[What evar]

Freespace 2 (with SCP) has a somewhat inconsistent framerate on my computer. It runs fine most of the time (with some slight lag) but every few minutes it stops for a ten second lag.
This happens especially frequently on the last level. I finished the game today, actually, so it's not like the game is unplayable, but I would really like to have smoother gameplay.

Here are my specs:
2Ghz Processor
512mb DDR RAM
Geforce FX 5200
Win XP Home
(I'll supply any other specs if necessary)

Here are the features I've got turned on:
-spec -glow -pcx32 -jpgtga -d3dmipmap -phreak -ship_choice_3d -2d_poof -nobeampierce -snd_preload

Video settings:
Graphics: Direct3D8
Resolution: 1024x768x32
Antialiasing: None

General Settings: High

Audio: DirectSound

Version of SCP: 3.6

I want to have it look good while still running smoothely. And with my specs I expect that it should run quite well. I don't know what all these new features require, though. Also, when I tried using OpenGL the game ran smoothely, but it had no textures, so I guess OpenGL isn't fully implemented yet.

[Mr_Maniac]

Well... OpenGL should run fine...
At least it does for me...

And for your settings: The last level IS very memory-hungry...
But I suggest you to turn off "-pcx32" as it uses some memory and it doesn't do that much...

[taylor]

Originally posted by What evar
Also, when I tried using OpenGL the game ran smoothely, but it had no textures, so I guess OpenGL isn't fully implemented yet.

Heart peirced... so much... blood... vision... blurry... can.. not continnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

:thud:

[Goober5000]

Oh my gosh, you killed taylor!  You ********!

Now who's going to squash all our bugs?

[EtherShock]

Mipmapping isn't necessary and slows most machines to a crawl.

[WMCoolmon]

You can probably get rid of -pcx32 without noticing the difference.

[What evar]

Well, I removed mipmapping and 32-bit textures. I've noticed a slight speed increase, I think.
Now it might only be my imagination, but I tihnk beams look less good now. Do any of these features affect the beams?

oh, and it would be great if somebody knew why the textures don't work with OpenGL. Thanks for your help!

EDIT: Just checked, and the beams don't seem to have any noticable change in them.

[TopAce]

I say drop the screen resolution from 32bit to 16bit.

[DaBrain]

That will decrease the visual quality a lot!

I wouldn't recommend that.

Try -nomotiondebris. That should help a bit.

I guess the weak point about your PC is your GFX card.


Which Forceware are you using?
Be sure to disable Anti Aliasing and Antisoptropic filtering in the drvier menu. Also set the general quality level to "Quality" it's faster than "High Quality", but it looks the same.

Which Forceware version are you using?

Oh and you should disable V-Sync. That should also help.

[TopAce]

Originally posted by DaBrain
That will decrease the visual quality a lot!

I wouldn't recommend that.
...

The goal is to increase performance, isn't it? This is the best and simplest method to do it. Anyway, it will not decrease the visual quality so apparently.

[DaBrain]

The FX 5200 should be as fast as a Geforce 2 - Geforce 3. (Unless it has a 64-Bit memory interface! It's a lot slower in that case!!!)

So it's fast enough for 32-Bit. I guess there is a problem somewhere.

Going from 32-Bit to 16-Bit is worse than turning down the res to 640*480 IMO.

This 'lag' problem sounds either like a bug (get a new/other build), or a thermal problem of the GFX card.

[Admiral LSD]

...how about getting rid of all that SCP **** and just running the regular game? It'll look better and run faster at the same time.

[Bobboau]

run faster I can maybe see, but look better?

[DaBrain]

Originally posted by Admiral LSD
...how about getting rid of all that SCP **** and just running the regular game? It'll look better and run faster at the same time.

... I feel offended now...

[Mr_Maniac]

Well... [joke]Seems like Admiral LSD isn't on LSD anymore, so he doesn't see the beautiful colors anymore... So the SCP indeed looks very colorless and "trist"[/joke]

Just a joke!

But to be honest:
The SCP is a GREAT improvement to retail FS2! And the hi-res textures and hi-poly moddels make it look even better!

[Admiral LSD]

Originally posted by Bobboau
run faster I can maybe see, but look better?

Yes. The SCP "improvements" are U-G-L-Y, ugly.

[DrunkenPirate]

Nice job troll, how about only posting if you actually have valid tips for him to improve SCP performance instead of just slandering the whole project.

[Bobboau]

he's been around too long to be a troll,he's just being an idiot, it happens every now and then.

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Admiral LSD
Yes. The SCP "improvements" are U-G-L-Y, ugly.

Hang on a sec. Lightspeeds shine maps are ugly? The hi-poly fenris is ugly?

If you don't like certain additions don't run with them. If you want to you can make FS2_open look exactly like retail. Everything is optional.

Saying that you should get rid of everything just makes you look like an idiot.

[TopAce]

It looks like honesty does not pay off in this community at all.
Poor lad.

Anyway, on-topic:
Have you considered removing some MediaVPs? They cause some heavy slowdown, especially the models and the textures packs.