Re: V5/GP3 owners please help

Guys, Ive had non stop problems with GP3 and Voodoo 5. Im really disappointed with the performance of the V5 in gp3. I too have posted about this on 3dfxgamers.com but I havent had any replies. Ive got an AMD Athlon 800mhz with the V5 with 256mb. I can only really play the game smoothly at 640x480 and at times the PC crashes.. Im also depressed by the fact that the game only runs via Direct3d.. why not Glide... 3dfx has admitted that the existing drivers for the V5 are poor in performance and that we will just have to wait for new ones... ugh... Its not as if I have had much time to play it.. im suffering a serious problem in the game in that the car violently spins out of control and flips 100ft in the air.. sometimes this happens in the pitlane!!! Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Ok, I just want some help in testing something. There seems to be a problem with the V5 drivers, which really slows GP3 down a lot on the V5, but 3dfx seem to think there isn't a problem. I just want to know some PO readings (press 'O') from GP3 using both the "single-chip" setting and the "fastest-performance" setting (found in the anti-aliasing tab in 3dfx tools). Obviously the readings have to be from the same position in the game, so sat still in the pit lane, in practice mode at the same track etc. to be a fair comparison. I get- single-chip = 60% PO fastest-performance = 120% PO which means the board clearly isn't running right with GP3 on my system. Even if you get different readings I'd still like to hear about it. Please post V5 owners, it might help get the drivers fixed. :)

Simon, why can't you put 2X FSAA on instead ?? I mean it runs smoothly with full detail on my system... The issue of single chip faster than "fastest performance" is a known issue by 3dfx, but it's suppose to be in D3D (GP3 use it) at high resolution.. that means 1280 x 1024 and up... and it's suppose to be fix since the last driver came up from them (July 27th is the last one). If you believe the problem still persist, I suggest you to post thos issue in the http://www.3dfxgamers.com/ forum section for V5 support. That's the best way to draw attention to them. If your CPU is fast enough, use 2x fsaa at high resolution 1024 x 768 and up and it will run great. On my system ( P3 800) the PO in practice mode is 40-50% and in race at the start of the race is 80% at 25.7 fps with 1280 x 1024 2x fsaa ON. Good luck Eric http://www.simracingmag.com Simon Brown wrote:

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> Ok, I just want some help in testing something. There seems to be a problem > with the V5 drivers, which really slows GP3 down a lot on the V5, but 3dfx > seem to think there isn't a problem. > I just want to know some PO readings (press 'O') from GP3 using both the > "single-chip" setting and the "fastest-performance" setting (found in the > anti-aliasing tab in 3dfx tools). Obviously the readings have to be from > the same position in the game, so sat still in the pit lane, in practice > mode at the same track etc. to be a fair comparison. > I get- > > single-chip = 60% PO > fastest-performance = 120% PO > > which means the board clearly isn't running right with GP3 on my system. > Even if you get different readings I'd still like to hear about it. > Please post V5 owners, it might help get the drivers fixed. :)

Hi Eric, I've posted coutless messages on www.3dfxgamers.com's V5 board but the 3dfx people on there refuse to admit there's a problem, although I don't think they've had GP3 yet to test with. I know GP3 runs fast with 2x FSAA, but I'm trying to find out whether there is problem with the fastest-performance setting. Also the problem I get occurs at every resolution, not just the higher ones. Grand Prix Legends is also faster with single-chip than with fastest-performance, and so is Nascar 3, both in Glide. I just want confimation that other people get the same results I get in single-chip and fastest-performance with GP3 so I can pursuade 3dfx to submit this as a possible problem for them to test. If you could just check this for me on your V5 it would be a big help. :) "Eric Cote" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Simon, why can't you put 2X FSAA on instead ?? I mean it runs smoothly > with full detail on my system... > > The issue of single chip faster than "fastest performance" is a knownissue by > 3dfx, but it's suppose to be in D3D (GP3 use it) at high resolution.. thatmeans > 1280 x 1024 and up... and it's suppose to be fix since the last drivercame up > from them > (July 27th is the last one). If you believe the problem still persist, Isuggest > you to post thos issue in the http://www.3dfxgamers.com/ forum section forV5 > support. > That's the best way to draw attention to them. > > If your CPU is fast enough, use 2x fsaa at high resolution 1024 x 768 andup and > it > will run great. On my system ( P3 800) the PO in practice mode is 40-50%and in > > race at the start of the race is 80% at 25.7 fps with 1280 x 1024 2x fsaaON.

