SHIV Frame Rate Problem

[Hazelwood]

Ahoy, Crocodile and All,

Much thanks to everyone who responded to my whining over frame-rate. Taking to heart the cruel recommendation my system is "crap" I installed SH IV on my other system (used mainly for business) which has a 9800 Pro and it was fine except for some mouse-lag and occasional jerkiness. Hmmmm. Close but no cigar after crusing around awhile and trying all the features.

Today I went to the stores and purchased the Radeon X1650 (512 MB) for my gaming machine (replacing the much besmeared - in this forum - ATI 9550) and this is the charm. This purchase was pocket change but even with all graphics options enabled I get schmooooooooth results even before trying the tweaks. Too good. A couple of engagements with explosions, fires, etc. confirmed this was the fix. I ought to spend more time keeping up with hardware advances. I came to this forum for help and I got it even though some of it was tough love.

I'll be back

best wishes,

Cpt. J. Hazelwood

[stabiz]

:rotfl:We are usually all charm, just wait until the last patch is out. It will be a hug-fest.

Those who intend to upgrade need to find out how much they are willing to spend, and its no use in getting a 8800GTX if you have a P4 3ghz. The rest have to match, or you`ll get bottlenecks. In your case it was the card, and now the sun shines extra brightly, right? Computer problems that get solved is the best. (I`m in a good mood since I fixed my own today:rotfl

[bert8for3]

I am going to print and frame this thread and hang it on my wall.

As a proud c**p system owner with specs very similar to Neal's and Hazelwood's (in particular a 9550 card like Hazelwood), I was on the edge of despair ... well not quite, but disappointed when I learned the vidcard wouldn't run the game and my laptop runs it but so sluggishly it's unplayable.

So my spirit is lifted and my hat off to Neal and Hazelwood and all who gave advice. I will rush out to get a new vidcard as soon as I can figure out how to get the $$$ out of the cookie jar without She Who Must Be Obeyed finding out.

[nuggetz]

Dont feel bad. After reading that the patch was released I rushed straight out to my local gamestop and picked up the only copy they had. Came home, installed it, and low and behold, I can't play the game! My crap system wont run it. Mouse lags, sound stutters, etc. If I'm going to turn off all the effects then I may as well play SH3 which runs smooth as silk like you say. That way I wont have to mess around with the goofy interface we have in SH4. Maybe if I was getting 100FPS I'd have the patience to learn the new one :-) I'm about to build a new system so this should only be temporary. Back to SH3 for now.

[Hazelwood]

[QUOTE=bert8for3]I am going to print and frame this thread and hang it on my wall.

As a proud c**p system owner with specs very similar to Neal's and Hazelwood's (in particular a 9550 card like Hazelwood), I was on the edge of despair >>

Hi Bert8for3,

I am in Canada and the ATI X1650 solved all my video performance problems relating to SH IV. It cost me only C$200. The "She" who scrutinizes my expenditures is vastly entertained by my tall tales of adventures in computer gaming and my exploits on the high seas in particular. I promote myself in this area, of course, but that depends on your situation. In any event I have my old age pension on the side which can fund most of what I need.

All systems are different but in my case it was purely the video card. I could not be more pleased with results. ATI X1650 rocks for us folks with older machines. Absolutely smooth under all circumstances. Not a glitch anywhere and all enhancements enabled. The visuals are absolutely stunning.

It embarasses me to have been such a cranky whiner in my initial posting but the cruel critics in here brought me to my senses in regard to video performance.

I could overclock my P4 from 2.8 GHz to 3 GHz or more (it works well) but can see no need for this. This system is water-cooled so can take a lot of heat should I ever have to turn it up.

Hint: When looking for upgrades for hardware find a store with unconditional returns policy. When I bought the X1650 at London Drugs this morning (my preferred computer store) I explained my problem and the sales guy reminded me "If your sim still does not perform the way you expect, just come back for a full refund within 15 days".

best wishes,
Cpt. J. Hazelwood

[siffert]

Hmmm.....I have a 3.4 ghz Northwood, MSI 6800 GT AGP and 512 MB (have dual boot
Win98 and XP and my Win98 doesnt like 1GB of Ram) in my Dell 4600 so I guess I may be out of luck on my recently aquired Collectors Edition. But no problem, if no tickee, no washee for UBI. I still got my Compaq DeskPro 66M (as in 486-they built those like brick S*** Houses to last Forever) and MPS's Silent Service II runs just terrific on that ...and a great sub sim as well.

[geetrue]

That's a great testimony Hazelwood ... I read and I read and I read while waiting for SH4 and then your success story comes along.

