rec.autos.simulators

by **Jeff Cause** » Wed, 31 Jan 2001 01:43:28

Hey Guys,

I'd appreciate any thoughts/suggestions/ideas on the following two problems
(both related to running N3):

1. Recently installed a Voodoo5 5500 PCI card. During offline practice or
when running by myself, framerate is o.k., but as soon as I get into a race
and have traffic on the screen, framerate is dropping to 25 and usually
fluctuates down from there at points. Changing the graphic settings in N3
(i.e. what is on/off) doesn't seem to impact this any. From memory, I think
I'm running in D3D. Even though the card should run better in Glide (I
think), framerate really gets hosed when I do that. Given the system specs
(below), this just doesn't seem right to me. Before installing the card, I
"uninstalled" the Voodoo3 card I had and thought I had cleaned everything
out, but now I'm wondering.

2. My Act Labs (non-ff) wheel/shifter keeps losing communication with the
computer. It is running through a USB port and if I unplug it/plug it back
in, I can reestablish communication after about 5 seconds for Windows to
recognize it. For testing, I plan to plug it back into the gameport on the
sound card and see what happens as I'm guessing some problem with USB. Odd
thing is it ran fine for about 5 months, then started this up.

Right now, beside testing the wheel on the gameport, I suppose I'm going to
go in and move my PCI cards around to see if I might have some IRQ conflict
that is not very apparent. Any suggestions on anything else I can try would
be appreciated.

System info:

PIII-450 (oc'ed to 504)
Abit BH-6 mobo
256 MB RAM
Voodoo5 5500 PCI card
SB Live! Platinum Sound card
3COM (not sure which model) NIC
Windows 98 (original)

As currently configured, SB 16 emulation is on IRQ5; Voodoo5 is on IRQ 10;
SB Live!, NIC, and PCI to USB bridge all sharing IRQ 11. I recently had to
move the SB Live! around and it changed from 10 to 11, though the problems
indicated above all occurred prior to that. The NIC and PCI to USB bridge
have been sharing the same IRQ ever since they were installed. And for some
reason, Windows won't let me manually force an IRQ for the devices.

Finally, video is set for FSAA = fastest performance. Even though I didn't
have to do this before with the V3, I've also started running End-It-All
prior to racing.

Thanks in advance. Let me know if I've forgotten anything about the system
that will help with trouble-shooting.

--
Jeff Causey
FrogDog Racing
www.frogdogracing.com
Home of the FrogDog *** Racing School
Member of the raceserver.net network of servers

by **Cliff Roma** » Wed, 31 Jan 2001 02:02:50

Jeff, what happens if you disable sound in the game.. does that help you at
all?

by **Jeff Cause** » Wed, 31 Jan 2001 04:22:00

Cliff,

OK, here's an update after my lunch hour. Reinstalled V5 drivers,
utilities, etc. Tweaked the V5 settings using the 3dfx manager. In N3
switched back to the Glide driver. Currently, I have the V5 set for 2xFSAA
but unchecked AA in N3. Also, set Level of Bias detail to -.5 for the V5.

I also went in and switched sound to 8-bit. This seemed to have the biggest
effect, yielding 3-5 fps. Since you asked about this, I'm wondering why it
matters. I would think that a modern day sound card should be more than
capable of generating the sounds for N3 without causing a performance hit
(especially compared to my 5-yr. old SB16 ISA card that I was running).
Apparently I'm mistaken and I'm wondering why that is.

At this point, I was able to run off-line practice with all graphic details
on and maintain 30 fps, even with other traffic on the track (about 6 other
cars that I could get around at any one time), though it was still bogging
down a bit in the pits when I first pulled out (I kind of expect that, so
I'm not worried). Hopefully I'll get a chance to test it on-line tonight to
see how it does.

Jeff

> Jeff, what happens if you disable sound in the game.. does that help you
at
> all?

> > Hey Guys,

> > I'd appreciate any thoughts/suggestions/ideas on the following two
> problems
> > (both related to running N3):

> > 1. Recently installed a Voodoo5 5500 PCI card. During offline practice
or
> > when running by myself, framerate is o.k., but as soon as I get into a
> race
> > and have traffic on the screen, framerate is dropping to 25 and usually
> > fluctuates down from there at points. Changing the graphic settings in
N3
> > (i.e. what is on/off) doesn't seem to impact this any. From memory, I
> think
> > I'm running in D3D. Even though the card should run better in Glide (I
> > think), framerate really gets hosed when I do that. Given the system
> specs
> > (below), this just doesn't seem right to me. Before installing the
card,
> I
> > "uninstalled" the Voodoo3 card I had and thought I had cleaned
everything
> > out, but now I'm wondering.

