Kouji_SanSr. Hινε UÏкεεÏεг - EUPT DeputyThe NetherlandsJoin Date: 2003-05-13Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
edited December 2012
I have texture streaming set to "off", going to have a look now with it set to on to see what happens. It's already started once though during this Windows session so it will load faster. Just like you said, but this is Windows Vista/7 thing, XP cannot do that as effectively I think...
So Mineshaft just loaded within 15 seconds with that setting set to on and my initial Lerk celerity flight through the map will cause some negligible micro stutter when the HDD loads big areas. On init it needs to load a lot less and then just keeps loading/unloading it on the fly in the background as expected. With video memory hovering around 400-600Mb (~850-1100Mb with it set to off, setting it in game it went up to that amount). Graphics setting is set to High.
I have the problem some of you have mentioned where it says "Compiling Shaders for First Run" even though I have run that map dozens of times and have not changed my settings at all.
Also I generally miss the first game in-between map loads, although it seems like most people do as the first game ends quickly due to so few people being there.
<!--quoteo(post=2038794:date=Dec 3 2012, 01:35 AM:name=Rokiyo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rokiyo @ Dec 3 2012, 01:35 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2038794"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It always loads the map, then always compiles the shaders that are supposed to be "for first load", then sits on precaching 0/xxxx for a fairly long while, then slowly counts up to about 50-100, then zooms through the rest in a couple of seconds. Every time, like clockwork.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I get EXACTLY that, also I should add, I just reformatted my PC, Win7 Ultimate, and the only things on it are steam, video codecs, firefox, and teamspeak. So no additional programs are causing it to empty the cache. Steam is on a different hard drive, not sure if this is relevant.
Thanks HeatSurge, I'll try that when I get back to my PC with NS2 on it.
Your post gave me a thought though... Could this be an Operating System specific issue? I get the impression from this thread that people with newer computers are loading more slowly... Could this be a problem specifically with 64 bit Win 7, for example?
Could you guys who have posted your average loading times also post your operating system? (including if it's 32bit/64bit)
<!--quoteo(post=2039193:date=Dec 3 2012, 09:03 AM:name=Rokiyo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rokiyo @ Dec 3 2012, 09:03 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2039193"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Thanks HeatSurge, I'll try that when I get back to my PC with NS2 on it.
Your post gave me a thought though... Could this be an Operating System specific issue? I get the impression from this thread that people with newer computers are loading more slowly... Could this be a problem specifically with 64 bit Win 7, for example?
Could you guys who have posted your average loading times also post your operating system? (including if it's 32bit/64bit)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've got PhenomX4 955@3.4GHz, 8GB RAM@1333MHz, GTX560 Ti, 7200RPM F1 spinpoint and Win7 64bit. Playing with texture streaming on/high textures. And for the first game the map loads in 45 seconds. Map loads after that are about 25 seconds.
<!--quoteo(post=2039193:date=Dec 4 2012, 12:03 AM:name=Rokiyo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rokiyo @ Dec 4 2012, 12:03 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2039193"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Thanks HeatSurge, I'll try that when I get back to my PC with NS2 on it.
Your post gave me a thought though... Could this be an Operating System specific issue? I get the impression from this thread that people with newer computers are loading more slowly... Could this be a problem specifically with 64 bit Win 7, for example?
Could you guys who have posted your average loading times also post your operating system? (including if it's 32bit/64bit)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Win764 bit, specs already posted:
First time run (after game open) loading explore mode without texture streaming, 1:10 Second load, 0:16, it never used to speed up load time after a first load, could be because I reloaded the map immediately i dunno, but it used to be the same
First time run with texture streaming on, 0:15 Second load, 0:14
These numbers seem somewhat off tbh, the very first load (streaming off) is accurate of what I've had before, but the 2nd load, never had a fast 2nd load with it off before, and with streaming on, it's about that fast sure but...maybe a bit faster. Also if I close the game, then load with streaming on, then turn it off it loads in about 0:20, so even with streaming on it stored it in memory somehow.
Kouji_SanSr. Hινε UÏкεεÏεг - EUPT DeputyThe NetherlandsJoin Date: 2003-05-13Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
<!--quoteo(post=2039253:date=Dec 3 2012, 03:56 PM:name=Ghosthree3)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ghosthree3 @ Dec 3 2012, 03:56 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2039253"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->so even with streaming on it stored it in memory somehow.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Yep that's win7 memory magic :)
as per usual my lowish spec system seems to buck the trend. I use an SSD and an ATI card. Perhaps those two are the magic combination? Perhaps nvida cards buffer more than ati?
just a minor grave dig. I finally got round to installing an i5 2400 that I got at christmas. Whilst many will tut and curse this is what I did:
uninstalled AMD drivers. Took out AMD board, put intel board into machine, booted to safe mode, booted to windows, installed new intel drivers (and ATI GFX drivers). Thats right, I didnt bother reinstalling.
