need opinions

formerlysane · 12-28-2001, 07:31 PM

hi all!

i've tried the screensaver, demo looks great, i'm looking at getting the full version later on...

i'm using elsa's geforce 2 mx right now on windows me and i've been getting frame rates of about 75-85 average. i'm looking at gettting a new system by early next year--

what graphics card would you recommend?

thanks and best regards.

feldon34 · 12-28-2001, 09:18 PM

That's already an excellent card, capable of generating about 170 frames per second on even a 19" display.

I'm curious what your current system is and why you need to upgrade. I'd just carry the GeForce 2 over to the new computer.

formerlysane · 12-29-2001, 01:59 AM

thanks for the reply.

i'm upgrading because my brother will be getting my old pc so i'm getting a new one.

you mentioned that my card could do 170 fps. i'm only getting 70-85; what would you recommend i do to get to 170 fps?

formerlysane · 12-29-2001, 02:05 AM

forgot to include this...

piii 750 mhz
win me
576 mb ram

feldon34 · 12-29-2001, 10:17 AM

Your eyes can't really tell the difference above 80. You could run the Aquarium at a higher resolution though. Like 1600x1200.

formerlysane · 12-29-2001, 05:59 PM

you might have a point there that my eyes can't tell the diff from 80 fps and up.
however, i'm just concerned that it's only doing 50% of whatever its potential is.
not just that, i try installing other 3d-accelerated games and i also get blue screens, i'm not sure where the problem lies here...

feldon34 · 12-29-2001, 06:56 PM

I'm sure we can help you troubleshoot what games you're trying to install.

I'm sure it's a driver problem. I suggest switching to the recommended drivers here:

https://www.feldoncentral.com/Sachs/

Ick · 12-30-2001, 01:02 AM

I have a Voodoo3 on my PII 450 office computer and I get about 70 fps at 1024x768. I have a 64MB GeForce2 GTS on my PIII 933 home computer and I get about 30 fps at the same resolution. This seems weird to me, but the tank looks fine, so I don't really care.

feldon34 · 12-30-2001, 09:44 AM

Ick, that definately sounds wrong on the GeForce 2 GTS.

You should be running circles around the Voodoo 3.

Jim Sachs · 12-30-2001, 11:18 AM

I get 75-80 with my G-Force 2 GTS at 1024x768.

Spyder · 12-30-2001, 12:57 PM

formerlysane...you're right. the vid card isn't running at max potential because your CPU is the limiting factor at the moment. your vid card will pump stuff out faster when you upgrade your CPU.

Another factor will be refresh rate on your monitor. The aquarium (and any game that has vertical sync turned on) can't surpass whatever refresh rate you have your monitor set at. I'm guessing you've got it at 85?

feldon34 · 12-30-2001, 01:58 PM

A 233 MHz Pentium II would produce 200-300 frames per second no problem. It is definately a driver issue preventing you from getting more than 30fps.

I'm not quite sure what point of reference Spyder has, but a Pentium III 533 is NOT an old processor. It's capable of many thousands of frames per second for the Aquarium.

ajay · 12-30-2001, 02:03 PM

What I love most about this screensaver, is that even on my modest p3500 with voodoo3, I can still run it at 1600x1200 and get 40+ fps.
To many apps, games and screensavers these days only work on certain cards, or run poorly on others, this one gives good performance on a range of setups, which, even without it's other qualities, would set it apart from other software.

formerlysane · 12-30-2001, 05:38 PM

hey, it's the man himself--mr. sachs. great work on the screensaver!

thanks to all your replies people, appreciate the inputs.

i guess i'll just have to be content at the fact that i get 70-80 fps, unless anyone has other suggestions..

i've tried using other drivers, nvidia's latest reference releases, elsa's latest gladiac mx's latest and believe it or not, i my system usually hangs when do this. right now i can only use the default drivers that comes with the card and nvidia's old reference releases... (sigh).

i've already disabled v-sync (from the opengl tab on my display settings console) and my refresh rate is set to optimum...

happy new year to all!