> > 2. My Act Labs (non-ff) wheel/shifter keeps losing communication with
the
> > computer. It is running through a USB port and if I unplug it/plug it
> back
> > in, I can reestablish communication after about 5 seconds for Windows to
> > recognize it. For testing, I plan to plug it back into the gameport on
> the
> > sound card and see what happens as I'm guessing some problem with USB.
> Odd
> > thing is it ran fine for about 5 months, then started this up.

> > Right now, beside testing the wheel on the gameport, I suppose I'm going
> to
> > go in and move my PCI cards around to see if I might have some IRQ
> conflict
> > that is not very apparent. Any suggestions on anything else I can try
> would
> > be appreciated.

> > System info:

> > PIII-450 (oc'ed to 504)
> > Abit BH-6 mobo
> > 256 MB RAM
> > Voodoo5 5500 PCI card
> > SB Live! Platinum Sound card
> > 3COM (not sure which model) NIC
> > Windows 98 (original)

> > As currently configured, SB 16 emulation is on IRQ5; Voodoo5 is on IRQ
10;
> > SB Live!, NIC, and PCI to USB bridge all sharing IRQ 11. I recently had
> to
> > move the SB Live! around and it changed from 10 to 11, though the
problems
> > indicated above all occurred prior to that. The NIC and PCI to USB
bridge
> > have been sharing the same IRQ ever since they were installed. And for
> some
> > reason, Windows won't let me manually force an IRQ for the devices.

> > Finally, video is set for FSAA = fastest performance. Even though I
didn't
> > have to do this before with the V3, I've also started running End-It-All
> > prior to racing.

> > Thanks in advance. Let me know if I've forgotten anything about the
> system
> > that will help with trouble-shooting.

> > --
> > Jeff Causey
> > FrogDog Racing
> > www.frogdogracing.com
> > Home of the FrogDog *** Racing School
> > Member of the raceserver.net network of servers

by **Stephen Smit** » Wed, 31 Jan 2001 04:57:12

Cliff,

I suggest you take a look at the following V5500 tweak guide:

http://www.racesimcentral.net/

(Yer CPU sounds like it might be the ***point)

I run GPL under Glide, not D3D. I wouldn't have it any other way.

--Steve Smith

> Jeff, what happens if you disable sound in the game.. does that help you
at
> all?

> > Hey Guys,

> > I'd appreciate any thoughts/suggestions/ideas on the following two
> problems
> > (both related to running N3):

> > 1. Recently installed a Voodoo5 5500 PCI card. During offline practice
or
> > when running by myself, framerate is o.k., but as soon as I get into a
> race
> > and have traffic on the screen, framerate is dropping to 25 and usually
> > fluctuates down from there at points. Changing the graphic settings in
N3
> > (i.e. what is on/off) doesn't seem to impact this any. From memory, I
> think
> > I'm running in D3D. Even though the card should run better in Glide (I
> > think), framerate really gets hosed when I do that. Given the system
> specs
> > (below), this just doesn't seem right to me. Before installing the
card,
> I
> > "uninstalled" the Voodoo3 card I had and thought I had cleaned
everything
> > out, but now I'm wondering.

> > 2. My Act Labs (non-ff) wheel/shifter keeps losing communication with
the
> > computer. It is running through a USB port and if I unplug it/plug it
> back
> > in, I can reestablish communication after about 5 seconds for Windows to
> > recognize it. For testing, I plan to plug it back into the gameport on
> the
> > sound card and see what happens as I'm guessing some problem with USB.
> Odd
> > thing is it ran fine for about 5 months, then started this up.

> > Right now, beside testing the wheel on the gameport, I suppose I'm going
> to
> > go in and move my PCI cards around to see if I might have some IRQ
> conflict
> > that is not very apparent. Any suggestions on anything else I can try
> would
> > be appreciated.

