Hey,
I meant to ask this aaaages ago. Knowing my area portals were working and that my map wasn't half done, I wondered if a relatively low fps on 1048*760 (around that) screen res could be due to a low-spec graphics card or processor? Or anything.
I decided to test the theory and I created a box (ok a room, kinda), shoved and NPC, a light in and player start entity.
In just the one room it came out at about 35-40 fps, which surely cannot be right?
The map I'm currently working on gives me around the same fps for that screen res: I'm no good at rememberin precise dimensions, but you'll know what I mean.
640 x 480 = 75fps (approx)
800 x 600 = 60fps (approx)
1048 x 760 = 45fps (approx) - reducing to 35-40 with an NPC :p
I know my areaportals are working and anything that can be detail is. And so far my map is not huge, writing around 1.1MB (fits quite a lot into that :p). Obviously I have a loooong way to go on the map, but if the fps is 45 on the screen res, which I think most people tend to go for, then what hope is there for later?
Anyone any ideas if it is my laptop that's just restricting stuff?
Enter "r_speeds 1" in the console, check the amount of tri's rendered.
The short answer is "yes." What's your graphics card, and how much RAM do you have? These can easily affect performance, especially with some of the graphic settings turned way up.
Gothix- I'll get back to you after the weekend on that :) thanks.
Wedge-
Graphics Card: RADEON IGP 340M
RAM: 512MB
And I have most graphics options turned fairly high for the precise reason of producing a decent-performance map for all.
Have you got Dynamic Glow on?
This normally cuts my FPS in half. Open a console window and do:
r_dynamicglow 0
and that will shut it down and your fps should shoot up.
I think I've always has dynamic glow off :s
Well, 45fps is not that bad, especially if you've got most of the options ramped up. Try using r_ext_compress_lightmaps 1 and r_ext_compress_textures 1, try reducing anistropicity down to x2, textures down to 16bit, turn off anti_aliasing - None of this will have any real impact on the image quality and will squeeze more fps out of your map.
Also, what is the refresh rate set to? It may be limiting your FPS - make sure vsync is off, just to make sure (although 45fps would be a REALLY flickery screen)
Ok this is the result of my r_speeds test
30/178 shdrs/srfs
41 leafs
3315 vrts
3725/5310 tris
12.59MB tex
0.00dc
I have to say when I tried it on my test "room", mentioned above the tris were actually HIGHER...lol.
Codja- I have vsync turned off, always have :) and my refresh rate is quite high, it's only if I turn real quick do I see any dodgy "flicker". What's disturbing is I played a level of JA (the one with the rampant rancor in the hanger) and my FPS was 14 and eventually it slowed down so much I couldn't play the level, I had to switch levels. I guess in comparison to 14, an FPS of 45 isn't that bad after all? lol
Well, 5k really isn't much. I've made maps with over 30k which seemed to run fine.
It -runs- ok, but as I expand the map, I'm worried it won't, even though it should, which is why I wondered if it was hardware. :)
Use hinting and areaportaling to keep the tri-count relatively low (like, 15k) and you'll be okay. R_speeds aren't hardware-dependant.
I'm areaportaling lovely-like lol, they've work a treat since I FULLY understood them. Though hinting I've never looked. I searched the forums but couldn't locate an adequate explanation as to how to use them safely and why I need them in the first place *blushes*
Has it always been this slow?
I mean, it could be something else on your pc causing the problem. You should check your system resources before running the game.
What about your video card - have you got the latest drivers? It may be nothing to do with the way you're building the map. Try and rule your system out of the equation before fiddling with what might be a perfectly quick map.
I'm now a battle droid - watch out! :mad:
I think the map is, or at least SHOULD BE quick. I've been fidding with two maps previous to this one (to learn) and now the one I'm working on, when finished, I intend to release it. I'm being very careful to area portal and all the considerations I've picked up from this excellent forum.
My System resources (RAM, paging file etc) are ok, but I'm not sure about graphics drivers, I reckon they're ok, but I'll try and check out their website for an updated driver.
Thank for your help, and I'm a Wampa so be very afraid :lol:
My Comp doesn't seem to think my driver needs updating so I guess it's the kinda lower-spec stuff you get with laptops.
I'll just havta keep building carefully and then find a good friend who has a good comp to test it on. :)
Thanks again.
Don't rely on Windows Update to do it for you. Check the dates of your driver and then go to the manufacter of you video hardware to check for the latest driver. I know nvidia have managed to squeeze an extra 10-15fps out of their hardware just by updating their drivers. It's worth checking out.
Well I go on the ATI website and look for the RADEON family..only mine is RADEON IGP 340M... they have IGP on a different option to RADEON and I'm not sure which one to download. I do want to be without a graphics driver lol.
I hate dealing with hardware stuff, it's my biggest weakness...
I'm pretty sure this is what you're after:
http://www.atitech.com/home/online/CatalystXPdriver.html)
That's if you've got XP, of course.
I have :)
Thanks, I'll install that (29MB? :o) and see if that makes any difference to my prescious fps :)
I tried it out last night and it told me I didn't have the correct hardware for the software...I think that was the one the ATI site I was supposed to download as well, but it didn't work. :(
Thanks for trying to help out anyway :)
I'll just plug along with the map as best I can and see what the end result is.
As I said somewhere else, on one of the JA levels I can't play it cos the FPS cos down to 14 :S which really can't be good.
Just in case anyone can help me, I'll post full driver details:
System Information report written at: 05/18/04 10:47:38
System Name: TRC2
[Display]
Item Value
Name RADEON IGP 340M
PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4337&SUBSYS_002A103C&REV_00\4&1930D262&0&2808
Adapter Type RS200M AGP (0x4337), ATI Technologies Inc. compatible
Adapter Description RADEON IGP 340M
Adapter RAM 64.00 MB (67,108,864 bytes)
Installed Drivers ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version 5.2.3790.2
INF File oem26.inf (ati2mtag_RS200M section)
Color Planes 1
Color Table Entries 4294967296
Resolution 1024 x 768 x 60 hertz
Bits/Pixel 32
Memory Address 0xD8000000-0xDFFFFFFF
I/O Port 0x00009000-0x00009FFF
Memory Address 0xD0300000-0xD03FFFFF
IRQ Channel IRQ 10
I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB
I/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF
Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\ati2mtag.sys (6.14.10.6414, 632.50 KB (647,680 bytes), 12/12/2003 09:50)
That's the output from System Information.
Thanks again :)
It didn't, I'm afraid. I've tried a few "driver upgrades" and it just messed up my settings (thank goodness for system restore).
I guess I'll just have to put up with bad performance on the part of my comp.
I mean, even on JA SP levels, the FPS went below 10...that's not good right?
Originally posted by Jedi_Vogel
I mean, even on JA SP levels, the FPS went below 10...that's not good right?
Nope! The performance on a lot of the SP maps is p*ss poor on my pc as well, but not quite that bad.
All I can recommend is to set ALL your video settings to minimum and then gradually set them higher until you find the problem. A pain in the arse, but sometimes it's got to be done.
Mleh! Ok, thanks again Codja :)