SLI ?

[codeseven]

Sorry if this has already been asked. Does SH4 support SLI? Thanks

[flintlock]

SH4 will work with a SLI setup, but there appears to be little if any benefit performance wise. At least from what I've read with others' experience. I may be wrong.

[Jab_Bauer]

Im not sure if SLI works with this game, but my framerate is never noticably laggy... err well sometimes it is when I look in a certain direction.. no idea why though. But it usually runs super smooth, so I have no problems.

AMD X2 3800
Nvidia 7800GT SLI
2048mb

[DirtyHarry3033]

Im not sure if SLI works with this game, but my framerate is never noticably laggy... err well sometimes it is when I look in a certain direction.. no idea why though. But it usually runs super smooth, so I have no problems.

AMD X2 3800
Nvidia 7800GT SLI
2048mb
I imagine you're looking at the "invisible monolith" when your fps drops. I'm running an oc'ed FX-60, 2x oc'ed 7900GTX in SLI (though I've not made an SLI profile for SH4 yet), 2gb Corsair PC4000 Platinum and I hardly ever drop under 60fps (locked at 60 since I've got vsync on) unless I look at that "monolith" thingie. Then the fps will drop to the 1-2 range.

One night I was so close to it I couldn't look away, the fps dropped so low! Tried to move the periscope to look away from it, it would take 30 seconds to rotate 1 degree. Ended up just doing a hard reset rather than wait an hour for the thing to get out of view.

You can avoid that bug by turning off Environmental Effects. Supposedly this bug has been fixed in 1.2 - I hope so!

[codeseven]

Should have shown my system specs first. Given that the newer video drivers allow for mix and matching cards, will adding a second 7800 or higher card matter with this game. I dont recall reading anything about SLI support, though as new as this game is you would think that would be a given.

DFI LP NF4 SLI-DR (BIOS 623-3)
AMD Athlon 64 3700+ 939 90nm 1mb L2 cache
2GB (2x1GB) Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC4000
1-BFG GeForce 7800 GTX OC 256mb
WD 74 Gb SATA 10,000 rpm Raptor
NEC 3540A DVD RW
Mitsumi Floppy 7 in 1 USB Card Reader/Smart Media
Creative X-FI Fatality
PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 510 SLI
Lian Li PC-60B Plus case
XP x64 Pro

[Sagan]

Can someone post a screenshot of the monolith thing. I don't know what it looks like ingame.

[Probex]

SLI works just fine and DOES improve things. I have 2x6800GTs


Use Nhancer and make sure that you use:

#25 Compatibilty Flag in your SH4 profile (that you have to create)

OR use the SH3 profile and simply point to the SH4 exec.

[DirtyHarry3033]

Can someone post a screenshot of the monolith thing. I don't know what it looks like ingame.
Search the forum for "monolith", you'll find pics. It's called "monolith" afaik, because it looks like that big black monolith in "2001 A Space Odyssey". Only difference is it is transparent instead of black. If you don't know exactly where to look, you'd never know it was there! Just looks like a very vague, clear rectangle. Do a search and you'll find some pics of it. Personally, I've encountered it, but I've never actually seen it ;)

[JDHartman]

Just a little bit off topic. If you really want to see what the Monolith looks like..play S.T.A.L.K.E.R :)

[capt_frank]

SLI works just fine and DOES improve things. I have 2x6800GTs


Use Nhancer and make sure that you use:

#25 Compatibilty Flag in your SH4 profile (that you have to create)

OR use the SH3 profile and simply point to the SH4 exec.

What does this do?

If you've got the time, it would be swell if you posted your nvidia SH4 profile so we all can see what you've got enabled, etc. I'm running dual 7900Gs's and I'm getting some pretty good frames, but of course, I'm always in search of something better.

Thanks!

[Probex]

Well, the only key is to use that compatibility flag, but here it is :-)



http://files.filefront.com/SH4_Sli_Profile_Nhancernofile/;7229202;/fileinfo.html

[stuntcow]

I also use SLI(2 7800GTX) and have not see that big of a difference. Thanks for the info. Will try it when I get home. Anything that adds a little more is a good thing.

[Probex]

Well, for me it doubled the frames, literally.

BUT you CAN'T use the V-sync because that cuts the fps in HALF.



IF I don't use the #25 (AFR2) compatibility flag, then there is no fps increase with SLI either, so it is important to make sure that it is checked. Only Nhancer will give you access to those flags.




S!

[Probex]

Let me know your results guys!




Thanks

[capt_frank]

Let me know your results guys! Thanks

Bada Bing and BINGO!!

Big leap in frames my friend. I also turned off Anti-Aliasing and Vertical Sync (rather than leaving them app controlled) and saw another increase.

Really like the NHancer program, I see lots of reading to do! I also fetched the Riva Tuner program, lots of good stuff there.

Thanks again!! :D :D

[Ziem]

Halleluja...same here. I went from 19 to 80fps on the bridge.....

Great stuff. tx a lot

Z.

[capt_frank]

Probex, is this Nhancer file only for SLI or will it also work with Crossfire? And, if so, where do you place the file? In the main SH4 directory? Thanks.

I don't know about Crossfire usage...