> > System info:

> > PIII-450 (oc'ed to 504)
> > Abit BH-6 mobo
> > 256 MB RAM
> > Voodoo5 5500 PCI card
> > SB Live! Platinum Sound card
> > 3COM (not sure which model) NIC
> > Windows 98 (original)

> > As currently configured, SB 16 emulation is on IRQ5; Voodoo5 is on IRQ
10;
> > SB Live!, NIC, and PCI to USB bridge all sharing IRQ 11. I recently had
> to
> > move the SB Live! around and it changed from 10 to 11, though the
problems
> > indicated above all occurred prior to that. The NIC and PCI to USB
bridge
> > have been sharing the same IRQ ever since they were installed. And for
> some
> > reason, Windows won't let me manually force an IRQ for the devices.

> > Finally, video is set for FSAA = fastest performance. Even though I
didn't
> > have to do this before with the V3, I've also started running End-It-All
> > prior to racing.

> > Thanks in advance. Let me know if I've forgotten anything about the
> system
> > that will help with trouble-shooting.

> > --
> > Jeff Causey
> > FrogDog Racing
> > www.frogdogracing.com
> > Home of the FrogDog *** Racing School
> > Member of the raceserver.net network of servers

by **Eldre** » Thu, 01 Feb 2001 06:35:21

>System info:

>PIII-450 (oc'ed to 504)
>Abit BH-6 mobo
>256 MB RAM
>Voodoo5 5500 PCI card
>SB Live! Platinum Sound card
>3COM (not sure which model) NIC
>Windows 98 (original)

Are you using the 3Com card for your online connection? I didn't see your
settings for that. If not, wo you have a winmodem, perhaps? I've heard of
other people having problems with the modem 'stealing' power from the CPU, and
slowing down the game.

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPL F1 hcp. +28.67...F2 +151.26...F3 hcp. +373.73

Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

by **Jeff Cause** » Thu, 01 Feb 2001 22:53:38

Eldred,

The 3COM card is a NIC card to connect to my cable modem. I think it is a
905 model which should hold up pretty well for on-line play without
impacting the cpu much.

Jeff

> >System info:

> >PIII-450 (oc'ed to 504)
> >Abit BH-6 mobo
> >256 MB RAM
> >Voodoo5 5500 PCI card
> >SB Live! Platinum Sound card
> >3COM (not sure which model) NIC
> >Windows 98 (original)

> Are you using the 3Com card for your online connection? I didn't see your
> settings for that. If not, wo you have a winmodem, perhaps? I've heard
of
> other people having problems with the modem 'stealing' power from the CPU,
and
> slowing down the game.

> Eldred
> --
> Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
> Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
> GPL F1 hcp. +28.67...F2 +151.26...F3 hcp. +373.73

> Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats
you
> with experience...
> Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

by **Jeff Cause** » Thu, 01 Feb 2001 22:58:02

Stephen,

Thanks for pointing me to the V5 tweak site. I've actually been there
before, but had not thought of it. After going through that, I've got my N3
fps pegged at 30 even in the pits with a full field of AI (was even able to
turn fsaa up to 2x). Still some testing to do to see how it holds up
on-line, but very promising at this point. Also checked N4 Demo - didn't
impact fps when I max everything out per the team-lightspeed benchmarking
settings, but when I drop stuff back to where I had it before, I probably
gained about 10 fps (woohoo).

I agree, cpu is the chokepoint right now in the system. Unfortunately, my
mobo can only take up to a 600, so I'm not sure it's worth replacing without
doing a complete mobo/cpu replacement. Might try oc'ing my current cpu a
little more.

Jeff

> Cliff,

> I suggest you take a look at the following V5500 tweak guide:

> http://www.racesimcentral.net/

> (Yer CPU sounds like it might be the ***point)

> I run GPL under Glide, not D3D. I wouldn't have it any other way.

> --Steve Smith

> > Jeff, what happens if you disable sound in the game.. does that help you
> at
> > all?

> > > Hey Guys,

> > > I'd appreciate any thoughts/suggestions/ideas on the following two
> > problems
> > > (both related to running N3):

> > > 1. Recently installed a Voodoo5 5500 PCI card. During offline
practice
> or
> > > when running by myself, framerate is o.k., but as soon as I get into a
> > race
> > > and have traffic on the screen, framerate is dropping to 25 and
usually
> > > fluctuates down from there at points. Changing the graphic settings
in
> N3
> > > (i.e. what is on/off) doesn't seem to impact this any. From memory, I
> > think
> > > I'm running in D3D. Even though the card should run better in Glide
(I
> > > think), framerate really gets hosed when I do that. Given the system
> > specs
> > > (below), this just doesn't seem right to me. Before installing the
> card,
> > I
> > > "uninstalled" the Voodoo3 card I had and thought I had cleaned
> everything
> > > out, but now I'm wondering.

