Time Compression causes Freezing !!!
 

Hi, I am experiencing problems with Time Compression, it's weird because when I leave the base, it works fine and I can use x1024 and it's smooth, but after I sink about 5 ships and spent quite a bit of time at sea, Save half way and Load few days later, I can barely use x8 Time compression, it gets choppy and freezing for lenghty periods of time.

Does anyone know what is going on?




My Computer Specs:

Motherboard: ASUS CrossHair II
CPU: AMD Phenom 9750 Quad-Core 2.40 GHz
RAM: 4 GB DDR2 6400 800Mhz
Video: ASUS EAH4850

I modded the file for time compression settings to make the max 2048. Anyways I don't have this problem except for at times when I run 2048, then it stutters and pauses from time to time. I think this is due to the vast number of units in game. The computer has to track all the convoys, ships, planes, etc. Even if you never locate them. The math involved must be astronomical. Because of this it puts tremendous load on the CPU.

Try closing any background programs before you start the game. If your not online it would be safe to close any anti-virus software that is running. Not sure why your having trouble though as your processor is similar to mine. I have an AMD quad 2.2 9550. In this case I don't think the GPU is much of a factor. I have 8GB of memory, that could be why I don't see this effect until at 2048 compression.

Not sure how many memory slots are available on your machine. If your have 4 slots
and you currently have 4 sticks of 1GB RAM. You might consider getting 2 sticks of 2GB RAM to swap with two of the 1GB sticks. Then you would have 6GB. I like Crucial memory. 2 sticks of 2GB was running for $50 about 60 days ago. Sometimes there are rebates.

Actually games from this date are not taking full advantage of quad processors because this processor didn't exist yet.

I agree, you are running out of memory. If you have xp, you need to check your virtual memory. XP cannot use more than 4GB of RAM.
If you have Vista, you might try adding memory booste, up to 4GB.
Finally, you might try AlacrityPC to free up RAM. Google it.

Speaking of astronomical - didn't the moon landing work with the processing power of a modern calculator? I doubt the game would be designed in such a way not to handle the amount of units expected to be moving about at a given point.

I get bogged down time compression if there is a lot of activity about (or what I perceive to be busy areas). When I sneak around the South Coast of England this becomes an issue - my current patrol is shadowing a big juicy convoy in terrible weather (heavy rain, heavy fog, night) and these effects seem to slow me down. Think I should get it over with so I might go all Kretschmer...

Nevertheless, that is what happens. Perhaps if you play the vanilla game (unmodified SH3) this might be true. Since I haven't played that, I can't speak for how it works. With the mods and the game going upwards of 6GB, that is the way it is.

Yes I play vanilla with a "few" tweaks (you make me sound evil for doing so) so I guess I can't comment on how adding a uboat load of things to SH3 with GWX changes performance. I'm just surprised I can play SH3 with my relic of a computer (coming close to 8 years old now bar an extra HDD) on max settings and not have too many problems when the OP has pretty damn good rig.

There are a lot of units in game. For each one the software has to plot course, speed, weather it can detect you, weather you can detect it, when to start zig zagging, change course for convoys, update units that have been sighted on the nav map. Ships can also be damaged by storms and then it has to keep track of that. Then for escorts the AI has more considerations. There is a ton of math, much more than in the moon landing.:D

In the stock game I don't get any slowdown unless I use 2048. I started playing GWX and I see some slowdown at 1024 but not too bad. Its simply because GWX has more units in the harbor.

Thanks for all the info guys,

Two more questions:

I am using Win XP. Does that mean that if I'll go to 8GB RAM from current 4GB, it will be waste? Someone mentioned that XP won't use anything over 4. ???

Also would setting the JSGMG mod "Lite Harbor Traffic" to ON, help?

Thanks.

XP manages to address (only) 4 GB RAM, but you'll have less available (3 to 3.5 GB) because windows uses the first GB for addressing data to your graphics card, sound card, harddrive and other hardware.

It is useless to install more than 4 GB on Windows XP 32 bit and Windows Vista 32 bit.

The Vista 64 bit version is capable to address more RAM:
Home Basic 8 GB
Home Premium 16 GB
Ultimate, Business and Enterprise more than 128 GB

The XP 64 bit version can also address more RAM, but no one wants to have XP 64 bit. :DL

The Lite Harbor Mod reduces the number of ships in the harbors. You'll have a smoother gameplay only in the harbors.

Lag at sea indicates a convoy nearby! Dive and do a personal hydrosweep.

Good hunting!

Thanks, I didn't know that.

I am considering Vista Ultimate, BUT.... I did have copied version of it once and I had all kinds of problems, games wouldn't run, all kinds of issues. However it was a version that was released before Vista's release into stores, so maybe just early bugged version I supose. maybe I'll give another go. I really like XP though and I find it hard to le it go LOL.

Again thanks for all the info.

I have Vista 64 bit Premium and I like it. I turn off the UAC option in it. I tried the beta version of Windows7 and it would crash as soon as the OS loaded. Generally speaking it takes 2 years after a new version is officially released before I would consider buying it. Vista is more stable after SP1 and it continually gets updates.

One thing you may run into is trouble finding 64 bit drivers if you have a wireless card and its 3 years or older. Same with a printer. I had to buy a new wireless card and not that many had drivers yet for the 64 bit version.

Edit-I think you can do a dual boot and have both OS installed on seperate partitions. I had this with WIN 98 and XP. I don't remember how to do it. Getting older and my brains getting soft. lol. If you need any help with it the forums at tom'shardware are full of helpful people. Try googling it.