>>> IMPORTANT: 3dfx defaults

Guys, We are begining to suspect that many of the CPR performance-related postings are from users with BOTH Rendition and 3dfx cards installed and their system may be defaulting to Rendition. The 3dfx generates much faster framerates than the Rendition in CPR in our experience. I have tracked down some utilities that will force your system to use 3dfx and hopefully give you better frame rates. One is called TWEAK, but I seem to have lost the url to find it (I thought it was on the 3dfx site but now I can't find it). Can someone help with the url? The other is called "3dfx Control Panel" and is here: [link lost in import] Can you guys with both cards try this and let the group know if this works/helps? Thanks. Dean (CART Team).

Here's some other config issues that may affect CPR frame rate: 1) Always run full screen (F4) to ensure you are getting 3dfx improvements 2) Ensure 3dfx is your default card (try the "3dfx Control Panel" at http://www.voodooextreme.com/download.html) 3) Make sure "poll interrupts" is DISABLED in your W95 controller dialog (50% frame rate hit) 4) Keep visibility < 24 using control F and control H 5) Make sure your sound card is DirectSound compatible (TEST: Do you get a significant speed up when you disable the sound?) If any of these help your system, please post a REPLY to this thread giving details. ?

Try this: Win95 Control Panel - Game Controllers - Advanced - UNCHECK "poll with interrupts enabled"? For certain configs, this has added 50-100% performance improvement.

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>Here is my setup: P166MMX, 32MB EDO, Canopus Pure 3D(6mb 3DFX), Intergraph >Intense 3D(Rendition Verite), Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16. I am running >the Tweak program to make sure the 3DFX card takes control in Direct X >games. I currently seem to have a major frame rate problem. The best I can >get using 3D Hardware Acceleration with Auto Full Screen, no dashboard, and >all other detail settings turned off, is 20 frames per second with no cars >on the tracks. In some corners, start/finish line and in traffic, the frame >rate will sometimes even drop down to 10 or below. Now, I realize that my >setup may be a little outdated(the CPR box does say P166 recommended), but >I didn't buy a 6mb 3DFX card to turn off all detail settings. I know they >are only arcade racers and probably do not require the advanced >calculations of your physics model, but POD(Glide), Need for Speed II >SE(Glide), MotoRacer(Direct X), and International Rally Championship(Direct >X) all run extremely fast on my machine with ALL the detail settings turned >on. The other problem I have is just a flat out pause or stop in the game. >Again, I do not experience this in any other games I play. Anyway, let me >answer to your suggestions for getting the frame rate faster: >> 1) Always run full screen (F4) to ensure you are getting 3dfx >improvements >Check >> 2) Ensure 3dfx is your default card (try the "3dfx Control Panel" at >> http://www.voodooextreme.com/download.html) >Check >> 3) Make sure "poll interrupts" is DISABLED in your W95 controller dialog >> (50% frame rate hit) >Where exactly is this? I have been unable to locate this setting. Please >let me know exactly where to go to check this setting. Could this be >causing my frequent pauses in game play? >> 4) Keep visibility < 24 using control F and control H >Check >> 5) Make sure your sound card is DirectSound compatible (TEST: Do you get >a >> significant speed up when you disable the sound?) >Check >> If any of these help your system, please post a REPLY to this thread >giving >> details. >Besides #3, all of your suggestions were already set on my system, and I >still have what I would consider a very poor frame rate for what is >supposedly a 3D accelerated game. My PC setup is almost exactly the same >configuration as the 2nd >to last computer displayed on the Hardware/Benchmarks page located at THE >APEX(http://www.quiknet.com/~joja/benchmarks.htm). If I am reading the page >correctly, with 640X480(the only possible 3DFX hardware mode) and all >details turned on except map overlay, and PIP, the frame rate with no cars >and stopped on the backstretch is 13.5?? With the map overlay 11.5, and >with PIP 9.0? I have tested this on my machine and it does match pretty >close to what this benchmarking page says. The P166 system on the >benchmarking page does not have a Rendition card listed, so I do not think >that is what is causing the low frame rates at least in this specific case. >So, in other words, I discovered >my system is apparently running correctly. However, 13.5 fps with all >details on, no cars, and stopped on the track is supposed to be acceptable >for a racing sim?!? Especially a racing sim running on a P166MMX with a 6mb >3DFX card? The web master for THE APEX(http://www.quiknet.com/~joja/), >John, has posted in r.a.s that his system is a P133/Diamond Monster 3D, >and that his frame rate is "just fine". Again as quoted from THE APEX >benchmark page, the P133/Diamond Monster 3D setup shows frame rates of 9.4, >8.4, and 6.4. Is this really "just fine", or am I missing something. I have >e-mailed THE APEX about this, and requested what graphical detail settings >they are running to achieve "just fine" frame rates. John has been very >helpful and responded that his setup to achieve "just fine" frame rates on >a P133 is 640X480, 3D Acceleration, Smoothing, Auto Full Screen, Dashboard >On, and everything else off. When I run this on my P166, I still do not get >above 20fps consistently. To consistently achieve over 20fps I have had to >also turn off the dashboard which, of course, also removes the mirrors. >This is not very "sim" like. Even though this gives me a more playable >frame rate, the game will still chop and freeze at different points on a >track. Should I be having to turn off so much detail to get a semi-playable >frame rate with a 3DFX card? >Anyway, please keep working on this problem. I really had high hopes for >this game, and some aspects like the multiplayer and racing school are very >good. However, without a fast, smooth frame rate using 3D enhanced >graphics, I will continue to play the Rendition version of Indycar 2 which >currently runs on my machine with full detail and a full field of cars at >25-30 frames per second. >Don Chapman >P.S. Thanks for your continued response and feedback in r.a.s. It has been >a while since a game development team has done this. It takes a thick skin, >and so far you guys seem to be addressing the issues and taking most of the >negative posts without getting too discouraged or defensive. >.

