rec.autos.simulators

I have a AMD K6 300 MHz, Diamond stealth 3D card and VOODOO 1 system
which is able of running GPL
reasonably.

With all details turned  on in 800 X 600, I have about 18 - 20 fps in
training (Monza).
With mirror details to a minimium (only cars, no textures), 'many'
off-track objects and quality enhancement
off (dynamic lightning, spectacular highlight. What do these do
anayway?) on 640 X 480 I have 36 fps with drops to
23 fps in corners and on the main straight (still Monza).

Will these framerates significantly increase if I upgrade to VOODOO 2?
I  will be happy if I have 25-30 fps in 800 X 600 and with some more
mirror detail.

Another question: Does the controller data-aquisition setting (the way
the wheel is read out, direct input or 'the other one which name I
forgot") influence framerates?

Thanks in advance,

HGRM

It's called "generic"! I didn't experience any noticeable difference.

Jan.

Things of course change in races.  I use 800*600, knock off  the quality
enhancement and move the detail slider most of the way to the left, and
set objects to many.  I then tend to get round about 20fps at starts, soon
getting up to 30ish fps and up to 36 as things spread out.

I therefore reckon that you should get the improvements you would like by
going for the Voodoo 2.  Voodoo 3 might be tempting though....

Hope this helps!

Neil

The lighting makes the objects have brights spots, for example. Just
nicer looks.

I think not very much, though digital controllers or ports (MSFF
wheel, PDPI L4,...) do help to take the joystick polling load off the
CPU.

Ruud van Gaal
MarketGraph / MachTech: http://www.marketgraph.nl
Art: http://www.marketgraph.nl/gallery

  I do however use the util that allows you to lower the

Can you tell me where to get this utility please.

Thanks in anticipation.

--

 ICQ:7797673      http://www.charlt.demon.co.uk
--

No you won't <g> If you're serious about GPL, you absolutely,
desparately want 36 fps all the time, otherwise the car will be very
difficult to control. So you may have to turn off even more textures and
objects.
Online it gets worse. With a 300 system, always use 640x480 and as
little textures as required for driving. Keep track and wall textures,
the rest is not that important, except as eye candy.

No. And a PDPI L4 and a PCI soundcard are not going to make a big
difference either. Of course, every little bit helps but the only thing
that really improves GPL frame rates is a faster CPU.

Good luck,
Leo

Kalle

go to www.grandprix2.com/gpl/patches.html

Look for the banshee/3dfx patch.  This can be used by Voodoo2 users just to
change the mirror refresh.  Turn off the other options as it tells you in the
readme.  I was sceptical before I used it, but it really does help!

Good luck,

Neil

Wow!  First  "speculative" highlights (see "GPL VOODOO banshee"
thread), and now "spectacular" highlights.  I must say "spectacular" is
more fitting. :-)

Dynamic lighting is simply lighting that is computed dynamically.  It's
computed for each frame, and thus takes more CPU time than lighting
effects that are precomputed.  Turn it off and drive around for a
while.  Now watch the replay.  Notice how the coloring on the car seems
static.  Not turn it on, drive around for a while, and watch the
replay.  Notice how the car seems brighter or darker depending on which
way it's oriented.

"Specular" highlighting is one of three components of a classic
lighting model (the other two being ambient and diffuse).  A lighting
model is simply a way of trying to calculate the visual effect of
placing one or more light sources (the sun, or a car's headlights, for
example) into your simulated world.

Ambient lighting is a way of trying to account for the pervasive light
in an environment.  For example, when you're outside, light reaches you
not only directly from the sun, but also from most of the objects
around you, since they reflect some of the suns light energy.  Ambient
lighting is applied uniformly to all objects in the environment.  It
takes comparatively little CPU time to compute.

Diffuse lighting is a bit more CPU intensive.  It is used to account
for the light that is evenly scattered off a matte surface from each of
the light sources in the scene.  Ambient and diffuse together account
for the matte, or dull, lighting on a surface.

Specular lighting is significantly more CPU intensive.  It is generally
used to account for the highlights you see on shiny surfaces (glass,
polished metal, etc.)  

Randy

--
Kirk Lane

ICQ: 28171652

RMRL #191

with a reasonable amount of detail turned on(OK, I like the
eye candy).  In training I get 36fps all the time but if I
raise the resolution to 800x600 it falls to 28!  Racing
offline I get a reasonable rate with about 12 competitors.

If you do decide to stick with the AMD I'd stay with a PCI
card...I've had real problems with AMD and AGP.

Good Luck,
Mike

**** Posted from RemarQ - http://www.remarq.com - Discussions Start Here (tm) ****

Gents,
    I used this patch with great success when using SLI V2's, but had to
remove the Glide file that it modifies to get the game to run with a V3
3000. Anyone else have the same problem - workarounds??
                    Cheers,
                    Phillip..

1) Remove the patch

2) Search your system for files named Glide2x.dll, there should be
only one and it should be located in the Windows system directory,
delete the extra files, this usually comes about because of dodgy
third party Voodoo2 driverset installers

3) Restart GPL, make sure it works with the 3dfx option enabled

4) Download the latest version of the patch (1.0.0.5 or higher), there
was a slight problem with Voodoo3 cards when they first came out
but it has been fixed in subsequent versions of the patch.

5) Reinstall the patch in the main GPL directory, set the options
in the Glide.ini file

6) Try GPL again with the the patch in place

 - George

I have an AMD K6 300Mhz with a Voodoo 2 card and there is no way that I
can get 36fps with a full field.  The best that I can manage is about
27fps in the straights.  This is with every single setting OFF for
mirrors, and with only track textures, car textures, racing groove and
horizon ON, and with detail bias as far left as it will go on 640x480,
mirror detail set to CARS and trackside objects FEW, and everything else
OFF that I haven't mentioned.

To get a decent frame rate I can only have 8 opponents which does allow
me to have the detail bias not completely to the left and have tire
textures ahead ON, but that is all.

It may not look as good, but its well worth doing to improve car control
- I've especially noticed an improvement with braking since doing this.
--
Peter Ives