Tweaking Framerate For Better Accuracy?
the_x5
the Xzianthian Join Date: 2004-03-02 Member: 27041Members, Constellation
the Xzianthian Join Date: 2004-03-02 Member: 27041Members, Constellation
in Tech Support
<div class="IPBDescription">how?</div> I was listening to some IT guy in DoD telling us how he has 150fps and how his aim is so accurate because of it. He tweaked som cvars and also some packet rate/control cvars which give him better aim than most people.
<span style='color:yellow'>Pros? Cons? How do you do it? What do the cvars actually do?</span>
Not sure if this has been asked before, didn't find it in search and it would be good knowledge for all.
I run a Raedon 9600XT, it has a little thermal chip on it to aid in overclocking to but I don't understand how to contol it, only see display of temperature in the catalyst contol window.
Anyone an expert on tweaking?
<span style='color:yellow'>Pros? Cons? How do you do it? What do the cvars actually do?</span>
Not sure if this has been asked before, didn't find it in search and it would be good knowledge for all.
I run a Raedon 9600XT, it has a little thermal chip on it to aid in overclocking to but I don't understand how to contol it, only see display of temperature in the catalyst contol window.
Anyone an expert on tweaking?
Comments
Sounds like it... HL is capped at 100 fps, can't go higher than that I believe without getting into the sorce code. I don't think you can improve your acc. just by editing some cvars either...
Normaly better fps will make u move accurate as you can track people better(eg. try tracking a skulk with 12fps)
Like your self i have a 9600XT on this machine, the best way to get extra fps is to go into the advanced options and turn down the openGL settings to max performance.(See pic below). The cvars he is talking about are most likley stuff to limit the amount of decals and genral graphic settings to get a higher frame rate. Use the search funtion on the forums about tweeking to get more fps.
Unless you have a poor CPU there isnt any need to overclock your 9600.
It is possible to get more than 100fps in half life but the default net_graph doesnt show it. If he is getting 150fps then he has vsync off and would get alot of tareing unless he has a very very good monitor.
He was canadian if that help any. I'm guessing about 30 something years old, knew a lot abotu IT stuff. He also has a real Einfield sniper rifle from WWII he got from a family relative of his.
Also is there a way to increase the refresh rate of your optical mouse? I think I've heard this stuff before. Pros & cons if you do? I remember he said all this stuff has a balance. Like if you increase to to much, yea you can move faster but less accurate.
What's tareing?
I think i'm off to go-a-googling... <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
PS: we use fps_max to control the framerate cap in HL right? What does it do when you increase/decrease it?
Info on Vsync can be found at the top of the forum or just click <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=34027' target='_blank'>Here</a>
If you install the correct and most up-to-date drivers for your mouse then it might give you options to change the speed it moves, I use the default windows XP for mine and its fine. Just change your sensitivity to make it move faster.
As for the cvars you can find most of them
<a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8100' target='_blank'>here</a>
The guy could just have a good aim and just messing about with you btw <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> or just ask him what he has edited.
Hope that helps, my first post was a little rushed <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I also left a link to this thread in the tweak3d forums so the experts might be able to shed a little more light on the subject. Especially from teh OS and hardware angles.
*hopefully they'll come over here and look, people are so damn stubbon these day to look arround on other forums.* <_<
More questions: <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I read somwhere that tearing was cause by the RAMDAC sending a new frame to the monitor before it finishes rendering the current frame. This means that the monitor starts rendering part of the new frame with part of the old frame, leading to a "tearing" effect. And that you can usually fix this by locking your FPS to the refresh rate of your monitor.
Um how?
Some one said the how to was
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Edit your .bashrc file (or /etc/bashrc as root) and add this line:
export __GL_SYNC_TO_VBLANK=1
This will tell the OpenGL libraries to use vsync when they render stuff via the NVIDIA drivers and the X server.
