GP2: let's compare our systems...

Here's an idea for us GP2 nuts. Fill in below what specs you have for your machine, including the resolution you run at, and the frame rate. If we all do it - it'll take a minute each - we can see how similar machines perform, and see what hardware is best. Go on, fill it in and post here! Processor type and speed: RAM: Video card: Video RAM: Detail in VGA: Frame rate in VGA: Detail in SVGA: Frame rate in SVGA: Input controller used: Sound card: Any brief comments on set-up: -- MarkN Birmingham.

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> Here's an idea for us GP2 nuts. Fill in below what specs you have for > your machine, including the resolution you run at, and the frame rate. > If we all do it - it'll take a minute each - we can see how similar > machines perform, and see what hardware is best. > Go on, fill it in and post here!

Processor type and speed: Pentium Pro 200 RAM: 32 megs Video card: Matrox Millenium Video RAM: 4 mets Detail in VGA: Don't know, why would I use VGA...hehehe Frame rate in VGA: Off scale, I'm sure Detail in SVGA: MAX Frame rate in SVGA: MAX Input controller used: THRUSTMASTER T 2 Controller Sound card: SoundBlaster 16 Any brief comments on set-up: Runs pretty good on this machine..(G) JEB in Vegas

Processor type and speed: Pentium 166 RAM: 32Mb EDO Video card: Stealth Video VRAM Video RAM: 2Mb Vram Detail in VGA: ALL Frame rate in VGA: 25 Detail in SVGA: Sky OFF, objects but no textures in mirrors, all else on max Frame rate in SVGA: 18 Input controller used: Joystick - possible T2 soon Sound card: Sb16 Any brief comments on set-up: +-------------------------------------------------+ +-------------------------------------------------+ | Now with go faster stripes | +-------------------------------------------------+

Well since it was my idea, here goes... Processor type and speed: Pentium 120 RAM: 40mb Video card: Videologic 400 Video RAM: 2mb Detail in VGA: all textures - no sky. mirrors: verges, track, smoke all trackside objects on. Frame rate in VGA: 25fps Detail in SVGA: no textures. mirrors: verges, track, smoke medium trackside objects on. Frame rate in SVGA: 21fps Input controller used: keyboard Sound card: SB16 Any brief comments on set-up: -- MarkN Birmingham.

Processor type and speed: Intel Pentium 166Mhz RAM: 32MB S-DRAM (S-DRAM runs at the processor speed (166Mhz) not the bus speed (66Mhz) ) Video card: Diamond Edge 3-D Video RAM: 4MB V-Ram Detail in VGA: Nothing - On Frame rate in VGA: 0 fps Detail in SVGA: Nothing - On Frame rate in SVGA: 0 fps Input controller used: Thrustmaster T-2 Sound card: Sound Blaster AWE-32 PnP w/ Wave Blaster add-on board. Altec lansing ACS-31 Speakers w/ Subwoofer Sean Alexander http://users.aol.com/cjwright/sean/vette.htm

On Sun, 21 Jul 1996 19:16:40 +0100, Mark Newman >Go on, fill it in and post here! Processor type and speed: P120 RAM: 16MB Video card: Diamond Stealth 3240 Video RAM: 2Mb Detail in VGA: HIGT Frame rate in VGA: 16 Detail in SVGA: LOW Frame rate in SVGA: 10 Input controller used: Keyboard Sound card: SB16 GP2 is the best!!!! Regards Alessandro Orrea Modena - Italy

Processor type and speed: Pentium 120 RAM: 16mb EDO Video card: Stealth 64 Video RAM:2mb Dram Detail in VGA: full Frame rate in VGA: 20 fps Detail in SVGA:all expect sky and mirror Frame rate in SVGA: 18fps Input controller used: gravis game pad Sound card: SB AWE 32 Any brief comments on set-up:

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> > Here's an idea for us GP2 nuts. Fill in below what specs you have for > > your machine, including the resolution you run at, and the frame rate. > > If we all do it - it'll take a minute each - we can see how similar > > machines perform, and see what hardware is best. > > Go on, fill it in and post here! > Processor type and speed: Pentium Pro 200 > RAM: 32 megs > Video card: Matrox Millenium > Video RAM: 4 mets > Detail in VGA: Don't know, why would I use VGA...hehehe > Frame rate in VGA: Off scale, I'm sure > Detail in SVGA: MAX > Frame rate in SVGA: MAX > Input controller used: THRUSTMASTER T 2 Controller > Sound card: SoundBlaster 16 > Any brief comments on set-up: Runs pretty good on this machine..(G) > JEB in Vegas

Hey JEB If we ever get it in California i think its a great idea. Maybe we can find the best video card this way.Hopefully i can answer next week. Later Jim Douglas MJD Racing