Here is my setup: P166MMX, 32MB EDO, Canopus Pure 3D(6mb 3DFX), Intergraph Intense 3D(Rendition Verite), Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16. I am running the Tweak program to make sure the 3DFX card takes control in Direct X games. I currently seem to have a major frame rate problem. The best I can get using 3D Hardware Acceleration with Auto Full Screen, no dashboard, and all other detail settings turned off, is 20 frames per second with no cars on the tracks. In some corners, start/finish line and in traffic, the frame rate will sometimes even drop down to 10 or below. Now, I realize that my setup may be a little outdated(the CPR box does say P166 recommended), but I didn't buy a 6mb 3DFX card to turn off all detail settings. I know they are only arcade racers and probably do not require the advanced calculations of your physics model, but POD(Glide), Need for Speed II SE(Glide), MotoRacer(Direct X), and International Rally Championship(Direct X) all run extremely fast on my machine with ALL the detail settings turned on. The other problem I have is just a flat out pause or stop in the game. Again, I do not experience this in any other games I play. Anyway, let me answer to your suggestions for getting the frame rate faster: improvements Check Check Where exactly is this? I have been unable to locate this setting. Please let me know exactly where to go to check this setting. Could this be causing my frequent pauses in game play? Check Check Besides #3, all of your suggestions were already set on my system, and I still have what I would consider a very poor frame rate for what is supposedly a 3D accelerated game. My PC setup is almost exactly the same configuration as the 2nd to last computer displayed on the Hardware/Benchmarks page located at THE APEX(http://www.quiknet.com/~joja/benchmarks.htm). If I am reading the page correctly, with 640X480(the only possible 3DFX hardware mode) and all details turned on except map overlay, and PIP, the frame rate with no cars and stopped on the backstretch is 13.5?? With the map overlay 11.5, and with PIP 9.0? I have tested this on my machine and it does match pretty close to what this benchmarking page says. The P166 system on the benchmarking page does not have a Rendition card listed, so I do not think that is what is causing the low frame rates at least in this specific case. So, in other words, I discovered my system is apparently running correctly. However, 13.5 fps with all details on, no cars, and stopped on the track is supposed to be acceptable for a racing sim?!? Especially a racing sim running on a P166MMX with a 6mb 3DFX card? The web master for THE APEX(http://www.quiknet.com/~joja/), John, has posted in r.a.s that his system is a P133/Diamond Monster 3D, and that his frame rate is "just fine". Again as quoted from THE APEX benchmark page, the P133/Diamond Monster 3D setup shows frame rates of 9.4, 8.4, and 6.4. Is this really "just fine", or am I missing something. I have e-mailed THE APEX about this, and requested what graphical detail settings they are running to achieve "just fine" frame rates. John has been very helpful and responded that his setup to achieve "just fine" frame rates on a P133 is 640X480, 3D Acceleration, Smoothing, Auto Full Screen, Dashboard On, and everything else off. When I run this on my P166, I still do not get above 20fps consistently. To consistently achieve over 20fps I have had to also turn off the dashboard which, of course, also removes the mirrors. This is not very "sim" like. Even though this gives me a more playable frame rate, the game will still chop and freeze at different points on a track. Should I be having to turn off so much detail to get a semi-playable frame rate with a 3DFX card? Anyway, please keep working on this problem. I really had high hopes for this game, and some aspects like the multiplayer and racing school are very good. However, without a fast, smooth frame rate using 3D enhanced graphics, I will continue to play the Rendition version of Indycar 2 which currently runs on my machine with full detail and a full field of cars at 25-30 frames per second. Don Chapman P.S. Thanks for your continued response and feedback in r.a.s. It has been a while since a game development team has done this. It takes a thick skin, and so far you guys seem to be addressing the issues and taking most of the negative posts without getting too discouraged or defensive.