> > > 2. My Act Labs (non-ff) wheel/shifter keeps losing communication with
> the
> > > computer. It is running through a USB port and if I unplug it/plug it
> > back
> > > in, I can reestablish communication after about 5 seconds for Windows
to
> > > recognize it. For testing, I plan to plug it back into the gameport
on
> > the
> > > sound card and see what happens as I'm guessing some problem with USB.
> > Odd
> > > thing is it ran fine for about 5 months, then started this up.

> > > Right now, beside testing the wheel on the gameport, I suppose I'm
going
> > to
> > > go in and move my PCI cards around to see if I might have some IRQ
> > conflict
> > > that is not very apparent. Any suggestions on anything else I can try
> > would
> > > be appreciated.

> > > System info:

> > > PIII-450 (oc'ed to 504)
> > > Abit BH-6 mobo
> > > 256 MB RAM
> > > Voodoo5 5500 PCI card
> > > SB Live! Platinum Sound card
> > > 3COM (not sure which model) NIC
> > > Windows 98 (original)

> > > As currently configured, SB 16 emulation is on IRQ5; Voodoo5 is on IRQ
> 10;
> > > SB Live!, NIC, and PCI to USB bridge all sharing IRQ 11. I recently
had
> > to
> > > move the SB Live! around and it changed from 10 to 11, though the
> problems
> > > indicated above all occurred prior to that. The NIC and PCI to USB
> bridge
> > > have been sharing the same IRQ ever since they were installed. And
for
> > some
> > > reason, Windows won't let me manually force an IRQ for the devices.

> > > Finally, video is set for FSAA = fastest performance. Even though I
> didn't
> > > have to do this before with the V3, I've also started running
End-It-All
> > > prior to racing.

> > > Thanks in advance. Let me know if I've forgotten anything about the
> > system
> > > that will help with trouble-shooting.

> > > --
> > > Jeff Causey
> > > FrogDog Racing
> > > www.frogdogracing.com
> > > Home of the FrogDog *** Racing School
> > > Member of the raceserver.net network of servers

by **Dave Henri** » Thu, 01 Feb 2001 23:46:59

I'm not sure of your mobo manufactuer, but if you upgrade the bios you
'may'
be able to run a faster cpu.
dave henrie

> Stephen,

> > I agree, cpu is the chokepoint right now in the system. Unfortunately,
my
> mobo can only take up to a 600, so I'm not sure it's worth replacing
without
> doing a complete mobo/cpu replacement. Might try oc'ing my current cpu a
> little more.

> Jeff

> > Cliff,

> > I suggest you take a look at the following V5500 tweak guide:

> > http://www.racesimcentral.net/

> > (Yer CPU sounds like it might be the ***point)

> > I run GPL under Glide, not D3D. I wouldn't have it any other way.

> > --Steve Smith

> > > Jeff, what happens if you disable sound in the game.. does that help
you
> > at
> > > all?

> > > > Hey Guys,

> > > > I'd appreciate any thoughts/suggestions/ideas on the following two
> > > problems
> > > > (both related to running N3):

> > > > 1. Recently installed a Voodoo5 5500 PCI card. During offline
> practice
> > or
> > > > when running by myself, framerate is o.k., but as soon as I get into
a
> > > race
> > > > and have traffic on the screen, framerate is dropping to 25 and
> usually
> > > > fluctuates down from there at points. Changing the graphic settings
> in
> > N3
> > > > (i.e. what is on/off) doesn't seem to impact this any. From memory,
I
> > > think
> > > > I'm running in D3D. Even though the card should run better in Glide
> (I
> > > > think), framerate really gets hosed when I do that. Given the
system
> > > specs
> > > > (below), this just doesn't seem right to me. Before installing the
> > card,
> > > I
> > > > "uninstalled" the Voodoo3 card I had and thought I had cleaned
> > everything
> > > > out, but now I'm wondering.

> > > > 2. My Act Labs (non-ff) wheel/shifter keeps losing communication
with
> > the
> > > > computer. It is running through a USB port and if I unplug it/plug
it
> > > back
> > > > in, I can reestablish communication after about 5 seconds for
Windows
> to
> > > > recognize it. For testing, I plan to plug it back into the gameport
> on
> > > the
> > > > sound card and see what happens as I'm guessing some problem with
USB.
> > > Odd
> > > > thing is it ran fine for about 5 months, then started this up.

