rec.autos.simulators

    Just installed one in my computer but can only get frame rate of about
27 in Nascar 3 with resolution on medium( 800 by 600) and all other options
set on automatic or reduced.I installed the N3patch and upgraded the drivers
for the logitech FFGP wheel and the Geoforce2. Was expecting a lot more FPS
than this . With everything in options set at max, I get about 17-20FPS. I'm
running a AMD k-2 500mz processor with 128MB of RAM. Any suggestions that
don't involve overclocking to improve this frame rate?

Get Rid of that k-2 processor, very old by today's standards, IMO.

My System

P3-866 coppermine
Asus CUSL-2c MB
512mb PC133 ram, (micron).
70gb's in 3 WD 7200 rpm ATA100 HD's
11 cooling fans in one of the worst boxes I've ever bought, (no AC in my
Apt. in FL).
GeFarce 2 Pro 32mb
Detonator 12.90 beta drivers, installed over many previous drivers since
7.xx
All Nvidia Toolbox Properties set to default.

19" Flat Screen Trinitron, I average 40-45fps, lowest fps 27, Highest I've
seen 65fps, I have a frame rate drop in open GL, it has gotten down to
20fps. Gefarce cards don't do open GL well IMO.
No Overclocking, HD File System set at Network Server, Full read ahead
optimization, Virtual Memory Set to a permanent swap file size of 1024mb's
on a separate 30gb HD. [vcache] set to MinFileCache=131072
MaxFileCache=131072, <<< haven't decided if this helps at all, (speed wise).
Windows ME Full install, (no upgrade from Win98) with all updates, I.E.
6.0.2479, OE 6.0

With 1Ghz Athlons at $118 and motherboards even lower, you should look into
replacing the K2 chip. It is the bottleneck at this point.  The only other
option is to overclock it and you sounded like you didn't want to go that
route.  I know the K2's O/C very well though.

That K2 processor and any compiant mobo you would have it on is simply
outdated. You're probably getting about the best performance you can out of
that system. I have the same card (Visiontek GF2 MX 400 64MB) in an AMD 1.2
Ghz system and get 45-60 FPS in N4 with most things turned way up at

100+ FPS, so your card is ok. Proccessors, RAM, and mobo's are as cheap as
they have been if you want to upgrade, now is the time. I bought a case,
proccessor, 512MB RAM, KT7A RAID mobo, and this video card (used old HD's,
they were already updated 20 gig ATA 100's) for about $490 at a computer
show a few months back.

Simracer