Slooow SH4

[SurfnSea]

This has probably been mentioned before, however, I'm not finding an answer to the possible reason for such slow performance even on the lowest settings. My computer cpu is 2.4 megahertz, graphics card has latest drivers and is 256 mb, memory is 2 gigs.
Alt. Tab doesn't work.
The game seems to be fine when selecting options, career, patrol etc. When the game starts, however, it slooows down. I've heard mention of a memory leak. After posting this I'm going to defrag the drive.

Any suggestions?

[maerean_m]

The problem is with your graphics card (and the CPU on high time compression values).

Here's a chart of graphic cards' performance on Tom's Hardware (http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1064&model2=716&chart=318).
Yours should be above nVidia 7600GT or the ATi HD2600XT.

[Rockin Robbins]

My 7600GT was fine, but I wouldn't recommend anything below that. That also makes an 8600 a minimal card, as its performance is almost identical to the 7600GT*. Minimal means you'll be happy with the performance, but not with anything less.

*Yes I know all about DX10. Bah, humbug!

[-Pv-]

I would agree with other's speculation that your CPU and Gcard are too slow for this game. Another possibility is you may not be playing with a "clean" system where other processes, viruses, spyware, protection programs, background programs, utilities are using too much CPU. If you are still too slow once you have optimized your system for games, you should upgrade.
-Pv-

[SurfnSea]

Thanks for the replies. What you all say makes sense. By a very odd coincidence I got a decent little extra paycheck (seems the school district I teach in values us and gave teachers a retroactive raise). Hmmm, whatever shall I do with a piece of it? While I ponder this tough decision I'll continue to take my slooow boat to China.
Cheers,
SurfnSea

Update: I can get the following card for about 80.00: Diamond Viper Radeon X1650 Pro 512mb (PCI). If I'm looking at the Tom's Hardware chart correctly then that should be enough,no?

[peabody]

I notice the reference to Tom's Hardware, he does excellent work evaluating hardware.
But , the reason I am posting is so noobs can get more info. I have the Gigabyte Nvidia 7600GS and I am not maxed out and only get about 17-20 fps. So you can use that as info when looking on the list. I can play the game fine (haven't tried the career yet though, just the quick missions) The rest of my machine is top notch (other than the onboard audio 7.1 which was recommended to disable and get a seperate sound card) and is very new and passed the test with flying colors, except the video card only rated as 1 line above "recommended". The only games (oops sims) I play are this, which I just got Friday so I may be able to tweak it more, and Falcon 4 Allied Force. I have no problem with Falcon because it doesn't rely heavely on video card but more on RAM and CPU speeds.

I do have one question for the "experts", should I even consider adding the ROW mod or will that bring everything to a screaching halt. Funny thing is I didn't know I had a problem until I checked fps. There are some setting I am not familiar with so I don't even know whether they should be on or off in my case.
I think I will go and disable the onboard sound and check my fps. I'll respond when done.

Peabody

Edit: I disabled the onboard Audio and it made no difference. I get 43 fps when the mission starts and I am the only one there, and drops to 17-25 during battle. Could it be that I have enough RAM to handle the onboard audio, but it may make a difference to those with minimum RAM? I know my video card is not a gaming card because I didn't buy it for games, but it does seem to be the slowdown, but like I stated I am enjoying the game even if not maxed out. Of course if I see it on another machine where it is maxed out I may change my mind LOL.

[DrBeast]

Thanks for the replies. What you all say makes sense. By a very odd coincidence I got a decent little extra paycheck (seems the school district I teach in values us and gave teachers a retroactive raise). Hmmm, whatever shall I do with a piece of it? While I ponder this tough decision I'll continue to take my slooow boat to China.
Cheers,
SurfnSea

Update: I can get the following card for about 80.00: Diamond Viper Radeon X1650 Pro 512mb (PCI). If I'm looking at the Tom's Hardware chart correctly then that should be enough,no?
I have the exact same CPU as you, and the AGP version of the card you mentioned (with 256MB DDR 3 memory). Running both the CPU and the graphics card overclocked, I can get playable FPS most of the times, with 2xAA and 4xAF, and with settings pretty much maxed at 1024x768, plus the whole ROW package except hi-res seafoam (this may answer peabody's question). It does get ugly in stormy weather, though. My verdict is your CPU will bottle-neck the graphics card, so if I knew better before throwing away 75 Euros for that graphics card a couple of months ago, I'd start saving money for a new rig. At least, I get to see some of the late LeoVampire's work in (almost) its full glory, and just for that it was well worth it. :yep:

[peabody]

I have the exact same CPU as you, and the AGP version of the card you mentioned (with 256MB DDR 3 memory). Running both the CPU and the graphics card overclocked, I can get playable FPS most of the times, with 2xAA and 4xAF, and with settings pretty much maxed at 1024x768, plus the whole ROW package except hi-res seafoam (this may answer peabody's question). It does get ugly in stormy weather, though. My verdict is your CPU will bottle-neck the graphics card, so if I knew better before throwing away 75 Euros for that graphics card a couple of months ago, I'd start saving money for a new rig. At least, I get to see some of the late LeoVampire's work in (almost) its full glory, and just for that it was well worth it. :yep:

Dr Beast:
Thanks for helping, interesting comment of yours, I never thought of overclocking, that may help....I'll have to check that out. The motherboard I have is suppose to be an overclockers dream but I am not sure about the video card. But one question, I understand AA (antialiasing, right?) but is AF the Anisotropic Filtering? (Whatever that means) I have something a bit strange on my video card settings I can set 2x,8x,16x or Application controlled. The 4x is there but when I select it, it changes to something else, it won't let me select 4x. Strange. Do you know, I don't, what this does?
Peabody

[-Pv-]

Anisotripc filtering improves texture rendering at oblique angles to the view at increasing distances. Most games perform best when the card is set to application controlled. The effect is most noticible in flight sims where you are watching flat or mip mapped terraign at a distance from a high altitude. In SH4 it's not much of a factor since you are viewing nearly everything from near surface level.
-Pv-

[kriller2]

Try to uncheck the dynamic fog in video options, that helps alot when in storm.

[DrBeast]

I never thought of overclocking, that may help....I'll have to check that out. The motherboard I have is suppose to be an overclockers dream but I am not sure about the video card.
Peabody
I run my CPU overclocked at 2.6GHz ever since I got the computer. During summer, it's back to stock settings because summers in Greece can get pretty HOT, and the house isn't properly air conditioned. Frankly, even o/cing the video card doesn't help all that much, I gain about 2-3 FPS and that's it.
You don't mention your processor type; if it's a newer generation Intel (Core2Duo or AMD X2), you might squeeze some extra juice off it.
Kriller2 is spot on about turning off Volumetric Fog during storms, the FPS literally jumps back to playable FPS. Turning off Environmental Effects also helps in those conditions.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Try to uncheck the dynamic fog in video options, that helps alot when in storm.

Nice thing about doing this is that you can do it while in game ( as with all the other graphic options ), no need to save game, etc.


RDP

[Rockin Robbins]

You'll have no problem with ROW so long as you leave out the hi-res seafoam. You might even see a slight improvement in frame rates.