>Here's an idea for us GP2 nuts. Fill in below what specs you have for >your machine, including the resolution you run at, and the frame rate. >If we all do it - it'll take a minute each - we can see how similar >machines perform, and see what hardware is best. >Go on, fill it in and post here! Processor type and speed: Cyrix p-166+ RAM: 32 Mb Video card: S3 trio 64V+ Video RAM: 2 Mb Detail in VGA: You wouldn't care about VGA Detail in SVGA: All graphics on exept sky. No texturing in the mirrors and a couple of option off (Who cares about mirrors anyway? Eh? and does ICR2 have mirror textures?) Frame rate in SVGA: 21.3 Input controller used: Joystick Sound card: A really ***one Any brief comments on set-up: Anybody who was wondering if they should buy a Cyrix chip and were hearing things about it being slower with some games (it is a bit slower with ICR2 and a pig with Quake) don't have to worry about GP2, it's very good, it might even be faster than a Pentium (I can't be sure about this). Apart from the technical stuff, the game is really good and nobody who buys the game will be disapointed (if he has a good computer of course). it looks a bit arcadish compared to ICR but you get used to it. The only thing I don't really like is the wheel lock-up under braking and losing traction under 1st and 2nd gear accelration. While probably realistic, it's a bit too sensitive for joysticks. ( That's what I feel for Monaco, where you're using 1st gear a lot. It's better for other circuits) Happy *** !!!! Alan To Switzerland

> > Here's an idea for us GP2 nuts. Fill in below what specs you have for > > your machine, including the resolution you run at, and the frame rate. > >Jep its an OK idea, but.. My mashine, says >25 frames to allmost any settings, and still the framerate is very low when you pass smoke, large textured object ect. I think you need occupancy way below 60-80 %, to run the game without any drops in framerate. Still, here are the requested data. Proc:Pentium 166 Ram:32 MB EDO Video:Diamond V64/2MB Sound:SB16 Input:Wingman Settings:SVGA, no mirrors, only texture on track-side-objects,detail mid. Framerate says >25, but my guess is <15 when the going gets tough... LB

Processor occupancy is around 100-130%. When slipstreaming other cars the game slows down slightly. Other tracks have more complex graphics and PO is from ~120 up to 240% :( Monaco being the worst. "F1FF"

Processor type and speed: P133 RAM: 16meg EDO Video card: Diamond Stealth 64 Video RAM: 2mb Dram Detail in VGA: All front, only track in mirrors Frame rate in VGA: >25.2fps Detail in SVGA: None except smoke Frame rate in SVGA: 10.4fps Input controller used: Logic 3 Freewheel Sound card: SB pro compatible Any brief comments on set-up: Use Univbe 5.2 for SVGA!!! ************************************************************************** *Check out my web page for loadsa links and racing sim files! * * GP2 hotlap, reply and setup area now!!! * *Do it now : http://members.aol.com/ARobe85580/home.htm * **************************************************************************

Processor type and speed : P-133 o/c to 200Mhz (don't try this at home kids!) RAM : 32Mb 60ns EDO Video card : Hercules Dynamite 128 Video RAM : 2Mb MDRAM Detail in VGA : Full Frame rate in VGA : >25.6fps Detail in SVGA : All except Sky Frame rate in SVGA : 25.6fps (except at Monaco but, y'know!) Input controller used : TSW Sound card : AWE32 Any brief comments on set-up : Car setup?! You wish ;) _________________________________ __ _____| |_____ __ ________| |__| :| John Wallace | |__| |________ \ :| |::| :| Team WW Racing TSW | |::| | / > :| |::| :|_________________________________| |::| | < / :|__|::|____/ * Sim Racing News * \____|::|__| \ /______:/ \::/ http://sneezy.dcn.ed.ac.uk/simnews/index.htm \::/ \._____\ http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/~harmon/simnews

writes I think you have been misled here..... SDRAM is on the motherboard and can only be communicated with via the motherboard at 66Mhz. SDRAM will allow for higher motherboard speeds, supporting 75-100Mhz speeds, but it won't go anywhere near 166Mhz. SRAM (your cache ram) works at 166Mhz since it is part of the internal circuit linking chipset, CPU and cache - SDRAM is a different thing entirely. SRAM has access times measured as 10ns or less - this is required for such huge speeds - SDRAM is nowhere near that speed, 40- 60ns typically. Cheers! John _________________________________ __ _____| |_____ __ ________| |__| :| John Wallace | |__| |________ \ :| |::| :| Team WW Racing TSW | |::| | / > :| |::| :|_________________________________| |::| | < / :|__|::|____/ * Sim Racing News * \____|::|__| \ /______:/ \::/ http://sneezy.dcn.ed.ac.uk/simnews/index.htm \::/ \._____\ http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/~harmon/simnews