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I have no freaking clue ><
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>The magic word in the graphics industry today seems to be shaders, and it comes as no surprise that Gabe Newell from Valve, the software developer that?s working on HalfLife 2, just held a lengthy presentation at ATI?s Shader Days which basically talked about shaders, shaders and some more shaders and all the great things you can do with them. The gist of the matter is that image quality becomes the determining factor in tomorrow?s games and requirements for videocards. But he also mentioned performance of currently available videocards with HalfLife 2 and unless you missed the coverage by other websites about this subject it is save to say that ATI came out on top. Nvidia cards, including the new FX series, seem to take quite a performance hit when utilizing the DX9 code path, with their performance about half that of a comparable ATI videocard.
But by reading the reports from people that have actually been to the event and seen the side by side comparisons we learn that DX9 is mostly used for eye candy in HalfLife 2, and not so much to up the frame rate. The visual difference between using the DX8 code path or a mixed DX8/9 as Nvidia is using isn?t as big as the benchmarks have you believe. So we?re back to the square one, remember when 3dfx and Nvidia were duking it out over 32-bit color? And 3dfx stated that 16-bit was good enough? Nvidia must?ve sold quite a few extra videocards because of the simple fact that they had 32-bit color, regardless of the fact that very few games used it, or could use it without suffering a severe performance penalty.
Fig 1. A screenshot from Valve's HalfLife 2, fully utilizing DirectX 9.0.
That automatically brings me to the driver cheats both Nvidia, and to a lesser degree, ATI have been caught on using. These cheats were meant to increase performance, by reducing image quality. But in fact they didn?t really affect visual quality too much otherwise it would?ve been blatantly obvious at first sight. These optimizations obviously weren?t as clear to the naked eye as some needed utmost scrutiny of the image or even the driver code paths to reveal any optimization. Whether this is a bad thing we leave up to you to judge, as in the end it is all up to what makes a game playable. It is, and always will be, a thin line between calling something a cheat or just a performance enhancement. But I think both Nvidia and ATI tackled this problem pretty well in their drivers, by offering a performance slider that we could manually set to any desired level, either fully optimized for performance, eyecandy, or somewhere in between.
Fig 2. Another HalfLife2 screenshot, again utilizing DirectX 9.0.
However, at some point in the near future we?ll see a similar situation as with modern processors; they?re plenty fast for 99% of the tasks, videocards will then also offer plenty of performance, just like with 2D today. The path leading up to that will focus more and more on image quality as high frame rates will merely be a matter of clockspeed. Visual effects will be processed by dedicated circuitry inside de graphics processor, much like the shaders and per pixel processing of today?s videocards.
One thing is for sure though, ATI gambled on the right horse by putting image quality as a number one feature, and working that into the core design of their graphics processors. All they need to do (and will do with the new 9800 and 9600 series) until a new DirectX specification is released is increase the clockspeed and optimize their algorithms. Nvidia on the other hand gambled on raw frame rates and clockspeed, they are still not fully DX9 compatible, or have made shortcuts in their design that yield DX9 compatibility at the expense of image quality or clockspeed. They will need to work much harder, and maybe even overhaul their basic design, if they want to remain competitive with ATI now that image quality becomes a determining factor. Funny that only a few years ago Nvidia was in exactly the same position as ATI is now, let?s see if they can come around again and come out with a product that delivers on all counts.</span>
Sander Sassen.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
A what? Pingbooster? WTH is that?
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->HALF-LIFE Admin Mod... If the CPU load is quite low, use a pingbooster to increase the frame rate
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I have a ATI Raedon 9600XT with the little thermostat overclocking chip if that helps any...
Modified qutoing of family guy:
"*singing* I need a <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif' /><!--endemo--> "
Basicly what this means is turning vsync on, you can do this by going into the advanced options on your Display settings and then select the 'ATI 3D' tab. Once you are there select the openGL button and tick the box next to 'Use custom settings' then click on the custom tab. On the new screen that pops up the 2nd from bottom options is 'Wait for Vertical Sync (vsync)' drag that to the far right to 'Always On'. Click apply and now you will never see tearing again <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->A what? Pingbooster? WTH is that?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Why they are needed: If a server is running NS and the server frame rate is only 20 (would have to be a very bad server) the people on the server would get higher pings and there frame rate would lock-up randomly while the server trys to catch up.
