Aces High Bulletin Board

Help and Support Forums => Technical Support => Topic started by: BnZs on February 27, 2014, 04:51:38 PM

Title: Minor Stutters
Post by: BnZs on February 27, 2014, 04:51:38 PM
I am having some minor stutters, particularly when I roll the plane quickly while looking at the ground. My FR doesn't really drop while this is going on, I'm usually at 85 and hardly ever below 60. Any ideas?
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: BluBerry on February 27, 2014, 05:15:40 PM
I am having some minor stutters, particularly when I roll the plane quickly while looking at the ground. My FR doesn't really drop while this is going on, I'm usually at 85 and hardly ever below 60. Any ideas?

Input lag perhaps.
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: BnZs on February 27, 2014, 05:41:31 PM
Input lag perhaps.

Whazzat? And how do I fix?
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: BnZs on February 27, 2014, 05:42:27 PM
I realize what I said earlier was misleading...my FR often *does* drop when something like this occurs, but only from 85 down to 70 or so.
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: morfiend on February 27, 2014, 06:06:04 PM
 BnZ, it could be several things such as skins loading or lack of resources but I have to ask what type of monitor are you using and do you have Vsync enabled?

  I suspect Skuzzy would need to see a Dxdiag printout for your machine to help solve the problem.




    :salute
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: BnZs on February 27, 2014, 06:09:30 PM
BnZ, it could be several things such as skins loading or lack of resources but I have to ask what type of monitor are you using and do you have Vsync enabled?
I don't think it can be skins loading, because it happens in the absence of other players as well. Like I say, it seems most likely to happen when doing a fast roll looking sideways or up through the canopy.
21" CRT, and yes I do have Vsync enabled.

Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: BluBerry on February 27, 2014, 06:45:01 PM
Whazzat? And how do I fix?

Input lag is where if you dip x amount of frames below the refresh rate of your monitor (just 5 or 6 frames for a moment for instance), you can end up with choppy play or frame-rates being halved momentarily.

This is normally due to poorly written code in other games I have played.

Basically when you move your joystick (or input) and lets say roll the aircraft, the code in a game which is poorly written will make your frames per second ( FPS) dip, then you see stuttering.
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: morfiend on February 27, 2014, 06:47:26 PM
 I suspected a CRT but thought Nah everyone uses LCD's these days..... :devil


  I would post a DXdiag,this will give the imformation Skuzzy or others will need to help assist with this problem,if you're not sure how to I think there;s a sticky at the top of the forum on how to.

  Look in hints and tips.



    :salute
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: Randy1 on February 28, 2014, 05:54:43 AM
If your refresh rate is 120 and you are dropping down that low then start by minimizing your video setting then work your way up.  Move that slider all the way to the right for sure.
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: Skuzzy on February 28, 2014, 06:31:10 AM
A DXDIAG output would be helpful.  This could be a resource related issue.  A DXDIAG output might help pin point that.
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: BnZs on February 28, 2014, 08:43:49 AM
If your refresh rate is 120 and you are dropping down that low then start by minimizing your video setting then work your way up.  Move that slider all the way to the right for sure.

Refresh rate is usually 85, that is as fast as the monitor will go. Skuzzy, I'll have that report for you over the weekend.
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: BnZs on February 28, 2014, 03:51:05 PM
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 2/28/2014, 15:43:14
       Machine name: BOB
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
       System Model: P5QL PRO
               BIOS: BIOS Date: 11/28/08 17:25:18 Ver: 08.00.14
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     E8400  @ 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 2048MB RAM
          Page File: 190MB used, 6703MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 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_0640&SUBSYS_34951458&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 512.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (85Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0011.7519 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 5/16/2008 12:31:00, 6108928 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: n/a
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 5/16/2008 12:31:00, 6557408 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4500-11CF-B76A-9E1400C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0640
        SubSys ID: 0x34951458
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {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
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {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

Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: FLS on February 28, 2014, 04:27:26 PM
Just curious, ever run your monitor at native resolution?
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: morfiend on February 28, 2014, 04:56:51 PM
BnZ,

  Do you have hirez installed and if so what is your maximum texture size set to?

  That vidcard is pretty old and wasnt a topend card when new,with only 512mb of Vram I would think you'd need to uncheck most the boxes in the advanced settings.

  Try moving the slider in graphic details to faster,set max texture size to 512 and test to see if the stutters go away.


    :salute
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: BnZs on February 28, 2014, 06:48:02 PM
Roger, but is getting occasional stutters *without* the frames dropping badly normal?

BnZ,

  Do you have hirez installed and if so what is your maximum texture size set to?

  That vidcard is pretty old and wasnt a topend card when new,with only 512mb of Vram I would think you'd need to uncheck most the boxes in the advanced settings.

  Try moving the slider in graphic details to faster,set max texture size to 512 and test to see if the stutters go away.


    :salute
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: The Fugitive on February 28, 2014, 09:07:21 PM
You said the stutters are quick, maybe quick enough that the FR recovers before you see much of a drop?

Like Skuzzy said, it sounds like it might be resource related. That computer isn't the strongest and if your trying to squeeze more eye candy than it can handle it will stutter as it tries to catch up.

What in game settings are you using, textures size and such. Maybe switching the monitors refresh rate and resolution to its native/natural settings. You may be pushing the monitor too hard as well.
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: Chalenge on March 01, 2014, 01:46:53 AM
Sounds like you have triple buffering on.
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: Skuzzy on March 01, 2014, 06:07:56 AM
Roger, but is getting occasional stutters *without* the frames dropping badly normal?


Yes.  That simply means the video card can be running out of resources.

Sounds like you have triple buffering on.

If you force triple buffering on, on the video card, this will cause problems as the game already does its own triple buffering for the video output.

You can easily swamp 512MB of video RAM with a combination of anti-aliasing, 2048 textures, and/or soft shadows or environment mapping enabled in conjunction with bump mapping.

Easy to test these theories.  Turn down everything and see if the stutters go away.
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: BnZs on March 01, 2014, 10:02:14 AM
Would the easiest fix be a stronger card?

Yes.  That simply means the video card can be running out of resources.

If you force triple buffering on, on the video card, this will cause problems as the game already does its own triple buffering for the video output.

You can easily swamp 512MB of video RAM with a combination of anti-aliasing, 2048 textures, and/or soft shadows or environment mapping enabled in conjunction with bump mapping.

Easy to test these theories.  Turn down everything and see if the stutters go away.
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: Drano on March 01, 2014, 12:15:58 PM
Would the easiest fix be a stronger card?


That machine is pretty dated amigo. 2008 tech heading into 2014. I'd say that'd be throwing good money after bad. Been there! I tried souping up my old P4 rig that was similar to yours (XP, not much RAM, 4600 series video card) and it just couldn't get there (AH-wise) even with all the overclocking I could throw at it--and I did that! And that was with the current graphics model which is about to get a minor/major bump. New pretty much top to bottom rig was all I could do. I saved my nice fatality sound card and that was about it. I think I "future proofed" myself for this next bump but we shall see.
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: Skuzzy on March 01, 2014, 01:27:55 PM
Would the easiest fix be a stronger card?


It is not about the speed of the video card, per se.  The resources, in this case, is the limited amount of video RAM.  You should be able to run with basic settings, pretty smoothly.  It is not going to look all that good, but it can be made to work fine.

A video card with 1GB, or more, of video RAM will prove useful, especially as we move forward.
Title: Re: Minor Stutters
Post by: BluBerry on March 01, 2014, 01:34:49 PM
A video card with 1GB, or more, of video RAM will prove useful, especially as we move forward.

 :rock