Frame Rates and Memory

[MLF]

Hi all.

Thanks for the replies. As Stabiz and Cybagirl say, I am starting to suspect the graphics card is the problem as I really would have expected some increase in FPS with more memory and it didn't happen. The graphics card is all that is left in the equation.

Thanks for the suggestions Redwine - I'll work my way through them. Some I have already tried but it made little/no difference - again pointing at the graphics card. Looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and blow the dust off the wallet again.

By the way, Redwine. I now have real fog and reduced visibility. While trying to increase the frame rate I installed the latest NVidia drivers and that cured the no fog or reduced vis problem if you remember the screenshots I sent you - so not all bad news.

MLF

[Shikkapow]

How much crap do you have running in the background?

disable anti virus, and run end it all 2
End it all used to be free, but I'm sure you can still find a copy of it somewhere. It shuts down all the background programs that are not needed for widows to run, and really frees up the processor and memory.

[NightCrawler]

Originally Posted by Shikkapow

How much crap do you have running in the background?

disable anti virus, and run end it all 2
End it all used to be free, but I'm sure you can still find a copy of it somewhere. It shuts down all the background programs that are not needed for widows to run, and really frees up the processor and memory.

Thats another sollution.
But download the latest GPX driver is a must too...

keep an eye every 2 montch on ya GPX brand card, online, and download the drivers(BE SURE YOU DELETE THE OLD DRIVERS FIRST)....

than install the new drivers and reboot comp(require)... than play again...



I have 524MB NON ECC/ECC combo
have Radeon 9000 128MB(dual monitor) but plays on the 17inch the game...
P4 1.7Mhz

Now saving money for a new TOY!!!! HAIL AMD 64x2 5000+ with Quad card wooohooo PCI-E BABY and bridged with another PCI card for extra support

you can config the toy online at http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/

You build, they kick the stuff in, and you play!!!
But... i wait when Windows Vista comes out, Vista have some awesome gizmo that works with USB-mem sticks

quote of vista

" Windows SuperFetch helps manage memory to get the most out of available RAM while Windows ReadyBoost helps make PCs more responsive by using flash memory devices (like USB thumb drives) to boost performance."

Need memories?
just buy a 5 port USB HUB and buy some USB 1 or 2GB and use that as a memory for the computer, no more open the case, and pry the regular mem out and slide the new mem in... no more hassle

And for now on(if i have windows Vista) all the background programm will be loaded from the USB sticks, and keep the regular mem free for other things :P

[Respenus]

As we all know SH3 is a memory hog.

I have the E6300 Core 2 DUO, GeForce 6700 GT 256MB with passive cooling and most important 2 GB DDR II RAM. Now there si where you can actually see a difference. My GW moded SH3 needs around 800-900 MB of RAM, just loading a mission, I don't even want to think about battle scenes or anything else.

I games looks nicer now, not just because of the graphic card, but because I have loads of RAM and it's fast. And maybe the CPU adds something to the whole picture.

My advice, get atleast 2GB RAM, preferably DDR II to get THE BEST perfomance. The game works just nice with other comps.

[AVGWarhawk]

Just about everyone is correct on this matter. I was running an NVida 5200 and it ran SH3 very well, with exceptions of ports but I think everyone has a stutter issue or two in the ports.

1. Clean up the registry. I use Registry Clean..Best Buy $29.99.
2. Make sure Windows is controlling your new RAM. I had an issue were I set the RAM usage to my liking and it killed my games. I set it back to Windows control of the RAM and that was that. The swapping of files off the hard drive sucks.
3. Shut off anitvirus especially Norton is you have it....that programs checks everything including what the cat left in the litterbox. It checks and rechecks and rechecks.....make sure you turn it on after your done the game.
4. Shut of background stuff but this should not be necessary as you have enough RAM to run the background stuff.
5. Get a new card with 256MB on it. Makes a world of difference. Best Buy and Compusa have cards on sale all the time....this weekend they were giving away at great prices some decent cards.

[Redwine]

Originally Posted by MLF

Thanks for the suggestions Redwine - I'll work my way through them. Some I have already tried but it made little/no difference - again pointing at the graphics card. Looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and blow the dust off the wallet again.

