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Graphics card upgrade didn't do much (Read 705 times)

Jun 11^th, 2005 at 10:26pm

ChrisM Offline
Colonel
Home Airport: YTHG, Thangool
Biloela, Australia

Gender:
Posts: 257

I upgraded from this graphics card:

Interface Type: AGP 8x
Graphics Processor: Nvidia GeForce MX 4000
Graphics Core Clock Speed: 275MHz
Installed Video Memory: 128MB
Memory Clock Speed: 2x200 [400MHz DDR]MHz
Memory Bus Width: 64-bit

To this:

Interface Type: AGP 8x
Graphics Processor: Nvidia GeForce 6600 GT
Graphics Core Clock Speed: 500MHz
Installed Video Memory: 128MB
Memory Clock Speed: 2x500 [1GHz DDR-3]
Memory Bus Width: 128

And Still at heathrow with 30% AI traffic and most settings at low-medium with PSS A340 i am only getting about 8-15 FPS Sad

Sad

Cry

What can i do to make it better?? Or did i just waste my money??

&&Computer Specs: P4 2.8GHz, 512MB RAM, NVIDIA 6600GT 128MB Graphics Card

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Reply #1 - Jun 12^th, 2005 at 3:11am

Robban_Sweden Offline
Colonel
Some people were just
born to fly!
Kalmar, Sweden

Gender:
Posts: 80

I think that's a little strange...
I have the same graphics card, and I have the settings rather high and I get much higher framerates than that at Heathrow.
Well, I have twice the memory you have (1024) and a 3.0 GHz instead of 2.8, but the CPU shouldn't make a big differense. But the memory does ofcourse.
But it's still strange, because before I had an Intel Celeron 2.4 GHz with 512 memory and an integrated graphics card, not very good for MFS, and at about the same settings you have I had higher framerates than that anyway at Heathrow...
Could you write down all your settings, including the settings for the GF6600GT?

Regards&&Robert

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Reply #2 - Jun 12^th, 2005 at 4:23am

ChrisM Offline
Colonel
Home Airport: YTHG, Thangool
Biloela, Australia

Gender:
Posts: 257

Ok, all of my settings Wink

Wink

SCENERY

Terrain Mesh complexity = 51
Terrain Texture size = Medium
Terrain Detail = None
Water Effects = High (with waterzone installed)
Dawn/Dusk texture rendering = ON
Extended terrain textures = ON
Special Effects = Medium
Scenery complexity = Normal
Autogen density = Sparse
Addon Autogen = OFF
Sun glare = ON
Lens Flare = ON

AIRCRAFT
Virtual cockpit gauge quality = High
Reflections = OFF
Aircraft cast shadows = ON
Landing lights = ON

WEATHER
Sight distance = 60mi/96/km
Cloud draw distance = 40mi/64km
3D cloud percentage = 30
Cloud detail = detailed clouds
Cloud coverage density = low

HARDWARE
Device name = NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT.0
Target Frame Rate = 20
Display resolution = 1024x768x32

Hardware rendering options
Render to texture = ON
Transform and lighting = ON
Anti-aliasing = OFF

Flitering
Bilinear
MIP mapping quality = 5
Hardware rendered lights = 4
Global Max texture size = Medium

SOUND=Low

TRAFFIC = 32% (airline and GA)

GRAPHICS CARD SETTINGS
Anti-alaising = Applicaiton controlled
Anisotropic filtering = Applicaiton controlled
Image settings = Quality
Vertical sync = Applicaiton controlled

GRAPHICS CARD INFORMATION
Proccesser = GeForce 6600GT
Video BIOS version = 5.43.02.04
IRQ = 16
Bus = APG 4x
Memory = 128mb

I am running windows xp and have DirectX 9 or greater.

&&Computer Specs: P4 2.8GHz, 512MB RAM, NVIDIA 6600GT 128MB Graphics Card

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Reply #3 - Jun 12^th, 2005 at 4:31am

Robban_Sweden Offline
Colonel
Some people were just
born to fly!
Kalmar, Sweden

Gender:
Posts: 80

Well, with those settings you should have much higher framerates...
I have to let someone else in on this because I can't come up with an answere.