> > > > Right now, beside testing the wheel on the gameport, I suppose I'm
> going
> > > to
> > > > go in and move my PCI cards around to see if I might have some IRQ
> > > conflict
> > > > that is not very apparent. Any suggestions on anything else I can
try
> > > would
> > > > be appreciated.

> > > > System info:

> > > > PIII-450 (oc'ed to 504)
> > > > Abit BH-6 mobo
> > > > 256 MB RAM
> > > > Voodoo5 5500 PCI card
> > > > SB Live! Platinum Sound card
> > > > 3COM (not sure which model) NIC
> > > > Windows 98 (original)

> > > > As currently configured, SB 16 emulation is on IRQ5; Voodoo5 is on
IRQ
> > 10;
> > > > SB Live!, NIC, and PCI to USB bridge all sharing IRQ 11. I recently
> had
> > > to
> > > > move the SB Live! around and it changed from 10 to 11, though the
> > problems
> > > > indicated above all occurred prior to that. The NIC and PCI to USB
> > bridge
> > > > have been sharing the same IRQ ever since they were installed. And
> for
> > > some
> > > > reason, Windows won't let me manually force an IRQ for the devices.

> > > > Finally, video is set for FSAA = fastest performance. Even though I
> > didn't
> > > > have to do this before with the V3, I've also started running
> End-It-All
> > > > prior to racing.

> > > > Thanks in advance. Let me know if I've forgotten anything about the
> > > system
> > > > that will help with trouble-shooting.

> > > > --
> > > > Jeff Causey
> > > > FrogDog Racing
> > > > www.frogdogracing.com
> > > > Home of the FrogDog *** Racing School
> > > > Member of the raceserver.net network of servers

by **Jeff Cause** » Fri, 02 Feb 2001 01:38:47

Dave,

Didn't know they could do that with a BIOS update. It's an ABIT BH-6 mobo
and I actually already have a request in at some web-site I found a couple
days ago to see if a BIOS update is available. Haven't heard back from them
yet though (so much for 24 hour turnaround time.) :( Be really nice if that
were the case.

Jeff

> I'm not sure of your mobo manufactuer, but if you upgrade the bios you
> 'may'
> be able to run a faster cpu.
> dave henrie

> > Stephen,

> > > I agree, cpu is the chokepoint right now in the system.
Unfortunately,
> my
> > mobo can only take up to a 600, so I'm not sure it's worth replacing
> without
> > doing a complete mobo/cpu replacement. Might try oc'ing my current cpu
a
> > little more.

> > Jeff

> > > Cliff,

> > > I suggest you take a look at the following V5500 tweak guide:

> > > http://www.racesimcentral.net/

> > > (Yer CPU sounds like it might be the ***point)

> > > I run GPL under Glide, not D3D. I wouldn't have it any other way.

> > > --Steve Smith

> > > > Jeff, what happens if you disable sound in the game.. does that help
> you
> > > at
> > > > all?

> > > > > Hey Guys,

> > > > > I'd appreciate any thoughts/suggestions/ideas on the following two
> > > > problems
> > > > > (both related to running N3):

> > > > > 1. Recently installed a Voodoo5 5500 PCI card. During offline
> > practice
> > > or
> > > > > when running by myself, framerate is o.k., but as soon as I get
into
> a
> > > > race
> > > > > and have traffic on the screen, framerate is dropping to 25 and
> > usually
> > > > > fluctuates down from there at points. Changing the graphic
settings
> > in
> > > N3
> > > > > (i.e. what is on/off) doesn't seem to impact this any. From
memory,
> I
> > > > think
> > > > > I'm running in D3D. Even though the card should run better in
Glide
> > (I
> > > > > think), framerate really gets hosed when I do that. Given the
> system
> > > > specs
> > > > > (below), this just doesn't seem right to me. Before installing
the
> > > card,
> > > > I
> > > > > "uninstalled" the Voodoo3 card I had and thought I had cleaned
> > > everything
> > > > > out, but now I'm wondering.

> > > > > 2. My Act Labs (non-ff) wheel/shifter keeps losing communication
> with
> > > the
> > > > > computer. It is running through a USB port and if I unplug
it/plug
> it
> > > > back
> > > > > in, I can reestablish communication after about 5 seconds for
> Windows
> > to
> > > > > recognize it. For testing, I plan to plug it back into the
gameport
> > on
> > > > the
> > > > > sound card and see what happens as I'm guessing some problem with
> USB.
> > > > Odd
> > > > > thing is it ran fine for about 5 months, then started this up.

