Stuttering problems in certain areas/maps

Zor2

On certain maps: prometheus, machina and on certain areas of some maps: smelter hive on metal(?), I have major stuttering problems making the game more or less unplayable.

My ping stays low and good, my fps stays nice and high**** and my choke is low or zero. I have no clue what is going on. I have disabled VSync and enabled all "High Performance" settings on my video. It never bothered me much before as nearly all maps worked fine. However its annoying when two of the new maps are unplayable <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" /> and I have to find another game to join.

Is it possibly some sort of map entity which is used on these maps? I hope it's rather a problem on my side that I can easily fix rather than some incompatibility bug on the maps.

I'm happy to provide a system spec if that helps anyone.

I was also wondering if anyone knows the most compatible Nvidia drivers for NS so I can test them out too.

****This is according to net_graph 3. It may be that I'm getting 5fps for a split second before it rises again (to 125). This occurs every second. So on netgraph it looks like its 125 when in reality its not.

enigma

it happens to me too on the same maps as you mentioned plus areas of bast, metal, daimos, niveus, and shiva. ati card btw.

Zor2

Yes! Can you confirm that this happens to you on NS_metal, specifically in the lower hive (I can't remember the name, surface / smelter where the map glows red. Its stuttering all the way to the rt next to the hatch door which slides open horizontally.

If so, I'm pretty sure we have the same problem. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />

enigma

yes, it happens in the lower half of heating, storage d, surface hive, and right outside of marine start/flight control area.

Zor2

Yes! exactly. If we have the identical problem then I guess others will be too. I don't know if this will help but my specs are:

(Laptop)
Intel Centrino R 2Ghz
128Mb Nvidia GeForce Go 6200
Video driver set: 5.44.02.17.16
13.3" @ 1280 x 800
WinXP (SP2)

Can others post if they have same problem? or if they know of any possible fixes. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

ZiGGY

snap <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?s=8583117816880001024&showtopic=98050" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index....showtopic=98050</a>

Merkaba

Is there a specific point on machina? Specific details on this problem are extremely helpful as then we mappers can pin-point where the problem is arising and cross reference it with each other to find what the cause is <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /> I have a suspicion that its particle systems...but it's only a suspicion. In the meantime, you could try going to Options -> Multiplayer -> Advanced -> and uncheck High Detail Particle Systems, which should turn off all particle systems mappers have flagged as high detail (which, in machina include The Pit's particles, and some of the particles given off by the alternating door).

Zor2

Hi, thanks for the reply Merkaba. Its the whole map for me including the readyroom on machina. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />

Its consistently stuttery through out even where there server is empty and Im just walking through it normally.
I've tried unchecking the particle systems but no avail. I've also tried updating my sound drivers (Realtek) and checking/unchecking 3D sound boxes etc.

:sadface:

Merkaba

Hmm the only other thing that springs immediately to mind for machina is that it uses a max of 8Mb texture memory, instead of the default 4Mbs.

pSyk0mAn

<!--quoteo(post=1582514:date=Nov 30 2006, 07:58 PM:name=Merkaba)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Merkaba @ Nov 30 2006, 07:58 PM) [snapback]1582514[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Hmm the only other thing that springs immediately to mind for machina is that it uses a max of 8Mb texture memory, instead of the default 4Mbs.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not sure if this fits to machina as well, but I've experienced fps drops especially on maps with many light-textures or big light-textured surfaces like in co_umbra, co_daimos or the old co_rebirth.
If the bigger resolution of patches in hlrad effects the size of the lightmap texture, can this be a performance problem considering (texture-)memory usage?

On another note,
I've have similar performance problem with this new beta, but I mostly get fps drops when I see too much models (buildings and players).