Regards&&Robert

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Reply #4 - Jun 12^th, 2005 at 4:43am

ChrisM Offline
Colonel
Home Airport: YTHG, Thangool
Biloela, Australia

Gender:
Posts: 257

Thanks anyway

If someone else would kindly advise, that would be good Grin

Grin

&&Computer Specs: P4 2.8GHz, 512MB RAM, NVIDIA 6600GT 128MB Graphics Card

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Reply #5 - Jun 12^th, 2005 at 3:30pm

4_Series_Scania Offline
Colonel
He who laughs last, thinks
slowest.
Stoke on Trent England U.K.

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Posts: 3638

In your BIOS, set your AGP Appeture to 256MB, Disable FASTWRITES if its an available option, otherwise, Download "RivaTuner" use it to disable AGP Fastwrites instead.

Then, download new drivers, I use Nvidia 77.30 drivers which came with the Battlefield 2 demo, excellent drivers they seem too !

Ensure you removed all drivers before installing the current ones (even advisable when updating a driver for the same card), use Driver Cleaner to make sure its done right.

Rivatuner
http://downloads.guru3d.com/downloadget.php?id=163&file=4&evp=3dd4bb8da7a55799f2...

77.30 Drivers http://downloads.guru3d.com/downloadget.php?id=1092&file=4&evp=e679a9d8e69bffe05...

Motherboard driver updates can help, Intel drivers are to be found here http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?id=17

VIA Drivers are here http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?id=16

For other chipsets, Google for the correct drivers.

I have a similar spec PC to you, slightly slower CPU, double the RAM though, I have a 6800LE which is similar in performance to the 6600GT, I can copy your settings and get a nice playable framerate, 25+fps @ 1600x1200 2xQ AA 4xAF
You should get similar results I'd have thought.

Hope this helps.

Paul.

Posting drivel here since Jan 31st, 2002. - That long!

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Reply #6 - Jun 13^th, 2005 at 3:14am

ChrisM Offline
Colonel
Home Airport: YTHG, Thangool
Biloela, Australia

Gender:
Posts: 257

Thanks for all ur helpful advice Paul Grin

Grin

I went through everything and even went through a guide over at the avsim forums on how to get the best out of xp, but still to no avail Sad

Sad

. I guess i did just waste 400 bucks Cry

Cry

Cry

At least i can get workable frame rates with those settings at Aussie ports Roll Eyes

Roll Eyes

&&Computer Specs: P4 2.8GHz, 512MB RAM, NVIDIA 6600GT 128MB Graphics Card

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Reply #7 - Jun 13^th, 2005 at 8:26am

JBaymore Offline
Global Moderator
Under the curse of the
hombuilt cockpit!

Gender:
Posts: 10261

Chris,

The grasphics card in fs2004 is only about 1/3 the story. Just as important is the CPU speed, the front side buss speed, and the RAM speed. It seems everyone tends to focus on video cards to solve their problems... and misses the fact that this program taxes ALL of the computer system. Likely your "bottleneck" is NOT the video card and possibly never was.

I noticed something,.. but it is likely not ALL the issue.

How come on the top of your post you say 8X AGP and at the bottom you say 4X AGP? (Just grasping at straws.) If you have a 4X AGP capable mobo... likely you also have a 533 fsb. If so... the 4X and the 533 are likely the "bottleneck" in the flow of data.

Also, try getting rid of the "application controlled" settings for the graphics card and set exactly what you want right there in the grapchics card setup.

Another "weirdity" with fs2004 that I have found.........

