How To Improve Your Fps

devicenulldevicenull Join Date: 2003-04-30 Member: 15967Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
edited February 2005 in NS General Discussion
Its quite simple actually, run HL at Above normal priority. Thats it. It took my fps from 15 to about 45. If thats not a big enough improvement, I don't know what is.

I made a simple program to automate this. Its attached, just leave it running while your run HL.

<a href='http://devnull.vision-host.net/files/improveFPS.zip' target='_blank'>http://devnull.vision-host.net/files/improveFPS.zip</a>
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Comments

  • LokeTheSleekPeruvianLokeTheSleekPeruvian Join Date: 2003-08-21 Member: 20054Members
    Didn't work for me...it actually made my fps freeze even more than usual <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • Cj_the_DjCj_the_Dj Join Date: 2004-03-18 Member: 27398Members
    edited February 2005
    i think it can be done on xp through the task manager.

    right click on hl.exe (in processes) >> priority >> highest if you want.
  • todd1Oktodd1Ok Join Date: 2004-04-19 Member: 28018Members, Constellation, NS2 Playtester
    setting hl.exe to anything other than abovenormal will LOCK YOUR COMPUTER UP.

    setting the process to high or realtime will cause your cpu to dedicate most or all of it's time to the process. this takes away from other process's needed to keep your framerate high, which will hinder your fps more. above normal setting will help for people with slower end graphics cards, yes, but as for anything else, you really shouldent need it.

    there are many things which will help your fps. firstly, i recommend you search the forum for threads on how to eek out more fps. i searched for 10 minutes and couldent find anything, but you may have more luck. some of the generic commands to try are gl_cull 1 and gl_picmip 1; i found these gave huge performance boost's on my old tnt riva2. *shudder*

    the next step is to make sure your drivers are up to date, this can sometimes be a real help.

    anyways, the next step is download <a href='http://www.entechtaiwan.com/ps.htm' target='_blank'>Powerstrip</a>. this is a graphics card tool that i have found extremly useful. it comes with generic over clocking tools for graphic's cards. but i will give you this word of ***WARNING*** overclocking is extremly risky and can lead to permanent and irreprable damage to your computer, card, and even risk of fire. before proceeding with overclocking anything on your computer, make sure you FULLY understand the risk's involved. if you understand the risks, then you can proceed to overclcok your gfx card. if you are using an onboard card i would not recommend overclcoking at all. a good cooling system is essential for your pc to function properly when overclcoking. the more airflow thru your computer the better. if you have no cooling system at all, it is still possible, however a little risky to overclock.you can probably get a 20 mhz oc without heating it up too much. you'll maybe get an extra 5 fps out of doing this. with an excellent heating system and a 50% oc you could get better fps, but the likely hood is you dont have any heating system whatsoever, so obly oc it ever so slightly. you should notice a marked improvement in your fps if you applied some of the things said here. hope i helped somewhat.
  • intensityrisingintensityrising Join Date: 2003-11-18 Member: 23148Members
    My fps is fine but I'll try this when I remove my video card to my new computer.
  • AvengerXAvengerX Join Date: 2004-03-20 Member: 27459Banned
    you were only getting 15 FPS ... on my dear child I feel sorry for you.
  • DarkFrostDarkFrost Join Date: 2003-04-03 Member: 15154Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    <a href='http://www.3dcenter.org/atuner/index_e.php' target='_blank'>screw powerstrip!</a>

    That is much simpler for the same results... free too
  • theclamtheclam Join Date: 2004-08-01 Member: 30290Members
    Don't set HL to above normal. Set other non-essential programs to below normal or low. It takes longer, the effect is a little bit less, but you won't lock up.
  • DarkFrostDarkFrost Join Date: 2003-04-03 Member: 15154Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    Just tryed setting hl.exe to realtime, and only thing that happened was my refresh rate fix got broken... no lock up :| but no FPS improvement either ><
  • IIRelicIIRelic Join Date: 2005-03-01 Member: 42849Members
    Open your console and type:

    Developer 1

    then type:

    fps_max 200

    If you fps dont go up its your G Card because I have done this a few times when my ping was at 40 and it shot up to 100 or higher depending...
  • theclamtheclam Join Date: 2004-08-01 Member: 30290Members
    edited March 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-IIRelic+Mar 1 2005, 02:58 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (IIRelic @ Mar 1 2005, 02:58 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Open your console and type:

    Developer 1

    then type:

    fps_max 200

    If you fps dont go up its your G Card because I have done this a few times when my ping was at 40 and it shot up to 100 or higher depending... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Doesn't do anything. HL won't do any rendering above 100 fps, you won't be able to detect the difference between 100 and 200 unless you have excellent vision, concentrate, and aren't playing the game.