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> > Good luck > > Eric > > http://www.simracingmag.com > > Simon Brown wrote: > > > Ok, I just want some help in testing something. There seems to be a

problem > > with the V5 drivers, which really slows GP3 down a lot on the V5, but3dfx > > seem to think there isn't a problem. > > I just want to know some PO readings (press 'O') from GP3 using both the > > "single-chip" setting and the "fastest-performance" setting (found inthe > > anti-aliasing tab in 3dfx tools). Obviously the readings have to befrom

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> > the same position in the game, so sat still in the pit lane, in practice > > mode at the same track etc. to be a fair comparison. > > I get- > > > > single-chip = 60% PO > > fastest-performance = 120% PO > > > > which means the board clearly isn't running right with GP3 on my system. > > Even if you get different readings I'd still like to hear about it. > > Please post V5 owners, it might help get the drivers fixed. :) >

On Tue, 01 Aug 2000 22:01:51 GMT, "Simon Brown" <[email hidden]> thus spoke: >I just want confimation that other people get the same results I get in >single-chip and fastest-performance with GP3 so I can pursuade 3dfx to >submit this as a possible problem for them to test. > >If you could just check this for me on your V5 it would be a big help. :) OK, I just tested it using Fraps to get a frame rate score. Used a quick race so everything was the same each time. Yes, you are correct there is a problem with the fastest performance setting. I never noticed it before because I was always using the FSAA2X setting. The single chip setting is about twice as fast as the fastest performance setting. The 2X FSAA setting gives you the best performance with visual quality though so that is what I recomend you use. I will send an email to 3DFX telling them of my findings. The more people complain the better chance of getting it fixed. -- Nos

Thanks :) <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> On Tue, 01 Aug 2000 22:01:51 GMT, "Simon Brown" > <[email hidden]> thus spoke: > > > >I just want confimation that other people get the same results I get in > >single-chip and fastest-performance with GP3 so I can pursuade 3dfx to > >submit this as a possible problem for them to test. > > > >If you could just check this for me on your V5 it would be a big help. :) > > OK, I just tested it using Fraps to get a frame rate score. Used a > quick race so everything was the same each time. Yes, you are correct > there is a problem with the fastest performance setting. I never > noticed it before because I was always using the FSAA2X setting. The > single chip setting is about twice as fast as the fastest performance > setting. The 2X FSAA setting gives you the best performance with > visual quality though so that is what I recomend you use. I will send > an email to 3DFX telling them of my findings. The more people complain > the better chance of getting it fixed. > -- > Nos

Thanks for replying :) <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8m7jc3$j8a$[email hidden]...

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> Guys, Ive had non stop problems with GP3 and Voodoo 5. Im really > disappointed with the performance of the V5 in gp3. I too have posted > about this on 3dfxgamers.com but I havent had any replies. > > Ive got an AMD Athlon 800mhz with the V5 with 256mb. I can only really > play the game smoothly at 640x480 and at times the PC crashes.. > > Im also depressed by the fact that the game only runs via Direct3d.. > why not Glide... > > 3dfx has admitted that the existing drivers for the V5 are poor in > performance and that we will just have to wait for new ones... ugh... > > Its not as if I have had much time to play it.. im suffering a serious > problem in the game in that the car violently spins out of control and > flips 100ft in the air.. sometimes this happens in the pitlane!!! > > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.

