Author Topic: Low Frame Rates (Read 2017 times)

seabat · « **Reply #30 on:** April 19, 2005, 08:57:49 AM »

With the various problems some people are having with frame rates, is it possible that the offline map could have a base with things burning for people to use to tweak their pc's?

Skuzzy · « **Reply #31 on:** April 19, 2005, 09:38:09 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by lasse
My system:
Amd64 3500 socket 939
2 GB ram
GeForce 6800 Ultra 256MB
Soundblaster Audigry (something)
Systemdisk raptor 36,4 GB (10000 RPM)
Gamedisk raptor 74,5 GB (10000 RPM)

I play AH in 1280x1024 with AA x4 and AFx4, in AH all adjustments are maxed out.
Everything are loaded in vid mem, and sytem mem.

When in "normal" flight (5K and above) I have 20-50FPS, low over forests I get 10fps + - , Takeoff from field under attack 5-10 fps.

I feel this is a tad low FPS for my system, or is this the FPS i should excpect in AH with everything on max ?

((Just has ordered a Dell 24" widescreen, wonder what FPS I will get in 192x1200))

PS! On my motherboard I have 2xGB lan and one 54mbps wireless network card, I use all these.If I disable these 3, and install a PCI network card, will this help my FPS ?

I can categorically tell you, you have over extended your resources in that system with those settings. The video card will be thrashing in its memory moving data in and out, which is probably the source of the low FPS.
Your video card would need a 1GB of ram to do what you are asking of it and then it would be tight.

Turn off AF. Turn down AA to 2X and set your maximum texture size to 512 or less. Turn off preloading into video ram. Leave the option to preload into system ram checked.

DaddyAck · « **Reply #32 on:** April 19, 2005, 03:41:55 PM »

Riddle me this?

I have a
800mhz Anthalon
Geeforce3 128mb
soundblaster x-gamer 5.1
1gig system ram.

I used to get an average frame rate, with everything slid all the way to the left. After this latest patch I get good up high but single digits on the deck. Please help if you can with any sugjestions. I have already tried lowering my detail sliders and going from 1600x1200x1024 to 1024x768x512 and it yeild about a 20fps at alt and 11 or so on the deck?

Skuz, please give sugestions to make it work until my wife lets me get my new video card.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #33 on:** April 19, 2005, 04:17:25 PM »

Try these settings DA.

Resolution:1024x768
Texture Size: 256
Preload both skins and textures into system memory, but not into video ram.

In the game, move the object detail slider to about 3/4 position towards performance. Same with the distance slider.

Start with that as the baseline.

DaddyAck · « **Reply #34 on:** April 19, 2005, 04:30:53 PM »

Thank you, I will try these when I get home from work. I would also clearify that I do love the latest version of AH2 and it looks awesome in 1600x1200 with all the bells a whistles, I understand that It is just my computer showing her age that causes my greif. Good jod to you and your comrads! I apreciate your hard work!!

AKDogg · « **Reply #35 on:** April 19, 2005, 06:21:41 PM »

Check this site out. Has a complete list of almost every video card made by all manufactures. It tells you everything about each and every card (ex. memory bandwidth, transistor count, pipe lines, fill rate, etc...)

Video card guide

capera · « **Reply #36 on:** April 20, 2005, 07:55:30 AM »

Thanks guys.....

My video settings were set to "Application Controlled" and I manually set my Vsync to "ON" and I also checked the box in the game video settings to cap off frame rate at 60fps and I see a great improvement in game play.

Yesterday when I had Vsync manually turned OFF, I seen frame rates 140+ but I knew that meant nothing seeing my max refresh rate was only 75.

Running a solid 64 and very little deviation when close to the ground. Now the next test is "The Misfire Mission" or a heavy furball over a airfield or CV. That will let me know if I need an upgrade.

System info:

AMD Athlon 3200+
GeForce 6600GT 128 Meg
1024 DDR PC3200 Ram
Sound Blaster "Live"

P.S. I should have read this fourm a long time ago. Thanks Skuzzy and StarOfAfrica2 for all your advice. Very helpfull.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #37 on:** April 20, 2005, 01:29:05 PM »

Just my opinion, but you should be good with that system for awhile. Very similar to what I have. Only suggestion I'll make for an upgrade, is your sound card. I have one of the "Live" cards as well, and I was convinced the Audigy 2 is a better deal for performance. I have to wait a month to buy it, but I'm hoping to see an increase.

capera · « **Reply #38 on:** April 21, 2005, 05:47:02 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
Just my opinion, but you should be good with that system for awhile. Very similar to what I have. Only suggestion I'll make for an upgrade, is your sound card. I have one of the "Live" cards as well, and I was convinced the Audigy 2 is a better deal for performance. I have to wait a month to buy it, but I'm hoping to see an increase.

Upgrading my sound card will improve gameplay?

How so?

AKDogg · « **Reply #39 on:** April 21, 2005, 08:07:41 AM »

Onboard sound cards are generally are software controlled which takes valuable CPU time to process. PCI soundcards most of the time are hardware controlled (processor on card) to do all the acceleration leaving the CPU to do other things with its time. PCI sound cards are generally fully directx compatable (ex. DX9 like the audigy 2z)

capera · « **Reply #40 on:** April 21, 2005, 08:42:27 AM »

Yup....know it is better to have a PCI sound card than use your onboard sound. Just one less thing your CPU has to deal with....

What I was wondering is how upgrading from a Creative SoundBlaster "Live" to a Audigy 2 can improve gameplay.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #41 on:** April 21, 2005, 09:13:43 AM »

The Live cards from Creative have very poor support for DirectX. They do not expose any hardware buffers at all to DirectX.

All the newer cards from Creative have much better driver support in DirectX which reduces the CPU overhead substantially. It is possible to see as much as a 15FPS gain in frame rate due to the CPU usage reduction in handling sound.
Your mileage may vary on the performance increase in video, but there is a very good chance there will be some increase.

And due to the hardware beinbg better exposed in DirectX, you will probably lose sounds less. This is more difficult to measure.

capera · « **Reply #42 on:** April 21, 2005, 09:25:13 AM »

Good information. Thx Skuzzy.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #43 on:** April 21, 2005, 09:45:54 AM »

Oh, one other thing. If you have a VIA based motherboard, do not bother getting a Creative Labs Audigy or newer card. They just do not work well in with VIA chipsets.

Pollock · « **Reply #44 on:** April 21, 2005, 10:51:41 AM »

I am using onboard sound on my msi neo platinum 2 with nforce 3 chipset. I disabled it and put in an old sound card (at least 5 years old) and noticed no increase in performance. if I use a new soundcard will i see an increase in frame rate? Is the resource an issue with nforce or just via?

Since I use headphones i would require a cheap basic card what is recommended.