rec.autos.simulators

> Marc

> > In certain situations a windows re-install can be done much faster than
> > tracking down whats causing the root issue.  And you get the added
benefit
> > of knowing you are starting clean.   I know for certain I can have a
> squeaky
> > clean install of XP in 2 hours.  You are not giving any guarantees that
> you
> > could do similar using the standard troubleshooting process.

> > As Morris said he's already done a clean install and the issue still
> remains
> > so your point is mute..

> > > I wish people would quit telling others to reformat their hard drives
> and
> > do
> > > a fresh install of Windows to get video drivers to work better--it's
> > > complete horse shit and a huge time consumer.

> > > I guess I hadn't said it enough times to help you.

> > > If you had searched here, you also would have found threads where I
> > > discussed my installation of a Radeon 9700 Pro and how it gave the
same
> or
> > > lower fps as a GeForce 4.  However, you can run anti-aliasing and
other
> > > goodies with no fps hit on the Radeon where it will kill the fps on a
> > > GeForce 4.  Lesson: if your FPS is low to start with, likely because
CPU
> > > power is lacking, the Radeon won't help to boost it.

> > > The Radeon and the GeForce 4 should not be affected much by resolution
> or
> > > colour depth.

> > > Older cards would crumple under the strain of 32 bit colour or 1600 x
> 1200
> > > resolution.

> > > There are about 25 control panel settings that will adjust fps in a
game
> > and
> > > there are about 30 settings in NR2003 that will affect NR2003.  List
> EVERY
> > > single option choice in the game and in Windows Display settings and
> > several
> > > of us here may be able to help you to either adjust or realise that
the
> > fps
> > > you are getting is "normal" for your set-up.  Since there are about 7
> > > billion combinations and permutations, if you do not list every single
> > > setting and option then it's just guess work and you get lots of
> so-called
> > > experts telling you to wipe your system and start over--which is BS
> > advice.
> > > Anything that may be affecting the new video card negatively such as
> > > left-over ***from nVIDIA, etc., can be removed easily without wiping
> > your
> > > system.  Also, unless you installed a bunch of ***beyond the drivers
> > > themselves, it won't make a*** of difference whether you uninstall
it
> or
> > > not in XP.  XP will use the proper driver and ignore the old ones
until
> > you
> > > put the old card back in.

> > > Bottom line: you cannot build a system today that will run NR2003 with
> all
> > > the eye candy on at 32-bit 1600x1200 resolution and have a decent
frame
> > > rate.

> > > Put your GeForce 4 back in and wait for the next gen. of video cards
to
> > come
> > > along.

> > > Marc

> > > > I just don't get it, I've done everything I can,
> > > > put on a new copy of XP professional, reinstalled
> > > > everything dx9a, latest drivers for everything, FPS
> > > > still suck compared to what the Ti4600 was getting.
> > > > using the same settings.  Lost everything on the HD
> > > > to try and get this card working better, but it just
> > > > does not get it. Anyone what to buy it?  Should
> > > > have kept the Geforce FX Ultra card I had.

> > > > Under the setting for D3D in the ATI control panel
> > > > what does everyone else set the setting to.
> > > > It does not matter what resolution 1280x960x32
> > > > or 1600x1200x32 get the same FPS, start around 29 and
> > > > goes down to 20 in the trioval at most tracks. The Ti4600
> > > > never went below 29 using 4xAA, and 4anso.

> > > > is there a tweak utility like the rivetuner somewhere for ATI stuff.

> > > > Sorry for all the post about this but it is driving me crazy,
> > > > i know this card should work better than this.

> > > > The system again.
> > > > Clean install of XP pro
> > > > 1gig PC800
> > > > 2.53 P4
> > > > audigy 2
> > > > 120gig HD
> > > > momo
> > > > 9800 Pro.

> Thanks!

> Achim

>> There's a known slow-down bug with XP SP1, and a fix is available
>> from microsoft.  It's not publically available but should be easy to
>> find on the net.
> ...

> > I wish people would quit telling others to reformat their hard drives
and
> do
> > a fresh install of Windows to get video drivers to work better--it's
> > complete horse shit and a huge time consumer.

> > I guess I hadn't said it enough times to help you.

> You're talking shite mate.

> If you are changing manufacturers  - you would be stupid not to reinstall
> windows to ensure you've cleared out all the old drivers.

> Furthermore - this holds true for Soundcards and Motheboards

> DOug

> I don't want to endorse the way Marc expressed his thoughts and I wouldn't
> want to be as categorical as him, but it's not all shite what he says
> either.