We assume that turning "down" settings always improves framerates. I have found on occasion that turning "UP" a given setting improved things. It makes NO sense at all.... but it happened during my search for performance. Play around a bit.

best,

..............john

Intel i7 960 quad 3.2G LGA 1366, Asus P6X58D Premium, 750W Corsair, 6 gig 1600 DDR3, Spinpoint 1TB 7200 HD, Caviar 500G 7200 HD, GTX275 1280M, Logitec Z640, Win7 Pro 64b, CH Products yoke, pedals + throttle quad, simpit

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Reply #8 - Jun 13^th, 2005 at 11:07am

rabu Offline
Colonel
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
California, USA

Gender:
Posts: 11

Quote:

Ok, all of my settings Wink

Wink

HARDWARE
Device name = NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT.0
Target Frame Rate = 20
Display resolution = 1024x768x32

Hardware rendering options
Render to texture = ON
Transform and lighting = ON
Anti-aliasing = OFF

Flitering
Bilinear
MIP mapping quality = 5
Hardware rendered lights = 4
Global Max texture size = Medium

GRAPHICS CARD SETTINGS
Anti-alaising = Applicaiton controlled
Anisotropic filtering = Applicaiton controlled
Image settings = Quality
Vertical sync = Applicaiton controlled

GRAPHICS CARD INFORMATION
Proccesser = GeForce 6600GT
Video BIOS version = 5.43.02.04
IRQ = 16
Bus = APG 4x
Memory = 128mb

I am running windows xp and have DirectX 9 or greater.

You need to update your drivers for the card... I also have a XFX 6600GT AGP8x 128 and it sails with 1gb system RAM and a P4 2.4ghz. Great video card and huge difference over my earlier FX5200 I got the card about a month ago and went on line and found the latest Nvidea drivers.. for me, that is v66.93, but I believe there are even newer ones.
Also be sure you have the latest DirectX (v9c, use your windows DXdiag utiliy to check everything out) and latest sound card drivers. 8)

Also, I just started using this really great, free (donaions appreciated and worth it) application that shuts down un-needed processes and back ground applications and then automatically starts your game, then restarts everything after the game ends. When I run it, the log file is showing that it saves me about 600-700MB of memory usage Shocked

Shocked

and my games are no longer bogging down, even on higher antialiasing and anisotropic filtering settings.
See this: http://www.kensalter.com/fsautostart/

And this forum tutorial: http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=tweek;action=display;num=1...

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Reply #9 - Jun 13^th, 2005 at 11:55am

rabu Offline
Colonel
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
California, USA

Gender:
Posts: 11

[quote author=JBaymore ...snip

Another "weirdity" with fs2004 that I have found.........

We assume that turning "down" settings always improves framerates. I have found on occasion that turning "UP" a given setting improved things. It makes NO sense at all.... but it happened during my search for performance. Play around a bit.

best,

..............john [/quote]

John:

Good points, I have slower 333hz RAM and slower 533 bus, but this video card made a huge difference for me and I'm now playing alomost all games beautifully.
Also, see my post just above about the FSAutoStart app, it really makes a big difference.
I too have run into what you mention about turning up settings, instead of down, it's really wierd, and doesn't make sense, since more processing is necessary as AA and AS go up.
Last night, I was playing my WWI Wings of War game, taking videos in game with a small utility called Fraps. I had my card set to 8x AA and 16x AS and was getting over 100fps and the video was only slightly affecting fps as I recorded. I then turned down the AA to 4x and AS to 4s to "improve" things and tried the game again and the video was taking huge hits on the fps to the point I could not play, was like a slide show... really wierd. I returned to the higher setting and it worked fine. I tried this several times and got the same results.. ??? ??? ???

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Reply #10 - Jun 13^th, 2005 at 1:03pm

4_Series_Scania Offline
Colonel
He who laughs last, thinks
slowest.
Stoke on Trent England U.K.

Gender:
Posts: 3638

I think this is down to your systems configuration, ChrisM, run 3D Mark 03 from here http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=576

run the benchmark, and compare your results to mine, which you will find here http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=3849223

Upload your results to Futuremarks "Online results browser", then I can compare my system to yours, it may well give me a clue as to your problem.

Your current spec certainly should run FS9 beautifully. Wink

Wink

Paul.

This Thread may be of interest to you, it worked for me..... http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=COF;action=display;num=111...; Wink

Wink

Posting drivel here since Jan 31st, 2002. - That long!