>Try this: >Win95 Control Panel - Game Controllers - Advanced - UNCHECK "poll with >interrupts enabled"? >For certain configs, this has added 50-100% performance improvement. I can verify that unchecking that option has improved my frame rate. To what extent, I am not sure -- probably not 50-100%, but maybe 15%-20% (guessing). I'll have to do more scientific test to be sure. It also seems to have improved the handling of the car in multiplayer (less twitchy), although maybe that's just my imagination. Jim Getzen Unofficial CART Precision Racing HQ http://members.home.net/getzen/

Yes, as Eric said, we are benchmarking a new Glide version of CPR versus D3D right now. The TRi guys have found some other optimizations also. Michael S. Davis wrote in article

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>> Guys, >> We are begining to suspect that many of the CPR performance-related >> postings >> are from users with BOTH Rendition and 3dfx cards installed and their >> system >> may be defaulting to Rendition. >> The 3dfx generates much faster framerates than the Rendition in CPR >> in our experience. >> I have tracked down some utilities that will force your system to use >> 3dfx >> and hopefully give you better frame rates. >> One is called TWEAK, but I seem to have lost the url to find it (I >> thought >> it was >> on the 3dfx site but now I can't find it). Can someone help with the >> url? >> The other is called "3dfx Control Panel" and is here: >> [link lost in import] >> Can you guys with both cards try this and let the group know if this >> works/helps? >> Thanks. >> Dean (CART Team). >Dean, first let me say thanks for all the support you guys have given >in the newsgroup, put yourself in for a Silver Star. > I bought the full version on the day of release, and have had some >performance issues I haven't been able to work out yet. I run a P166 >*** rig with 128 megs of EDO Ram, both an Intergraph Intense 3D 100 >(Verite 1000 chipset) and a Orchid Righteous 3D vid cards are installed. >I tried the 3D Control Center utility when I found it myself about a >week ago and found what I already knew, the sim was running on the 3dfx >card. I should explain as all Orchid owners know that when the card >kicks in you hear a quite distinct mechanical click from the card. Mine >has been using the 3dfx card from day one. The Rendition card will also >click (much softer) but the two are very different sounds. > I have thought that the sim was running slow. I tried all the >tricks, disabiling the sound, adjusting the draw distance, etc. I must >admit that the frame rates were pretty poor, 12-20 max running on the >Orchid card. I solved my problem the easy way, throw money at it! I just >built a P2/300 with AGP and 128 megs of SGRAM. I will be interested to >see how the frame rate improves when I get done burning in the new >system. I think I'll also try some of the various card combinations and >see what shakes out, AGP versus PCI vid cards. > All in all the sim shows the potential to be a world beater. I have >lots of little picks but those are preferance issues- lose the pit auto >pilot bigtime. I spoke earlier with Eric and he said there was a chance >that in the near future there may be a Glide patch for the sim. Any news >on this? I know that alot of racers would have to clean up their >computer chairs if you guys did a native port for the 3dfx cards! > Thanks for everything and keep up the good work, all the best. Mike >Davis >.

> Yes, as Eric said, we are benchmarking a new Glide version of CPR versus D3D > right now. > The TRi guys have found some other optimizations also. Dean, If it benchmarks faster than D3D are we getting a Glide version? This would be a marvelous thing. -- Neil Yeatman Ajax, Ontario, CANADA

News soon. >> Yes, as Eric said, we are benchmarking a new Glide version of CPR versus D3D

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>> right now. >> The TRi guys have found some other optimizations also. >Dean, >If it benchmarks faster than D3D are we getting a Glide version? >This would be a marvelous thing. >-- >Neil Yeatman >Ajax, Ontario, CANADA >.

Theres about a 2fps difference.....Doubt thats it...

No need to benchmark you know the results.

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>News soon. >>> Yes, as Eric said, we are benchmarking a new Glide version of CPR versus >D3D >>> right now. >>> The TRi guys have found some other optimizations also. >>Dean, >>If it benchmarks faster than D3D are we getting a Glide version? >>This would be a marvelous thing. >>-- >>Neil Yeatman >>Ajax, Ontario, CANADA >>.

Well, you CAN***up using ANY API, even Glide... ;^) I'm hoping they won't, because I really would LOVE to see this sim running at a great frame rate... l8er ronny

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> No need to benchmark you know the results. > >News soon. > >>> Yes, as Eric said, we are benchmarking a new Glide version of CPR versus > >D3D > >>> right now.

-- |\ _,,,---,,_ I want to die like my Grandfather, ZZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ in his sleep. |,4- ) )-,_. ,\ ( `'-' Not like the people in his car, '---''(_/--' `-'\_) screaming their heads off!

Scott - sounds like you have either not installed, or uninstalled directx 5 directinput stuff. Try reinstalling directx 5 & you should see the game controllers control panel instead of the joystick icon. Eric (CART Team) Im confused... when I go into control panel.. all I have is Joystick, I dont have anything called game controllers. In joystick, there is no "poll with interrups enabled" ????

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