Roob's Vsync/fps Guide

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  • RoobubbaRoobubba Who you gonna call? Join Date: 2003-01-06 Member: 11930Members, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    <!--QuoteBegin--Chadseh+Apr 15 2003, 11:49 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Chadseh @ Apr 15 2003, 11:49 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I think this guide deserves a sticky, i've found it incredibly useful. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I would just like to clarify that I did no pay any money/favours etc to chadseh <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

    Oh and "they" can't fix this in 1.1 it's a problem with winXP/2k (primarily)... <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->

    Any more changes people?
  • JowerJower Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13448Members
    He meant fixing the FPS-unfairness
    Thus reducing the need of high FPS
  • RoobubbaRoobubba Who you gonna call? Join Date: 2003-01-06 Member: 11930Members, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    ooooh I see <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

    Nothing to see here, carry on! <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • Young_TrotskyYoung_Trotsky Join Date: 2003-01-14 Member: 12285Members
  • JowerJower Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13448Members
    *bumpedi*
    Just in case someone's missed it <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • Young_TrotskyYoung_Trotsky Join Date: 2003-01-14 Member: 12285Members
    bumped again <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • VigilanteVigilante Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1828Members, Constellation
    edited April 2003
    The "50fps in 100hz" vsync issue is interesting... but I seem to exhibit that issue in some situations, and a normal incremental framerate reduction in others.

    I run at 1280x960x32 in 100hz vertical refresh. vsync is definitely on - I'm pumping so many frames in most situations that the tearing is extremely bad. I always run with net_graph 3 on. My frames normally hover around 99.8. In a firefight or a wall of lame they'll dip to 90 or 80. But in some circumstances, they'll dip straight to 50 (occasionally down to 49.8).

    I first noticed this playing Day of Defeat right after the 3.0 release. There were a few places on various maps where I could face one point, walk+crouch+strafe a tiny bit, and frames would drop to 50 (49.8). I could move back and forth with the briefest tap, and watch the frames jump to 100 to 50 and back. I thought it was some issue with the maps (a certain point where it needed to draw more), but that didn't really mesh with my observation. I emailed a DOD dev thinking it was a bug, and he had the same issue but didn't know anything.

    I don't think I ever, under any circumstances, drop below 49.8fps in NS... but there are definitely situations that it goes that low when it doesn't need to, and other situations where it only drops a few frames.


    Maybe Half Life 2 will fix it. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • MaTTMaTT Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 3033Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--PetitMorte+Apr 15 2003, 03:13 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (PetitMorte @ Apr 15 2003, 03:13 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> According to the NVRT docs, the author didn't like having to have "yet another program running in the background and sitting in the system tray". So he wrote NVRT to be a run-once and reboot thing. It supposedly changes your registry settings to allow the desired refresh rates so that you DON'T have to keep it running all the time. It works fine like that for me. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yep... Works great for me too! Because of the way it works the one thing that you do need before running NVRT is the correct drivers for your monitor. When you first start NVRT it opens up the monitor driver.inf file and reads what the maximum supported refresh rate is for each resolution from that file. Once you click the apply button and reboot thats it... It doesnt run in the background and you only need to open up nvrt again if you install new drivers or a new monitor. If however your system has the default plug and play monitors that windows itself supplies then you may awwell not bother.

    Right... Im off to search for some leaked det drivers since i have not looked for new ones in ages! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • RandomEngyRandomEngy Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 6146Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    Yikes! I tried NVRT on my XP system, and it just misplaced the screen and made the game run choppier. I think I'll stick to my 60 fps.
  • DizzyOneDizzyOne BASS&#33; Join Date: 2002-11-17 Member: 9095Members
    I didnt read all the pages (a few) but I just wanted to say

    PowerStrip (download at download.com) is also a very good program for ATI or NVidia, u can also lock ur framerates and make ur own monitor drivers (for best gaming results)
    and more things to boost ur gaming pleasure <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • DelarosaDelarosa Naturally Custom Join Date: 2002-11-29 Member: 10214Members, NS1 Playtester
    edited April 2003
    *wets pants*

    ok, what happens when the company that makes your monitor dissapears? i'm not finding any drivers, or even a WEBSITE for Voxon (the name it says on my monitor)... how am i suposed to know if i've got a safe FPS running if i can't get that info, is there a way to tell the safe FPS with XP pro's plug'n play drivers?


    nevermind this, i don't need to unlock my 20fps :s
  • NegaBenjiNegaBenji Join Date: 2003-01-09 Member: 12058Members
    Ah well, I gave it a go but didn't get any improvements :/ I actually turned vsync back on a while ago because the tearing was getting annoying, but I can't see any at the moment. The weird thing is, I used to play Firearms and get an fps in the 90s, even on that map with the wooden fort in the middle, and this was on a geforce256. And then something happened (I'm thinking HL 1.1.0.9) and it all went to hell. Now I average around 20fps in HL mods, and I have a geforce 440MX (yeah I know, but it's still better than the 256 so what's going on?). It's weird how I saw a marked improvement in a bunch of newer games, but there was absolutely no difference in HL. The only other thing I can think of is that I added more memory, there was a 128MB stick of PC100 in there and I threw in 258MB of Samsung PC133. I know it's unmatched, but that shouldn't be a problem right? Hell, it made GTA3 run a whole lot better.