> > > > > Right now, beside testing the wheel on the gameport, I suppose I'm
> > going
> > > > to
> > > > > go in and move my PCI cards around to see if I might have some IRQ
> > > > conflict
> > > > > that is not very apparent. Any suggestions on anything else I can
> try
> > > > would
> > > > > be appreciated.

> > > > > System info:

> > > > > PIII-450 (oc'ed to 504)
> > > > > Abit BH-6 mobo
> > > > > 256 MB RAM
> > > > > Voodoo5 5500 PCI card
> > > > > SB Live! Platinum Sound card
> > > > > 3COM (not sure which model) NIC
> > > > > Windows 98 (original)

> > > > > As currently configured, SB 16 emulation is on IRQ5; Voodoo5 is on
> IRQ
> > > 10;
> > > > > SB Live!, NIC, and PCI to USB bridge all sharing IRQ 11. I
recently
> > had
> > > > to
> > > > > move the SB Live! around and it changed from 10 to 11, though the
> > > problems
> > > > > indicated above all occurred prior to that. The NIC and PCI to
USB
> > > bridge
> > > > > have been sharing the same IRQ ever since they were installed.
And
> > for
> > > > some
> > > > > reason, Windows won't let me manually force an IRQ for the
devices.

> > > > > Finally, video is set for FSAA = fastest performance. Even though
I
> > > didn't
> > > > > have to do this before with the V3, I've also started running
> > End-It-All
> > > > > prior to racing.

> > > > > Thanks in advance. Let me know if I've forgotten anything about
the
> > > > system
> > > > > that will help with trouble-shooting.

> > > > > --
> > > > > Jeff Causey
> > > > > FrogDog Racing
> > > > > www.frogdogracing.com
> > > > > Home of the FrogDog *** Racing School
> > > > > Member of the raceserver.net network of servers

by **Dave Henri** » Fri, 02 Feb 2001 09:02:31

you should be able to go right to the ABIT webpage and get a flash bios
update. I have heard users going at LEAST up to 800hz with that board.
So I'm thinking a bios update will let you choose a faster cpu. Now two
cautions...if you flash the bios...READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY! A
botched install can render your puter pretty much useless.
But don't be alarmed, users update mobo bios all the time, just don't take
any shortcuts with the flash and all will be well..
(forgot what the 2nd warning was :> )
dave henrie

> Dave,

> Didn't know they could do that with a BIOS update. It's an ABIT BH-6 mobo
> and I actually already have a request in at some web-site I found a couple
> days ago to see if a BIOS update is available. Haven't heard back from
them
> yet though (so much for 24 hour turnaround time.) :( Be really nice if
that
> were the case.

> Jeff

> > I'm not sure of your mobo manufactuer, but if you upgrade the bios you
> > 'may'
> > be able to run a faster cpu.
> > dave henrie

> > > Stephen,

> > > > I agree, cpu is the chokepoint right now in the system.
> Unfortunately,
> > my
> > > mobo can only take up to a 600, so I'm not sure it's worth replacing
> > without
> > > doing a complete mobo/cpu replacement. Might try oc'ing my current
cpu
> a
> > > little more.

> > > Jeff

> > > > Cliff,

> > > > I suggest you take a look at the following V5500 tweak guide:

> > > > http://www.racesimcentral.net/

> > > > (Yer CPU sounds like it might be the ***point)

> > > > I run GPL under Glide, not D3D. I wouldn't have it any other way.

> > > > --Steve Smith

> > > > > Jeff, what happens if you disable sound in the game.. does that
help
> > you
> > > > at
> > > > > all?

> > > > > > Hey Guys,

> > > > > > I'd appreciate any thoughts/suggestions/ideas on the following
two
> > > > > problems
> > > > > > (both related to running N3):

> > > > > > 1. Recently installed a Voodoo5 5500 PCI card. During offline
> > > practice
> > > > or
> > > > > > when running by myself, framerate is o.k., but as soon as I get
> into
> > a
> > > > > race
> > > > > > and have traffic on the screen, framerate is dropping to 25 and
> > > usually
> > > > > > fluctuates down from there at points. Changing the graphic
> settings
> > > in
> > > > N3
> > > > > > (i.e. what is on/off) doesn't seem to impact this any. From
> memory,
> > I
> > > > > think
> > > > > > I'm running in D3D. Even though the card should run better in
> Glide
> > > (I
> > > > > > think), framerate really gets hosed when I do that. Given the
> > system
> > > > > specs
> > > > > > (below), this just doesn't seem right to me. Before installing
> the
> > > > card,
> > > > > I
> > > > > > "uninstalled" the Voodoo3 card I had and thought I had cleaned
> > > > everything
> > > > > > out, but now I'm wondering.

