Rendering engine off a little?

[gyrene81]

This isn't a complaint...more of a question:

I have the video texture size to 512 and I've turned some things off...made some tweaks on my video card. Getting 72 - 75 frames evenly consistently, but I have noticed some anomolies...like some textures taking a bit to render.


This is what happens for a few seconds after minimizing the game and bringing it back up:






DXdiag info:
ystem Information
------------------
Time of this report: 7/28/2009, 20:12:56
       Machine name: XXX
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: XFX68L
       System Model: XFX Nforce 680i LT
               BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU          6600  @ 2.40GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 2558MB RAM
          Page File: 800MB used, 3646MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 9500 GT
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0643&SUBSYS_400A1682&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 512.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (75Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0011.8250 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 3/27/2009 10:03:00, 6186880 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 3/27/2009 10:03:00, 6280416 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4503-11CF-0855-016000C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0643
        SubSys ID: 0x400A1682
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D

Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Realtek HD Audio output
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0885&SUBSYS_10ECE601&REV_1001
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5767 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 12/26/2008 17:27:26, 4968448 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Realtek HD Audio Input
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5767 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 12/26/2008 17:27:26, 4968448 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x41
           Format Flags: 0xFFF

            Description: Realtek HD Digital input
  Default Sound Capture: No
  Default Voice Capture: No
            Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5767 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 12/26/2008 17:27:26, 4968448 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x41
           Format Flags: 0xFFF

[TwinTail]

You know if you if you leave it for a few seconds the screen will return to origonal, it just needs to reload itself.

[gyrene81]

You know if you if you leave it for a few seconds the screen will return to origonal, it just needs to reload itself.

I know...never did it before...just wondering if there is some underlying graphics rendering process that might be taking a hit now.

[ImADot]

Yes, it's a new rendering engine.  I think Hitech said that's the trade-off for a better engine.  Just sit for a few seconds and take a breath.  Sheeesh.   

[gyrene81]

  I'm not spazzing...not in the least...I'm getting good steady frame rates.

Here's the deal...I didn't get into the beta testing like I should have, and now I'm wishing I did (I do this sort of stuff for a living)...now I noticed all of a sudden I'm using less video memory than I was...and the initial object rendering is slower regardless of what changes I make to the game settings or my video driver settings...I've been trying to figure out if there is some way to improve the rendering process so that it is at least competitive with AH2131...the one thing that is missing (and might make a difference) is that texture caching(?) option that used to be in the game's video settings.

Minimize then maximize the game and you will notice the used video memory is very low...and the CNT number is high (=/- 90)...upon maximizing the game the CNT number starts getting lower quickly until it reaches zero and your used video memory has increased with every object rendered...that leads me to believe the video caching of objects/textures isn't happening like it used to and the new process is very GPU to memory intensive...which would account for a large number of the stuttering and rendering issues people are seeing.