I have a celeron 300a >450/100 with voodoo5,and I find I can play it fine at res. 800x600 with PO over 100 unless many cars in picture at once.Ofcourse I play at 21.3 fps.Again higher than that,and the PO goes off the charts;)For me 21.3 is close enough to max fps to not really matter (For me that is:).The game says I can play at 1280x1024 at 25.6(?)fps,but then it goes into the hifgh 100ds:( The graphics at SPA is a jaw-dropper.Coming down towards eue-rouge all I could say was WOW!I think it is better than GPL (I felt those to be hazy),but I see why people say that it's blocky.The wet-weather is impressive.Drove around spa,and at one part of the track it was raining while dry at the other end:) I suck big time at driving GP3:( But hopefully will get better. Got 1:35.1xx at melbourne to illustrate my driving skill;) Have fun [email hidden] wrote:

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> Guys, Ive had non stop problems with GP3 and Voodoo 5. Im really > disappointed with the performance of the V5 in gp3. I too have posted > about this on 3dfxgamers.com but I havent had any replies. > > Ive got an AMD Athlon 800mhz with the V5 with 256mb. I can only really > play the game smoothly at 640x480 and at times the PC crashes.. > > Im also depressed by the fact that the game only runs via Direct3d.. > why not Glide... > > 3dfx has admitted that the existing drivers for the V5 are poor in > performance and that we will just have to wait for new ones... ugh... > > Its not as if I have had much time to play it.. im suffering a serious > problem in the game in that the car violently spins out of control and > flips 100ft in the air.. sometimes this happens in the pitlane!!! > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.

hmm unless you have a bogey card, I simply can't understand why you would have trouble with a V5 and GP3... or you have a big hardware conflict somewhere... I would check for IRQ's sharring.. Eric [email hidden] wrote:

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> Guys, Ive had non stop problems with GP3 and Voodoo 5. Im really > disappointed with the performance of the V5 in gp3. I too have posted > about this on 3dfxgamers.com but I havent had any replies. > > Ive got an AMD Athlon 800mhz with the V5 with 256mb. I can only really > play the game smoothly at 640x480 and at times the PC crashes.. > > Im also depressed by the fact that the game only runs via Direct3d.. > why not Glide... > > 3dfx has admitted that the existing drivers for the V5 are poor in > performance and that we will just have to wait for new ones... ugh... > > Its not as if I have had much time to play it.. im suffering a serious > problem in the game in that the car violently spins out of control and > flips 100ft in the air.. sometimes this happens in the pitlane!!! > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.

Eric, can't you just check what sort of PO's you get with single-chip and fastest-performance. It would help me get 3dfx to look into the problem. So far they won't even submit this for testing as a *possible* problem. While GP3 runs fairly fast with 2x FSAA, the fastest-performance setting should be around 25% faster than 2x FSAA. This would help keep the PO below 100 in wet weather. Also, i've just stuck my Voodoo 3 3000 AGP back in and guess what? It runs GP3 around 10% faster than the V5. :( "Eric Cote" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > hmm unless you have a bogey card, I simply can't understand why you would > have trouble with a V5 and GP3... or you have a big hardware conflict > somewhere... I would check for IRQ's sharring.. > > Eric

