I finally worked up the nerve to try an online race last night.
My sincere apologies to everyone involved...
The VROC system is truly wonderful. I simply picked an open race at
Spa which VROC informed me that there were still 11 minutes of
practice remaining with only one other car entered. So I took a
deep breath, double-clicked on that selection, and away we go to
Spa!
The first thing I noticed right away is that my framerate really
sucks. So I had to take a moment to toggle off all sorts of options
which I'd otherwise become accustomed to having. My framerate was
still unacceptable. Oh well, time is running out and I better get
at least one practice lap in while I still can.
Sheesh. It sure is hard to drive when you're only seeing 10-15
frames per second! That took a little bit of getting used to. And
all the while, as I'm bouncing between guardrails, fences and hedges
and back, messages are flashing across the top of my screen in chat
mode. How the hell are you supposed to be able to read any of that
tiny print while at the same time fighting to keep the car shiny
side up? So I took a moment to squint up close to the screen only
to find that someone is asking ME if I'm driving drunk! Hey, no
time for any of that small talk now. Still gotta put in one timed
lap to get on the grid.
I barely managed to complete one full lap as the clock ran out on
the practice session. And miracle of miracles I was second on the
starting grid. That wasn't all that big a surprise to me as I had
only expected to find two cars on the grid.
But I was SHOCKED to discover that there were actually now EIGHT
cars on the grid, with me in the middle of the front row!!! Christ!
How the hell did THAT happen?!
But there's no time to work up a sweat about this because I'm not
even in gear yet and the green flag just dropped and we're off. And
then time stood still...
I distinctly remember seeing the green flag drop, with me still
fumbling for first gear. After that my framerate became
non-existant. I'm hearing engine noises, but all I see is that last
image of the flagman dropping the flag.
I figured if I just roll straight ahead and don't veer to either
side, no one will hit me. So I short shifted up to third gear to
prevent any wheelspin and cruised completely blind to where I
estimated Eau Rouge should be.
I swear I saw no more than three frames from the moment the flag
dropped until I woke up, upside down, at the top of Eau Rouge. I
hit Shift-R and briefly saw another car spinning on its head then
suddenly disappear in front of me as a message flashed to say that
someone had disconnected. er, Sorry about that...
Oh well. The rest of the pack must have gotten away okay because I
don't see anyone else. So I guess it's safe to continue now.
It's a good thing I've driven Spa a few times before on my own
because, with my framerate still down between 10-15 fps, I have to
start my braking and steering inputs long before I can even see the
corner coming. So the first lap was rather more "adventurous" than
I had intended.
It was just a short race of only 5 laps (I think?), but during one
of my numerous Shift-R moments I must have been lapped somewhere.
Other than the brief moment when we were all stationary on the grid,
and other than when I killed that guy at the top of Eau Rouge, I
never saw another car during the entire race. I suspect that was
probably a good thing.
Still, I finished the race in 4th place, one lap down. Everyone
behind me had either blown up, quit, disconnected, or (unseen by me)
been launched into the woods by my errant driving.
Damn that was fun.
I really do need a faster computer. I noticed chat messages
flashing on my screen throughout the race. You other guys must have
amazingly fast computers if you can find the time to type messages
to each other in mid-race!
So where do I start in my quest for improved framerates? I have a
P233mmx, a 33.6modem, and a voodoo3 graphics card. It all works
fine in solo lapping, but even there I rarely get more than
25-29fps. I can't turn off ALL the scenery or I lose all my visual
cues.
Itching for more,
-Ferdinand-
GPL is chip- based -- buy a new chip and all should improve --- KEEP
racing --your hooked now.......
