N4 online stutters

It runs at 37fps or so offline. Online, I get stuttering. The framerate keeps switching from 33 to 37 to 40 and back. It's undriveable. I'm sure this has been discussed, but of course I didn't pay attention... :( What's the fix? I have the patch, but I only have a modem for connection. Is that the problem, maybe? I'd hate to think that I won't be able to race online until I get a cable modem, because I have *no* idea when that will be. Specs: Athlon 1.3G 128MB ram Voodoo5 SBLive win98se Eldred -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Are you by any chance using Meatwater's sound pack? That seemed to be causing my stuttering problems. EldredP wrote:

Quoted text (22 lines)

> It runs at 37fps or so offline. Online, I get stuttering. The framerate keeps > switching from 33 to 37 to 40 and back. It's undriveable. I'm sure this has > been discussed, but of course I didn't pay attention... :( What's the fix? > I have the patch, but I only have a modem for connection. Is that the problem, > maybe? I'd hate to think that I won't be able to race online until I get a > cable modem, because I have *no* idea when that will be. > Specs: > Athlon 1.3G > 128MB ram > Voodoo5 > SBLive > win98se > > Eldred > -- > Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 > Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett > F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... > > Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you > with experience... > Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <[email hidden]>, Bob Geddes <[email hidden]> writes:

Quoted text (15 lines)

>Are you by any chance using Meatwater's sound pack? That seemed to be >causing my >stuttering problems. > >EldredP wrote: > >> It runs at 37fps or so offline. Online, I get stuttering. The framerate >keeps >> switching from 33 to 37 to 40 and back. It's undriveable. I'm sure this >has >> been discussed, but of course I didn't pay attention... :( What's the fix? >> I have the patch, but I only have a modem for connection. Is that the >problem, >> maybe? I'd hate to think that I won't be able to race online until I get a >> cable modem, because I have *no* idea when that will be.

Nope. I never really load any of the add-on stuff that's available. No guts, I guess...<g> Eldred -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

You have plenty of system for N4 except it really likes more RAM. I would go to 256MB at a minimum. I got rid of the "stutter" pauses with a RAM upgrade myself, I went from a single 128meg stick to (2) 256meg sticks and they were gone. 256MB Total may help you there, I do other stuff that warranted the 512MB RAM I put in. The other problem I see is the video card. I know you probably love vodoo, as did I at one time. But they are dead now and really N4 likes the nvidia based stuff. I plopped in a GF2 MX400 64 MB card ($149 retail a month or so back) and am seeing incredible FPS performance with the video options turned up a fair amount. A bone stock reinstall of the game @800X600X16 with stock options selected got me near or above 100FPS with 15 cars ontrack, online. (I have an AMD 1.2Ghz CPU, BTW) Also if you built this computer, make sure the OS drivers for your chipset is updated. The last snag I found was out-of-date Via drivers for my Mobo (KT7A RAID) and after updating to their latest 4in1 driver (includes AGP bridge driver), my system has been faster and more stable. Sim EldredP <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > In article <[email hidden]>, Bob Geddes <[email hidden]>writes:

Quoted text (8 lines)

> > >Are you by any chance using Meatwater's sound pack? That seemed to be > >causing my > >stuttering problems. > > > >EldredP wrote: > > > >> It runs at 37fps or so offline. Online, I get stuttering. The

framerate > >keeps > >> switching from 33 to 37 to 40 and back. It's undriveable. I'm surethis > >has > >> been discussed, but of course I didn't pay attention... :( What's thefix? > >> I have the patch, but I only have a modem for connection. Is that the > >problem, > >> maybe? I'd hate to think that I won't be able to race online until Iget a > >> cable modem, because I have *no* idea when that will be. > > Nope. I never really load any of the add-on stuff that's available. Noguts,

Quoted text (9 lines)

> I guess...<g> > > Eldred > -- > Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 > Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett > F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... > > Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats

you > with experience... > Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <QbDb7.77894$[email hidden]>, "SimRacer" <[email hidden]> writes:

Quoted text (18 lines)

