rec.autos.simulators

Nope, that would be PWF, we're the ones doing the non-T/A T/A-mod, on
the other hand, since the T/A series is falling apart as we exchange
these comments, I guess PWF's T/A mod is a fictional one as well, go
figure

According to a person who claims to be in the know, and it does indeed
seem as if he's not alone in his conviction in this matter, Gentilozzi
(sp) is an idiot

Beers and cheers
(uncle) Goy
"goyl at nettx dot no"

http://www.racesimcentral.net/

"A man is only as old as the woman he feels........"
--Groucho Marx--

Thanks Goy (& Dave) - the 15 FPS gap I referenced was with 14AI at Spa.  For
comparison to Goy's numbers, here are some Fraps numbers from me at
Talladega with 25AI, along with my graphics settings.  In general, running
more AI closes the gap a bit as the increased CPU load affects FPS.
Comparing with fewer AI would probably be a better indicator of online
performance differences.

Anywho - machine specs are: XP1800-128mb Leadtek Ti4400(oc'ed to 300/600
w/45.23whql)-256mb-SB Audigy-98SE (Nvidia settings: 2X AA & 2X Aniso, high
performance texture filtering)

FRAPS log for NR2003 -
Talladega, with 25AI.  Two laps from back of the grid in***pit view,
easing off so that the pack was out of sight by the end of lap two.

CUP: Avg: 34.062 - Min: 25 - Max: 53

CTS: Avg: 31.065 - Min: 23 - Max: 53

TPTCC V2.1: Avg: 23.395 - Min: 14 - Max: 43

Graphics settings:
OGL, 1280X960X16
Car Quality High
Mirror Quality Med
World Quality High
Trackside Objects All
Oppnent Pit Crews Low
Texture Filtering Quality Extreme
Opponents ahead 42
Opponents behind 10
Drawing Distance 100%
Steering Wheel Off
Animated Objects Off
Animated Pit Crew Off
Debris and particles On
Skidmarks On
Smoke On
Windshield Buildup Off
Track Lighting and shading On
Track Specular highlights Off
Solar Effects Off
Reflections on cars On
Reflections on structures On
Shadows on ground On/on
Shadows on cars Off
Number of sounds 16

So even with the increased CPU load of 25 AI, it's still a direct 10-11 FPS
graphics hit vs the Cup cars - with similar size car models.  The .car files
with the TPTCC2 mod aren't appreciably larger than the Papy .car files
(around 344kb each).  The CTS truck files are about twice the size and while
you do see slower load times, the FPS are still considerably better than the
TPTCC cars.  No doubt I could turn the AA & Aniso off, but don't need to
with any of the other series.  I generally choose my NR2003 graphics
settings to get the best IQ I can without dropping below a (GPL-reference)
36 FPS average in offline races, and at most tracks I can run 30AI with
those settings on my aging box.  Something in one or more of the car models
is gobbling FPS at present.

Thanks again - hope you guys can find the source; the cars do look great!

SB

Well, we still have quite a bit to do with LOD's and things like that so
I expect things will improve a bit when the guys get that bit sorted, if
you have the time and patience, it would be interesting to see if there
was a substantial difference between ruining with 25 GT's and Vipers as
opposed to 25 Vettes and Stangs, if and when you have the time of course

Beers and cheers
(uncle) Goy
"goyl at nettx dot no"

http://www.theuspits.com

"A man is only as old as the woman he feels........"
--Groucho Marx--

SB

Problem found; it's not the car models, it's the TPTCC***PIT that's eating
the framerate.  Here are some Fraps numbers from trying various series in
test sessions and then one lap of 5-car AI races with same-car rosters.  As
you can see, the test session FPS gap remains about the same in the AI
races.  There is also some variation between the car models, but not much
(if you ignore the max FPS and go by the average), at least relative to the
hit from the***pit  Hope this is of use to you guys...

                     FPS
         Avg:      Min:        Max:
test session: Talladega, one lap from the pits
cup    66.0      53          77

tptcc  52.4       48          58
diff    -13.6       -5          -19

gns     67.4      54          80
diff       1.5        1            3

cts     66.8       53          80
          0.9        0             3

race: startup to end of lap one from the back with 5 AI in identical cars
cup      46.3       36         57

TPTCC
gt's      33.4       29         39
 diff     -13.0       -7         -18

stangs  35.5       31         54
diff       -10.9       -5          -3

vipers    33.9       29         52
diff       -12.5        -7          -5

vettes   35.0        30         41
diff       -11.3        -6        -16

Running a higher  res, full field, everything maxed and its
fluid......................
...........................smooth with a  AMD 2100XP o/ed to 2.1 and a
ATI Radeon 9500 no probs here!!......... FWIW.

   Good Catch.  Have you passed this on to the pits forums?   And next question,
are you using any of the 3rd party dash enhancements?  There are some new
tachs and guages and carbon fibre ...just so they'll know whether it is the stock
tptcc dash or the 3rd(or would that be 4th?)party extras.
dave henrie

Jason

I dunno, he's pulling both CART and Trans Am together under one
organizatoinal umbrella and having TA run as a support series at most
events, which seems like a good promotional move.

Also, he's the only person I can think of directly involved in CART
who has actually come out and said that the survival of open wheel in
America is heavily dependent on CART and IRL merging in some fashion.
And he said it without referring to Tony George as evil or indy cars
as crapwagons.  Quite shocking, yes.

Jason

No on both counts; stock TPTCC dash and my blathering about it has been
confined to RAS so far.  Good to know where the problem lies though - should
make it easier to sort out.

SB

-Larry

KevinC
http://www.projectwildfire.com

Beers and cheers
(uncle) Goy
"goyl at nettx dot no"

http://www.theuspits.com

"A man is only as old as the woman he feels........"
--Groucho Marx--

AFAIK, Paulie G let the SCCA contract to use the Trans-Am name lapse without
renewing, so we could very well have yet another civil war in non-NASCAR
American motorsport.

-jde