rec.autos.simulators

by **SkykingU** » Wed, 09 Jul 2003 08:11:34

I am having problems with Nascar 2003 and my new Radeon 9700 video
card. Anyone, please tell me if this sounds correct to you!

My system is a 1.8 GHz P4, 512 MB RAM, AGP 4x, Radeon 9700 (non-pro
version). I have installed the Catalyst 3.5 drivers. When I play
Nascar 2003, I start the race at the back of the pack at around 22
fps. In-game options are all default. During the race, my fps never
drops below 18 and has gone as high as 52, but usually is in the
twenties somewhere.

The kicker (and what I don't understand) is this: I get this same
performance (within 3 fps) when I run at 800x600 or at 1600x1200. I
also get this same performance whether I have my Catalyst driver
settings at the minimum (max performance) or at the maximum (max
quality - which by the was is at 4X AA and 8X Anis. Filtering). This
seems very strange to me.

The only way for me to adjust my fps, is to adjust the in game
options. For example, I can increase framerate by reducing the number
of cars I see ahead.

This is driving me crazy! Why is my framerate not changing when I
change the resolution and driver settings?! Should I return my card?
Do I have a faulty card? HELP!

SkykingUSA

by **Aide** » Wed, 09 Jul 2003 09:04:12

why are you spamming us with this...?

how many times have you posted this now..?

for pitys sake..

AD

by **SkykingUS** » Wed, 09 Jul 2003 15:04:04

Excuse me. I've posted it 3 times - I feel desperate, that's all. I will
try to contain myself in the future.

SkykingUSA

by **Guido Mielekam** » Wed, 09 Jul 2003 15:45:26

tried opengl? installed the drivers properly?? tried
http://www.nasscar.org/downloads/Tweaks%20for%20NR2003.htm ? What's your
bios config, etc etc

by **Guido Mielekam** » Wed, 09 Jul 2003 15:46:05

auto-sync off?

by **Joachim Trens** » Wed, 09 Jul 2003 18:13:30

The first thing I'd guess at when changes to video settings don't affect the
framerate is that the system is CPU limited rather than limited by the
graphics card?

Achim

by **MadDAW** » Wed, 09 Jul 2003 19:20:51

All second that. A 1.8 ghz is pretty light for that video card.

Does the frame rate go up in testing/multipler? With no AI load for the CPU
it should.

MadDAWG

by **Tim Mise** » Thu, 10 Jul 2003 02:24:44

You are cpu limited. Your cpu can't pump data to the video card fast enough
to slow down the video card. You can either run with the max settings and
be happy with it or get a faster cpu. NR2003 is a very cpu intensive game.

-Tim

by **SkykingU** » Thu, 10 Jul 2003 05:30:48

I think you guys are correct. I do get a big fps boost (up to 70 in
some cases) when I am driving during practice, or when there is no one
in front of me. I suppose my CPU handles the car positioning or
something, so my video card is not getting the information fast
enough.

Thanks for all the help you guys! By the way, I did have vsynch on,
but turned it off, to no effect. More support for the, "my CPU is the
bottleneck" theory. Thanks again.

SkykingUSA

> > The first thing I'd guess at when changes to video settings don't affect
> the
> > framerate is that the system is CPU limited rather than limited by the
> > graphics card?

> > Achim

> All second that. A 1.8 ghz is pretty light for that video card.

> Does the frame rate go up in testing/multipler? With no AI load for the CPU
> it should.

> MadDAWG

by **SkykingU** » Thu, 10 Jul 2003 05:32:27

I did try OpenGL and my results were even lower fps than with DirectX.

Thanks.

Jason Pitts

> tried opengl? installed the drivers properly?? tried
> http://www.nasscar.org/downloads/Tweaks%20for%20NR2003.htm ? What's your
> bios config, etc etc

> > I am having problems with Nascar 2003 and my new Radeon 9700 video
> > card. Anyone, please tell me if this sounds correct to you!