>You have plenty of system for N4 except it really likes more RAM. I would go >to 256MB at a minimum. I got rid of the "stutter" pauses with a RAM upgrade >myself, I went from a single 128meg stick to (2) 256meg sticks and they >were gone. 256MB Total may help you there, I do other stuff that warranted >the 512MB RAM I put in. The other problem I see is the video card. I know >you probably love vodoo, as did I at one time. But they are dead now and >really N4 likes the nvidia based stuff. I plopped in a GF2 MX400 64 MB card >($149 retail a month or so back) and am seeing incredible FPS performance >with the video options turned up a fair amount. A bone stock reinstall of >the game @800X600X16 with stock options selected got me near or above 100FPS >with 15 cars ontrack, online. (I have an AMD 1.2Ghz CPU, BTW) > >Also if you built this computer, make sure the OS drivers for your chipset >is updated. The last snag I found was out-of-date Via drivers for my Mobo >(KT7A RAID) and after updating to their latest 4in1 driver (includes AGP >bridge driver), my system has been faster and more stable. > >Sim

100 FPS?!? Geez, I didn't even think that was POSSIBLE. Well, I can borrow another memory stick from work to see if that helps. I don't see myself getting a GF2 anytime soon - finances and other concerns. Other than GP3(that's another post), all my other games run fine. I had to re-install N4 because I re-installed Win98, but it wouldn't bother me to delete N4 and start fresh. But, it works just fine *offline*. Why would it struggle online, even if I'm the only car on the track? That's the curious part... Eldred p.s. I just noticed the resolution you're running. I may have been trying it at 1024x768 - I'll have to look. Geez, what do you need for that resolution, a Cray supercomputer??? -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

EldredP wrote: > p.s. I just noticed the resolution you're running. I may have been trying it > at 1024x768 - I'll have to look. Geez, what do you need for that resolution, a > Cray supercomputer??? Nah. Just a Geforce2. ;-) -- Fester

If the problem only happens online, you can ignore any suggestions you may have read about memory, graphics cards, etc. Well, try more memory, anyway... but the problem most likely has to do with your modem and/or network settings. I haven't used a modem for a long time, so I dont really have any specific information for that part of the equation other than making sure you aren't using error-checking. You might fiddle around with various settings for your transmit and receive buffers and see if that makes a difference. SE has the latest updates to the TCP and DUN software, I think, but you might check that too. Verify that your modem driver is up to date. I notice your reply-to address is AOL... if you are playing through them, that *could* be a big problem right there. Some modems (often called "Win-Modems") use the resources of the operating system to perform communication operations that are normally performed by the modem microchips. This can be especially detrimental to CPU intensive programs. There are some registry settings that impact performance as well. MTU: (maximum transmission unit) windows sets this to 1500 by default, ideally with a V90/56k modem it should be set to 576, IIRC. RWIN: (receive window) should be set to 8x. You can probably find multiple utilities that will do all this for you, if you dont want to edit the registry directly. Do you have problems with GPL online? Other games? If not, maybe all you need *is* more memory. It's dirt cheap and can't hurt. Come to think of it, Win98SE eats up about 60MB with nothing else loaded. Ironically, my problem seems to be the reverse. Online, N4 runs great, but with only a P4-800, it runs like a dog with much more that 20 AI cars in single player. All them little bug brains is thinking WAY too hard... Lastly, if you don't have any other broadband solutions, ISDN might (or might not) be a viable alternative, depending on where you live. In TN, it is only a little more expensive than DSL or CABLE, is WAY more robust than either, and gives excellent performance for online gaming. HTH, Gerald Moore [email hidden] (EldredP) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted text (14 lines)

> It runs at 37fps or so offline. Online, I get stuttering. The framerate keeps > switching from 33 to 37 to 40 and back. It's undriveable. I'm sure this has > been discussed, but of course I didn't pay attention... :( What's the fix? > I have the patch, but I only have a modem for connection. Is that the problem, > maybe? I'd hate to think that I won't be able to race online until I get a > cable modem, because I have *no* idea when that will be. > Specs: > Athlon 1.3G > 128MB ram > Voodoo5 > SBLive > win98se > > Eldred

In article <[email hidden]>, Uncle Fester <[email hidden]> writes:

Quoted text (10 lines)

