rec.autos.simulators

by **Tony Shar** » Sun, 18 Mar 2001 23:20:58

When I config the graphics to use Direct3D, there is no freezing or
stuttering, either using the Geforce2 MX or the Geforce2 XM TnL HAL
option, but the frame rate is low and the graphics are really blurry
and not detailed. I config the graphics to Glide, which I want to use,
and the frame rate is doubled almost and the graphics are crisp and
clear. One problem: I get a lot of freezing/pausing when using the
Glide. Not just a quick pause, but we are talking having to let off
the gas about halfway through the backstraight so I won't hit the wall
before it unfreezes and I am in turn 3 already. The display just
freezes completely, but the sound and the game continues.
My system:
P3-800mhz, 128MB ram, GeForce2 MX 32mb AGP, SoundBlaster Live, MS
Sidewinder FF stick. Win98 SE. DirectX 8.0a.
The GeForce properties says it is using 4.12.01.0650 drivers.
OpenGL settings:
Enable buffer region extension is checked
Allow the dual planes ..... is checked
Use fast linear-mipmap.... is checked
Enable Aniostropic filtering is checked
Enable alternate depth buffering... is checked
Use desktop color depth is checked (im running Win at 16bit high
color)
Buffer flipping is auto select
Verticle Sync is off by default
Full screen antialiasing is No antialiasing
Use up to 14 MB of system memory for textures.

My bios AGP aperature size is 128MB.
Swap file on Win is set to 'Let windows manage swap file'

Any ideas on how to clear this freeze/pause in Glide only up??
Thanks

Tony

by **Dave Henri** » Sun, 18 Mar 2001 23:42:58

There is NO Glide option in N4. there is D3d or Opengl, both of
which are supported by 3dfx and most other brands of video cards.
But you don't have a 3dfx video card so you couldn't use the Glide
option even if it was available.
(another happy .....I won't say it...:> )
dave henrie

by **Jon Nelso** » Sun, 18 Mar 2001 23:52:48

We have a similar hw configuration. I don't see your mobo. I am using a Soyo
7VCA.
I also have the GeForce GTS 2 32mb card and 256mb RAM.
The only difference I see in settings is:
<snip>"Use fast linear-mipmap.... is checked
Enable Aniostropic filtering is checked
Enable alternate depth buffering... is checked"<snip>

I have these set unchecked.
I also don't let Windows manage my swap file. I have 256mb RAM so I set it
to 512mb.
My aperature is set to 64mb.
We are using the same driver version 6.50
Hope there is something there that helps.
I get an anywhere from 25 to 95fps depending on situations.
As an example, Atlanta in quick race starting at the rear of a 43 car field,
my fps is at 40-42 before we begin to move. 12 cars ahead and 3 behind.

by **rdrace** » Mon, 19 Mar 2001 05:24:25

turn off the Vsynch
i use a geo 2 gts using T&L and v syhnch off no stutter

Rd

> >Any ideas on how to clear this freeze/pause in Glide only up??
> >Thanks

> Hi Tony,

> First Glide!=OpenGL, they are two different animals. I've got a 32MB
> MX card as well (Hercules) and I use the TnL driver instead of OpenGL.
> I've heard the frame rates are higher in OGL, but I get fewer lockups.
> I've got the same stutter you mention but it's not as bad, lasts about
> a second or less. I still get it (but not as frequent) after a fresh
> boot. So far I haven't been able to determine any pattern, and I have
> seen messages from other ppl using both OGL and D3D with a similiar
> stutter. I haven't been able to steal a glance at my HDD light to see
> if it's disk activity causing this or not...

> P3-800
> 320MB RAM
> Win98SE
> Virtual 0-1024MB, with "ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1" in system.ini
> GF2 MX
> Via Motherboard, with 4-in-1 driver installed in Turbo
> Some Yamaha DS-XG PCI sound card
> I have a Voodoo2 accelerator in a PCI slot as well

by **Eric Busc** » Mon, 19 Mar 2001 07:51:28

It could be that the 3D config program detected too much texture memory for
OpenGL and the resulting texture thrashing is causing the performance hits
you're seeing. Try editing your RENDOGL.INI and reduce the TextureSetSize
line (it's in bytes, but you'll want to try something under 32MB).

In D3D your graphics are probably blurry b/c the detected TextureSetSize is
too low. You can try manually increasing this value in REND_D3D.INI to get
better quality textures, but going to high will give the performance hits
you're seeing in OpenGL.

--
Eric

by **Tony Shar** » Mon, 19 Mar 2001 10:03:31

...ooops, my bad, meant OpenGL, not Glide......

