Hello All
In great anticipation I downloaded GF v4.1, installed the program only to find the FPS had dropped from 37/38 in GF4 to 32/33 in the latest version.
Don't think there's a problem with my specs:-
Intel E6600 Dual Core 3.06 Ghz
4 Gb Dual Channel Memory
N Videa 1 Gb Graphics Card
Regards BTT
New Version - Lower FPS?
Moderators: BTT, andy55, b.dwall, juxtiphi
I actually think that 4.1 tracks the desired FPS better (more evenly) than 4.0. Just push up the desired FPS slider on the toolbar ... I keep mine maxed out at all times... What I get, depends on the display window dimensions. My machine is a first generation dual core, so performance is nothing to rave about. Changing of Sprites, still have about a ~10fps penalty hit. That said, I feel 4.1b1 might preform better than 4.1b2 on my configuration. This might be because of the new way 'shaders' are handled. I don't know your screen size, but I wouldn't imagine your hardware being the issue. The i-core series ARE better than the early dual-core cpus, but ....
Are you using Fraps to determine FPS?? It is free, if you only use it as a monitor.
Are you using Fraps to determine FPS?? It is free, if you only use it as a monitor.
Hello jerohm
Hope you are keeping well. To be honest I had never heard of Fraps, however, since reading your post I have downloaded the free trial and the FPS reading is still 32/33. This is with Flowfield Unions and Sprites turned off (Disabled).
I am not running GF on a massive Plasma TV, just a meagre 19" widescreen PC Monitor with a resolution of 1024 x 768 which isn't exactly high.
Regards BTT
Hope you are keeping well. To be honest I had never heard of Fraps, however, since reading your post I have downloaded the free trial and the FPS reading is still 32/33. This is with Flowfield Unions and Sprites turned off (Disabled).
I am not running GF on a massive Plasma TV, just a meagre 19" widescreen PC Monitor with a resolution of 1024 x 768 which isn't exactly high.
Regards BTT
What I was trying to get across was that I "believe" the default desired FPS is set to ~32. What happens if you push the toolbar slider all the way to the right ... or any setting right of center ... are you still only getting 32??? Out the door Weds AM to Chicago so I might not be able to get back to you in a timely manner...
luck
luck
Hello jerohm
Sorry about missing the Toolbar adjuster thing. I know you love a challenge so try getting your head around this. I pushed the FPS bar up to the max and, still only obtained 36/37 FPS so, I uninstalled v4.1 and, re-installed v4.0, wait for it................................ The FPS was now 55/60. This is with Flowfield Unions and Sprites disabled. I then decided to enable Flowfield Unions and Sprites and, still got a reading of 50/55 FPS.
The graphics were also not as smooth as in v4.0, in fact at times they were what I can only describe as 'jerky'
Regards BTT
Sorry about missing the Toolbar adjuster thing. I know you love a challenge so try getting your head around this. I pushed the FPS bar up to the max and, still only obtained 36/37 FPS so, I uninstalled v4.1 and, re-installed v4.0, wait for it................................ The FPS was now 55/60. This is with Flowfield Unions and Sprites disabled. I then decided to enable Flowfield Unions and Sprites and, still got a reading of 50/55 FPS.
The graphics were also not as smooth as in v4.0, in fact at times they were what I can only describe as 'jerky'
Regards BTT
Today turned out NOTHING like I anticipated ... in any case, I am held up in Emlenton, PA for the next 36hrs or so. So let me understand your EXACT situation better... because on MY hardware, GF4.1 seems to work a little better than the original 4.0 release. I am still on the fence about 4.1b2.
Are you running the beta or release versions?
Standalone or player plug-in?
XP/other?
32/64bit?
I am Standalone on 4.1b2, XPro32, 2G Centrino Duo, Intel 945 graphics
Fieldflow Unions: OFF
Desired FPS: Max
@ 1280x800 26-45fps (full screen)
@ 1024x576 41-58fps (16:9)
there is ~10fps hit during a Sprite transition
Flowfield: '(Empty)' provides consistently highest fps (makes sense)
There are times, that it seems the flowfields are NOT running a smoothly as you would want/expect.
My CPU utilization CAN touch 100% on either given core, BUT 72% is more the norm.
I have to admit that YOUR situation is one that may need to be forwarded to Support ... not here on the forums. I certainly would expect MUCH better performance with YOUR hardware configuration. I ASSUME you have the latest and greatest NVidia driver.
wish I was smarter
There is one thing else that I JUST noticed, but I am too lazy to roll back to 4.0 to see if it always existed. I am not familiar with the terminology, but bear with me. When not in fullscreen mode, and the cursor is positioned over certain screen objects ... lets say an icon on the taskbar, a little white text box may appear with a description of the underlying icon. Following me ? If you right click on the G-Force window, you get a white box of menu options. In either case, FRAPS reports the FPS about HALF of what it is when the 'white box' ISN'T showing. Did that make any sense whatsoever???? Anybody else see this???
Are you running the beta or release versions?
Standalone or player plug-in?
XP/other?
32/64bit?