Simon, here's a copy to what I sent to 3DFX message board : 3DFX please take a look at this :) I didn't bought a V5 5500 to play any games without FSAA, I prefer 4X as long as the resolution is high enough but... Since I saw so many post from people reporting "fastest performance" VS "single chip" and people reporting single chip as the fastest of both, I decided to give few test in 2 titles : Sierra/Papyrus GPL and Hasbro GP3, here's my "benchmark" : In GPL with Glide rasterizer at 1024 x 768 : (same setting conducted in all test: 15 AI, full graphics in front and in mirrors and at the back of the grid at start of a race at Monaco) FASTEST PERFORMANCE mode: I have 23 FPS until we got to the first corner then it settles at 32-33 FPS SINGLE CHIP mode : I have 25 FPS until we got to the first corner then it settles at 35-36 FPS In GPL at 1024 x 768 with D3D rasterizer: FASTEST PERFORMANCE mode: I have 22 FPS until we got to the first corner then it settles at 30-31 FPS SINGLE CHIP mode : I have 24 FPS until we got to the first corner then it settles at 34-35 FPS ------------------------------------------- In GPL with Glide rasterizer at 1600 x 1200 : FASTEST PERFORMANCE mode: I have 22 FPS until we got to the first corner then it settles at 33-34 FPS SINGLE CHIP mode : I have 20 FPS until we got to the first corner then it settles at 31-32 FPS In GPL at 1600 x 1200 with D3D rasterizer: FASTEST PERFORMANCE mode: I have 19 FPS until we got to the first corner then it settles at 29-30 FPS SINGLE CHIP mode : I have 17 FPS until we got to the first corner then it settles at 28-29 FPS -------------------------------------------- Now with GP3, the effect is definatly more "evident" The test in GP3 is the same pattern, full AI (22), back of the grid in a quickrace config at 1280 x 1024. The way to measure the frame rate is not the same as it uses a feature called PO (Processor Occupency), I also conducted the test when it was raining (full graphics running) with SINGLE CHIP mode PO at 90-100%, then at first corner goes up to 120-130%, then setlles back to 90-100% for the remainer of the first lap. with FASTEST PERFORMANCE mode : PO at 700%, unbelievable !! That is virtually unplayable as everything runs in slow motion (that's GP3 way to deal when the CPU can't cope with what the graphics try to draw.) I actually tought something was wrong.. reboot the PC, and try again.. same thing : 700% PO. Then went in 2X FSAA, and it's back to the normal value of 90-100% PO then climbs briefly to 120-130% then settles to intial value. GP3 runs with D3D, there's no Glide raterizer for it. ------------------------------------------ My PC config goes as follow : P3 800 Mhz, 256 MB of PC100 and ras to cas and cas delay set at 2/2/2 in the bios. I have no IRQ sharing between the Graphics cards and anythgh else, nor for the sound card. There's only one IRQ sharing it's the 2nd NIC card (LAN) and USB port. The LAN was temporary turned off by logging off the 2nd PC If I can be of other assistance, i'll be glad to help Eric http://www.simracingmag.com

Simon when I talked to some reps from 3dfx I mentioned your name and the problem you were having and they have indeed seen your posts and are looking into it. They called me cause they were puzzled with the Falcon 4 scores in my review "shootout" where my x2 setting was faster than the fastest peformance in Glide....I taught them how to run my Falcon 4 benchmark and they confirmed the numbers. I believe they looking into it from their end. PAPA DOC

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>Thanks :) > ><[email hidden]> wrote in message >news:[email hidden]... >> On Tue, 01 Aug 2000 22:01:51 GMT, "Simon Brown" >> <[email hidden]> thus spoke: >> >> >> >I just want confimation that other people get the same results I get in >> >single-chip and fastest-performance with GP3 so I can pursuade 3dfx to >> >submit this as a possible problem for them to test. >> > >> >If you could just check this for me on your V5 it would be a big help. :) >> >> OK, I just tested it using Fraps to get a frame rate score. Used a >> quick race so everything was the same each time. Yes, you are correct >> there is a problem with the fastest performance setting. I never >> noticed it before because I was always using the FSAA2X setting. The >> single chip setting is about twice as fast as the fastest performance >> setting. The 2X FSAA setting gives you the best performance with >> visual quality though so that is what I recomend you use. I will send >> an email to 3DFX telling them of my findings. The more people complain >> the better chance of getting it fixed. >> -- >> Nos > >

Pierre PAPA DOC Legrand Voodoo 5 vs Geforce 2 shootout... Flanker Target GPL Crash Dummy Video Card Wizard www.papadoc.net FALCON 4 Benchmarks Rants, Bullshit and Reviews

Thanks for the snippet about the FSAA settings I'd despaired after getting the max fps setting on my 16MB G400 and then buying a new V5 5500 on Saturday only to find the fps was down to around 17. Now running at 2x FSAA and getting around 100% processor occupancy at max res., everything on, and using the FPSutil to set to just over 30fps. 2xFSAA really smooths out the graphics too.