You made my day a whole lot brighter

[bert8for3]

[quote=Hazelwood]

Originally Posted by bert8for3

I am going to print and frame this thread and hang it on my wall.

As a proud c**p system owner with specs very similar to Neal's and Hazelwood's (in particular a 9550 card like Hazelwood), I was on the edge of despair >>

Hi Bert8for3,

I am in Canada and the ATI X1650 solved all my video performance problems relating to SH IV. It cost me only C$200. (...) Hint: When looking for upgrades for hardware find a store with unconditional returns policy. When I bought the X1650 at London Drugs this morning (my preferred computer store) I explained my problem and the sales guy reminded me "If your sim still does not perform the way you expect, just come back for a full refund within 15 days".

best wishes,
Cpt. J. Hazelwood

Tks much again. My spin will be an upcoming birthday in the next few weeks ... oughta work . Enjoy your X1650.

[Hazelwood]

Originally Posted by geetrue

That's a great testimony Hazelwood ... I read and I read and I read while waiting for SH4 and then your success story comes along.

>>You made my day a whole lot brighter

I am pleased my remarks were helpful. That's what these places are for. What solved my problem was someone calling my system "crap" and getting me to take a hard look at what I had rather than just whining. Cruel but ... if the shoe fits, wear it.

My systems are actually pretty good and not "crap" at all but my video cards were old. The Radeon 9800 Pro used to be the name on everyone's lips but you can't afford to get sleepy. The 9550 is history. I am embarassed I listed it in my specs;-)

I have no frame rate problems at all with the X1650 and it was essentially pocket-change.

This is a superb sim. Best enjoyment means a good video processor. Any P4 at 2.8 GHz or thereabouts is good enough so long as you have a gig of RAM.

best wishes,

Cpt. J. Hazelwood

[Kapitan_Phillips]

I have to say, your writing style makes me smile.


"(replacing the much besmeared - in this forum - ATI 9550)"



Legend :rotfl:

[hachiman]

Definately would'ny say his system or Computer is crap.
Just the graphics card that needs replaced and thats all.

[bert8for3]

Aaarghhh! My c**p system saga continues. One thing leads to another ... just picking up on this, I now have a question about power supplies. I'd appreciate some advice.

So having picked up an X1650, justifying it on the basis of an early birthday present, I eagerly unpacked my new vidcard, anticipating th2.0e moment when I would reboot into glorious graphics and (fingers-crossed) be able to run SH4 (irrelevant aside: although plan to stay mainly with SH3 for now, but new vidcard will improve that).

On the verge of yanking out the old card to put the new one in, it dawns on me (having just then decided that it might be a good idea to read the box) that the specs for the X1650 are requiring a minimum 350-watt power supply, mine being a 200. No problem say I and head out to get a new power supply. Naturally, it turns out that the "form factor" (... why can't they just say "size") of your basic power supply changed like the day after I bought my comp from ver 1.3 to 2.0 . Thank you pc makers. To make a long story short "modern" ATX PSU's are slightly bigger and won't fit my case (last time I buy a proprietary pc!).

So to make a long story short again, I'm looking to see if there's such a thing as a 350-watt power supply that will fit my case. The genius at the comp store could only roll his eyes and express the view that it would be easier to move the nearest mountain. He undertook to make inquiries of their suppliers, but I'm thinking I can expect to hear something about as much as I can expect to be able to move that mountain.

So I'm looking on my own (although I'll go to another store as soon as I can ... maybe next year). So far, I'm working through tigerdirect's website looking at the PSU's. Some don't say the size, some do, but I notice others say things like "compatible ATX ver 2.03 and ATX ver 1.1". This seems to be referring to the form factor???? And it seems to be saying it's compatible with both??????

If anyone can shed light on this, would appreciate. [edit: sorry for the ramble btw]

[NefariousKoel]

Bert, if you have a Micro-ATX case, I know they make 380 Watt power supplies for them. Lemme check around and see what the biggest is.

[NefariousKoel]

Bert...

The biggest I see is 400W (if it's Micro-ATX anyway) and I would recommend at least that much for gaming these days.

The minimum I look for on a regular ATX size lately is 550W and most importantly at least a 20 Amp rating on the 12v rail.

That 400W should do for your current situation.

[bert8for3]

Originally Posted by NefariousKoel

Bert...

The biggest I see is 400W (if it's Micro-ATX anyway) and I would recommend at least that much for gaming these days.

The minimum I look for on a regular ATX size lately is 550W and most importantly at least a 20 Amp rating on the 12v rail.

That 400W should do for your current situation.

Thanks for that. To be honest, I'm not sure if I have a micro-ATX case ... maybe I do. It's an HP Pavilion 754n. But I'll look for Micro-ATX ... where did you see that?