Known Warper, Pt 2

[Skuzzy]

Yes, typically when the Variance is bouncing about, it is due to the CPU being takena way from running the game to do other things.

[Denholm]

Denholm - should AH be in the programs folder, or a separate (eg "Games") folder?

Yes, it will help the game to run smoother.

RPM...

Are you using a laptop to fly?

[rpm]

He's told me that. I've shut down every non-essential background program Vista will allow.
Only change was I couldn't connect my PDA to sync, so I had to set that back to automatic.

So now I just fly and warp and listen to everyone call me a cheater and liar. Trust me, if I was cheating my score would look much better than it does.

No laptop. New desktop.

Machine name: IBUYPOWER
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.longhorn_rtm.080118-1840)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5000+ (2 CPUs), ~2.6GHz
Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 792MB used, 3545MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 6.00.6001.18000 32bit Unicode

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8400 GS
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0422&SUBSYS_23091682&REV_A1
Display Memory: 1011 MB
Dedicated Memory: 243 MB
Shared Memory: 767 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)

[The Fugitive]

2 megs of ram is barely enough to run Vista, and that video card is a low end card. How many processes have you got your machine down to? What graphic settings are you using in game?

[Skuzzy]

Did you notice the display memeory is over 1GB?  That is half of your available system RAM, which leaves just enough room for Vista to run.  Any application is going to swap.

You have to love NVidia's newer drivers for stealing that much RAM away for use with a video card that cannot handle more than 256MB.

There has to be a way to change how much system RAM it steals away.

[Denholm]

Yes. I think you might want to stick to 256 textures and probably reduce the resolution a bit. The #400 series from NVIDIA have never been too great. As people have already suggested, adding some more RAM might help you out some more.

[rpm]

I tweaked the video settings a bit and it has helped the warping quite a bit. But it's still there. I couldn't find a way to adjust the RAM settings. This computer is much faster and has a lot more rescources than the old Dell I had. It had a GeForce FX5200 and ran the game great. Vista is the only downside to this one.

[Skuzzy]

It does not have that much in the way of resources.  Vista needs 1GB of RAM.  Your video card is soaking up 1GB of the 2GB of RAM your computer has, so your computer only really has 1GB of RAM which is fine if all you want to do is run Vista.

[rpm]

Which is why I say Vista is the downside of this machine. Trust me, if I had an XP option I'd be a happy camper.

[Skuzzy]

While Vista has its own set of issues, the big problem here is that stupid NVidia driver soaking up over 1GB of system RAM from you computer for a video card which can barely hanlde 256MB.

[rpm]

When I'm running the game it shows memory and amount used. The amount used is usually a fraction of amount available. Is it actually using all that RAM it shows as available?

BTW, I've got 4G of RAM on the way.

[Skuzzy]

Are you sure you have shut down "ReadyBoost" and "SuperFetch".  If the video driver is reducing the amount of free RAM by over 1GB, then yes, you would only have a small percentage of RAM available to run anything as Vista needs around 1GB itself.
 

[rpm]

Yep, ReadyBoost and SuperFetch are both off. RAM should be here later today. I'll install it tonight and see what happens.

[rpm]

Running 4G of RAM now. Nothing has changed. Still getting warps.

[Skuzzy]

How's the in-game 'Variance' line in the net status look?