    Set your fps_max to 101 and don't worry about developer 1.

    If your FPS really sucks, then buy a Geforce3 (<$50) and upgrade your processor to a top of the line P3 or something in a similiar performance range. You can get 60+ fps even with a 5 year old system, as long as your resolution isn't insanely high.

    BTW, ping and fps are completely different things. Ping/Latency is mostly network performance. Fps is mostly processor/video card performance.
  • CurveCurve Join Date: 2003-12-17 Member: 24475Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    Are there any specific command you can add to your usercfg?
  • Viper_two_nine_AViper_two_nine_A Join Date: 2004-09-29 Member: 31989Members
    searched 30sec and found this
    <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=87934' target='_blank'>http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index....showtopic=87934</a>
  • TwelveTwelve Join Date: 2005-01-17 Member: 36044Members
    I have to set my hl.exe's priority to low everytime I play, otherwise my MX500 lags when there's lots happening on the screen. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • EndEnd Join Date: 2003-11-11 Member: 22566Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--QuoteBegin-theclam+Mar 1 2005, 09:18 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (theclam @ Mar 1 2005, 09:18 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-IIRelic+Mar 1 2005, 02:58 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (IIRelic @ Mar 1 2005, 02:58 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Open your console and type:

    Developer 1

    then type:

    fps_max 200

    If you fps dont go up its your G Card because I have done this a few times when my ping was at 40 and it shot up to 100 or higher depending... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Doesn't do anything. HL won't do any rendering above 100 fps, you won't be able to detect the difference between 100 and 200 unless you have excellent vision, concentrate, and aren't playing the game.

    Set your fps_max to 101 and don't worry about developer 1.

    If your FPS really sucks, then buy a Geforce3 (<$50) and upgrade your processor to a top of the line P3 or something in a similiar performance range. You can get 60+ fps even with a 5 year old system, as long as your resolution isn't insanely high.

    BTW, ping and fps are completely different things. Ping/Latency is mostly network performance. Fps is mostly processor/video card performance. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    i got a Geforce4 and i get 30+ fps only
  • theclamtheclam Join Date: 2004-08-01 Member: 30290Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-End+Mar 1 2005, 12:58 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (End @ Mar 1 2005, 12:58 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-theclam+Mar 1 2005, 09:18 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (theclam @ Mar 1 2005, 09:18 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-IIRelic+Mar 1 2005, 02:58 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (IIRelic @ Mar 1 2005, 02:58 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Open your console and type:

    Developer 1

    then type:

    fps_max 200

    If you fps dont go up its your G Card because I have done this a few times when my ping was at 40 and it shot up to 100 or higher depending... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Doesn't do anything. HL won't do any rendering above 100 fps, you won't be able to detect the difference between 100 and 200 unless you have excellent vision, concentrate, and aren't playing the game.

    Set your fps_max to 101 and don't worry about developer 1.

    If your FPS really sucks, then buy a Geforce3 (<$50) and upgrade your processor to a top of the line P3 or something in a similiar performance range. You can get 60+ fps even with a 5 year old system, as long as your resolution isn't insanely high.

    BTW, ping and fps are completely different things. Ping/Latency is mostly network performance. Fps is mostly processor/video card performance. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    i got a Geforce4 and i get 30+ fps only <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    If you've got a Geforce4 MX, then the Geforce3 would be better. Do you have a >1Ghz Pentium or Athlon? My old 1100mhz Athlon Thunderbird w/ Geforce3 and 256MB RAM got 60 fps.
  • ReKReK Join Date: 2004-08-30 Member: 31058Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Silver
    2.0 P4
    GeForce 2 MX
    512 RAM

    ~60 fps
  • DarkFrostDarkFrost Join Date: 2003-04-03 Member: 15154Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    set your PC to apply time to programs as a network server, its more efficient with the cache, and should give you some extra playability.

    Right of my head i cant remember how to do it at the moment, but i am tired =]
  • CrazyFoolCrazyFool Join Date: 2004-03-06 Member: 27171Members
    edited March 2005
    yes my piece of **** geforce 2 mx gets 100 fps.
  • TaaketaTaaketa Join Date: 2004-02-10 Member: 26357Members
    edited March 2005
    geforce 5200 mx here
    athlon xp 1.4ghz

    70-90fps.

