rec.autos.simulators

I'm getting back into GPL after 1.5 year absence.  I've applied all
the new cars, the sound updates, etc.  Good work guys!

I'm finding that my computer is not holding up well.  With a full
grid, I get 4-5 FPS.  Online is not very playable.  Regardless, the
game tends to be jerky unless I'm by myself.  Resolution is only
640x480.  My hardware is as follows:
AMD Duron 850
ABIT Motherboard
256MB
ATI Radeon 9200.
MOMO Wheel
DSL

I think I'm going to upgrade mobo and CPU and memory.  What should be
looking for it my main concern is GPL?  Will a Celeron do very well?
AMD?

Are there certain motherboards that do better in the *** realm?

I'm running a AMD XP2700 on a Asus A7N8X deluxe motherboard with 512mb
PC2700 ram on Win XP and GPL runs great with all track updates and GPLEA car
updates.
Sid.

have you put on the d3d patch - that will allow you to get more out of your
video card

David Corless

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On Mon, 29 Mar 2004 21:26:06 +1000, "David Corless"

Yes, I've applied the D3D patch, the CPU patch and the 1.2 patch

you sure you're not running in software mode? i used to run it on a dell
xps 800 and a first generation geforce card, and got way better numbers
than that.

ttjjekk,just looking at your specs, it would seem to me that the better
option would be ,say, XP or Barton chip( assuming it will work/fit on your
motherboard),video card( 9600XT or second hand 9700 or thereabouts) as a
start, then you can still get more RAM and/or better motherboard later if
required.
--
Steve H
Epox 8RDA+ v1.1,Vdd mod
XP2100b at 2400(12x200)1.8V
Corsair XMS3200 1x512MB
DIY Watercool - copper spiral block,Nova 800,aircon radiator
GF3 at 240/550 det 43.45

--

Your system should run everything at 36 fps if you use the 2D wheels
option with the GPLEA cars.  I can get about 10 to 16 fps on a 450 MHz
workplace computer in software mode.  On your rig, it certainly should
be no less than 18 to 20 fps on the grid at the start of a race with
the 2D wheels, which are the bigest frame rate hog.

When you say that the resolution is 640x480, it sounds like you
haven't applied the D3D patch or else you need to select Direct3D7 in
the GPL graphics menu.

D3D patch has been applied and selected.  I even switched back to
Software mode, then restarted GPL.  Then switched back to D3D and then
restarted.  No change.

On the start (Monza, full grid, most detail turned off, 640x48), I get
18-20FPS.  When it starts, the FPS drops to 9 and then eventually
regains.  Once I start lapping it stays between 21-26FPS.

What am I doing wrong here?  Should I upgrade to a Celeron?

No, fix the problem with your gpl install before you start throwing
money at it.

Remove all graphics updates (or go back to a fresh install).

Make sure you have renamed core.ini.sample to core.ini (you may need to
untick the 'hide file extensions for known file types' option to do
this).

Add the D3D patch & make sure the following lines are in your core.ini:

[ Int Profile Values ]
value3 = Direct3D7:D3DDevice:0                    ; do not change
value4 = Direct3D7:TossHighestMip:0               ; do not change
value5 = Direct3D7:DoubleMirrorResWidth:1         ; do not change
value6 = Direct3D7:DoubleMirrorResHeight:1        ; do not change
value7 = Direct3D7:DirectMirrorRendering:1        ; do not change
value8 = Direct3D7:DisableZBuffer:0               ; do not change
value9 = Direct3D7:AlphaThreshold:240             ; do not change
value10 = Direct3D7:TransparentMipsDrawOrder:0    ; do not change
value11 = Direct3D7:TrilinearFiltering:1          ; do not change
value12 = Direct3D7:AnisotropicFiltering:0        ; do not change
value13 = Direct3D7:LODBias:-50                   ; do not change

[ Direct3D7 ]
D3DDevice = 0
TossHighestMip = 0
DoubleMirrorResWidth = 1
DoubleMirrorResHeight = 1
DirectMirrorRendering = 1
DisableZBuffer = 0
AlphaThreshold = 1
TransparentMipsDrawOrder = 1
TrilinearFiltering = 1
AnisotropicFiltering = 8
LODBias = -50

Update your mobo drivers, controller drivers & graphics card drivers if
you can, and make sure you have any anti-aliasing &
Anisotropic/trilinear filtering options turned off. Check any other
drivers too, like sound, networking etc.