I forget... attempt to set your virtual memory at fixed min and max values, max value accepted by W XP is 4096, so set min 4092 in example and max 4096.

You can use CPUZ and better PC Wizard both free to check wich timing settings are the best for your memory banks.

Originally Posted by MLF

By the way, Redwine. I now have real fog and reduced visibility. While trying to increase the frame rate I installed the latest NVidia drivers and that cured the no fog or reduced vis problem if you remember the screenshots I sent you - so not all bad news.

MLF

Good to know !!

[Roads88]

Thanks for the info everyone, especialy Redwine.

I have been looking for a thread like this one.

My FPS have dropped to one (1) several times. I pretty sure its the cheapo video card. I'm dropping some bucks into a new system after Christmas. New motherboard, cpu, ram and video card(s). Perhaps you would care to answer a question:

Without a program such as SHIII or SHIV being written to take advantage of it. Is it worth while to go with a two video card set up verses a one card set up with the same total amount and kind of ram? if so, why?

Thanks in advance

[Potoroo]

Originally Posted by Roads88

Without a program such as SHIII or SHIV being written to take advantage of it. Is it worth while to go with a two video card set up verses a one card set up with the same total amount and kind of ram? if so, why?

No. In an SLI setup, for example, the second card is simply ignored when running a non-SLI enabled game. When running an SLI-enabled game you'll get maybe 30%-40% frame rate improvement. I personally regard SLI and Crossfire as hugely overrated and always go for the best single card I can afford.

[stabiz]

Originally Posted by Roads88

Thanks for the info everyone, especialy Redwine.

I have been looking for a thread like this one.

My FPS have dropped to one (1) several times. I pretty sure its the cheapo video card. I'm dropping some bucks into a new system after Christmas. New motherboard, cpu, ram and video card(s). Perhaps you would care to answer a question:

Without a program such as SHIII or SHIV being written to take advantage of it. Is it worth while to go with a two video card set up verses a one card set up with the same total amount and kind of ram? if so, why?

Thanks in advance

Go for a powerful single card. It is cheaper, since you will have power-issues, cooling-issues, etc, with a twin setup. Besides, SH3 doesn`t support sli/crossfire, as potoroo says.

Another thing: Two 256MB cards in SLI or Croissfire will not give you 512MB, but 256MB. There is a performance gain, of course, but rarely what you would think.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Potoroo

No. In an SLI setup, for example, the second card is simply ignored when running a non-SLI enabled game. When running an SLI-enabled game you'll get maybe 30%-40% frame rate improvement. I personally regard SLI and Crossfire as hugely overrated and always go for the best single card I can afford.

I agree with Potoroo here on this. It seems SLI is overrated at the moment. Get the good quality single card and be happy

[Rose]

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

Hi Rose If thats latin would you please translate "Death before Dishoner" for me please. thanks in advance and Good Hunting

Sorry Firewall, its French. I don't take Latin, so I can't help you there. Maybe someone else can...?

[_Seth_]

Originally Posted by Warmonger

Why not simply use the original?

"Cogito, ego sum."

Its "cogito, ergo sum" ,AKA I think, therefore i am. It was established by the french philosopher Rene Descartes. It turned the philosophy around, from the "outro-spective" view to the "intro-spective", where the human was in center. Its also called "the cartesian philosophy".

YES, IT'S OT!!

[NightCrawler]

Like minimum system require vs recommended system, it seems every simmer bought the SHIII and found out that SHIII need more mem than it said on the box....

So game cost $$$ included popping some more rams cost $$$, or for some gamers even a GPX card to run the game....

I added with luck 512MB it runs ok, but my system getting old thats for sure...

[Roads88]

Thanks for the info guys. You made the choice easy. I have to check my power supply. I think its a 300w. A 450w supply will probley be in order. They are not hard to swap so i can do it anytime.

Thanks again!

[_Seth_]

Its just 6 months since i upgraded my computer, to run SH3 without any problems... I guess i'll have to spend more money when SHIV is released. Anyway, i hope that GWX isnt so demanding on my hardware...