    Oh, some specs in case they're important: 700MHz Tbird, 384MB, MSI 440MX (running 31.00 proprietary drivers, anything else I tried results in stupid problems like DVD freezing after a certain time - once I was watching Unbreakable, and it was that scene where he pushes the newspaper across the desk, and I sat there looking at this newspaper for a solid minute thinking 'hmm, this direction could be better' before I realized... but I digress <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->), Win98SE and my monitor's kicking out 100Hz of refreshing goodness at 1024x768 in Open GL (of course). Help me Jesus!
  • AnavrinAnavrin Join Date: 2002-10-30 Member: 1734Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Delarosa+Apr 19 2003, 03:18 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Delarosa @ Apr 19 2003, 03:18 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> how am i suposed to know if i've got a safe FPS running if i can't get that info, is there a way to tell the safe FPS with XP pro's plug'n play drivers?
    <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Ummm... you do mean refresh rate and not FPS, right?

    If you want to find out, just do a trial. For example, set your screen res to 1024x768 and keep on incrementing the refresh rate until the screen goes black. Windows will automatically step down the refresh rate to the lowest if you don't push any keys. The refresh rate below the one that brought you a blank screen is your monitor's maximum refresh rate at 1024. You can calculate the refresh rate for the other resolutions by dividing by the increase in pixels (in terms of percentage) as the resolution changes.
  • TeoHTeoH Join Date: 2002-12-30 Member: 11640Members
    edited April 2003
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
    bumped again :p
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    <img src='http://www.oclube.com/usuarios/teoh/stickythread.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
  • Young_TrotskyYoung_Trotsky Join Date: 2003-01-14 Member: 12285Members
  • Uh-OhUh-Oh Join Date: 2002-11-04 Member: 6917Members
    Nice enough thread, only a few changes need to be made.

    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> To find out your fps in game, type "net_graph 3" in console (without "). You can try settings 1 or 2 for a different look. net_graph 0 removes this feature. The net_graph shows you your fps, data transfer rates (in packets and kB/s), also packet loss and choke values for your connection to the server.
    DO NOT USE "timerefresh" in console. It is NOT the true value of your fps!
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    <b>DO NOT USE NETGRAPH 3 TO FIND OUT WHAT YOUR FPS IS</b>
    Why? Simple. Netgraph 1 to 3 all take up a <u>significant</u> amount of ressources to compute. The result is that your FPS count will be anything from 5 to 60% lower when the netgraphes are on. The only time you will want to use the netgraph commands is when you want to see your choke and packet loss (and even then, you should only pop it up for a few seconds, then turn it off).

    <u>What you should do</u>: Use an alternate command. Type "cl_showfps 1" in the console (without the quotes of course). A small, two digit counter will appear in the top left corner of your screen. This command will not be a strain on your computer, and it will give you an accurate FPS reading.

    The whole deal about WinXP and 2k being locked at 60Hz is partially true. If you upgraded your version of Windows with the Software packs and the many patches, it should have been fixed by itself (that is not the case for everyone though).

    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Ensure you have the correct monitor drivers and ALSO THE NEWEST GRAPHICS CARD DRIVERS!!!! You will be able to run at a higher FPS by disabling vsync, but YOUR MONITOR WILL STILL RUN AT 60Hz unless you use a refresh fix program.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    This isn't completely true. If you have a nVidia based videocard (such as a GeForce) the newest drivers <b>WON'T</b> be the best to use.
    Explanation: When nVidia releases new drivers, these new drivers have been optimized (yeah, right...) for their last line of cards. Meaning that if you use drivers from the 40.XX+ line of drivers, these are optimised for GeForce 4s and 5s (the FX line). As such, if you have an older videocard, such as anything prior to a GeForce 4 (like a Tnt, a GeForce 2 or 3) you will get a worse FPS counts with the newer line of drivers then with older ones.

    Each computer system will get varying results with different drivers. For exemple, I have 2 computers at home. One has a GeForce2 ti, and the other one has a GeForce4 ti 4200. The first one gets the best results with the 23.XX or 28.XX line of drivers. The second one gets best performence with the 40.XX line. To find out wich drivers will give you the most bang, you will have to try a few....

    www.guru3d.com is a great place to find out more about such things. If you go to their forums, you can find out wich drivers you should be running for your particular system.

