rec.autos.simulators

In N4 I now have 32-bit color even though the game thinks I want 16-bit and
my frame rate is exactly what it was at 16!  With my GeForce2 Ultra 64MB,
sitting in the pits at Michigan I get 85+fps at 1600x1200!!!

For me a couple of other settings that REALLY increased frame rate and image
quality are:

OpenGL -

Fast MipMap Filtering
Buffer Region Extension
Alternate Depth Buffer
Texture Pre-cache
Triple Buffering
Allow Maximum Frames
Buf Reg use Video Mem
Allow Max Texture Size
Texture Quality = High
Buffer Flipping = Auto

System -

AGP = 4X
Fastwrites
Side Band Addressing

GOOD LUCK!!!

My observation is that whatever frame rate you are getting at 16-bit color
can be the same at 32-bit if you enable it in your NVidia properties.  I
found after the post that the standard GeForce properties include a setting
for "Default Color Depth for Textures".  Set it to "Always use 32 bpp", but
leave N4 at 16-bit.  If it works the same for you as it did for me you
should see 32-bit color in N4 with the same frame rate that you had at
16-bit.  NVidia's new 6.50 drivers are available at
http://www.3dchipset.com/beta/nvidia/650/win-9x-me.html

FYI - I'm running a 1GHz PIII with 256MB SDRAM and a 64MB GeForce2 Ultra.

Are you sure N4 is pumping it out at 32bit though?

32bit is *likely* to come at a frame rate cost, unless you've
stumbled onto something revolutionary, frame rate isn't limited
by a routine that specifically states, if D3D is running in
32bit, cripple the frame rate. It's going to pump it out at
whatever the hardware allows.

I also run NVMAX, and I believe most of the options you set within
NVMAX are registry hacks. I have AGP 4x set in NVMAX, but my
motherboard doesn't support it, doesn't neccessarily mean I'm getting
AGP 4x though because it's selected.

You can never be 100% sure, but I would make the assumption that
you've allowed a 32bit palette for textures generic to OGL, but N4
is only using a 16bit palette since that's what you've selected
for N4. Are the textures noticeably different?

Cheers,
Rod.

Just loaded up N4 in 16bit and 32bit the old fashioned way, and on my
Trinitron tubed monitor, I can't even tell the difference.

But then, the only game I've owned that I've seen an appreciable
difference between 16bit and 32bit colour has been Giants. Possibly
due to the extremely vibrant colours used.

However, this could be due to the the fact I was a long time Voodoo3
owner in denial. ;)

Cheers,
Rod.