Custom Arena Takes Long Time To Load

[Mongoose]

  I am experimenting with custom arenas.  Whenever enter a custom arena, it takes a long time for the details to draw on my screen.  I don't have a good graphics card, just a basic set up.  I am using the ndisles map, which I am also using in the Offline Arena.  In the Offline Arena, it takes about half a minute for all the objects to be drawn on the screen for the first time.  In my custom arena, it takes well over a minute.

[Skuzzy]

A DXDIAG output would be helpful.  If your video card is struggling with resources, then turning down various game graphic options should help the performance.

[Mongoose]

A DXDIAG output would be helpful.  If your video card is struggling with resources, then turning down various game graphic options should help the performance.

How do I do that?  I tried pasting the text in, and got an error that the message is too long.  I've done it before, but can't remember how to do it on this board.

[The Fugitive]

How do I do that?  I tried pasting the text in, and got an error that the message is too long.  I've done it before, but can't remember how to do it on this board.

This explains it.... http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,342871.msg4526838.html#msg4526838

[Mongoose]

  Thanks, Fugitive.  I naturally tried to post the whole thing.

  Skuzzy, here it is:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 1/5/2013, 08:18:50
       Machine name: DADANDMOMPC
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.120821-1629)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
       System Model: Dimension 4600i             
               BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A08
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
             Memory: 1022MB RAM
          Page File: 278MB used, 2183MB 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 FX 5200  (Microsoft Corporation)
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce FX 5200
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0322&SUBSYS_A3033842&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 128.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
          Monitor: ViewSonic G800
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.5673 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 4/13/2008 16:12:02, 4274816 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 8/3/2004 14:29:56, 1897408 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4062-11CF-DB4D-098300C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0322
        SubSys ID: 0xA3033842
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFilteri ng
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFilteri ng
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFilteri ng
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFilteri ng
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24D5&SUBSYS_01741028&REV_02
        Manufacturer ID: 65535
             Product ID: 65535
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: smwdm.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.5246 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 1/27/2005 14:31:06, 260352 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Analog Devices
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: Yes
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): Yes
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

[The Fugitive]

That computer is just over the min requirements posted on the main page.

You would have to turn everything down to the bare minimums. Slow load times would be normal as well.

[TwinBoom]

ram needs to be 3 gigs at least for that system and cheap on ebay

[Skuzzy]

The video card does not have enough physical RAM to run the game anymore.  You can just get by with a video card that has 256MB of video RAM.

[Mongoose]

The video card does not have enough physical RAM to run the game anymore.  You can just get by with a video card that has 256MB of video RAM.

Yes, I know.  I am cutting it very close with the specs on the computer.  I just don't have the money right now to upgrade.

The question remains, why does it take longer for the scenery to show up in the custom arena than in the offline practice arena, or the online main arena?  I am using the same map as the offline arena, but it takes much longer for the details to fill in.

[Skuzzy]

Yes, I know.  I am cutting it very close with the specs on the computer.  I just don't have the money right now to upgrade.

The question remains, why does it take longer for the scenery to show up in the custom arena than in the offline practice arena, or the online main arena?  I am using the same map as the offline arena, but it takes much longer for the details to fill in.

It takes more resources to run online than offline.

[Bizman]

I just don't have the money right now to upgrade.

A quick glimpse at ebay shows e.g. GeForce 6800 Ultra cards with 256 Mb ram for $20-30. Your local build shop might have some on the second hand shelf, too. Not to mention this generous community whose members might have something like that just waiting for someone to ask for it.

I'm not saying that kind of an upgrade would make you happy for the next five years, though... 

[Mongoose]

It takes more resources to run online than offline.

   Ok.  That makes sense.  There is more going on when I am online.  Thanks for the help.

  Now I just have to scrape the money together to do some upgrades.