FPS Help
Cronus101
Join Date: 2006-12-23 Member: 59207Members
Join Date: 2006-12-23 Member: 59207Members
in Tech Support
<div class="IPBDescription">Problems</div>Ok, I know this has had many many many topics and posts before but I cant figure this crap out. My rates are all screwed up because I recently got a new computer and a new FPS is showing up on NS so my old rate settings arent what I need and everything in game just doesnt feel right.
In game, I type cl_showfps 1 and it randomly goes through all the number from 40-60. I have read many posts and from what I have seen, it's best to have 100 FPS and it should be a steady number, not randomly jumping. You get his from having a good graphics card and monitor.
My Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX
I just got this with my new computer (Note, my old computer was a lot crappier then my new one and I had a 68-71 FPS on it)
My Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster 960BF
This isn't a bad monitor. I have the screen refresh rate going at 75 Hertz because I read somewhere that its better when its higher.
I also saw someplace else that I should make the himodels to 0 and all that other graphics stuff in game to 0 which should help.
After I did all that stuff I wanted to fix my rates. Found a site that told me I should have cl_updaterate as half your fps and cl_cmdrate as +2 of your fps (I apologize if I have this backwards, if it is know that I was doing it right when I was doing it). Once I did this my ping went 15 higher. Is that supposed to happen?
I'm just so confused so if anybody could help me with this it would be much appreciated. I have no clue if my monitor/graphics card settings are screwed up so if you also have suggestions on that to I would like it.
In game, I type cl_showfps 1 and it randomly goes through all the number from 40-60. I have read many posts and from what I have seen, it's best to have 100 FPS and it should be a steady number, not randomly jumping. You get his from having a good graphics card and monitor.
My Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX
I just got this with my new computer (Note, my old computer was a lot crappier then my new one and I had a 68-71 FPS on it)
My Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster 960BF
This isn't a bad monitor. I have the screen refresh rate going at 75 Hertz because I read somewhere that its better when its higher.
I also saw someplace else that I should make the himodels to 0 and all that other graphics stuff in game to 0 which should help.
After I did all that stuff I wanted to fix my rates. Found a site that told me I should have cl_updaterate as half your fps and cl_cmdrate as +2 of your fps (I apologize if I have this backwards, if it is know that I was doing it right when I was doing it). Once I did this my ping went 15 higher. Is that supposed to happen?
I'm just so confused so if anybody could help me with this it would be much appreciated. I have no clue if my monitor/graphics card settings are screwed up so if you also have suggestions on that to I would like it.
Comments
fps_max 101
The default is like 71 or something.
Your CPU is actually more likely to be the main cause for unstable FPS in this case, unless you really have an ancient graphics card.
turn off vsync
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I find when I turn off Vsync it makes my LCD monitor look like crap. There is no reason to turn it off. Your still only going to display 75 FPS trying to push your LCD to 100 will only make it skip more frames.
Here is a thingy I once read, and I kinda agree on the whole point. for games like ns you do not need 100fps. My monitor is 60, and I run ns on 60 fps max and its great. (even though my comp can get 100 easy). That it can be done does not mean its needed
Right, to clear things up, you do NOT need to have a frame rate of 100/sec.
Why?
Your monitor. It's set to 75Hz, having 100fps will do NOTHING for visuals, nor for any sense of timing. It will NOT make NS any smoother, or slicker. It will not make you a better player to get 100fps, instead of 60fps. Anything you read on that matter is <b>BULLSH*T</b>. Plain and simple.
If your screen will not do 100Hz, then you will not "see" 100fps.
A more accurate way of seeing your fps is using the netgraph, instead of show_fps. use net_graph 3 to see everything, your actual ping, your current fps (correct to 1 decimal place, and updated with every game tick. MUCH more accurate than show_fps), and various other details. Now, you might find the netgraph to be distracting when youre playing. Try using other settings (net_graph has variables of 0, 1, 2, and 3, each showing different levels of detail)
Your in game frame rate may not be down to just your graphics, CPU, and RAM amounts and specs. Think of other factors, like running software, power levels, etc. Everything that your PC can do will affect your frame rate. It may even be the HL engine itself could be the cause. Try playing HL by itself with the net_graph on (despite what some people will tell you, all multiplayer commands will work to some degree in singleplayer mode). See if you're hitting 60fps, or 75fps consistantly.
Other factors, like graphics drivers may be the cause. Instead of just going to older drivers, install the new drivers. And not just for your graphics card. For <b>everything in the system</b>. There's no point in running the latest drivers for that shiny 88xx series, if your motherboard drivers aren't pulling the software throughput that the card needs.
Check to make sure everything in the PC is set up correctly. Try other games, and compare fps rates between your systems (if it's still possible). You'll find that if something isn't "right" in one game, you'll feel it in another game.