> > My system is a 1.8 GHz P4, 512 MB RAM, AGP 4x, Radeon 9700 (non-pro
> > version). I have installed the Catalyst 3.5 drivers. When I play
> > Nascar 2003, I start the race at the back of the pack at around 22
> > fps. In-game options are all default. During the race, my fps never
> > drops below 18 and has gone as high as 52, but usually is in the
> > twenties somewhere.

> > The kicker (and what I don't understand) is this: I get this same
> > performance (within 3 fps) when I run at 800x600 or at 1600x1200. I
> > also get this same performance whether I have my Catalyst driver
> > settings at the minimum (max performance) or at the maximum (max
> > quality - which by the was is at 4X AA and 8X Anis. Filtering). This
> > seems very strange to me.

> > The only way for me to adjust my fps, is to adjust the in game
> > options. For example, I can increase framerate by reducing the number
> > of cars I see ahead.

> > This is driving me crazy! Why is my framerate not changing when I
> > change the resolution and driver settings?! Should I return my card?
> > Do I have a faulty card? HELP!

> > SkykingUSA

by **SkykingU** » Thu, 10 Jul 2003 08:20:30

Thank you all for the information. I just acquired a 2.4 GHz system
which I will try. Hopefully, you are all correct (and I think you
are), and I will definitely see an improvement in performance. I can
hardly wait to try it out!

If you have a chance, please see my other post regarding F1 2002 - I
could use some ideas regarding my problem with that game too. Thanks!

SkykingUSA

> You are cpu limited. Your cpu can't pump data to the video card fast enough
> to slow down the video card. You can either run with the max settings and
> be happy with it or get a faster cpu. NR2003 is a very cpu intensive game.

> -Tim

> > I am having problems with Nascar 2003 and my new Radeon 9700 video
> > card. Anyone, please tell me if this sounds correct to you!

> > My system is a 1.8 GHz P4, 512 MB RAM, AGP 4x, Radeon 9700 (non-pro
> > version). I have installed the Catalyst 3.5 drivers. When I play
> > Nascar 2003, I start the race at the back of the pack at around 22
> > fps. In-game options are all default. During the race, my fps never
> > drops below 18 and has gone as high as 52, but usually is in the
> > twenties somewhere.

> > The kicker (and what I don't understand) is this: I get this same
> > performance (within 3 fps) when I run at 800x600 or at 1600x1200. I
> > also get this same performance whether I have my Catalyst driver
> > settings at the minimum (max performance) or at the maximum (max
> > quality - which by the was is at 4X AA and 8X Anis. Filtering). This
> > seems very strange to me.

> > The only way for me to adjust my fps, is to adjust the in game
> > options. For example, I can increase framerate by reducing the number
> > of cars I see ahead.

> > This is driving me crazy! Why is my framerate not changing when I
> > change the resolution and driver settings?! Should I return my card?
> > Do I have a faulty card? HELP!

> > SkykingUSA

by ae » Thu, 10 Jul 2003 23:09:18

I just got hold of a 9700 Pro today and have just been doing some
testing. The rest of my system is an AMD XP2500+ Barton, 768MB PC2700
RAM and ASUS A7V333 Mobo. I run NR2003 at 1280x960, 4xFSAA, 8xAF with
all game graphic options maxxed with 43 cars on the track. The
framerate ranges from 35 when up close and personal with the pack
(cockpit view) to about 65 when I am on my own. Am very happy with the
9700 Pro so far.

Andrew.

by **SkykingU** » Fri, 11 Jul 2003 02:37:56

Thanks for sharing your results. It sure sounds like Nascar 2003 is
heavily CPU dependent.

I just acquired a 2.4 GHz 768MB RAM box and will try my 9700 on it
tonight (I hope). I too will share my results with this group. I am
expecting to see performance similar to what you are seeing, but I
think my memory is just PC133, so I may be slower, but it should be
better than with my old 1.8 processor.

I will share my results when I have them! Thanks again.