    30 in serious combat or turret farms.
  • TrakenTraken Join Date: 2004-11-14 Member: 32797Members
    FX5500
    1.7Ghz Celeron
    512MB

    30FPS max...I'm thinking it could be the CPU...any ideas?
  • im_lostim_lost TWG Rule Guru Join Date: 2003-04-26 Member: 15861Members
    I might try that if I ever run NS again on my old laptop (which shuts off on its own every time I try using it, so I haven't turned it on in a month). I wish my monitor didn't limit me to 72fps, everything else on my computer can easily handle 100fps.
  • xtremecorextremecore Join Date: 2005-01-21 Member: 36506Members, Constellation
    edited March 2005
    vsync limits your fps, turn it off. also, try to force your monitor to run at 100mhz if possible =x
  • Curlydave1Curlydave1 Join Date: 2005-02-27 Member: 42685Members
    edited March 2005
    <!--QuoteBegin-xtremecore+Mar 2 2005, 09:44 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (xtremecore @ Mar 2 2005, 09:44 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> vsync limits your fps, turn it off. also, try to force your monitor to run at 100mhz if possible =x <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yes, but no lower than what your monitor can display anyhow. Besides, the tearing that results from vsync being off is much worse than any fps hit. (and if you turn on triple buffereing, there will be no fps hit.)

    Keep vsync on.
  • im_lostim_lost TWG Rule Guru Join Date: 2003-04-26 Member: 15861Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-xtremecore+Mar 2 2005, 06:44 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (xtremecore @ Mar 2 2005, 06:44 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> try to force your monitor to run at 100mhz if possible =x <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Isn't it really bad for the monitor to push it past the intended refresh rate?
  • PRTePRTe Join Date: 2003-10-25 Member: 21919Members
    if you make your monitor go past supported refresh rates the monitor can't display anything right?

    my screen refresh rate only goes up to 75 hertz <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • TaaketaTaaketa Join Date: 2004-02-10 Member: 26357Members
    edited March 2005
    my TFT on 1280*1024 can only do 72 hertz and 75 on anything less than that except 640*480 which has to be on 60 hertz for some reason. <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • theclamtheclam Join Date: 2004-08-01 Member: 30290Members
    TFT (LCD, I think you mean) displays aren't like CRTs. They've got continuity of their images. They don't turn off in between every refresh, like CRTs do. They also have ghosting, which acts like a motion blur (if you've got a good one, then ghosting will be minimal, but still present). They look better at lower refresh rates than CRTs do.

    Also, 100 mhz? I think my monitor would explode if I set it to that, considering that's 1 million times more often than 100hz, which is what I usually set it at.
  • ReKReK Join Date: 2004-08-30 Member: 31058Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Silver
    <!--QuoteBegin-CrazyFool+Mar 1 2005, 07:57 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (CrazyFool @ Mar 1 2005, 07:57 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> yes my piece of **** geforce 2 mx gets 100 fps. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    What are your other specs? And what are your setting/tweaks? I want 100...
  • theclamtheclam Join Date: 2004-08-01 Member: 30290Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Traken+Mar 2 2005, 12:30 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Traken @ Mar 2 2005, 12:30 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> FX5500
    1.7Ghz Celeron
    512MB

    30FPS max...I'm thinking it could be the CPU...any ideas? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yeah, it's the celeron. There isn't much that you can do, because reducing graphics quality only really helps the video card. The best thing you can do is to make sure you have no programs running at all, so they don't take processing time away from NS. Or, you could always upgrade.
  • Pepe_MuffassaPepe_Muffassa Join Date: 2003-01-17 Member: 12401Members
    For once I'm asking theclam for help <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    Anyway, I recently upgraded my os from win2k to winxp pro. I did a complete format of the hd, (saved all my files on a friends) then re-installed everything from scratch.

    Anyway, the net result is my fps went from a crap but playable 20-30 in heavy combat to 3-7 in similar situations.

    My relavant systems specs are as follows:

    dual p3 800's (thats right - 2 of em)
    512mb ram
    radeon 9000 128mb video card (dx 8, and it sucks, I know)

    The only real difference that I can come up with is that I am running xp as opposed to 2k - I have the most recent catalyst drivers installed, firewall and other xp crap turned off (behind a router) - and it still laggs really bad (unplayable).

    Any suggestions?
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