>Just so long as people know that the key item in your set-up is the Thriller
>3D 8MB. With almost any other video card in existence, including SLI'd
>Voodoo IIs, your frame rates would be unplayable
On the contrary: Graeme & I corresponded about FPS on a 200mmx before he got
his Thriller(wonder if that's like Stella getting her groove), and here's the
text of the message. This didn't originate as a post, so forgive the length.
Note: These numbers were taken at Spa, so they'll vary somewhat with other
courses
Training:
resolution: 800x600, though 1024x768 is ok for 98% efforts(learning tracks,
tuning, etc.); about a 3-5 FPS hit in solo mode
mirror detail: cars only
trackside objects: all
detail bias: midway
features: all on except; crowds(my driving must've scared 'em off), driver
arms(already have some & they're distracting anyway), & clouds(the tan needs
some work)
quality: all on
effects: fire, smoke, and sparks on(guess I like drama) - rest off
--with these settings, I get FPS readings generally in the low 30's, maxing out
at 36 at points, with a minimum of about 24 at La Source. The low readings are
very short-lived, and driving is fine. I've run the various settings all the
way down, to max out the FPS for the full lap to compare the driveability, and
these settings are good.
Racing:
Ahh, here's the tricky bit.
resolution: 800x600; I only get about a 1 FPS hit versus 640x480. 1024x768 is a
bit much, though.
mirror detail: cars only
trackside objects: all - I like them for braking reference points; medium may
satisfy you
detail bias: FULL LEFT - VERY IMPORTANT - anything else, and you get MAJOR FPS
drops in traffic.
features: as above, but also turn off; object textures, driver texture, &
***pit texture - you don't lose much if you've got the arms off anyway.
quality: all off - it's surprising how little you lose here. It's quite subtle.
(note: with a V2, you can't access the anit-aliasing choice, so I can't tell
you about that one. I expect you'd want to hold onto that.)
effects:all off (plenty of drama without)
number of competitors: I've settled on 14, for a field of 15. Less, and you
don't have as many mortal-speed drivers (backmarkers) to compete with; more,
and you take a greater FPS hit.
--with these, I get 15-16 FPS sitting in back of the grid at Spa, quickly
moving into the mid to upper 20's during the race. It generally stays around
there, but will briefly drop to 19 or spike to 30+, depending on conditions.
If you get into a pileup, it'll drop below 10; so....don't. The driveability
is degraded a bit from training, but I'm still below 3:30 consistently while
racing; my best single lap at Spa so far is 3:27.52, so that's ok. Still
working on a top-five finish.
End Note: These were in Novice Mode, and I've found that the more advanced
damage models seem to eat up 1-2FPS more; otherwise they stil hold. Grid
position will change beginning FPS slightly as well. BUT - it's still quite
allright, and I've managed to win a 9-lap intermediate race at Spa from pole
UNPLAYABLE.
Steve B.