>EldredP wrote: >> p.s. I just noticed the resolution you're running. I may have been trying >it >> at 1024x768 - I'll have to look. Geez, what do you need for that >resolution, a >> Cray supercomputer??? > > >Nah. Just a Geforce2. ;-) >

Penfold, SHUSH! <g> Eldred p.s. BTW, does *anyone* get the Penfold reference? I'm curious... -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

EldredP wrote:

Quoted text (20 lines)

> > In article <[email hidden]>, Uncle Fester <[email hidden]> > writes: > > >EldredP wrote: > >> p.s. I just noticed the resolution you're running. I may have been trying > >it > >> at 1024x768 - I'll have to look. Geez, what do you need for that > >resolution, a > >> Cray supercomputer??? > > > > > >Nah. Just a Geforce2. ;-) > > > > Penfold, SHUSH! > <g> > > Eldred > p.s. BTW, does *anyone* get the Penfold reference? I'm curious...

Dangermouse? -- Fester

The problem you are explaining is very similar to those that I was experiencing. I also use a 56k dial up modem. I thought that I would just have to forget about N4 online, however, I received details of the following fix from Dave Ciemny. " Look up in core.ini in N4 folder. Yours should say the number 4 in it. Change it to 2. [Task] max_grabs_per_update_w_track_view=2 ; Max frames/update with track view " This has worked a treat for me and I was surprised by how stable N4 online racing could be with a 56k modem (thanks Dave). I hope this works for you. Also cheaper than additional RAM ;-) I also read about your GP3 PO problem. Again sounds similar to the problem I had when I tried to run FSAA with GP3. It doesn't appear to like it! Try turning it off. Again hope this helps. Cheers Stewart (a.k.a. bernie eccle) EldredP <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > It runs at 37fps or so offline. Online, I get stuttering. The frameratekeeps > switching from 33 to 37 to 40 and back. It's undriveable. I'm sure thishas > been discussed, but of course I didn't pay attention... :( What's thefix? > I have the patch, but I only have a modem for connection. Is that theproblem, > maybe? I'd hate to think that I won't be able to race online until I geta

Quoted text (15 lines)

> cable modem, because I have *no* idea when that will be. > Specs: > Athlon 1.3G > 128MB ram > Voodoo5 > SBLive > win98se > > Eldred > -- > Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 > Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett > F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... > > Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats

you > with experience... > Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <[email hidden]>, Uncle Fester <[email hidden]> writes: >> p.s. BTW, does *anyone* get the Penfold reference? I'm curious... > > >Dangermouse? Ding ding ding! Well done! Anybody have any episodes on VHS? I'd love to have copies... Eldred -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Gerald Moore) writes:

Quoted text (19 lines)

>If the problem only happens online, you can ignore any suggestions you >may have read about memory, graphics cards, etc. Well, try more >memory, anyway... but the problem most likely has to do with your >modem and/or network settings. > >I haven't used a modem for a long time, so I dont really have any >specific information for that part of the equation other than making >sure you aren't using error-checking. You might fiddle around with >various settings for your transmit and receive buffers and see if that >makes a difference. SE has the latest updates to the TCP and DUN >software, I think, but you might check that too. Verify that your >modem driver is up to date. I notice your reply-to address is AOL... >if you are playing through them, that *could* be a big problem right >there. Some modems (often called "Win-Modems") use the resources of >the operating system to perform communication operations that are >normally performed by the modem microchips. This can be especially >detrimental to CPU >intensive programs. >

I have a different ISP for online games, and I'm not using a Winmodem. >There are some registry settings that impact performance as well. MTU: >(maximum transmission unit) windows sets this to 1500 by default, >ideally with a V90/56k modem it should be set to 576, IIRC. RWIN: >(receive window) should be set to 8x. You can probably find multiple >utilities that will do all this for you, if you dont want to edit the >registry directly. I've never changed the MTU stuff before. I don't think I ever NEEDED to before...

Quoted text (8 lines)

>Do you have problems with GPL online? Other games? If not, maybe all >you need *is* more memory. It's dirt cheap and can't hurt. Come to >think of it, Win98SE eats up about 60MB with nothing else loaded. > >Ironically, my problem seems to be the reverse. Online, N4 runs >great, but with only a P4-800, it runs like a dog with much more that >20 AI cars in single player. All them little bug brains is thinking >WAY too hard...