    Well, that's it for me. This is a great thread and I only had these 3 minor changes to bring. Would be nice if the original post could be modified with a few snippets from here <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
    Have a nice day y'all
  • JowerJower Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13448Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Anavrin+Apr 19 2003, 05:49 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Anavrin @ Apr 19 2003, 05:49 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Windows will automatically step down the refresh rate to the lowest if you don't push any keys <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It will ?
    I know it will if you change the options in windows but we're talking about changing the drivers to not support another mode
  • RoobubbaRoobubba Who you gonna call? Join Date: 2003-01-06 Member: 11930Members, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    <!--QuoteBegin--Uh-Oh+Apr 19 2003, 10:18 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Uh-Oh @ Apr 19 2003, 10:18 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Ensure you have the correct monitor drivers and ALSO THE NEWEST GRAPHICS CARD DRIVERS!!!! You will be able to run at a higher FPS by disabling vsync, but YOUR MONITOR WILL STILL RUN AT 60Hz unless you use a refresh fix program.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    This isn't completely true. If you have a nVidia based videocard (such as a GeForce) the newest drivers <b>WON'T</b> be the best to use. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I know what you're saying, but in some cases the newest drivers actually DO giuve better performance on older cards. My TNT2 ultra (that's now sat in the server) gave far better performance on the 40.XX drivers than the 28s, which were pretty decent in the old machine on that board (and the 40.XX were terrible).

    It's completely dependent on system, as you say, and the only way is to try several drivers.

    I set out originally to keep the guide simple, but it's gradually got more and more complex, so I might edit it to give it a better lay out.

    I've so stolen that pic TeOH <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

    ***Original Post Updated***

    Roo
  • ShockehShockeh If a packet drops on the web and nobody&#39;s near to see it... Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    And so, I'm rolling back my drivers for my GF4MX440, as the FPS seem to have gone down with the latest Detonator's, and I'll be disabling netgraph because I didn't realise it actually HAD an impact.

    Ta guys.

    Incidental : Roob, I keep seeing your server & planning on jumping on, but I know all the regs on WarServ, but I promise to turn up. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • RoobubbaRoobubba Who you gonna call? Join Date: 2003-01-06 Member: 11930Members, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    heh do come along mate, BlueGhost has been on (some time ago now I guess). It'd be good to see some more teamplayers there <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • RoobubbaRoobubba Who you gonna call? Join Date: 2003-01-06 Member: 11930Members, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    <unashamedly bumping>
  • NSCypherNSCypher Join Date: 2003-01-26 Member: 12758Members
    Thx Roo that was really helpful - got my fps from 55-60 to 80-100...

    <bumptastic>
  • ThE_HeRoThE_HeRo Join Date: 2003-01-25 Member: 12723Members
    I use a Geforce 4 Ti4200 and with the latest drivers, but for some strange reason my gfx card menu doesn't give me any options to change Open_gl or DX, etc. I can't access the options to Vsync or anything else, other than adjusting gamma from the menu. I've tried to get people help me out, but they don't know either. Anyone else know why? how to fix? etc. Thanks.

    I also had this problem with my old TNT2 card, so it might be my comp.

    Specs:
    1.5 ghz P4
    256 SD RAM
    G4 Ti4200
    (i get around 60-80 fps in ns)
  • JowerJower Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13448Members
    You mean you don't see the option or you see it but it dosen't work ?
  • AIRinc_FaReZAIRinc_FaReZ Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14763Members
    One question, refresh rates dont affect LCD monitors right? And i cant increase the refresh rates of them right?
  • RoobubbaRoobubba Who you gonna call? Join Date: 2003-01-06 Member: 11930Members, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    refresh rates work differently on LCDs, I suggest you google it to read up about that, sorry <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->

    As for finding the advanced options...

    Right click on desktop: properties -> Settings Tab -> Advanced button.
    Here's where it gets different for Nvidia/ATI.

    Find the "adapter" or anything relating to hardware tab. In the NVidia drivers (the last ones I checked) there is a further advanced properties button, and inside that menu you'll find OpenGl/D3D.
    I can't get screenshots of this atm (going out soon) though someone else might be able to post one here...?

    You need to make sure in Half Life that you're also running THAT in OpenGL (from the menu).

    Roo

    PM if you have any problems and try to be specific <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • ThE_HeRoThE_HeRo Join Date: 2003-01-25 Member: 12723Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Jower+Apr 25 2003, 05:52 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Jower @ Apr 25 2003, 05:52 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You mean you don't see the option or you see it but it dosen't work ? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I don't see the option. <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • AIRinc_FaReZAIRinc_FaReZ Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14763Members
    Bummer... Thanx anyway. Cuz im getting a new gfx card ( gf 4 ti 4200 128 mb 8x blah blah) and im wondering if i STILL have to turn vsync off ( since im pretty sure my new card can easily get 100 fps with or without vsync).
  • RoobubbaRoobubba Who you gonna call? Join Date: 2003-01-06 Member: 11930Members, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    I've not tried an LCD in game, but if you try to change the refresh rates as you normally do, you'll find the maximum allowed is pretty low (I THINK).

    Again, best read up on this I'm afraid <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • JowerJower Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13448Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--AIRinc.F|aReZ+Apr 27 2003, 03:27 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (AIRinc.F|aReZ @ Apr 27 2003, 03:27 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Bummer... Thanx anyway. Cuz im getting a new gfx card ( gf 4 ti 4200 128 mb 8x blah blah) and im wondering if i STILL have to turn vsync off ( since im pretty sure my new card can easily get 100 fps with or without vsync). <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It's better having vsync ON
    But to get a higher FPS ( if you have under 100 ) you might wanna try turning it off though that will reduce the visual quality with tearing
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