How to fix GPL mirrors with any Nvidia driver

I just got the GPL demo yesterday and after seeing how good it is, I plan on buying the game. There was a problem with the cars' mirrors though, which I've learned has been a long-time issue with the tnt/tnt2 cards. I searched the internet for a solution and came across a message here about using the 3.53 reference drivers with the "Use Block Transfer" setting to fix the problem, which works perfectly. The only problem is that those drivers suck hehe. I wanted to know how to enable that setting with the 2.08 drivers (the best ones imo), and discovered that this fix can be applied to any driver version by simply changing the value of the "FlippingControl" setting in the registry to "0". Depending on the driver version, this setting can be found in [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\RIVA TNT\OpenGL], or [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Display\0001\NVidia\OpenGL] When doing a fresh install, the settings won't appear in the registry until an opengl game is run once. So just in case there are people out there who are looking for this type of info (since the 3.53 fix is pretty recent), here it is. :)

Glad to see that I'm not the only one who thinks any driver version after 2.08 is crap. Well, 2.17 was good too, but it wasn't an official release. 3.53 driver and the beta 3.65 are slower than the 2.08. 3.53 may be more compatible, I assume, or why would they come out with them. As an exaple of the speed difference: my kids computer is networked to mine. They like to link up and play Midtown Madness. With the 2.08 drivers I could run at 1280x1024 (manually change the video.cfg file). In Beginners Luck with cars in front, I could take the first corner from the off ramp and the video was smooth as silk. The same corner, even without cars in front and even at 640x480, with 3.53 drivers and the video would actually stop frames for a second at a time. The real kicker is that the 1.76 drivers were even a little faster in OpenGL and D3D. Seems like Nvidia is going in the wrong direction with its drivers. Also, the fps in Unreal Tournament is less with 3.53 than 2.08. So its not that the new drivers are tuned to perform better with the newer games, unless they were made just for Q3, and I don't have that game because it doesn't have good support for my PantherXL controller. I'd be curious to know, though. So anyway, I bought another V3 3000 and it oc's from 166 mhz to 195 mhz and is very stable. I think its the current run of 3000's, not just mine. Any of you Nvidia fans out there, I have a Viper 770 Ultra with a TennMax fan for sale! Slot

Yo! Thanks! At last, me Geforce allows me to use the mirrors. I still have to F2+esc everytime the race or qualifying starts, though (I'm using the 3.62 drivers). Jon [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Display\0001\NVi dia\OpenGL]

Actually, I didn't have a hard time using the mirrors with my TNT2 U either. Not full detail and set to every 4th frame, but not bad. Even with the V3 3000, its actully easier to spot a car a long way behind you if the mirror setting is for 'cars and track only'. It looks prettier with full detail, but the cars can blend in with the background. Slot "Never let Mommy brush your hair when she's mad at Dad." (Jen)

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>Yo! >Thanks! >At last, me Geforce allows me to use the mirrors. I still have to F2+esc >everytime the race or qualifying starts, though (I'm using the 3.62 >drivers). >Jon >> I just got the GPL demo yesterday and after seeing how good it is, I >> plan on buying the game. There was a problem with the cars' mirrors >> though, which I've learned has been a long-time issue with the tnt/tnt2 >> cards. I searched the internet for a solution and came across a message >> here about using the 3.53 reference drivers with the "Use Block >> Transfer" setting to fix the problem, which works perfectly. The only >> problem is that those drivers suck hehe. I wanted to know how to enable >> that setting with the 2.08 drivers (the best ones imo), and discovered >> that this fix can be applied to any driver version by simply changing >> the value of the "FlippingControl" setting in the registry to "0". >> Depending on the driver version, this setting can be found in >> [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\RIVA TNT\OpenGL], or >[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Display\0001\NV

i

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>dia\OpenGL] >> When doing a fresh install, the settings won't appear in the registry >> until an opengl game is run once. >> So just in case there are people out there who are looking for this type >> of info (since the 3.53 fix is pretty recent), here it is. :)

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\RIVA TNT\OpenGL], or [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Display\0001\N Vidia\OpenGL] I am a little on the slow side. Where do I find the above. And what do I do?

You'll probably use the second path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Display\0001\NVid ia\OpenGL Keep in mind, that the 0001 could be 0000 or 0002 or whatever, depending on the number of cards you HAVE or the number of drivers you HAD installed. When you open the folder, look on the right side of the split screen for "FlippingControl". Double click it and a box will open. Type 0 in the box and close the registry (just hit the x to close the window). It automatically saves the changes. Generally you don't have to reboot, but you may have to. Slot >[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\RIVA TNT\OpenGL], or >[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Display\0001\N >Vidia\OpenGL] >I am a little on the slow side. Where do I find the above. And what do I do?