THAT would be understandable... > >Lastly, if you don't have any other broadband solutions, ISDN might >(or might not) be a viable alternative, depending on where you live. >In TN, it is only a little more expensive than DSL or CABLE, is WAY >more robust than either, and gives excellent performance for online >gaming.I don't have any problems with GPL, and the only other game I've played online recently is Diablo II. It's passable in D2. I have a 128MB sim sitting on my desk that I'll try tonight. I think I'll try deleting N4 and re-installing from scratch as someone else suggested. Eldred -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

I don't get the Renfold reference, but I have seen and played with a Cray before. (UNC '91) :) Yeah, all you need for high FPS is a little more RAM and a GF 2 or any other higher end 64 MB vid card (with updated drivers). Like I said, I tweaked until I got 50-70 FPS on line consistently. I don't use FSAA, but my settings have N4 looking pretty good. Why only online will it stutter, because it is having to be told where the cars are on the track by another computer whereas offline, your machine already knows where they are. This brings connection, RAM and overall (CPU) horsepower into the equation. Then after all that, your CPU has to tell your vid card where to draw your online competitors in relation to your coordinates on the track. As for resolution, I don't think it matters that much, I have just found that N4 likes to be run in the same res and depth as your desktop. My desktop was 1152X856X32 and we all know N4 is a heavy resource hog in 16 bit, so I set my desktop to 16 bit, run the video config in N4 and chose idential settings to my desktop and voila, nary a problem since. The only caveat is that I *think* that N4 will run in 800X600 regardless of desktop settings. If N4 is your primary "game" I would set your desktop to 1024X768X16 bit and run the game in the same setup. *Or* Set your desktop that way and run N4 in 800X600. Just be sure that you only try N4 in 16bit, I know it is capable of 32 bit, but that is going to require 128MB video cards I think. The 64 MB cards can't do FSAA yet without a huge hit, I'd hate to see one try 32 bit with any kind of options enabled...(I'll be called a liar on that one, but I know of what I speak) Simracer Uncle Fester <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > > EldredP wrote: > > > > In article <[email hidden]>, Uncle Fester<[email hidden]> > > writes: > > > > >EldredP wrote: > > >> p.s. I just noticed the resolution you're running. I may have beentrying

Quoted text (21 lines)

> > >it > > >> at 1024x768 - I'll have to look. Geez, what do you need for that > > >resolution, a > > >> Cray supercomputer??? > > > > > > > > >Nah. Just a Geforce2. ;-) > > > > > > > Penfold, SHUSH! > > <g> > > > > Eldred > > p.s. BTW, does *anyone* get the Penfold reference? I'm curious... > > > Dangermouse? > > -- > > Fester

I politely disagree. I had the *stutter* problem and RAM fixed it. My dialup settings have not changed in over 4 years and N4 online stuttering stopped when I upped my RAM alone. I have since made numerous changes (added new proccessor and video card) and still haven't tweaked my dialup and online has gotten even smoother. My opinion is the dialup is likely just fine, get the computer to do its thing in a timely matter and the data transfer will take care of itself. Gerald Moore <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted text (46 lines)