NS2 works even faster than before now. I can bump almost everything on high except infestation (causes stuttering) and AA.
I have noticed slightly longer load times since about 2 patches ago. The precaching part is just as fast but the "Loading..." that happens just before precaching takes a little while longer.
^If the server you were connecting to had lots of consistency checks, you will get an increased load time, but I'm not sure what part it actually does the checking on (ex. not precaching, maybe loading or waiting for server?).
Could have been that, then again could be patch related I haven't really looked at load times since b239.
It's been a while since I've played NS2. Now that I'm back to playing it, my load times are just plain horrible now compared to what they used to be. The initial join/load times used to be 30ish seconds, now they take 2-3 minutes, however between map changes is still quick. SMH.
Comments
So Mineshaft just loaded within 15 seconds with that setting set to on and my initial Lerk celerity flight through the map will cause some negligible micro stutter when the HDD loads big areas. On init it needs to load a lot less and then just keeps loading/unloading it on the fly in the background as expected. With video memory hovering around 400-600Mb (~850-1100Mb with it set to off, setting it in game it went up to that amount). Graphics setting is set to High.
Texture streaming on: 7 seconds
Texture streaming off: 37 seconds
Weird, I didn't think texture streaming would make that much of a difference, that's a lot..
Edit: Using highest textures by the way, I imagine that would probably make some effect on load times.
I have the problem some of you have mentioned where it says "Compiling Shaders for First Run" even though I have run that map dozens of times and have not changed my settings at all.
Also I generally miss the first game in-between map loads, although it seems like most people do as the first game ends quickly due to so few people being there.
I get EXACTLY that, also I should add, I just reformatted my PC, Win7 Ultimate, and the only things on it are steam, video codecs, firefox, and teamspeak. So no additional programs are causing it to empty the cache. Steam is on a different hard drive, not sure if this is relevant.
%appdata%\Natural Selection 2
(start->run->paste "%appdata%\Natural Selection 2"->ok)
and completely erase the "cache" folder.
The shaders should be remade hopefully once and for all on the next run.
Your post gave me a thought though... Could this be an Operating System specific issue? I get the impression from this thread that people with newer computers are loading more slowly... Could this be a problem specifically with 64 bit Win 7, for example?
Could you guys who have posted your average loading times also post your operating system? (including if it's 32bit/64bit)
Your post gave me a thought though... Could this be an Operating System specific issue? I get the impression from this thread that people with newer computers are loading more slowly... Could this be a problem specifically with 64 bit Win 7, for example?
Could you guys who have posted your average loading times also post your operating system? (including if it's 32bit/64bit)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've got PhenomX4 955@3.4GHz, 8GB RAM@1333MHz, GTX560 Ti, 7200RPM F1 spinpoint and Win7 64bit. Playing with texture streaming on/high textures. And for the first game the map loads in 45 seconds. Map loads after that are about 25 seconds.
Your post gave me a thought though... Could this be an Operating System specific issue? I get the impression from this thread that people with newer computers are loading more slowly... Could this be a problem specifically with 64 bit Win 7, for example?
Could you guys who have posted your average loading times also post your operating system? (including if it's 32bit/64bit)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Win764 bit, specs already posted:
First time run (after game open) loading explore mode without texture streaming, 1:10
Second load, 0:16, it never used to speed up load time after a first load, could be because I reloaded the map immediately i dunno, but it used to be the same
First time run with texture streaming on, 0:15
Second load, 0:14
These numbers seem somewhat off tbh, the very first load (streaming off) is accurate of what I've had before, but the 2nd load, never had a fast 2nd load with it off before, and with streaming on, it's about that fast sure but...maybe a bit faster. Also if I close the game, then load with streaming on, then turn it off it loads in about 0:20, so even with streaming on it stored it in memory somehow.
Yep that's win7 memory magic :)
Leave steam on and put your computer into sleep mode instead of shutting it down once you're done with it and you will keep the short load times
If you restart or turn steam off you will likely need to recache everything
Reguardless of what you do when a new build comes out you'll have to suck up the slow load times for a single time
uninstalled AMD drivers. Took out AMD board, put intel board into machine, booted to safe mode, booted to windows, installed new intel drivers (and ATI GFX drivers). Thats right, I didnt bother reinstalling.
NS2 works even faster than before now. I can bump almost everything on high except infestation (causes stuttering) and AA.
Maybe the SSD is the saviour, I cannot say.
Could have been that, then again could be patch related I haven't really looked at load times since b239.
http://forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/comment/2064886/#Comment_2064886
The problem still exist? I didn't feel it was necessary to start a new thread on the same problem?
Wondering why my load times would just do a 180.