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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace & FreeSpace Open Support => Topic started by: TParis on February 09, 2011, 07:45:24 am

Title: Flares causing heavy FPS drops [MediaVPS]
Post by: TParis on February 09, 2011, 07:45:24 am

My config: Win 7 64 bits, FSO 3.6.12 Inferno SSE2, MediaVPS 3.6.12, no optional addititions

My game is suffering from heavy slowdowns when I'm close behind an enemy fighter, which has these damage flares. FPS drop about 50%.
Tested this on two different systems (1. Intel Core 2 Duo T6600,  4 GB RAM, Radeon Mobility 4570; 2. Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550, 4 GB RAM, GeForce GTX 260²).

Other than that FPS uses to be at a stable value of 60.
Does anyone else notice similar problems? At least my second system should be capable to handle MediaVPS without bigger problems - and yes, my drivers are up-to-date on both systems.  Is there a way to replace those high res damage flares with some from the older MediaVPS?

Title: Re: Flares causing heavy FPS drops [MediaVPS]
Post by: Fury on February 09, 2011, 08:11:12 am

Damage flares? Do you mean the long flame effect?

Title: Re: Flares causing heavy FPS drops [MediaVPS]
Post by: TParis on February 09, 2011, 08:13:19 am

Ye, probably that. ;) Tried setting particles to minimum in the FS2 option menu but it has not the slightest impact on the performance.

Title: Re: Flares causing heavy FPS drops [MediaVPS]
Post by: Fury on February 09, 2011, 08:23:36 am

Probably? It should be quite obvious if you mean the flame effect coming from hull impacts.

Well, if it is the flame effect, then extracting contents of the attached 7z file to your mediavps_3612\data\effects folder should help. This effectively removes all effects that make use of particlesmoke01 however, but it's easiest way to see if it is the cause of your problem.

[attachment deleted by ninja]

Title: Re: Flares causing heavy FPS drops [MediaVPS]
Post by: TParis on February 09, 2011, 10:33:55 am

Yep, the effect was the cause. And setting the particle setting to the lowest level deactivates the flame effect aswell (must have screwd up somehow before experimenting with the settings :X ). Still, on the second lowest level close on-screen explosions might cause pretty heavy FPS drops. Are there any alternative flame effects available?

Thanks for your help so far!

Title: Re: Flares causing heavy FPS drops [MediaVPS]
Post by: Fury on February 09, 2011, 10:39:50 am

You should not have any such slowdown with specs like you have posted here. People with far lower specs can play without major issues.

Please post debug log from both of your computers. Instructions are in sixth post of this topic: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,56279.0.html

Title: Re: Flares causing heavy FPS drops [MediaVPS]
Post by: TParis on February 09, 2011, 10:59:44 am

Here you go:
http://pastebin.com/QNjEJQig

Even though it is too helpful: I'm using the the GOG.com version as basis.

Title: Re: Flares causing heavy FPS drops [MediaVPS]
Post by: Fury on February 09, 2011, 11:10:17 am

Can't see any problems in that log. Sorry, I don't know why you're having such slowdowns.

Title: Re: Flares causing heavy FPS drops [MediaVPS]
Post by: TParis on February 09, 2011, 11:21:21 am

Well, at least it's much more playable with the second lowest particle settings. :) Anyone having some older/less demanding flame effects lying around?

Title: Re: Flares causing heavy FPS drops [MediaVPS]
Post by: MatthTheGeek on February 09, 2011, 11:37:28 am

Quote from: Fury on February 09, 2011, 10:39:50 am

People with far lower specs can play without major issues.

***MatthTheGeek and his old rig say hi

Maybe extracting the retail particle effect to override the MVP one could help a little bit ? I don't know how much higher-res the MVP particle is.

Title: Re: Flares causing heavy FPS drops [MediaVPS]
Post by: TParis on February 09, 2011, 11:57:24 am

Guess I'll check some older MediaVPS versions for myself and see if the situation improves. I can't recall having this issue with past releases.