Dan Leach
Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted text (93 lines)
> I finally worked up the nerve to try an online race last night. > > My sincere apologies to everyone involved... > > The VROC system is truly wonderful. I simply picked an open race at > Spa which VROC informed me that there were still 11 minutes of > practice remaining with only one other car entered. So I took a > deep breath, double-clicked on that selection, and away we go to > Spa! > > The first thing I noticed right away is that my framerate really > sucks. So I had to take a moment to toggle off all sorts of options > which I'd otherwise become accustomed to having. My framerate was > still unacceptable. Oh well, time is running out and I better get > at least one practice lap in while I still can. > > Sheesh. It sure is hard to drive when you're only seeing 10-15 > frames per second! That took a little bit of getting used to. And > all the while, as I'm bouncing between guardrails, fences and hedges > and back, messages are flashing across the top of my screen in chat > mode. How the hell are you supposed to be able to read any of that > tiny print while at the same time fighting to keep the car shiny > side up? So I took a moment to squint up close to the screen only > to find that someone is asking ME if I'm driving drunk! Hey, no > time for any of that small talk now. Still gotta put in one timed > lap to get on the grid. > > I barely managed to complete one full lap as the clock ran out on > the practice session. And miracle of miracles I was second on the > starting grid. That wasn't all that big a surprise to me as I had > only expected to find two cars on the grid. > > But I was SHOCKED to discover that there were actually now EIGHT > cars on the grid, with me in the middle of the front row!!! Christ! > How the hell did THAT happen?! > > But there's no time to work up a sweat about this because I'm not > even in gear yet and the green flag just dropped and we're off. And > then time stood still... > > I distinctly remember seeing the green flag drop, with me still > fumbling for first gear. After that my framerate became > non-existant. I'm hearing engine noises, but all I see is that last > image of the flagman dropping the flag. > > I figured if I just roll straight ahead and don't veer to either > side, no one will hit me. So I short shifted up to third gear to > prevent any wheelspin and cruised completely blind to where I > estimated Eau Rouge should be. > > I swear I saw no more than three frames from the moment the flag > dropped until I woke up, upside down, at the top of Eau Rouge. I > hit Shift-R and briefly saw another car spinning on its head then > suddenly disappear in front of me as a message flashed to say that > someone had disconnected. er, Sorry about that... > > Oh well. The rest of the pack must have gotten away okay because I > don't see anyone else. So I guess it's safe to continue now. > > It's a good thing I've driven Spa a few times before on my own > because, with my framerate still down between 10-15 fps, I have to > start my braking and steering inputs long before I can even see the > corner coming. So the first lap was rather more "adventurous" than > I had intended. > > It was just a short race of only 5 laps (I think?), but during one > of my numerous Shift-R moments I must have been lapped somewhere. > Other than the brief moment when we were all stationary on the grid, > and other than when I killed that guy at the top of Eau Rouge, I > never saw another car during the entire race. I suspect that was > probably a good thing. > > Still, I finished the race in 4th place, one lap down. Everyone > behind me had either blown up, quit, disconnected, or (unseen by me) > been launched into the woods by my errant driving. > > Damn that was fun. > > I really do need a faster computer. I noticed chat messages > flashing on my screen throughout the race. You other guys must have > amazingly fast computers if you can find the time to type messages > to each other in mid-race! > > So where do I start in my quest for improved framerates? I have a > P233mmx, a 33.6modem, and a voodoo3 graphics card. It all works > fine in solo lapping, but even there I rarely get more than > 25-29fps. I can't turn off ALL the scenery or I lose all my visual > cues. > > Itching for more, > > -Ferdinand- >Ferdinand.
Welcome to the club. As another user who is accustomed to riding with a low
spec machine I thought I'd throw a few thoughts of mine into the arena.
GPL is about good frames when running online. It's essential. Having said
that, I am able to get an acceptable rate at all tracks except the Noonan
add-ons. Dave's tracks seem to make extra demands for some reason.
My current system spec (Don't laugh, I had a faster machine but got rid of
it to finance other priorities)
P200 MMX
32Mb Ram
Voodoo 2 (12 Mb) card.
Despite this I am able to get 28-30 FPS online by doing the following.
1. Go into your app.ini file in GPL folder. Set sound quality = 0. This will
reduce sound quality but the gain is 3-5 FPS.
2. Set your screen res at a max of 800 x600. If you are squinting to see the
chat trext, you probably have a higher res. Lowering this sometimes gives a
frame gain.
3. Set the graphics detail slider all the way to the left. This is one of
the major suckers of framerate, as are the mirrors. Set mirrors to cars
only. This is actually an advantage online as you get a good view of
following cars that would be hidden by corner walls etc.
4. Cockpit textures and driver arms can be lived without as well. Get rid of
them
Hope some of this helps to get your frames into the mid 20's at least.