In your player.ini, find the following line & set it as follows:

[ Graphic Options ]
detailBias = 74

You should be okay with all other graphics settings in gpl set to
whatever you prefer. Uncheck the 'beveled tyres' option if you want
(this will give you 2D wheels with the GPLEA cars btw, but just run the
basic cars for now).

If the framerate is still unacceptable at your chosen resolution,
upgrade the graphics card first, not the CPU. A Duron 800 with a Gf2
MX400 or better is plenty to run gpl, plus going to a celeron would
require a new mobo anyway, and would not give you good value for money
over your current system.

Check your mobo manual to find out the fastest AMD chip it will take. A
used Athlon 1gig or higher will not be expensive, and will give you
performance similar to even the latest celeron CPUs. If your mobo
supports the XP & later Duron chips these are very cheap new, and will
give you much more 'bang per buck' than any intel CPU at the moment.

Malc.

Ahhhh.  Okay its becoming more clear now.  I purchased GPL from
Sold-out-software.  It's the Euro version.  Anyways it comes delivered
in a CD which I didn't actually read the documentation.  But now that
I look back to 2 years and applying the D3D patch for a Geforce2
MX440, I recall adding these values (or changing) to the core.ini.  I
did not do this for my Radeon!  I will go back to the documentation.
I will let you know how it goes.

Your system should perform better than that.

Where do you have the detail bias slider? It should be less than half
way up with your system.

How much graphic details have you turned on? Turn most off in the
mirrors.

Happy driving!

The D3D & various other patches should be on the CD then. Use these
instead of ones from the web.

Malc.

Thanks.  I did.

I've upgraded my main board, CPU and memory to a DFI NFII Ultra-AL
with AMD Baron 2800+ and 512MB PC400 RAM.  GPL is running at 36FPS
with all the graphics turned on.  Even at the start with me at the
back of the grid at Monaco.  Amazing.

I first played GPL in early 2000.  I became ***ed but left and came
back to it occasionally.  Gone through 4 wheels through my lifetime of
sim racing.,  I think about all the money I've put into it.  Unreal!
Since I just upgraded my computer $500CDN and then another $120CDN for
a MOMO wheel.  That's just this time!  I had many atimes juggling of
3DFX graphics cards.

Regarding the MOMO wheel, are these things gear driven now?  I think
the old one I had (the red one... not the current generation red one
but the one before it with the larger pedal base) was cable driven.  I
prefer the older ones.

Are there any other good games available?  How is the SCGT world
thesedays?  GP4?  GP3?

Indy 500 - The Sim
IndyCar 1
IndyCar 2
World Circuit (F1GP for those on the other side of the pond)
GP2
GP3
Grand Prix Legends
NASCAR 1
NASCAR 2 (briefly)

See if you can find a copy of F1 Challenge '99-'02 and join us in RASF1.
:-)

http://members.tripod.com/pedx1ng/rasf1/

--
Ped Xing
GPLRank -31.657

"A good racing driver doesn't really look like he's going that fast; but in
fact it's a clean, smooth, progressive performance that supplies the real
speed."
-Sir Jackie Stewart

RASF1? All i see is a rec.auto.sportsf1 which is definitely not a sim group.
Are you suggesting he join a newsgroup about F1 racing?

I thank you for the F1 2002 game u sent me, but I have to admit I have no
real interest in the current F1 racing season...mostly because there is no
news or television supporting F1 in the US. I suppose I might be interested
if it was supported here.

But after playing F1 C for two weeks it's kind of making me curious about F1
racing. Especially since I'm taking the time to fix the game up with tweaks
and addons. Maybe it's a good idea to check out the RASF1 group. Have to
think about that.

LeftyX (Jordan)