> If the problem only happens online, you can ignore any suggestions you > may have read about memory, graphics cards, etc. Well, try more > memory, anyway... but the problem most likely has to do with your > modem and/or network settings. > > I haven't used a modem for a long time, so I dont really have any > specific information for that part of the equation other than making > sure you aren't using error-checking. You might fiddle around with > various settings for your transmit and receive buffers and see if that > makes a difference. SE has the latest updates to the TCP and DUN > software, I think, but you might check that too. Verify that your > modem driver is up to date. I notice your reply-to address is AOL... > if you are playing through them, that *could* be a big problem right > there. Some modems (often called "Win-Modems") use the resources of > the operating system to perform communication operations that are > normally performed by the modem microchips. This can be especially > detrimental to CPU > intensive programs. > > There are some registry settings that impact performance as well. MTU: > (maximum transmission unit) windows sets this to 1500 by default, > ideally with a V90/56k modem it should be set to 576, IIRC. RWIN: > (receive window) should be set to 8x. You can probably find multiple > utilities that will do all this for you, if you dont want to edit the > registry directly. > > Do you have problems with GPL online? Other games? If not, maybe all > you need *is* more memory. It's dirt cheap and can't hurt. Come to > think of it, Win98SE eats up about 60MB with nothing else loaded. > > Ironically, my problem seems to be the reverse. Online, N4 runs > great, but with only a P4-800, it runs like a dog with much more that > 20 AI cars in single player. All them little bug brains is thinking > WAY too hard... > > Lastly, if you don't have any other broadband solutions, ISDN might > (or might not) be a viable alternative, depending on where you live. > In TN, it is only a little more expensive than DSL or CABLE, is WAY > more robust than either, and gives excellent performance for online > gaming. > > HTH, > Gerald Moore > > > [email hidden] (EldredP) wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>... > > It runs at 37fps or so offline. Online, I get stuttering. Theframerate keeps > > switching from 33 to 37 to 40 and back. It's undriveable. I'm surethis has > > been discussed, but of course I didn't pay attention... :( What's thefix? > > I have the patch, but I only have a modem for connection. Is that theproblem, > > maybe? I'd hate to think that I won't be able to race online until Iget a

Quoted text (9 lines)

> > cable modem, because I have *no* idea when that will be. > > Specs: > > Athlon 1.3G > > 128MB ram > > Voodoo5 > > SBLive > > win98se > > > > Eldred

In article <u5Yb7.95435$[email hidden]>, "SimRacer" <[email hidden]> writes:

Quoted text (13 lines)

>As for resolution, I don't think it matters that much, I have just found >that N4 likes to be run in the same res and depth as your desktop. My >desktop was 1152X856X32 and we all know N4 is a heavy resource hog in 16 >bit, so I set my desktop to 16 bit, run the video config in N4 and chose >idential settings to my desktop and voila, nary a problem since. The only >caveat is that I *think* that N4 will run in 800X600 regardless of desktop >settings. If N4 is your primary "game" I would set your desktop to >1024X768X16 bit and run the game in the same setup. *Or* Set your desktop >that way and run N4 in 800X600. Just be sure that you only try N4 in 16bit, >I know it is capable of 32 bit, but that is going to require 128MB video >cards I think. The 64 MB cards can't do FSAA yet without a huge hit, I'd >hate to see one try 32 bit with any kind of options enabled...(I'll be >called a liar on that one, but I know of what I speak)

Well, I dropped another 128MB in it. The stuttering lessened a 'bit', but not much, and the framerate stayed the same. I tried to set it to 2 FSAA instead of 4, and I didn't see a change. So, I deleted the N4 directory, re-installed at the default 800x600. The framerate online was close to 70(!). There was still some slight stuttering, but I was able to run a 30-lap race at Michigan. I don't remember what resolution I was running before, but I still think I should be able to run at 1024x768. right? That's what my desktop is already set to, if that matters. It's late, so I'll have to try N4 at 1024x768 tomorrow... Btw, HOW long does it take for the ratings to change..? It still had zeroes in all the fields after my race... :( Eldred -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Yeah, the more I thought about it, you're probably right. UNLESS he installed something else that gommed up his dialup or online settings. Unlikely though. He also didn't mention how his other games are doing. Strange that his problems only occur in MP though. Any theories you'd like to present? Gerald "SimRacer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<Z9Yb7.95436$[email hidden]>...

Quoted text (78 lines)