Basically, don't just look at NS to blame because something in the game doesn't feel right. When you changed graphics cards/systems, did you use your old configuration, and just slap it into a game which is running on newer hardware, which would cause this kind of problem as well. Use a base configuration (it'll reverse all the so-called "efficiency tweaks" that you've done so far. So back up your config as it stands at the moment before you do anything). I'm sure that someone can give you a base configuration (a complete uninstall, delete folder, and reinstall will give you it as well, but that's a little extreme for this case).
Don't change anything in the configuration unless you're <b>CERTAIN</b> that something is definately wrong with your setup. And even then, do it <b>one variable at a time</b>. I cannot stress this enough, it's for the cause of trial and error, so you can reverse any mistakes easily enough.
Try some of those things, and get back to us, mmkay <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
So you are wrong on that part. in HL2 with its loads of data fine, but 60fps for a game like ns is fine. (I can bunnyhop swell enought thank you. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /> )
I agree on the netgraph.. I am even so far I run the entire graph constantly. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
"omg reg"
"no, get skill.. my entire netgraph for the last few minutes is perfect k txs"
As another specific example, strafeturning is significantly more effective at higher framerates. The reason for this, I would suspect, is that the engine only applies directional thrust once per frame.
Sure in some cases higher fps might be good, but for general play its a waste of system resources used for other things. (in my case atleast)
Between 30-45 FPS is standard. It looks good, smooth if NO frames are screwed up and discarded or off or fuzzy... you get the picture.
You need a jump of at LEAST 40% (to 60-75 fps) to notice a substancial difference. Some people may notice the improvement in around 30% intervals, and a select few can notice it in 15-20% intervals (my one friend can tell the difference between a fraps movie of an HMG firing sequence at 45 fps and at 60 fps and at 75 fps. I told him he was a nutter <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />)
Case in point, after 60-75 fps, you need ANOTHER 40% increase to see a large difference, hence 101 fps. However, and this is a big however, it can really tax your monitor if it isn't designed to do that.
Vsync simply prevents "tearing" in the picture by limiting the framerate to your v-sync. This is not AS important in MODERN LCD monitors as it was in crts, and many LCD's response times are starting to become miniscule, but older LCD's were somewhat slow.
Also, framerate has a lot to do with, believe it or not, Ram, processor ability, your motherboard selection, and even the power ratings on your power supply. At 60 fps, your computer draws so much power, routes so much texture data from HD or Ram (depending on the game- I believe NS does load TexData to RAM, but BF2 does it from HD) thru the front side bus, which can be a limiting factor in itself, and pushes so many bits per second to the sound& video cards and the processor. Remember, vid card also takes care of, I believe, physics, if I'm not mistaken. Thus, any ONE weak link in your system will cause the whole thing to run slower- remember, a PC is only as good as the sum of it's parts.
That include the operating system and background programs. One of the B E A utiful things about Vista is that it will, supposedly, SHUT DOWN all background tasks that are not directly related to security when you use a full screen application (eg, video games). This INCLUDES windows explorer, a somewhat large memory hog. My PC has about 20 running aps at any one time, half of them system required, and another quarter security (firewall, anti-spyware, anti-virus, ect). They are all set to below-normal priority by default on my PC's startup. This means less resources are allocated to them when a high-resource application starts.
In short, a hardware upgrade on it's own is worthless. Rate tweaks alone are helpful, but won't solve the problem. fps limiting is a temporary fix. It will take time, but tweak each setting individually. With a vid card like that, I'm assuming you have a decent CPU- turn back on the himodels, dynamic lights, ect. They make NS more visual. Get high poly model packs- it will make the game stunning if you get the right ones. Do not be afraid, by any standard, to run the game at fps_max 60. Everything that is based on FPS in NS was, I believe, standardized on FPS @ 60. This will not only keep you happy, and your monitor safe from damage, but it will give your system the chance to shine it deserves. Once you have it fully stable at 60 fps, start upping it a little at a time. If you can hit 100 fps constant, kudos! But even my rig, which is tweaked out the rear, can dip in FPS from time to time. Given, it's two years old and I run everything I play maxed out, but it runs awsome. I run HL2 @ 100 fps constant- that's because HL2's engine is more streamlined than HL1's and thus able to better utilize resources. Like I said, don't be afraid to limit yourself to 60. It'll be just as pretty
@ DC Darkling True, HL engine does play actions once per frame, but first lets get him stable at a standard 60 fps and then slowly overclock the engine <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> After all, HL is an aging engine. Running it fast before running it stable may not be the best course of action if he's not sure why he's getting drops in his fps
with that video card you shouldn't have to tweak anything in ns. the 60 fps cap is because you have vsync enabled; simply disable and it you should be able to hit 100. as for the fluctuation, try using older drivers.
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How can you turn off Vsync?
I got a Geforce FX 6600, btw
display properties -> settings tab -> advanced button -> your graphics card tab -> performance and quality settings -> vsync off, not application controlled
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Ah, I see, thanks for that.
P.S. From 60 to 100 fps makes a BIG difference...... well, it did for me...