Ping boosters basicly force the server to use almost 99% of the system's resources to run the NS server. this basicly means it makes the server process the NS server commands over any other program the server is running.
Now are you dont run the server you cant use the pingbooster. If you join a server with a booster it normaly says in the topic but also of server companies ban the use of them because normal one machine is running 2-3 NS servers at once. So the machine with the booster would slow down the other two.
Overclocking: The CD that came with the 9600XT should have software called Redline on it, you can use that for overclocking or you could try a 3rd party software like
<a href='http://www.rage3d.com/index.php?node=r3dtweak&37488' target='_blank'>this</a> i have never used it so i dont know what its like.
To tell you the truth if your card has a 'thermostat overclocking chip' i think that might be the heat sync for the ram, unless you have good cooling on you system/card dont bother overclocking as it will make your warranty void.
(if you type the guide up in .html I'll put it on my website, or you could make a post in my forum with that stuff. rawr)
PS: in an episode of screen savers I was watching they were talking about the correlation between optical mice refresh rates and accuracy. You know anything about that? because I can't seem to find the episode on their website.
I dont know much about the refresh rates of optical mice other than the rate they update should be the same as, or above, your screen refresh rate. If you are using a USB mouse there shouldnt be a problem as you get 100hz+. If you use a ps2 port then its a little slower.
The basicly means the higher the mouse refreshs the smother the cursor moves.
Cheers for the offer of the webspace, I have my own site (check my signature ) Feel free to Pm me if you have any other questions and il try to help. Iv also been playing Half Life mods for years and most of what i know is stuff iv picked up or been told over that time.
hmm did not know that... And I assume a USB2.0 would be even better?
PS: <a href='http://www.g4techtv.com/show.aspx?show_key=52' target='_blank'>yes by screen savers I mean these guys</a>
There isnt any need to go beyond the speeds that USB can handel as the refresh rates on your screen cant go that fast anyway so there wouldnt be any noticeable change.
I dont live in the states so iv never heard of Screen Savers before, Going to watch a few of them in the morning <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b>Sci-Fi's Stargate (atlantis & SG-1)</b> -- best show since star trek and in someways more creative; I wish our US military was actually used like this <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> I hate you political incompetents.
<b>G4techTV's X-Play</b> -- both news and entertainment, Morgan's actually related to me indirectly. Small world.
<b>G4techTv's Arena</b> -- as soon as I can get a 1337 clan going I'll take any of you on on television; gammign will be a sport some day, but don't expect a National Gamming Association anytime soon.
<b>G4techTV's ScreenSavers </b>-- learn something(s) new everyday
<b>History Channel's Command Decisions</b> -- <!--emo&::tsa::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tsa.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tsa.gif' /><!--endemo--> if you are a NS field comm like me, you better study battle history <i>religiously</i>. To see my collection of this logic (quotes with permission and some of my own ideas) click here:
Sometimes the news, Discovery or TLC, movies, been watching C-Span a lot lately due to the John Kerry stuff. Woot woot! Of course where I live everyone is a ultra-conservative religious fundamentalist. I belong back in California. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> US is hated internationally and it makes me sick, because it soo misrepresents the people. (reason why I get really mad at people my age who don't vote)</span>
eek! I'm getting off-topic, so anyways back on topic...
How do things like HLbooster for servers work. I know it has something to do with thread priorities. Whats the benifit of this stuff?
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->HLDS Ping Booster is a small tweak to the Half-Life Dedicated Server that drastically reduces player pings and generally makes the game much more responsive.
Technical explanation:
There is a small flaw in the way frame timing is implemented in HLDS. Basically your average HL server is just sitting idle about 15ms between every frame. This little tweak fixes that.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
URL for the UDPbooster : <a href='http://www.udpsoft.com/booster/' target='_blank'>Here</a>
URL for the HLbooster : <a href='http://koti.mbnet.fi/axh/' target='_blank'>Here</a>
If you want a huge answer to your question go <a href='http://www.adminmod.org/index.php?go=faq' target='_blank'>here</a> and go down to Question 25.
In brief, it can make pings lower on the server by fixing a error in the Half life net code.