rec.autos.simulators

by **Simon Brow** » Sat, 29 Apr 2000 04:00:00

Has anyone else out there had any experience of using the new USB version of
the Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel with Grand Prix Legends? I'm getting a
horrible stuttering and about a 25% drop in frame rate.
The problem is a lot worse under race conditions. In fact, in training it's
hard to spot there is a problem.
With the keys I get roughly 32 fps, with a Logtech FF wheel USB I get 29-30
fps and with the MS USB wheel I get 20-22 fps! (these frame rates from a
race start with 19 opponents) The game stutters so much it's unplayable
with this wheel in race conditions.
I don't want to take it back because otherwise it's a great wheel, but if it
doesn't work with GPL theres not much point in owning one. This problem
does not occur with a Guillemot Ferrari wheel either.

Thanks in advance,

Simon Brown

by **Jeff Murchison J** » Sat, 29 Apr 2000 04:00:00

I bought one last week and it works fine with GPL. I only lost 1-2 FPS going
to 20-22 FPS at the start with 19 AI cars. after a few corners it jumps back
up to 36 FPS.

PII 450
128 MB RAM
V3 3000

--
Jeff Murchison JR
Screamers Racing League
www.speakeasy.org/~jmurch/

> Has anyone else out there had any experience of using the new USB version
of
> the Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel with Grand Prix Legends? I'm getting
a
> horrible stuttering and about a 25% drop in frame rate.
> The problem is a lot worse under race conditions. In fact, in training
it's
> hard to spot there is a problem.
> With the keys I get roughly 32 fps, with a Logtech FF wheel USB I get
29-30
> fps and with the MS USB wheel I get 20-22 fps! (these frame rates from a
> race start with 19 opponents) The game stutters so much it's unplayable
> with this wheel in race conditions.
> I don't want to take it back because otherwise it's a great wheel, but if
it
> doesn't work with GPL theres not much point in owning one. This problem
> does not occur with a Guillemot Ferrari wheel either.

> Thanks in advance,

> Simon Brown

by **Simon Brow** » Sat, 29 Apr 2000 04:00:00

Thanks for that. I don't suppose you could do me a really big favour and
try turning off FF in your core.ini and check the frame rate doesn't go up
over 30 at the start of races.
I've got a V3 3000 too and a P3-450, and the frame rate you are getting is
very similar to what I get at the start of races, but the whole game is now
unplayable and stuttering.
Thanks, Simon.

by **Phil Le** » Sat, 29 Apr 2000 04:00:00

If I remember correctly, DirectX 7 caused problems with framerate. Check
the version of DX you have installed. If you have version 7.0 upgrade to
7.0a. This resolved some of the framerate issues with the Microsoft wheel.
Also if you want to improve framerate quickly, slide the detail slider down
a few notches. I've found that this makes the biggest difference to
framerate of all the graphics settings, particularly at the start of a race.

Cheers

Phil

--
http://www.youpies.co.uk

> Has anyone else out there had any experience of using the new USB version
of
> the Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel with Grand Prix Legends? I'm getting
a
> horrible stuttering and about a 25% drop in frame rate.
> The problem is a lot worse under race conditions. In fact, in training
it's
> hard to spot there is a problem.
> With the keys I get roughly 32 fps, with a Logtech FF wheel USB I get
29-30
> fps and with the MS USB wheel I get 20-22 fps! (these frame rates from a
> race start with 19 opponents) The game stutters so much it's unplayable
> with this wheel in race conditions.
> I don't want to take it back because otherwise it's a great wheel, but if
it
> doesn't work with GPL theres not much point in owning one. This problem
> does not occur with a Guillemot Ferrari wheel either.

> Thanks in advance,

> Simon Brown

by **Simon Brow** » Sat, 29 Apr 2000 04:00:00

Thanks for trying :) but i've already got 7a.
Simon.

by **Marc Spruij** » Sun, 30 Apr 2000 04:00:00

Try switching "Poll with interupts enabled" off at the advanced tab in the
Game Controlers settings (control panel)

Marc

> Has anyone else out there had any experience of using the new USB version
of
> the Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel with Grand Prix Legends? I'm getting
a
> horrible stuttering and about a 25% drop in frame rate.
> The problem is a lot worse under race conditions. In fact, in training
it's
> hard to spot there is a problem.
> With the keys I get roughly 32 fps, with a Logtech FF wheel USB I get
29-30
> fps and with the MS USB wheel I get 20-22 fps! (these frame rates from a
> race start with 19 opponents) The game stutters so much it's unplayable
> with this wheel in race conditions.
> I don't want to take it back because otherwise it's a great wheel, but if
it
> doesn't work with GPL theres not much point in owning one. This problem
> does not occur with a Guillemot Ferrari wheel either.

> Thanks in advance,

> Simon Brown

by **Simon Brow** » Sun, 30 Apr 2000 04:00:00

Thanks, but i've already tried that. Didn't help.

by **Backmarke** » Mon, 01 May 2000 04:00:00

Simon,

I noticed the same thing. I have a 233MHz pentium 2 (I know...it's a very
outdated system) and the frame drop is terrible. In Nascar 3 it's not bad
at all. My guess is that it comes down to a bad driver implementation.
Being a driver writter myself it's the little things that can make a huge
performance difference. I have noticed that any time I've had controller
problems it has occurred (or at least more noticeable) while running GPL.
It also may be that Papy's controller implementation is very CPU heavy.
Anyway the only problem I've seen so far is with GPL, which is a shame
because I really like this controller, even more so then my LWFF, or my
friends RS wheel. I think MS actually has a good design here. We might
want to try bugging MS for support on the
microsoft.public.mshardware.product newsgroup.

by **Simon Brow** » Mon, 01 May 2000 04:00:00

Thanks for the help. Actually, I already have a message up on that NG. I
agree that the wheel is pretty good, it rotates much easier than my
Logitech, and the pedals are excellent for GPL. The software is also very
flexible. But I needed a wheel for GPL right now, so I took it back for a
refund. If Microsoft fix their drivers I might buy another one in the
future because I'm not happy using my Logitech wheel and the pedals from my
old Thrustmaster F1.
I would be interested to hear a little about how the Force RS compares with
the LWFF and the Sidewinder USB. In particular how are the pedals?
Cya,
Simon.

by **Backmarke** » Tue, 02 May 2000 04:00:00

To be honest the RS system was the one I spent the least amount of time
with. But IMHO the pedals seem to me to be to similar to the LWFF. The
configuration you have of a LWFF and the T1 pedals is exactly what I used,
that is until I removed them and forever ruined my wheel setup. I was going
to get pedals only from Thomas Super Wheels, but decided against it when I
saw a review on the MS USB wheel. I did have second and third thoughts I
must admit, but overall I am happy with the purchase. I knew immediately
that the main USB wheel driver was hosed as soon as I started it up. Truth
is that the lack of experience and qualifications for driver writers is
universal and not just limited to Microsoft unfortunately.

David Radecki

by **Simon Brow** » Tue, 02 May 2000 04:00:00

I think you probably read the same review I read, that gave the wheel 95%
and said it was the best wheel available. It never mentioned any driver
problems though. Ah well....I hope Microsoft get some new drivers for you
soon.
Cya,
Simon.

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