> I politely disagree. I had the *stutter* problem and RAM fixed it. My dialup > settings have not changed in over 4 years and N4 online stuttering stopped > when I upped my RAM alone. I have since made numerous changes (added new > proccessor and video card) and still haven't tweaked my dialup and online > has gotten even smoother. > > My opinion is the dialup is likely just fine, get the computer to do its > thing in a timely matter and the data transfer will take care of itself. > > > Gerald Moore <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > If the problem only happens online, you can ignore any suggestions you > > may have read about memory, graphics cards, etc. Well, try more > > memory, anyway... but the problem most likely has to do with your > > modem and/or network settings. > > > > I haven't used a modem for a long time, so I dont really have any > > specific information for that part of the equation other than making > > sure you aren't using error-checking. You might fiddle around with > > various settings for your transmit and receive buffers and see if that > > makes a difference. SE has the latest updates to the TCP and DUN > > software, I think, but you might check that too. Verify that your > > modem driver is up to date. I notice your reply-to address is AOL... > > if you are playing through them, that *could* be a big problem right > > there. Some modems (often called "Win-Modems") use the resources of > > the operating system to perform communication operations that are > > normally performed by the modem microchips. This can be especially > > detrimental to CPU > > intensive programs. > > > > There are some registry settings that impact performance as well. MTU: > > (maximum transmission unit) windows sets this to 1500 by default, > > ideally with a V90/56k modem it should be set to 576, IIRC. RWIN: > > (receive window) should be set to 8x. You can probably find multiple > > utilities that will do all this for you, if you dont want to edit the > > registry directly. > > > > Do you have problems with GPL online? Other games? If not, maybe all > > you need *is* more memory. It's dirt cheap and can't hurt. Come to > > think of it, Win98SE eats up about 60MB with nothing else loaded. > > > > Ironically, my problem seems to be the reverse. Online, N4 runs > > great, but with only a P4-800, it runs like a dog with much more that > > 20 AI cars in single player. All them little bug brains is thinking > > WAY too hard... > > > > Lastly, if you don't have any other broadband solutions, ISDN might > > (or might not) be a viable alternative, depending on where you live. > > In TN, it is only a little more expensive than DSL or CABLE, is WAY > > more robust than either, and gives excellent performance for online > > gaming. > > > > HTH, > > Gerald Moore > > > > > > [email hidden] (EldredP) wrote in message > news:<[email hidden]>... > > > It runs at 37fps or so offline. Online, I get stuttering. The > framerate keeps > > > switching from 33 to 37 to 40 and back. It's undriveable. I'm sure > this has > > > been discussed, but of course I didn't pay attention... :( What's the > fix? > > > I have the patch, but I only have a modem for connection. Is that the > problem, > > > maybe? I'd hate to think that I won't be able to race online until I > get a > > > cable modem, because I have *no* idea when that will be. > > > Specs: > > > Athlon 1.3G > > > 128MB ram > > > Voodoo5 > > > SBLive > > > win98se > > > > > > Eldred

I did outline my thoughts a few posts up, his computer has to be told where online players are whereas offline his computer is generating them. While this is somewhat connection dependant, it is the lag between getting the data from the server and actually updating his screen with the other cars that causes the stutter. This is where a faster FSB, more RAM and a fast CPU and video card come into play. Gerald Moore <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted text (12 lines)

> Yeah, the more I thought about it, you're probably right. UNLESS he > installed something else that gommed up his dialup or online settings. > Unlikely though. He also didn't mention how his other games are > doing. > > Strange that his problems only occur in MP though. Any theories you'd > like to present? > > Gerald > > > "SimRacer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<Z9Yb7.95436$[email hidden]>... > > I politely disagree. I had the *stutter* problem and RAM fixed it. Mydialup > > settings have not changed in over 4 years and N4 online stutteringstopped > > when I upped my RAM alone. I have since made numerous changes (added new > > proccessor and video card) and still haven't tweaked my dialup andonline

Quoted text (60 lines)

