rec.autos.simulators

by **redTe** » Thu, 13 Dec 2001 08:59:54

Just installed N4 again(finally) and I am getting slight "hiccups" in video
performance. Framerate is a constant 70-80 and then stutters for a moment
down to about 30 or 40. It's very visible and extremely annoying.
Everything else is outstanding. I think i made some comments when the demo
came out about it looking pretty rough around the edges. I admit now, I
couldn't have been more wrong !

Rest of the relevant system specs are as follows.

N4 + latest international patch(n4.1.3.1.6_int.exe)
Windows XP Home Edition + Direct X 8.1
AMD Athlon 1800+
GeForce 3 Ti500
Creative Audigy Sound
1280x960 res 32 bit

Thanks.

by **redTe** » Thu, 13 Dec 2001 09:44:43

Interesting discovery.
The glitch seems to be directly linked to the Audigy drivers. I disabled the
sound in the game but the problem was still there. I hen uninstalled the
drivers for the Soundblaster Audigy and the problem vanished with them...
Now I'm stuck with a Catch-22 situation.. Great graphics but no sound. What
to do ??

by **Biz** » Thu, 13 Dec 2001 10:15:02

R U using the latest Audigy driver updates for XP?

> > Just installed N4 again(finally) and I am getting slight "hiccups" in
> video
> > performance. Framerate is a constant 70-80 and then stutters for a moment
> > down to about 30 or 40. It's very visible and extremely annoying.
> > Everything else is outstanding. I think i made some comments when the demo
> > came out about it looking pretty rough around the edges. I admit now, I
> > couldn't have been more wrong !

> Interesting discovery.
> The glitch seems to be directly linked to the Audigy drivers. I disabled the
> sound in the game but the problem was still there. I hen uninstalled the
> drivers for the Soundblaster Audigy and the problem vanished with them...
> Now I'm stuck with a Catch-22 situation.. Great graphics but no sound. What
> to do ??

by **Klin** » Thu, 13 Dec 2001 10:34:33

> Just installed N4 again(finally) and I am getting slight "hiccups" in
video
> performance. Framerate is a constant 70-80 and then stutters for a moment
> down to about 30 or 40. It's very visible and extremely annoying.

One thing you didn't mention in your specs - how much RAM? Heh - with a
system like that I doubt you cut corners on it, but I had the exact same
problem when I only had 128MB. Bumped it to 384MB and N4 was smooth as
glass... Another possibility - do you VSync enabled?

...Klinn

by **Joe Marque** » Thu, 13 Dec 2001 15:06:41

I have to tell you redTed, ditching SB was the best move I've made. I
always assumed SB was the best audio card for my needs since they were the
first manufacturer IIRC about 10 years ago. I've been wrong for a long
time. ;0)

I replaced my SBlive with a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz and I'm simply amazed
how noticeably better it sounds for both *** and music. I switched to TB
anticipating problems with the AMD based system I built running WinXP. I
left the Live in the PIII 600 I sold to a friend. For $65 the TB handily
whips the SB in both performance and more importantly stability. I know
this doesn't help with your current situation but it's a cheap alternative
if the Audigy situation doesn't clear up for you.

--
Joe Marques

> > Just installed N4 again(finally) and I am getting slight "hiccups" in
> video
> > performance. Framerate is a constant 70-80 and then stutters for a
moment
> > down to about 30 or 40. It's very visible and extremely annoying.
> > Everything else is outstanding. I think i made some comments when the
demo
> > came out about it looking pretty rough around the edges. I admit now, I
> > couldn't have been more wrong !

> Interesting discovery.
> The glitch seems to be directly linked to the Audigy drivers. I disabled
the
> sound in the game but the problem was still there. I hen uninstalled the
> drivers for the Soundblaster Audigy and the problem vanished with them...
> Now I'm stuck with a Catch-22 situation.. Great graphics but no sound.
What
> to do ??

by **redTe** » Thu, 13 Dec 2001 18:09:23

I think so...The latest I found was- ADGXPDrvUpdate.exe
Is there anything newer ?

by **redTe** » Thu, 13 Dec 2001 18:11:40

You're probably right Joe. The Audigy was the only option I had re sound
cards, though.
I'll persevere for a few more day's and then get rid if all else fails.

by **redTe** » Thu, 13 Dec 2001 18:17:01

I disabled v-synch, and forced no anti-aliasing but it still happens .
It affects Open GL and D3D.
Thanks for the compliment, I've been saving my pennies for this set-up, and
it's already obsolete :-(
512 MB DDR, btw.

by **redTe** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 00:52:15

I will go to my grave before I understand the inner workings of a PC.

Seems like I had to have the steering wheel connected to the game port . I
was just trying the game with keys at first. After mucho cussing and
installing/uninstalling, updating etc, it was just as bad as before. I
though, f*** it, I'll just plug the wheel in and play the ***y game.
Someone will find a cure soon. Wheel on, game on, perfect-o ! 80-90 FPS and
no hint of a stutter.
Why ? Never mind, it works.
Thanks for the suggestions and stuff.

by **SimRace** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 04:42:45

When it hiccups, is there any HD activity (blinking LED as indication)? I
have a GF 3 and an AMD 1.2Ghz CPU with 512MB of RAM and if I forget to turn
off all these crappy TSRs that somehow think they need to be running, it
will hiccup on mine too.

I also recommned that you make a comprimise on your N4 setup and run it in
16bit color and use FSAA. Looks much better in my opinion and 32bit is HUGE
resource hog even with GF3s and >1Ghz CPUs. Unless you have a huge monitor,
the resolution may be a bit of overkill too, 1024 or 1152 look just fine and
would allow you to crank up the FSAA and really smooth out those jaggies.

by **redTe** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 05:36:03

All is sweet now, SimRacer. It was something to do with the wheel not being
plugged into the gameport.
Don't ask me what ! It runs very nicely now, thanks

by **Biz** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 08:27:14

I just realized something triggered by your solution. Do you have poll game
interrupts checked or unchecked? This can cause a problem on many systems if its
checked.\
--
Biz

"Don't touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn't understand
alloys and compositions and,......things with molecular structures,....and
the....." - Ash

> > When it hiccups, is there any HD activity (blinking LED as indication)? I
> > have a GF 3 and an AMD 1.2Ghz CPU with 512MB of RAM and if I forget to
> turn
> > off all these crappy TSRs that somehow think they need to be running, it
> > will hiccup on mine too.

> > I also recommned that you make a comprimise on your N4 setup and run it in
> > 16bit color and use FSAA. Looks much better in my opinion and 32bit is
> HUGE
> > resource hog even with GF3s and >1Ghz CPUs. Unless you have a huge
> monitor,
> > the resolution may be a bit of overkill too, 1024 or 1152 look just fine
> and
> > would allow you to crank up the FSAA and really smooth out those jaggies.

> All is sweet now, SimRacer. It was something to do with the wheel not being
> plugged into the gameport.
> Don't ask me what ! It runs very nicely now, thanks

by **redTe** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 09:00:08

Ummm...where is this in Windows XP ? I can't see any conflicts in device
manager.

by **Biz** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 11:57:21

Only guessing but maybe under game controllers in control panel like in Win9X

--
Biz

"Don't touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn't understand
alloys and compositions and,......things with molecular structures,....and
the....." - Ash

> > I just realized something triggered by your solution. Do you have poll
> game
> > interrupts checked or unchecked? This can cause a problem on many systems
> if its
> > checked.\
> > --
> Ummm...where is this in Windows XP ? I can't see any conflicts in device
> manager.

rec.autos.simulators

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..

N4 and GF3 isue..