But this is what I did with SLI: After you download Probex's file, download the NHancer program (or visa versa). Once NHancer is installed, you can open Probex's file by using NHancer to open. Add it as your SH4 profile or have it overwrite your existing SH4 profile. I had already created a SH4 profile in my NVidia Control Panel so I had NHancer overwrite it.

Big increase in frames for me!

[akdavis]

Yup. Major increase IF I turn off synchronisation (with synchronization on, there was a net loss of frames in comparison to running a single GPU), but there doesn't seem to be the horrible stuttering issue I had before when I tried to play with synchronization off. (perhaps because frames are now high enough to compensate for the synchronization problem?)

Only other factor might be I noticed multi-core support was enabled in the profile provided above.

[bsub]

How do I load the "flag file" into Nhancer? When I try import, it does not list the file in the directory. If I use "add", it just says "new application".

[codeseven]

I also use SLI(2 7800GTX) and have not see that big of a difference. Thanks for the info. Will try it when I get home. Anything that adds a little more is a good thing.

Hey Stuntcow, in your opinion, should I bother getting that second card (7800) for SLI, stick with what I've got because there will be little difference or dump the 7800 for a single 8800xx?

[capt_frank]

How do I load the "flag file" into Nhancer? When I try import, it does not list the file in the directory. If I use "add", it just says "new application".

From a previous post:

"...After you download Probex's file, download the NHancer program (or visa versa). Once NHancer is installed, you can open Probex's file by using NHancer to open. Add it as your SH4 profile or have it overwrite your existing SH4 profile. I had already created a SH4 profile in my NVidia Control Panel so I had NHancer overwrite it."

Right click on Probex's file and "Open with" NHancer, it's pretty explanatory from there.

[flintlock]

post a screenshot of the monolith thing. I don't know what it looks like. http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t287/idachs/SH4/monolith.jpg

[akdavis]

Unfortunately, after some more testing, I have to conclude that having SLI-enabled is causing a net loss of 4-5 frames over running with a single GPU. The synchronization issue is still present. This can be seen in watching aircraft move across the screen (they move in little jumps). Frames are indeed two or more times higher, but there is stuttering and more pronounced "tearing." This is just as true with only one GPU, so I think SLI is not a factor here (it neither solves nor causes the synchronization problem).

[codeseven]

Unfortunately, after some more testing, I have to conclude that having SLI-enabled is causing a net loss of 4-5 frames over running with a single GPU. The synchronization issue is still present. This can be seen in watching aircraft move across the screen (they move in little jumps). Frames are indeed two or more times higher, but there is stuttering and more pronounced "tearing." This is just as true with only one GPU, so I think SLI is not a factor here (it neither solves nor causes the synchronization problem).

Does this also mean multi core CPU's are useless in SH4?

[flintlock]

Does this also mean multi core CPU's are useless in SH4? Useless? No, multi-core processors work just fine. Unfortunately you're not going to enjoy a benefit performance wise though, as SH4 is not a true multithreaded application. Hopefully things will change with a future version of SHx.

[codeseven]

Does this also mean multi core CPU's are useless in SH4? Useless? No, multi-core processors work just fine. Unfortunately you're not going to enjoy a benefit performance wise though, as SH4 is not a true multithreaded application. Hopefully things will change with a future version of SHx.

Thanks Flintlock, "multithreaded application" is what I was thinking of. I know, as in the case of MS Flight Simulator X, that feature can be added via a Service Pack to a game that did not have that capability before. But I suppose since SH4 is based on SH3, this cant be done.

http://blogs.msdn.com/ptaylor/archive/2007/04/09/fsx-sp1-news-intel-quote.aspx

[Probex]

I think that those monoliths also explode your Torps if you shoot one through it, lol

I can't ever see them, but my torps explode in the same spot sometimes even though they are set to contact detonation only.

[flintlock]

Not just your torps. If you inadvertantly sail into one with Bernard at the helm:

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t287/idachs/SH4/mono_01.jpg

This can happen:

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t287/idachs/SH4/mono_02.jpg

[Probex]

I just remembered that in my SLI profile I gave you guys, I was playing with the LOD values and I set it to -3. I don't think that it did anything, and if you choose to enable Anisotropic, you should set the LOD back to Zero.

[codeseven]

I also use SLI(2 7800GTX) and have not see that big of a difference. Thanks for the info. Will try it when I get home. Anything that adds a little more is a good thing.

Hey Stuntcow, in your opinion, should I bother getting that second card (7800) for SLI, stick with what I've got because there will be little difference or dump the 7800 for a single 8800xx?


Stuntcow, you there?

[stuntcow]

Yeah, sorry. Had internet problems the last few days.

As to the 7800GTX SLI vs. 8800GTX. I know that I have ran everything that I play at max res. For me thats 1600x1200. If you have a power supply that would handle the second card. It would be cheaper. My friend has a 8800GTX and our frame rates are about matched with a +/- of 3fps. I have been looking at at the 8800GTX's but $500+ is a little hard to do for me. And already have the SLI.

Good luck.

[codeseven]

Thanks. It's temting to buy that second 7800 for SLI but now I see the new 83,85 and 8600 cards are coming out at about the same price (reportedly). It would be nice to have a DX10 card (not any good fot this game). Now I have to decide if one of those cards wil be any better than two of mine.

[stuntcow]

I can understand that.