> I've carried the same WinME installation with me across 4 motherboards
with
> 3 different chipsets (full AMD, AMD/Via, Nvidia nForce2), 3 different
> graphics card makes (3dfx, Nvidia, ATI), 4 different soundcards (2xSBLive,
> Audigy1, Audigy2), lots of different wheels and joysticks I've tested,
many
> software installs and deinstalls, innumerable graphics driver updates,
> DirectX from I think Dx7, Dx8, Dx8.1, Dx8.1a to Dx9, other HW changes like
> CD drives, different network cards, different online connections (from
plain
> modem to ISDN card, to ADSL card in Spain to external ADSL in Brussels
using
> the original Enternet, then RASPPPoE, then switching to a Router
> deinstalling RASPPPoE) - I could make this list a bit longer, but it's
long
> enough to make my point.

> I've never reinstalled until a few weeks ago (I just thought it's time to
> clean up), I've always used the same installation. I've properly
deinstalled
> what I could, deleting the inf files, checking the Registry for remnants
if
> necessary, but mainly using Windows uninstaller. I've kept the Registry
> clean using Ontrack's System Suite's Registry cleaner, which detects a lot
> of unneeded stuff in the Registry.

> When switching mobos, I've deleted the entire SystemDevice branch in
> Window's DeviceManager (preferrably in SafeMode) and then cross checked
with
> a quick glance also in safe mode whether there's still some unwanted
> hardware registered, and then I've simply installed the new mobo.

> My system has always been nicely stable, and also fast. I've compared the
> old install to the new one, and there is no difference in speed nor
> stability. Both are stable, and equally fast.

> During these 2.5 years, whenever I'd had problems and people recommended a
> full reinstall, I later on found out that the problem had nothing to do
with
> my system not being a fresh install, but simply with the new stuff still
> being buggy, because later updates usually cured the problems. Even when I
> tried a quick reinstall (without reinstalling the entire environment, just
> the basic system) for the Audigy1 once, I had to find out that the
problems
> that existed in my full install also existed in the barebone reinstall and
> had nothing to do with remainders of old stuff still being in the system.

> A full reinstall has never helped me, as the prob never was within my
> system, but within the new stuff that didn't work properly for some reason
> (admittedly, perhaps only in certain environments, but a full reinstall
> didn't create such an environment either) and I am under the impression
that
> it also doesn't help that many others, from reading the NGs and forums.

> Now, I know I've given quite a speech here and apologise for that <g> but
it
> simply is a topic I find interesting. Also please believe me that I am not
> trying to criticise your advice in any way, but my personal experience is
as
> I've described above. Personally, I would suggest a reinstall only as the
> very last resort, after _loads_ of other options have been tried. I'd
never
> suggest it early on.

> Achim

> > > I wish people would quit telling others to reformat their hard drives
> and
> > do
> > > a fresh install of Windows to get video drivers to work better--it's
> > > complete horse shit and a huge time consumer.

> > > I guess I hadn't said it enough times to help you.

> > You're talking shite mate.

> > If you are changing manufacturers  - you would be stupid not to
reinstall
> > windows to ensure you've cleared out all the old drivers.

> > Furthermore - this holds true for Soundcards and Motheboards

> > DOug

> Thanks!

> Achim

> > There's a known slow-down bug with XP SP1, and a fix is available from
> > microsoft.  It's not publically available but should be easy to find on
> the
> > net.
> ...

> /speech off

> Unfortunately I can't give much advice over what he's tried.  Board level
> diags is whats needed from what I can gather.   Triple check sys bios.
> Maybe work backwards in N2k3, meaning turn off nearly all the graphics and
> turn each back on till you find the happy medium.  Specular highlights is
a
> worthless fps hog.

I
> drive a fancy car and bought an after-market sport suspension
> > for it.  All the freaks (equivalent to us) at the fan site I belong to
> > laughed because I was asking around where to take the car to have the
new
> > parts installed (dealers don't want to do it because technically the
> > warranty is affected, etc., etc.).  They all would have done it
themselves
> > they said.  Just get your friends to do it with you and pay them with a
> case
> > of beer (preferably after the job was done).  Well, this is the
equivalent
> > to what is being recommended here.  Many of those guys install turbos,
> > change springs, shocks, roll bars, whatever for a hobby.  They are
> tinkering
> > every weekend doing something.  I wouldn't attempt to install expensive
> new
> > springs and shocks on a brand new car myself with NONE of the correct
> tools
> > if my life depended on it.  Let them laugh.  My car runs great and it
cost
> > me a few bucks to have it done professionally.

> > People who just want to use a computer and have some fun with racing
sims
> > don't need to re-install Windows, especially to gain 1 or 2 fps.  If
there
> > is anything more to be gained than that, then you have some other
problem
> > with your installation that needs to be fixed independently.  And
erasing
> > your computer as a way to fix it is stupid and short-sighted, because if
> you
> > allowed the botch-up to occur in the first place (unknowingly), you will
> do
> > it again.  Instead, either leave well enough alone or do what Joachim
has
> > done and learn how to properly maintain your system.

> > </speech off>

> > Marc