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Reply #11 - Jun 13^th, 2005 at 1:14pm

JBaymore Offline
Global Moderator
Under the curse of the
hombuilt cockpit!

Gender:
Posts: 10261

Chris,

Please post the MACHINE specs here too... not just the video card info. I think that is needed to get the whole picture of HOW MUCH "off the mark" your situation is.

best,

.............john

Intel i7 960 quad 3.2G LGA 1366, Asus P6X58D Premium, 750W Corsair, 6 gig 1600 DDR3, Spinpoint 1TB 7200 HD, Caviar 500G 7200 HD, GTX275 1280M, Logitec Z640, Win7 Pro 64b, CH Products yoke, pedals + throttle quad, simpit

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Reply #12 - Jun 13^th, 2005 at 6:21pm

ChrisM Offline
Colonel
Home Airport: YTHG, Thangool
Biloela, Australia

Gender:
Posts: 257

Thanks everyone for your help

Quote:

How come on the top of your post you say 8X AGP and at the bottom you say 4X AGP? (Just grasping at straws.) If you have a 4X AGP capable mobo... likely you also have a 533 fsb. If so... the 4X and the 533 are likely the "bottleneck" in the flow of data.

I just wrote down what was there Wink

Wink

(in the graphics card settings it says it is 4X, but in the card specs found here it says it is 8X)

My machine specs are in my sig, but i'll post them again.
P4, 2.8GHz proccesser, 512MB of RAM 80 gig hard drive. (if you want more technical details ask and i can give them to you this afternoon).

And paul, i can't d/l that Mark 3D thing cos of my dial up conection Sad

Sad

I have a four hour session limit, so unfortunalty I won't have enough time Roll Eyes

Roll Eyes

And i have the latest drivers for this card and motherboard Wink

Wink

&&Computer Specs: P4 2.8GHz, 512MB RAM, NVIDIA 6600GT 128MB Graphics Card

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Reply #13 - Jun 13^th, 2005 at 8:27pm

JBaymore Offline
Global Moderator
Under the curse of the
hombuilt cockpit!

Gender:
Posts: 10261

ChrisM,

Hum.......... sounds like you are only running the card at 4x. Fixing THAT would be a good start....... IF the mobo even HAS 8X capabilities.

As your machine is booting hit "DELETE" and get the BIOS setup screens and find the AGP setting. See if 8x is even an option. If it is....... change it ...save the settings.... and exit.

While you are in there .......... make sure that the video aperature is set to 128 M also. If the old card was a 64 M one... it is possible that it is still set there.

I still would like to know if the mobo has a 533 front side buss.

I used to have a 2.4 G P4 with a 4x AGP, a 533 fsb, and a gig of RAM with the ATI 9800XT video card. It was still a DOG with fs2004 if I turned much stuff up in the sim. I had to change the base machine (but keep the video card) to get anywhere near decent performance. See the sig line for new specs.

And the rabu tip on FSAutostart is right on the money. I am now using it and it is GREAT!

best,

..............john

Intel i7 960 quad 3.2G LGA 1366, Asus P6X58D Premium, 750W Corsair, 6 gig 1600 DDR3, Spinpoint 1TB 7200 HD, Caviar 500G 7200 HD, GTX275 1280M, Logitec Z640, Win7 Pro 64b, CH Products yoke, pedals + throttle quad, simpit

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Reply #14 - Jun 13^th, 2005 at 9:41pm

Jared Offline
Colonel
I'd rather be flying...
Uniontown, Ohio

Gender:
Posts: 12621

Have you tried renaming the fs9.cfg file thus creating a backup then running the sim again?

This should theoretically recompile the whole thing, there will be key assignments and other settings that will need to be returned to where you had them, but sometimes this will get rid of data about the old card and add stuff about the new one.. Wink

Wink

I'm just blurting ideas too, but if it were me I'd seriously consider the recompile as one of the main tasks after adding any hardware or removing any as well...

Just my two cents....

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