> > has gotten even smoother. > > > > My opinion is the dialup is likely just fine, get the computer to do its > > thing in a timely matter and the data transfer will take care of itself. > > > > > > Gerald Moore <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:[email hidden]... > > > If the problem only happens online, you can ignore any suggestions you > > > may have read about memory, graphics cards, etc. Well, try more > > > memory, anyway... but the problem most likely has to do with your > > > modem and/or network settings. > > > > > > I haven't used a modem for a long time, so I dont really have any > > > specific information for that part of the equation other than making > > > sure you aren't using error-checking. You might fiddle around with > > > various settings for your transmit and receive buffers and see if that > > > makes a difference. SE has the latest updates to the TCP and DUN > > > software, I think, but you might check that too. Verify that your > > > modem driver is up to date. I notice your reply-to address is AOL... > > > if you are playing through them, that *could* be a big problem right > > > there. Some modems (often called "Win-Modems") use the resources of > > > the operating system to perform communication operations that are > > > normally performed by the modem microchips. This can be especially > > > detrimental to CPU > > > intensive programs. > > > > > > There are some registry settings that impact performance as well. MTU: > > > (maximum transmission unit) windows sets this to 1500 by default, > > > ideally with a V90/56k modem it should be set to 576, IIRC. RWIN: > > > (receive window) should be set to 8x. You can probably find multiple > > > utilities that will do all this for you, if you dont want to edit the > > > registry directly. > > > > > > Do you have problems with GPL online? Other games? If not, maybe all > > > you need *is* more memory. It's dirt cheap and can't hurt. Come to > > > think of it, Win98SE eats up about 60MB with nothing else loaded. > > > > > > Ironically, my problem seems to be the reverse. Online, N4 runs > > > great, but with only a P4-800, it runs like a dog with much more that > > > 20 AI cars in single player. All them little bug brains is thinking > > > WAY too hard... > > > > > > Lastly, if you don't have any other broadband solutions, ISDN might > > > (or might not) be a viable alternative, depending on where you live. > > > In TN, it is only a little more expensive than DSL or CABLE, is WAY > > > more robust than either, and gives excellent performance for online > > > gaming. > > > > > > HTH, > > > Gerald Moore > > > > > > > > > [email hidden] (EldredP) wrote in message > > news:<[email hidden]>... > > > > It runs at 37fps or so offline. Online, I get stuttering. The > > framerate keeps > > > > switching from 33 to 37 to 40 and back. It's undriveable. I'm sure > > this has > > > > been discussed, but of course I didn't pay attention... :( What's

the > > fix? > > > > I have the patch, but I only have a modem for connection. Is thatthe > > problem, > > > > maybe? I'd hate to think that I won't be able to race online untilI

Quoted text (10 lines)

> > get a > > > > cable modem, because I have *no* idea when that will be. > > > > Specs: > > > > Athlon 1.3G > > > > 128MB ram > > > > Voodoo5 > > > > SBLive > > > > win98se > > > > > > > > Eldred

Hey Eldred, I had a similar situation as you. Off-line getting at least 30 fps, go online and it would stutter badly. At the time I also was using a dial-up connection. I would agree with the poster who said if it is not happening off-line then the computer equipment isn't the problem. But, I upgraded to a new GF2 Ultra from a Voodoo 3 and it has never stuttered online since. I don't understand it, but it works. (This is not why I upgraded my video card, this was an unexpected perk!). I believe if it is a communication problem, the cars would be warping and sliding across the track, not the game stuttering. The game stutters when it has too much information to process, not when it doesn't have enough. I read somewhere that when your computer doesn't receive the opponent car info, it guesses where the car should be causing the sliding effect you see. Once it receives the data it needs, it then puts the car where it should be, hence you see it pop back on the track. IMHO. Here are my computer specs: HP P3 667 133fsb 128mb rdram GF2 Ultra SB Live As far as your rating goes, here is the web address that explains it all. It is too lengthy to get into it here. Once you cross a threshold, your ratings update immediately. http://www.papy.com/html/n4_ratings.htm Good luck Eldred, Gary EldredP wrote:

Quoted text (38 lines)

