Better framerates with SP1

[GlobalExplorer]

I can definitely prove that SHIII+GWX and other simulations (LOMAC) give better framerates with SP1 than with SP2. I did have ample time to test that because I use exchangeable harddisks, and I have different os installations on them, for gaming, work, internet, etc. Some of them have SP1, others SP2.

SP2 is a must have if you go the internet. But for gaming you should use SP1. I sometimes forget it and I can always see a visible difference when I accidently run a game under SP2.

[bigboywooly]

Interesting find GE
:hmm:
May have to have a dual boot
I dont normally access the net while playing

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by GlobalExplorer

I can definitely prove that SHIII+GWX and other simulations (LOMAC) give better framerates with SP1 than with SP2.

How much better? The XP SP2 you tested it with, was it a fresh installation? Did you use the same video, audio and chipset driver version?

[GlobalExplorer]

Originally Posted by bigboywooly

Interesting find GE
:hmm:
May have to have a dual boot
I dont normally access the net while playing

I recommend everyone to get an exchangeable hard disk mount, and buy 2-3 cheap hd's in the range of 80GB. It's not that much of an investment, but combined with well planned imaging of system partitions (see Acronis, etc) it will help you overcome all probs with deterioting OS's, conflicting configuration demands, or uninstalling things.

Originally Posted by Gizzmoe

How much better? The XP SP2 you tested it with, was it a fresh installation? Did you use the same video driver version?

How much better .. I would say enough to stay clear of SP2 for gaming.

I always use fresh installations as I install my OS from an image file every couple of weeks.

Let me say again that everyone must use SP2 as soon as he/she goes to the internet. Let me also say that results may vary, but on my machine, the results are definitely visible.

To clarify, SP2 is not causing fps to drop per se, but it is causing obvious stuttering with hardware intense games. That might be because of the additional processes running in the background, security, hard disk access, etc.

Of course no one should uninstal it rashly, as this is not a solution for everything.

I was just posting an observation I made over the last 2 years, and I would like to discuss what others have experienced.

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by GlobalExplorer

To clarify, SP2 is not causing fps to drop per se, but it is causing obvious stuttering with hardware intense games.

First you said that SP1 gives better framerates, now you said it doesn´t. :hmm: There´s no obvious stuttering in the hardware-intensive games I play on XP SP2.

Did you use the same video, sound and chipset drivers and did the same background services run on SP1 and SP2?

[GlobalExplorer]

Sorry if I was confusing this. The fps do not drop quantitatively, but find the stuttering very annoying. Practically it's very similar.

As to the drivers. At the moment I am using the 93.x drivers, and mostly other drivers that are relatively recent, as well as the last Dx9. But I have not based my observation on one version of any driver, it's rather something I found out again and again.

[GlobalExplorer]

Gizzmoe, none of this is important if you are running a high-end system, which I don't. I have:

Mobile Athlon XP Barton overclocked @2200 Mhz
Abit NF7-2
1GB DDR400
Geforce 6800 overclocked @ 375/800 Mhz

So by no means a state of the art system. Still I am able to run all modern games like SHIII GWX with mid to high settings on 1280*1024 (which is a requirement on an LCD).

[Gizzmoe]

Gizzmoe, none of this is important if you are running a high-end system, which I don't.

It is very important! To make a fair comparison you need to use fresh Windows installations and use the same exact versions of the video, sound, chipset and DirectX drivers. You also need to make sure that the same background programs are running on both installations and possibly also check if the same Windows services are running. The swapfile setting also need to be the same, fragmentation possibly also plays a role.

After you´ve done all that that you can make some tests, compare the results and then post about how SP1 runs better on your system, preferably you should then also posts some benchmark numbers. Sorry, but without all that your observations are pretty irrelevant for the general public.

[GlobalExplorer]

Did you copy that text from an automated support mail?

I don't want to argue .. the point of my post was not to say "I know everything" .. I just wanted to post my observations and let the opinions roll.

To me it just seems to be like everyone slapped SP2 on your system for fear of viruses, and because they were told so. And a great many many people come crying to me cause they have messed up their system, when they shouldn't having a firewall and lots of other unnecessary stuff running in the background, or just learn to not treat their computer like a garbage bin.

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by GlobalExplorer

Did you copy that text from an automated support mail?

No, 25 years of IT experience...

I don't want to argue .. the point of my post was not to say "I know everything" ..

Then don´t write that you can definitely prove that SP1 is better for gaming!

[GlobalExplorer]

OK uncle. I have only 20 years IT experience so you win

I was not wise enough with chosing words. But I can definitely prove it on my system, and I have sound reason to claim that there is some relevance in what I say.

[GlobalExplorer]

Tests were done here, so no need to repeat that:

http://www.short-media.com/articles/..._slow_you_down

FPS differences are there but not really conclusive. Stuttering however is what I meant and as this is a somewhat subjective thing, it is hard to measure. I have seen SP2 stutter much more with at least the following games: SHIII + GWX, LOMAC FC, GT Legends, GTR2.

I would like to hear what other people have found. Or is everyone already running SP2?