gauges etc. at one place.  www.3dfxcool.com
> Its a small company, run from home (Seattle).  I have been buying fans
> from Bart and

> -Larry

> > Carol...

> > Who has got one?  They are not due out until the end of October?  Is
> > that not correct?

> > .....where's my credit card......???

> > Tom