AGP Fps increase (aperature)

[DaMaGe007]

I have been playing around trying to squeze some extra fps out of my rig.

p42.8g 800fsb asusp4p800mb
2gig ram
GF7600GS 512mb

Not much of anything has helped or hindered except enviro effects which I have turned off.

I have just gotten through some tests adjusting the AGP aperature, due to a recent problem experienced by another user.
I had set my aperature to 128 (from 64) when I got my new card.

It seems to me (so far) that a larger aperature is actually running slower.

All tests were done docked at tender in pearl (bridge view)

256 aperature 14fps
128 aperature 14-16 fps
64 aperature 16-17 fps

AGP users, check your settings, experiment and post your results.
This was short tests and I have to have more time playing with it.

I also got a slight improvement, changing my sound acceleration from STANDARD to MAX, but it was a very small difference, I have onboard sound. No problems on max yet, windows defaults to standard with this soundcard.

Worth a try.

[Deep-Six]

Originally Posted by DaMaGe007

I have been playing around trying to squeze some extra fps out of my rig.

p42.8g 800fsb asusp4p800mb
2gig ram
GF7600GS 512mb

Not much of anything has helped or hindered except enviro effects which I have turned off.

I have just gotten through some tests adjusting the AGP aperature, due to a recent problem experienced by another user.
I had set my aperature to 128 (from 64) when I got my new card.

It seems to me (so far) that a larger aperature is actually running slower.

All tests were done docked at tender in pearl (bridge view)

256 aperature 14fps
128 aperature 14-16 fps
64 aperature 16-17 fps

AGP users, check your settings, experiment and post your results.
This was short tests and I have to have more time playing with it.

I also got a slight improvement, changing my sound acceleration from STANDARD to MAX, but it was a very small difference, I have onboard sound. No problems on max yet, windows defaults to standard with this soundcard.

Worth a try.

Question: Where does one go to change the aperature? I have the same exact card, but no game, yet.

[DaMaGe007]

its in your cmos settings

[bookworm_020]

Originally Posted by DaMaGe007

its in your cmos settings

Found where????

[DaMaGe007]

Usually pressing del while booting your machine (during post)

The setting itself could be anywhere in there, I think mine is under Chipset.

[Deep-Six]

Originally Posted by bookworm_020

Found where????

You have to reboot your system and enter the Bios by using either F2 or the delete key to enter setup.

It all depends on the make of your system.

BTW, I am going to test this w/ SH3 and see if that particular change in the aperature made any difference.

[Deep-Six]

My fps jumped up just enough for it to run smoothly. I have it at the lowest aperature that my bios will give me and that is 32M.

[DaMaGe007]

I havent tried 8 or 32 yet, but at 16 it seemed responsive I think it was reporting 16-17fps though so not much different to 64 so far...

[Anachronous]

You cant really judge it with only 2fps difference. You will get that much variation on separate runs even without a change.

[NefariousKoel]

Video Aperture:

I could be wrong but my understanding of this BIOS setting is .. the larger you set it, the more of your Front Side Bus speed (on the motherboard) and processor time it uses.

Basically, it could benefit from a higher setting if you have a rockin processor and a really rockin Bus speed. Adjust as applicable.

[DaMaGe007]

I was thinking it might be lightening cpu load a little, I think your right about that.
Im taking into account that the game changes with each load, which seems to be related to time of day or somthing.

The sweet spot on my machine seems to be 32/64 so far, higher seems detrimental.

Concidering all the other tweeks like removing undersea.dat, changing developer settings ect did nothing, 1-2 fps increase is atleast somthing, and it all helps when your in the teens.

worth a play for users on older machines.

[Anachronous]

If you're running 15fps, then your best option is to turn down some details.

If you're running 15fps while in a busy port, then I wouldnt worry too much, but if you're running 15fps while out at see, then your pc is going to die when you come to a large battle or a busy port.

[d@rk51d3]

Originally Posted by NefariousKoel

Video Aperture:

I could be wrong but my understanding of this BIOS setting is .. the larger you set it, the more of your Front Side Bus speed (on the motherboard) and processor time it uses.

Basically, it could benefit from a higher setting if you have a rockin processor and a really rockin Bus speed. Adjust as applicable.

Actually, it just contributes some of your RAM towards the performing of video processes (a little bit like the windows swap file using HDD space to emulate RAM). With newer cards of 128mb and over the AGP settings often have little or no effect, and in some cases a negative effect.

The general consensus is to keep the value fairly low.

[d@rk51d3]

Originally Posted by Anachronous

If you're running 15fps, then your best option is to turn down some details.

If you're running 15fps while in a busy port, then I wouldnt worry too much, but if you're running 15fps while out at see, then your pc is going to die when you come to a large battle or a busy port.

Or perhaps there are a few programs running in the background, soaking up valuable CPU time.

[Fabrice]

Thanks fot the tip guys, will test that tonight and see if I can get a couple extra fps out of the game