> In article <u5Yb7.95435$[email hidden]>, "SimRacer" > <[email hidden]> writes: > > >As for resolution, I don't think it matters that much, I have just found > >that N4 likes to be run in the same res and depth as your desktop. My > >desktop was 1152X856X32 and we all know N4 is a heavy resource hog in 16 > >bit, so I set my desktop to 16 bit, run the video config in N4 and chose > >idential settings to my desktop and voila, nary a problem since. The only > >caveat is that I *think* that N4 will run in 800X600 regardless of desktop > >settings. If N4 is your primary "game" I would set your desktop to > >1024X768X16 bit and run the game in the same setup. *Or* Set your desktop > >that way and run N4 in 800X600. Just be sure that you only try N4 in 16bit, > >I know it is capable of 32 bit, but that is going to require 128MB video > >cards I think. The 64 MB cards can't do FSAA yet without a huge hit, I'd > >hate to see one try 32 bit with any kind of options enabled...(I'll be > >called a liar on that one, but I know of what I speak) > > Well, I dropped another 128MB in it. The stuttering lessened a 'bit', but not > much, and the framerate stayed the same. I tried to set it to 2 FSAA instead > of 4, and I didn't see a change. So, I deleted the N4 directory, re-installed > at the default 800x600. The framerate online was close to 70(!). There was > still some slight stuttering, but I was able to run a 30-lap race at Michigan. > I don't remember what resolution I was running before, but I still think I > should be able to run at 1024x768. right? That's what my desktop is already > set to, if that matters. It's late, so I'll have to try N4 at 1024x768 > tomorrow... > Btw, HOW long does it take for the ratings to change..? It still had zeroes in > all the fields after my race... :( > > Eldred > -- > Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 > Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett > F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... > > Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you > with experience... > Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Gerald Moore) writes: >Yeah, the more I thought about it, you're probably right. UNLESS he >installed something else that gommed up his dialup or online settings. > Unlikely though. He also didn't mention how his other games are >doing. > Sure I did. Everything else works fine. Well, except for GP3...<g> Eldred -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

"Gerald Moore> Strange that his problems only occur in MP though. Any theories you'd > like to present? > > Gerald I'd like to present the Big Bang Theory. Or Charlize Theron...can't remember which is which... dave henrie

In article <[email hidden]>, GK <[email hidden]> writes:

Quoted text (11 lines)

>As far as your rating goes, here is the web address that explains it all. It >is >too lengthy to get into it here. Once you cross a threshold, your ratings >update >immediately. > >http://www.papy.com/html/n4_ratings.htm > >Good luck Eldred, > >Gary

Ok, thanks. It took me about 20 minutes yesterday to find a track that: - wasn't Daytona or Talladega - I actually felt I could get around without knocking down the walls(that lets out Watkins Glen) - didn't have a password(most do) - wasn't full - didn't have a 'maximum latency' limit(I was always about 50 over) - wasn't already racing - didn't have more than 20 minutes of practice left - didn't have a skill level set(I'm new in N4, remember?) Sigh. That's ridiculous... I see what some of you guys mean now about it's hard to get into races... Eldred -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

[email hidden] (EldredP) writes:

Quoted text (27 lines)

> In article <[email hidden]>, GK <[email hidden]> writes: > > >As far as your rating goes, here is the web address that explains it all. It > >is > >too lengthy to get into it here. Once you cross a threshold, your ratings > >update > >immediately. > > > >http://www.papy.com/html/n4_ratings.htm > > > >Good luck Eldred, > > > >Gary > > Ok, thanks. It took me about 20 minutes yesterday to find a track that: > - wasn't Daytona or Talladega > - I actually felt I could get around without knocking down the walls(that lets > out Watkins Glen) > - didn't have a password(most do) > - wasn't full > - didn't have a 'maximum latency' limit(I was always about 50 over) > - wasn't already racing > - didn't have more than 20 minutes of practice left > - didn't have a skill level set(I'm new in N4, remember?) > > Sigh. That's ridiculous... I see what some of you guys mean now about it's > hard to get into races...

The papy servers also has other tracks like Indy, Bristol and Dover. About practice times. Practice times for pickupraces is usually only to set a time people got to join the race. If you feel you need to practice the tracks, do it offline :) It often looks like races with long practice times are empty, but people seldom join until there is 1 minute left and way into qualifying. -- Olav K. Malmin remove .spam when replying

LOL. "Dave Henrie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<%1kc7.2862$[email hidden]>...

Quoted text (8 lines)

> "Gerald Moore> Strange that his problems only occur in MP though. Any > theories you'd > > like to present? > > > > Gerald > I'd like to present the Big Bang Theory. Or Charlize Theron...can't > remember which is which... > dave henrie

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Olav K. Malmin) writes: >The papy servers also has other tracks like Indy, Bristol and Dover. Right - tracks I haven't driven yet, so I didn't want to screw up the other drivers. > >About practice times. Practice times for pickupraces is usually only >to set a time people got to join the race. If you feel you need to >practice the tracks, do it offline :) I said I was looking for tracks with LOW practice times(for tracks I felt competent at). I didn't want to go through all the practice, I just wanted to run a race.<g> Eldred -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.