MS
"Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted text (93 lines)
> I finally worked up the nerve to try an online race last night. > > My sincere apologies to everyone involved... > > The VROC system is truly wonderful. I simply picked an open race at > Spa which VROC informed me that there were still 11 minutes of > practice remaining with only one other car entered. So I took a > deep breath, double-clicked on that selection, and away we go to > Spa! > > The first thing I noticed right away is that my framerate really > sucks. So I had to take a moment to toggle off all sorts of options > which I'd otherwise become accustomed to having. My framerate was > still unacceptable. Oh well, time is running out and I better get > at least one practice lap in while I still can. > > Sheesh. It sure is hard to drive when you're only seeing 10-15 > frames per second! That took a little bit of getting used to. And > all the while, as I'm bouncing between guardrails, fences and hedges > and back, messages are flashing across the top of my screen in chat > mode. How the hell are you supposed to be able to read any of that > tiny print while at the same time fighting to keep the car shiny > side up? So I took a moment to squint up close to the screen only > to find that someone is asking ME if I'm driving drunk! Hey, no > time for any of that small talk now. Still gotta put in one timed > lap to get on the grid. > > I barely managed to complete one full lap as the clock ran out on > the practice session. And miracle of miracles I was second on the > starting grid. That wasn't all that big a surprise to me as I had > only expected to find two cars on the grid. > > But I was SHOCKED to discover that there were actually now EIGHT > cars on the grid, with me in the middle of the front row!!! Christ! > How the hell did THAT happen?! > > But there's no time to work up a sweat about this because I'm not > even in gear yet and the green flag just dropped and we're off. And > then time stood still... > > I distinctly remember seeing the green flag drop, with me still > fumbling for first gear. After that my framerate became > non-existant. I'm hearing engine noises, but all I see is that last > image of the flagman dropping the flag. > > I figured if I just roll straight ahead and don't veer to either > side, no one will hit me. So I short shifted up to third gear to > prevent any wheelspin and cruised completely blind to where I > estimated Eau Rouge should be. > > I swear I saw no more than three frames from the moment the flag > dropped until I woke up, upside down, at the top of Eau Rouge. I > hit Shift-R and briefly saw another car spinning on its head then > suddenly disappear in front of me as a message flashed to say that > someone had disconnected. er, Sorry about that... > > Oh well. The rest of the pack must have gotten away okay because I > don't see anyone else. So I guess it's safe to continue now. > > It's a good thing I've driven Spa a few times before on my own > because, with my framerate still down between 10-15 fps, I have to > start my braking and steering inputs long before I can even see the > corner coming. So the first lap was rather more "adventurous" than > I had intended. > > It was just a short race of only 5 laps (I think?), but during one > of my numerous Shift-R moments I must have been lapped somewhere. > Other than the brief moment when we were all stationary on the grid, > and other than when I killed that guy at the top of Eau Rouge, I > never saw another car during the entire race. I suspect that was > probably a good thing. > > Still, I finished the race in 4th place, one lap down. Everyone > behind me had either blown up, quit, disconnected, or (unseen by me) > been launched into the woods by my errant driving. > > Damn that was fun. > > I really do need a faster computer. I noticed chat messages > flashing on my screen throughout the race. You other guys must have > amazingly fast computers if you can find the time to type messages > to each other in mid-race! > > So where do I start in my quest for improved framerates? I have a > P233mmx, a 33.6modem, and a voodoo3 graphics card. It all works > fine in solo lapping, but even there I rarely get more than > 25-29fps. I can't turn off ALL the scenery or I lose all my visual > cues. > > Itching for more, > > -Ferdinand- >
m.seery wrote in message ...
will
>reduce sound quality but the gain is 3-5 FPS.
>
>2. Set your screen res at a max of 800 x600. If you are squinting to seethe
of
>them
>
>Hope some of this helps to get your frames into the mid 20's at least.
Hey, great to hear of two others running GPL with as hopelessly obsolete
equipment as my own! I run a Pentium 200MMX (overclocked to 225MHz), 64Mb
RAM, WinModem33, Voodoo3 setup and get mid-20s frame rates with fields of 14
cars or so. I have yet to run VROC because I'm afraid I'll cause latency
problems for the rest of the field. I hope to acquire faster equipment
soon, but until then I have to remain satisfied with running solo and
working on my handicap.
That said, I have found that running off-line with reduced frame rate of
800x600 gives essentially no benefit vs 1024x768. Since Ferdinand also has
a Voodoo3, I suspect that suggestions #1,3,4 above would be more useful.
Richard Worden
SCCA/Detroit "KVICK" Saab 900
[email hidden]
GPL Handicap 75