I am Standalone on 4.1b2, XPro32, 2G Centrino Duo, Intel 945 graphics
Fieldflow Unions: OFF
Desired FPS: Max
@ 1280x800 26-45fps (full screen)
@ 1024x576 41-58fps (16:9)
there is ~10fps hit during a Sprite transition
Flowfield: '(Empty)' provides consistently highest fps (makes sense)
There are times, that it seems the flowfields are NOT running a smoothly as you would want/expect.
My CPU utilization CAN touch 100% on either given core, BUT 72% is more the norm.
I have to admit that YOUR situation is one that may need to be forwarded to Support ... not here on the forums. I certainly would expect MUCH better performance with YOUR hardware configuration. I ASSUME you have the latest and greatest NVidia driver.
wish I was smarter
There is one thing else that I JUST noticed, but I am too lazy to roll back to 4.0 to see if it always existed. I am not familiar with the terminology, but bear with me. When not in fullscreen mode, and the cursor is positioned over certain screen objects ... lets say an icon on the taskbar, a little white text box may appear with a description of the underlying icon. Following me ? If you right click on the G-Force window, you get a white box of menu options. In either case, FRAPS reports the FPS about HALF of what it is when the 'white box' ISN'T showing. Did that make any sense whatsoever???? Anybody else see this???
I haven't forgot about ya ... just MANY things going on in my life. I tried ... (I really did!) to replicate your situation and really couldn't . Although I CAN'T say FPS have IMPROVED with any updates 'TO' GF4.0, my sprite stutter problem is basically non-existent. That is NOT to say things are running stutter free, but happen with much less frequency... actually NOW, a stutter may occur during a transition OTHER than a sprite, but that could certainly be a system activity peak.
NOT to belittle YOUR problem, I DID notice something very unexpected with the ~10FPS hit I experience during the transition to a new Sprite. My average CPU utilization runs about 72% (both cores). If I force a Sprite transition, the FPS drop about 10 FPS, but the CPU utilization ALSO DROPS to about 68%. This phenomena IS consistently replicable on MY hardware. Well, you could say the system is waiting for a slow disk (mine IS 7200rpm), but I suspect something else is a bit amiss.
Don't know if you'll celebrate Thanksgiving
, but I hope you get the day(s) off. More later, if/when some other idea works through the cobwebs.
j
. Although I CAN'T say FPS have IMPROVED with any updates 'TO' GF4.0, my sprite stutter problem is basically non-existent. That is NOT to say things are running stutter free, but happen with much less frequency... actually NOW, a stutter may occur during a transition OTHER than a sprite, but that could certainly be a system activity peak.NOT to belittle YOUR problem, I DID notice something very unexpected with the ~10FPS hit I experience during the transition to a new Sprite. My average CPU utilization runs about 72% (both cores). If I force a Sprite transition, the FPS drop about 10 FPS, but the CPU utilization ALSO DROPS to about 68%. This phenomena IS consistently replicable on MY hardware. Well, you could say the system is waiting for a slow disk (mine IS 7200rpm), but I suspect something else is a bit amiss.
Don't know if you'll celebrate Thanksgiving
, but I hope you get the day(s) off. More later, if/when some other idea works through the cobwebs.j
Greetings jerohm
Let me tell you a little story:-
I uninstalled all things GF related, I then installed V4.0 which worked fine with 55/60 FPS. Uninstalled everything and, installed V4.1 which again worked fine but with a lower FPS - only 36/37. Uninstalled GF and installed V4.1.1 and obtained 55/60 FPS which on the face of it should make me a very happy chappie but, GF appears to be determined to make life for me as difficult as possible. The list of loaded configs (top left corner) of the monitor reads as follows:-
ColorMap.Most Recent.Name=Juice
ColorMap:Juice
WaveShape.Most Recent.Name=Rotating Bars
WaveShape:Rotating Bars
FlowField.Most Recent.Name=Blaze
FlowField:Blaze
The same applies to all other configs as and when they are loaded.
Should you or anyone else reading this post have any comment(s) on this peculiar issue I would be pleased to hear them.
Regards BTT
Let me tell you a little story:-
I uninstalled all things GF related, I then installed V4.0 which worked fine with 55/60 FPS. Uninstalled everything and, installed V4.1 which again worked fine but with a lower FPS - only 36/37. Uninstalled GF and installed V4.1.1 and obtained 55/60 FPS which on the face of it should make me a very happy chappie but, GF appears to be determined to make life for me as difficult as possible. The list of loaded configs (top left corner) of the monitor reads as follows:-
ColorMap.Most Recent.Name=Juice
ColorMap:Juice
WaveShape.Most Recent.Name=Rotating Bars
WaveShape:Rotating Bars
FlowField.Most Recent.Name=Blaze
FlowField:Blaze
The same applies to all other configs as and when they are loaded.
Should you or anyone else reading this post have any comment(s) on this peculiar issue I would be pleased to hear them.
Regards BTT
Hello MEM
Turning off Verbose Mode would indeed solve the problem however, that does not identify the fault (bug?) that's causing this to happen.
My personal preference is to have Verbose Mode active and, all previous versions of GF have worked fine.