Oh, PS. If you've never been in your registry before, youy get into it by hitting the 'Start' button, select 'Run', type in regedit and hit return. Also, don't***around with anything else while you're in there! Slot >[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\RIVA TNT\OpenGL], or >[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Display\0001\N >Vidia\OpenGL] >I am a little on the slow side. Where do I find the above. And what do I do?

I still need to know where to find that particular file. I dont know what it is. If I can get to it I can change it.

thank you

It worked! something so goshdarn simple! Sheer Genius. Thanks alot! Mike

I've tried every version so far (haven't tried 3.66 yet, they are at reactor critical right now) and have come back to 2.04 -- Don Scurlock Vancouver,B.C.

where can I find these drivers? HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Display\0001\NVid > ia\OpenGL > Keep in mind, that the 0001 could be 0000 or 0002 or whatever, depending on > the number of cards you HAVE or the number of drivers you HAD installed. > When you open the folder, look on the right side of the split screen for > "FlippingControl". Double click it and a box will open. Type 0 in the box > and close the registry (just hit the x to close the window). It > automatically saves the changes. Generally you don't have to reboot, but you

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> may have to. > Slot > >[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\RIVA TNT\OpenGL], or >[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Display\0001\N > >Vidia\OpenGL] > >I am a little on the slow side. Where do I find the above. And what do

I > do?

It is not a file, it is an entry in the registry. You have to run regedit.exe (this is a file and you find it in your start menu or searching your computer). When regedit is running, you search for that entry... CU Zolli

Anyone know if there is a performance impact for Q3A of leaving this on? [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Display\0001 \NVidia\OpenGL] Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Is there any way to do this trick using Creative Labs drivers? I ask because they handle V-sync off properly (in the games Ive tried) whereas the Nvidia ref drivers <3.53 do not. So, I'd like the mirrors to work but if I lose Vsync off then the speed will decrease anyway. (BTW The CL 2.08 based drivers on my machine sem much more stable+faster than the Nvidia 3.53's, plus they handle the vsync off well - thats why Im using 'em) I cant find this key in the registry and wondered if it might be called something else when using Creatives drivers? Thanks for any help sent this way! Jeff

I myself have a Guillemot Xentor 32 and the only difference I can tell between Guillemot's and Nvidia's drivers is the display property sheets. All the underlying stuff is the same. I guess Creative Labs actually does some serious work with their drivers which makes them different. The FlippingControl setting might have a different name so you might want to look for a variation. Do a little experimenting (if you're up to it) or email tech support. One thing you can try is to simply add the FlippingControl setting by entering a new DWord value under the OpenGL key. Spelling is case-sensitive so make sure it's exact, and set the value to 0. I would try this first actually. Good luck.

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> Is there any way to do this trick using Creative Labs drivers? I ask because > they handle V-sync off properly (in the games Ive tried) whereas the Nvidia > ref drivers <3.53 do not. So, I'd like the mirrors to work but if I lose > Vsync off then the speed will decrease anyway. (BTW The CL 2.08 based > drivers on my machine sem much more stable+faster than the Nvidia 3.53's, > plus they handle the vsync off well - thats why Im using 'em) > I cant find this key in the registry and wondered if it might be called > something else when using Creatives drivers? > Thanks for any help sent this way! > Jeff

Yes, if you have got the Blaster Control installed, go into the advanced page of the Tweak section, open up the OpenGL tab and select "Use block transfer" for the buffer flipping mode. The mirrors will then stop doing their jiggery-pokery stuff. The people at Sierra actually told me this, which I thought was pretty decent of them given that the OpenGL patch is unsupported. The frequeny of the mirror re-drawing can then be altered in the core.ini file (as per the text fi,e instructions with the OpenGL patch) to tweak your frame-rate). Hope this helps. Cheers Ken

Go to the Tweak page in the Blaster Control, select advanced, then open up the OpenGL tab. For buffer lipping mode select "Use Block Transfer" and the mirrors wil be fixed. You can then play about with the mirro re-fresh settings in the core.ini file as pecified in the text file that came with the OpenGL patch. Hope this helps. Cheers Ken

And I thought Christmas was over ! Thank you very much for this. I've been looking for 6 months for a solution for the mirrors, e-mailing Nvidia and Sierra, trying all the Nvidia driver updates, and nothing worked until this. Thanks again Billy. Don -- Don Scurlock Vancouver,B.C.