> > > > > > 2. My Act Labs (non-ff) wheel/shifter keeps losing communication
> > with
> > > > the
> > > > > > computer. It is running through a USB port and if I unplug
> it/plug
> > it
> > > > > back
> > > > > > in, I can reestablish communication after about 5 seconds for
> > Windows
> > > to
> > > > > > recognize it. For testing, I plan to plug it back into the
> gameport
> > > on
> > > > > the
> > > > > > sound card and see what happens as I'm guessing some problem
with
> > USB.
> > > > > Odd
> > > > > > thing is it ran fine for about 5 months, then started this up.

> > > > > > Right now, beside testing the wheel on the gameport, I suppose
I'm
> > > going
> > > > > to
> > > > > > go in and move my PCI cards around to see if I might have some
IRQ
> > > > > conflict
> > > > > > that is not very apparent. Any suggestions on anything else I
can
> > try
> > > > > would
> > > > > > be appreciated.

> > > > > > System info:

> > > > > > PIII-450 (oc'ed to 504)
> > > > > > Abit BH-6 mobo
> > > > > > 256 MB RAM
> > > > > > Voodoo5 5500 PCI card
> > > > > > SB Live! Platinum Sound card
> > > > > > 3COM (not sure which model) NIC
> > > > > > Windows 98 (original)

> > > > > > As currently configured, SB 16 emulation is on IRQ5; Voodoo5 is
on
> > IRQ
> > > > 10;
> > > > > > SB Live!, NIC, and PCI to USB bridge all sharing IRQ 11. I
> recently
> > > had
> > > > > to
> > > > > > move the SB Live! around and it changed from 10 to 11, though
the
> > > > problems
> > > > > > indicated above all occurred prior to that. The NIC and PCI to
> USB
> > > > bridge
> > > > > > have been sharing the same IRQ ever since they were installed.
> And
> > > for
> > > > > some
> > > > > > reason, Windows won't let me manually force an IRQ for the
> devices.

> > > > > > Finally, video is set for FSAA = fastest performance. Even
though
> I
> > > > didn't
> > > > > > have to do this before with the V3, I've also started running
> > > End-It-All
> > > > > > prior to racing.

> > > > > > Thanks in advance. Let me know if I've forgotten anything about
> the
> > > > > system
> > > > > > that will help with trouble-shooting.

> > > > > > --
> > > > > > Jeff Causey
> > > > > > FrogDog Racing
> > > > > > www.frogdogracing.com
> > > > > > Home of the FrogDog *** Racing School
> > > > > > Member of the raceserver.net network of servers

by **Uncle Feste** » Fri, 02 Feb 2001 12:58:16

> Dave,

> Didn't know they could do that with a BIOS update. It's an ABIT BH-6 mobo
> and I actually already have a request in at some web-site I found a couple
> days ago to see if a BIOS update is available. Haven't heard back from them
> yet though (so much for 24 hour turnaround time.) :( Be really nice if that
> were the case.

Just go here: http://www.abit-usa.com/english/index.htm On the side
menu, click download, then BIOS update. The BH6 is listed in the group
of Perntium III boards. Good Luck!

--

Chuck Kandler

by **Woodie** » Fri, 02 Feb 2001 21:44:52

>Didn't know they could do that with a BIOS update. It's an ABIT BH-6 mobo
>and I actually already have a request in at some web-site I found a couple
>days ago to see if a BIOS update is available. Haven't heard back from them
>yet though (so much for 24 hour turnaround time.) :( Be really nice if that
>were the case.

Go to the ABIT website and get the latest bios, it will go much faster. I've
got an ABIT BH6 1.0, and I'm running at 900 right now. Bought a Celeron600
with heatsink and slotket for $138.00 shipped from PCNUT. Guaranteed to run
900, did so right out of the box at stock voltage.

Don McCorkle

rec.autos.simulators

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