Example:-
WaveShape. Inner Spikes
ColorMap. Juice
FlowField. Blaze
Regards BTT
Turning off Verbose Mode would indeed solve the problem however, that does not identify the fault (bug?) that's causing this to happen.
My personal preference is to have Verbose Mode active and, all previous versions of GF have worked fine.
Example:-
WaveShape. Inner Spikes
ColorMap. Juice
FlowField. Blaze
Regards BTT
Correct I use it very often also . I think it was introduced in ver 4.1 with -
* Internal graphics engine enhancements for more consistent performance and quality across systems. SoundSpectrum now uses an all-shader model for vertex and fragment processing under Direct3D (see the Resources/Shaders dir).
* Many excellent new ColorMaps from BT!
* Added "Slideshow.EnableOnStartup" pref for ConfigSets to prevent slideshow mode from being enabled on startup.
* Added "MostRecent.ResumeOnStartup" pref for ConfigSets to cause the most recently run config to load on startup.
* Resolved switch to full screen mode issues on multiple display device setups.
* Fixed iTunes crash on exit under OS X.
* Fixed RealPlayer support.
* Fixed OS 10.4 compatibility issues.
* Worked around OS 10.6 screen saver issue causing error messages to appear in the system log (Apple bug report filed).
* Fixed CTRL+SHIFT failing to write the appropriate script under Windows.
The enable on startup is now carring over and remembering last configs.
* Internal graphics engine enhancements for more consistent performance and quality across systems. SoundSpectrum now uses an all-shader model for vertex and fragment processing under Direct3D (see the Resources/Shaders dir).
* Many excellent new ColorMaps from BT!
* Added "Slideshow.EnableOnStartup" pref for ConfigSets to prevent slideshow mode from being enabled on startup.
* Added "MostRecent.ResumeOnStartup" pref for ConfigSets to cause the most recently run config to load on startup.
* Resolved switch to full screen mode issues on multiple display device setups.
* Fixed iTunes crash on exit under OS X.
* Fixed RealPlayer support.
* Fixed OS 10.4 compatibility issues.
* Worked around OS 10.6 screen saver issue causing error messages to appear in the system log (Apple bug report filed).
* Fixed CTRL+SHIFT failing to write the appropriate script under Windows.
The enable on startup is now carring over and remembering last configs.
Hello MEM
Actually, this only happens (for me) in V4.1.1
I have run V4.0 and V4.1 without this type of info:-
ColorMap.Most Recent.Name=Juice
ColorMap:Juice
WaveShape.Most Recent.Name=Rotating Bars
WaveShape:Rotating Bars
FlowField.Most Recent.Name=Blaze
FlowField:Blaze
To me, something has been changed in 4.1.1 that is causing this to happen.
Regards BTT
Actually, this only happens (for me) in V4.1.1
I have run V4.0 and V4.1 without this type of info:-
ColorMap.Most Recent.Name=Juice
ColorMap:Juice
WaveShape.Most Recent.Name=Rotating Bars
WaveShape:Rotating Bars
FlowField.Most Recent.Name=Blaze
FlowField:Blaze
To me, something has been changed in 4.1.1 that is causing this to happen.
Regards BTT
Hello BTT
This reply from Andy to your post on flowfield unions covers it I think?
Site Admin
Joined: 01 May 2004
Posts: 485
PostPosted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 4:06 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
FF Union slideshow setting in the GF Toolbar wasn't setup to persist between G-Force sessions. Since user sentiment seems to prefer that it does persist, I have made this change for G-Force 4.1.1.
Note that as of GF 4, all config types have a new pref:
'(config type).Slideshow.EnableOnStartup'
This causes the slideshow to not be enabled by default on startup (and this is what the Toolbar is now also setting when the FF Unions checkbox is checked/unchecked).
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This reply from Andy to your post on flowfield unions covers it I think?
Site Admin
Joined: 01 May 2004
Posts: 485
PostPosted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 4:06 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
FF Union slideshow setting in the GF Toolbar wasn't setup to persist between G-Force sessions. Since user sentiment seems to prefer that it does persist, I have made this change for G-Force 4.1.1.
Note that as of GF 4, all config types have a new pref:
'(config type).Slideshow.EnableOnStartup'
This causes the slideshow to not be enabled by default on startup (and this is what the Toolbar is now also setting when the FF Unions checkbox is checked/unchecked).
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my 2cents ...
from a programmer's perspective, verbose mode is usually used as a debugging tool for whatever happens to need to be logged at the moment. I suspect these new lines were added to facilitate the debugging of some algorithm change.
NOW I KNOW that many people LIKE to see waveshape/flowfield/colormap/sprite/union/particle change info as they are presented. I personally would ALSO like to be able to log such info to a file along with timeline data. Maybe a future feature?!
from a programmer's perspective, verbose mode is usually used as a debugging tool for whatever happens to need to be logged at the moment. I suspect these new lines were added to facilitate the debugging of some algorithm change.
NOW I KNOW that many people LIKE to see waveshape/flowfield/colormap/sprite/union/particle change info as they are presented. I personally would ALSO like to be able to log such info to a file along with timeline data. Maybe a future feature?!