> There is NO Glide option in N4. there is D3d or Opengl, both of
>which are supported by 3dfx and most other brands of video cards.
>But you don't have a 3dfx video card so you couldn't use the Glide
>option even if it was available.
>(another happy .....I won't say it...:> )
>dave henrie

>> When I config the graphics to use Direct3D, there is no freezing or
>> stuttering, either using the Geforce2 MX or the Geforce2 XM TnL HAL
>> option, but the frame rate is low and the graphics are really blurry
>> and not detailed. I config the graphics to Glide, which I want to use,
>> and the frame rate is doubled almost and the graphics are crisp and
>> clear.

by **Tony Shar** » Mon, 19 Mar 2001 10:12:00

Scuse the bad on the Glide=OpenGL thing :-), meant OpenGL, not
Glide....
I have tried to do a set swap file size, min and max both the same to
256 with no change at all in the freeze. Unchecked the three that you
have unchecked with a slight increase in frame rate, but still the
pause is still there. Wouldn't be bad if it was a slight stutter or
so, but I'm talking about 3-4 to maybe 8-10 second pauses. Boom, in
the wall :-).
Im thinking maybe some tweak on the mobo possibly??
Not sure exactly what board, but on it is:
440BX based MSI Mainboard.
Just strange that it only does this in OpenGL. I have lots of flight
sims and other driving sims, never have had a freeze/pause like
this...all are smooth as silk.
Thanks again
Tony

On Sat, 17 Mar 2001 14:52:48 GMT, "Jon Nelson"

>We have a similar hw configuration. I don't see your mobo. I am using a Soyo
>7VCA.
>I also have the GeForce GTS 2 32mb card and 256mb RAM.
> The only difference I see in settings is:
><snip>"Use fast linear-mipmap.... is checked
>Enable Aniostropic filtering is checked
>Enable alternate depth buffering... is checked"<snip>

>I have these set unchecked.
>I also don't let Windows manage my swap file. I have 256mb RAM so I set it
>to 512mb.
>My aperature is set to 64mb.
>We are using the same driver version 6.50
>Hope there is something there that helps.
>I get an anywhere from 25 to 95fps depending on situations.
>As an example, Atlanta in quick race starting at the rear of a 43 car field,
>my fps is at 40-42 before we begin to move. 12 cars ahead and 3 behind.

>> When I config the graphics to use Direct3D, there is no freezing or
>> stuttering, either using the Geforce2 MX or the Geforce2 XM TnL HAL
>> option, but the frame rate is low and the graphics are really blurry
>> and not detailed. I config the graphics to Glide, which I want to use,
>> and the frame rate is doubled almost and the graphics are crisp and
>> clear. One problem: I get a lot of freezing/pausing when using the
>> Glide. Not just a quick pause, but we are talking having to let off
>> the gas about halfway through the backstraight so I won't hit the wall
>> before it unfreezes and I am in turn 3 already. The display just
>> freezes completely, but the sound and the game continues.
>> My system:
>> P3-800mhz, 128MB ram, GeForce2 MX 32mb AGP, SoundBlaster Live, MS
>> Sidewinder FF stick. Win98 SE. DirectX 8.0a.
>> The GeForce properties says it is using 4.12.01.0650 drivers.
>> OpenGL settings:
>> Enable buffer region extension is checked
>> Allow the dual planes ..... is checked
>> Use fast linear-mipmap.... is checked
>> Enable Aniostropic filtering is checked
>> Enable alternate depth buffering... is checked
>> Use desktop color depth is checked (im running Win at 16bit high
>> color)
>> Buffer flipping is auto select
>> Verticle Sync is off by default
>> Full screen antialiasing is No antialiasing
>> Use up to 14 MB of system memory for textures.

>> My bios AGP aperature size is 128MB.
>> Swap file on Win is set to 'Let windows manage swap file'

>> Any ideas on how to clear this freeze/pause in Glide only up??
>> Thanks

>> Tony

by **Tony Shar** » Mon, 19 Mar 2001 10:19:26

OK, Eric you hit it right on the money! Lowered that TextureSetSize
down to below 32MB, it was set to 48MB and wow!! NO freezing lockup at
all now!! Woohoo! can finally enjoy this thing. Also, knocking that
down a little only slightly degraded the graphics, not hardly
noticable. Awesome :-)
Thanks
Tony

by pw » Mon, 19 Mar 2001 13:06:32

Hi Eric,

What should I set the OpenGL ini texturesetsize too if I want it to be
32MB? I realize that a meg is 1024, but presently it is set also to
TextureSetSize=46661632 and that is not 48x1024. I would like to see
if this helps my lockups and freezes too!

How about D3D? It is set as TextureSetSize=45219840. But, graphics
are not blurry - only awesome. I should mention that in D3D (way
buggy in OpenGL) I just get crashes to the desktop (I used to get
freezes where only the sound would go on).

I have a Athlon 700, 256MB RAM, and a Hercules 64MB GTS Pro, Win98SE
and Direct X 8.0a.

Any other tweaks? Thanks!

-paul

by **Eric Busc** » Mon, 19 Mar 2001 13:35:15

The numbers you're seeing are just fine for a 64MB card. There's really no
reason to set the texture memory down to a lower number unless for some
reason the config program is trying to use too much memory and it is causing
long pauses during gameplay as textures are thrashing in memory. If you
REALLY wanted the game to only use 32MB of textures you could edit the INI
to use TextureSetSize=33554432 (that's 32MBx1024x1024), but you have a 64MB
card so you don't need to do this.

As far as tweaks go, get the latest drivers for EVERYTHING in your system
(that includes AGP chipset drivers, IDE drivers, motherboard BIOS, etc.).
Then go to www.geforcefaq.com and try all of their Athlon suggestions.

--
Eric

by pw » Tue, 20 Mar 2001 03:03:03

Thank you Eric!

I can't run the darn thing in OpenGL. It will lock up at different
places. Sometimes at the menu, sometimes when I race for a few
seconds. Very frustrating!

-paul

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