>Here's an idea for us GP2 nuts. Fill in below what specs you have for >your machine, including the resolution you run at, and the frame rate. >If we all do it - it'll take a minute each - we can see how similar >machines perform, and see what hardware is best. >Go on, fill it in and post here! Processor type and speed: P120 overclocked to 133 RAM: 16 mb EDO Video card: Hercules Dynamite 128 (ET6000) Video RAM: 2 mb Detail in VGA: all trackside objects, all textures, all objects in mirrors, all textures in mirrors Frame rate in VGA: 21.3 with p.o. 95% at Hockenheim with several cars in front Detail in SVGA: all trackside objects, all textures without sky, objects in mirrors are track, bank and smoke, no textures in mirrors Frame rate in SVGA: 16.0 at Hockenheim p.o. 100% sometimes increasing up to 135% Input controller used: Thrustmaster T2 with wheel mounted shift buttons Sound card: SB16 I only played the game in SVGA and it's fast enough. cheers Karsten Karsten Hoffmann, 23717 Griebel Schleswig Holstein, Germany

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>> Here's an idea for us GP2 nuts. Fill in below what specs you have for >> your machine, including the resolution you run at, and the frame rate. >> If we all do it - it'll take a minute each - we can see how similar >> machines perform, and see what hardware is best. >> Go on, fill it in and post here! >p166, 32 mb RAM, Matrox MGA, AWE32, 17" Nokia

it seems like the processor occupancy varies from track to track depending on the track side objects. I started with Silverstone and it ran very well on SVGA(>20 fps) all textures on exept sky and it gives processor occupancy 60-70 % unless there R alot of cars around. There is not much track side objects in silverstone. Same goes with Brazil. I tried Monza and Hockenheim with these detail settings and had to tune em a bit down. Seemed like the masses of trees put the occupancy on all details up to 120% after I put it to low track side object setting it gave me 50-60 % with still all textures on exept sky. Monaco is the worst but it runs well if U disable some of the buildings or disable some of the textures. Whats good is that in my system there is no major slow down when other cars around....of course the starts R a bit slower but its only natural. But if Ure chasing a car I didnt see any slowdown. The automatic graphic setting is IMHO a poor one...if I use it the game puts all textures on(exept sky)...and leaves all track side objects on as default...and this works fine on some tracks but not all as mentioned. its a great game.. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ville Kopu~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ViK at IRC, #f1 & #gp2 http://koti.kolumbus.fi/~vkopu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Second is first of loserS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John - how do you personally rate the TSW as a controller? And has anyone actually upgraded from a mid-range graphics card to one of the SRN highly-rated ones, and noticed any genuine increase in framerate [in GP2]? -- MarkN Birmingham.

Processor type and speed: Cyrix 6X86 P-150 (120 MHz) RAM: 24 Mb CACHE:256 Kb PBCache Video card: Diamond Stealth 64 PCI (3001 ? can't remember exactly) Video RAM: 1 Mb DRAM Detail in VGA: absolutely all on Frame rate in VGA: 21.3 Detail in SVGA: everything else on but sky texture Frame rate in SVGA: 16 (no good enough, must lose some datails) Input controller used: keyboard (old champion I am) Sound card: SB 16 Any brief comments on set-up: Greeting Toni

Hi Mark, What! You want a preview of the August issue of SRN?! :) We did a big survey of all the controllers, pitting them against each other. Personally I love the TSW. The only problem is the pots tend to need replaced every nine months or so, but heck they only cost abot 2 quid so it's not a big deal. Me! :) Stealth 32 --> Stingray 64V --> Dynamite 128 and I saw an improvement every time. Cheers! John _________________________________ __ _____| |_____ __ ________| |__| :| John Wallace | |__| |________ \ :| |::| :| Team WW Racing TSW | |::| | / > :| |::| :|_________________________________| |::| | < / :|__|::|____/ * Sim Racing News * \____|::|__| \ /______:/ \::/ http://sneezy.dcn.ed.ac.uk/simnews/index.htm \::/ \._____\ http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/~harmon/simnews

Processor type and speed: Zappa mobo, Pentium 120 (overclocked from 90 just because of GP2, the speed-up was remarkable) RAM: 24 MB Video card: Diamond Stealth SE Video RAM: 1 Mb DRAM Detail in VGA: Trackside objects: all; Textures: all except track, hills, sky; Mirrors: all except bank, hills, trackside objects Frame rate in VGA: 25.6 (but using 19.6 to give a PO < 100%) Detail in SVGA: Trackside objects: all; Textures: fences, smoke; Mirrors: fences, verges, track, smoke Frame rate in SVGA: 19.6 (using on 16.0 to give PO < 100%) Input controller used: Gravis Firebird Sound card: SB 2.0 Any brief comments on set-up: Absolutely all graphic options on gives 8.5 fps on SVGA and 16 fps on VGA; dropping sky gives 11.1 fps SVGA and 18.2 VGA. -- /sami

p100 32mb 60ns EDO Diamond Stealth 2mb Vram Not tried VGA yet! Fences, Track and Trackside objects on 16fps CH Flightstck Pro AWE32 -- Richard Cowl