Windows 95 uses the hard disk as extra (virtual) memory which is extremely
slow compared to direct memory access. Every so often Windows 95 will transfer
(page) the contents of memory that hasn't been used for a while to the hard
disk especially if free memory is running low. Typically this can happen if
the program is using ever increasing amounts of memory (like if it is
recording your race for a replay). Another possible cause is a memory leak (a
type of program bug where the program reserves ever increasing amounts of
memory which under some or all circumstances it doesn't give back). I don't
get this problem with F1RS on a P200 with 72Mb and an Orchid Righteous, but I
do disable some of the graphics features to improve frame rate - try this.
Otherwise look at your hardware drivers - they can leak as well - try getting
the latest versions. Also check you're not running any other programs which
take up memory and may get paged out all at once - this includes virus
checkers, screen savers, screen resolution assisants, internet desktop
manipulators (IE4?), mail checkers etc. (the sort of things you see in the
systray at the bottom right of your task bar and in the Start Up menu). You
could also buy more memory if you want to chuck money at the problem. If I get
round to it, I'll run F1RS through a leak detector when I get a hard disk back
in my box (the old one has suffered a head crash) and see if it's there's a
program leak.
> After about a half hour of playing F1rs (or other 3d games?), the game
> slows way down and pauses as I hear my hard drive working hard for
> a few minutes and then its all back to normal. It's not the CD-ROM because
> the light is not on. Does anyone else have this problem?
> Here is my system:
> P166(nonMMX) 80mb EDO 60ns memory
> Iwill P54TSW2 mother brd w/Adaptec UW SCSI
> Fujitsu 2GB UW SCSI hard drive
> Seagate Barracuda 4.3GB UW SCSI hard drive
> Matrox Millenium 4mb
> Monster 3D
> W95 original version
> Thanks, dsr#74 :-)