SkykingUSA

> >My system is a 1.8 GHz P4, 512 MB RAM, AGP 4x, Radeon 9700 (non-pro
> >version). I have installed the Catalyst 3.5 drivers. When I play
> >Nascar 2003, I start the race at the back of the pack at around 22
> >fps. In-game options are all default. During the race, my fps never
> >drops below 18 and has gone as high as 52, but usually is in the
> >twenties somewhere.

> I just got hold of a 9700 Pro today and have just been doing some
> testing. The rest of my system is an AMD XP2500+ Barton, 768MB PC2700
> RAM and ASUS A7V333 Mobo. I run NR2003 at 1280x960, 4xFSAA, 8xAF with
> all game graphic options maxxed with 43 cars on the track. The
> framerate ranges from 35 when up close and personal with the pack
> (cockpit view) to about 65 when I am on my own. Am very happy with the
> 9700 Pro so far.

> Andrew.

by **SkykingU** » Sat, 12 Jul 2003 02:50:05

For all you who are interested, I thought I'd post my results here.

Well, I installed the game and my new Radeon 9700 card on another
system:

P4 2.4 GHz
768 MB RAM
AGP 4x
Radeon 9700 (non-pro version)
Catalyst 3.5 drivers
Catalyst settings: AA: 4x AF: 16x Vsynch:On
Resolution: 1280x960 32-bit in a window
Windows XP Pro
Default in game options except where noted below
42 cars visible in front (only 28 in the race though)
14 sounds
Extreme Texture level

When I play Nascar 2003, I start the race at the back of the pack at
around 35 fps now (22 with my other 1.8 GHz system). During the race,
my fps is usually in the 30s, 40s or 50s and has gone as high as 102
when I'm facing the outside wall in a corner (not a desireable
position, but great for performance!).

I am surprised that this game is so CPU intensive. I would have
thought it would be more like the 3D shooter games I am used to
playing like Unreal, Quake, Return to Castle Wolfenstien. In those
games it always appeared to be restricted by my video card, not my
CPU.

Well, thanks to this newsgroup, I decided not to return my video card,
but to upgrade my processor and now I have a great *** environment!
Thanks a ton to all of you who took the time to respond - damn, I
love the internet.

SkykingUSA

> You are cpu limited. Your cpu can't pump data to the video card fast enough
> to slow down the video card. You can either run with the max settings and
> be happy with it or get a faster cpu. NR2003 is a very cpu intensive game.

> -Tim

> > I am having problems with Nascar 2003 and my new Radeon 9700 video
> > card. Anyone, please tell me if this sounds correct to you!

> > My system is a 1.8 GHz P4, 512 MB RAM, AGP 4x, Radeon 9700 (non-pro
> > version). I have installed the Catalyst 3.5 drivers. When I play
> > Nascar 2003, I start the race at the back of the pack at around 22
> > fps. In-game options are all default. During the race, my fps never
> > drops below 18 and has gone as high as 52, but usually is in the
> > twenties somewhere.

> > The kicker (and what I don't understand) is this: I get this same
> > performance (within 3 fps) when I run at 800x600 or at 1600x1200. I
> > also get this same performance whether I have my Catalyst driver
> > settings at the minimum (max performance) or at the maximum (max
> > quality - which by the was is at 4X AA and 8X Anis. Filtering). This
> > seems very strange to me.

> > The only way for me to adjust my fps, is to adjust the in game
> > options. For example, I can increase framerate by reducing the number
> > of cars I see ahead.

> > This is driving me crazy! Why is my framerate not changing when I
> > change the resolution and driver settings?! Should I return my card?
> > Do I have a faulty card? HELP!

> > SkykingUSA

by ae » Sat, 12 Jul 2003 02:58:41

The game is doing a good job of realistically simulating the physics,
including aerodynamics, of up to 43 cars at once, plus adding AI
calculations into the mix. That takes an awful lot of CPU power.

Unreal based games were always CPU bound until about 3 years ago when
CPU's came out that could handle it. Quake based games are always more
fill rate reliant.

Andrew.

rec.autos.simulators

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700

Nascar 2003 Problems with Radeon 9700