[Tyrian]

This isn't technically a bug, so I didn't post it in Mantis.  It's more of a performance issue.

I'm using FSO 3.6.9 RC 7 and the Zeta media .vps.  The FPS usually stays at about 75.  However, anytime a capital ship uses a beam larger than AAAf, the game drops to about 5 FPS.  It doesn't matter if I'm facing the ship that's shooting.  To complicate matters further, it will sometimes occur in the beginning of the mission for the first few shots, then the problem vanishes.  It also seems more common when I'm about 5-8km away from the firing ship.  If I'm close in it doesn't occur or isn't as bad.

My system specs:
CPU:  Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz w/ HT
Mobo:  Intel Rock Lake D865PERL
RAM:  OCZ 2GB Dual Channel DDR, 2.5-3-2-5
GPU:  256 MB ATI Radeon 9800XT AGP 8x
HDD:  Western Digital Caviar 120GB, SATA
OS:  Windows XP, SP2

Flags I run FSO with:
-spec
-glow
-env
-jpgtga
-mipmap
-nomotiondebris
-missile_lighting
-cache_bitmaps
-rearm_timer
-ballistic_gauge
-ship_choice_3d
-3dwarp
-warp_flash
-snd_preload
-fps 
-allslev (Don't ask.  I know it's not supported in RC7 and that it doesn't do anything, but FSO won't run without it.  )

I've also tried removing all the graphics flags except the jpg/tga textures, missile lighting, and disable motion debris ones.

I think that's everything, but I feel like I forget something... 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Prophet]

Animated beamglows be your problem, I think... There should be more sane versions of them around. Try the search.

[Tyrian]

That's what I thought.  Now to find the glows.

[karajorma]

-allslev (Don't ask.  I know it's not supported in RC7 and that it doesn't do anything, but FSO won't run without it.  )

I don't buy that for a minute. What happens without it?

[Tyrian]

If I take it out, the splash screen for whatever campaign I'm playing displays, then the login screen refuses to show up.  I move the cursor around, and I can hear the beeping of the buttons, but I'm looking at my desktop.  I can get to the Task Manager, but it says FSO is running fine.  I have to use the Task Manager to shut down FSO though.  If I put in -allslev, the problem goes away, even though it doesn't do anything...

*Cue Twilight Zone music *

[Prophet]

Does this happen in all builds?

[Tyrian]

I only tested it with RC7.  I will test it with other builds later.  I've got an English essay to write now.

[taylor]

Run with -nomovies.  What you describe is likely a movie problem, which is strangely fixed when you get the unrecognized cmdline option dialog box (though that's not terribly surprising considering how fubar the movie code is).

[Tyrian]

I replaced -allslev with -nomovies.  Same problem.  I have no idea why -allslev seems to make FSO RC7 work...

But my other question:

I used the search feature to try and dig up some older beamglows to fix the slowdown problem, but I couldn't find any.  Anyone have any suggestions?

[BurntCornMuffin]

Try these glows, they run pretty well for me.