Socrates · 12-30-2001, 09:36 PM

OK As long as some one brought up about CPU's holding it all back....

This week I did a real-world model of before and after upgrade.

Before:
GeForce2 MX 32MB (12.41 driver; AA set to auto)
AMD K6-2 500 MHz
256MB PC-100 SDRAM
U100 / 7200 Hard Drive
WinME

Full Screen fps: around 65 @ 1152x864 - 100 refresh
Windowed fps: around 70 to 75 depending on window size

After:
GeForce2 MX 32MB (12.41 driver; AA set to Auto)
AMD Athlon 1133 MHz
256 MB PC2100 DDR Ram (266 MHz FSB)
U100 / 7200 Hard Drive
WinME

Full Screen fps: precisely 100 @ 1152x864 -100 refresh
Windowed fps: 105-369 depending on window size

The Program does not really look that much different (there is a slight diff), but the big deal is that I can run other stuff without crushing the aquarium.

Socrates · 12-30-2001, 09:42 PM

Originally posted by formerlysane
you might have a point there that my eyes can't tell the diff from 80 fps and up.
however, i'm just concerned that it's only doing 50% of whatever its potential is.
not just that, i try installing other 3d-accelerated games and i also get blue screens, i'm not sure where the problem lies here...

OK What kind of blue screens.

Please write down what you see there and pass them along to me. This could actually be a bad piece of hardware.

The fps sounds about right, but blue screens don't.

formerlysane · 12-31-2001, 06:23 AM

hey socrates, thanks for the reply.

i'll post them as soon as i encounter them again...

Ick · 01-01-2002, 01:36 AM

I've noticed a fps reduction on other applications ever since I downloaded Nvidia's reference drivers. I'd like to revert to the drivers that shipped with my system (Dell) but I've been told that once you update video drivers you can't go back. I have a feeling that Dell has a proprietary version of the GeForce and NVidia's driver updates aren't quite compatible. I can't wait until I have to buy a new computer.

feldon34 · 01-01-2002, 10:49 AM

Wow, another TiVo fan.

Ick, did you check out the drivers at my website?

https://www.feldoncentral.com/Sachs/help.html

Spyder · 01-02-2002, 01:12 AM

my point of reference was my own PC. My 1Ghz Athlon is the limiting factor for my Geforce 3.. when doing benchmarks, all resolutions are at the same max framerate. His P3 533 will be the limiting factor as well since a GF2 can pump things out faster than the CPU.

12-28-2001, 07:31 PM	#1
formerlysane Registered Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Philippines Posts: 7	need opinions hi all! i've tried the screensaver, demo looks great, i'm looking at getting the full version later on... i'm using elsa's geforce 2 mx right now on windows me and i've been getting frame rates of about 75-85 average. i'm looking at gettting a new system by early next year-- what graphics card would you recommend? thanks and best regards.

12-28-2001, 09:18 PM	#2
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,947	That's already an excellent card, capable of generating about 170 frames per second on even a 19" display. I'm curious what your current system is and why you need to upgrade. I'd just carry the GeForce 2 over to the new computer. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

12-29-2001, 10:17 AM	#5
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,947	Your eyes can't really tell the difference above 80. You could run the Aquarium at a higher resolution though. Like 1600x1200. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

12-29-2001, 06:56 PM	#7
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,947	I'm sure we can help you troubleshoot what games you're trying to install. I'm sure it's a driver problem. I suggest switching to the recommended drivers here: https://www.feldoncentral.com/Sachs/ "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

12-30-2001, 01:02 AM	#8
Ick Registered Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 9	I have a Voodoo3 on my PII 450 office computer and I get about 70 fps at 1024x768. I have a 64MB GeForce2 GTS on my PIII 933 home computer and I get about 30 fps at the same resolution. This seems weird to me, but the tank looks fine, so I don't really care. TiVo good.

12-29-2001, 01:59 AM	#3
formerlysane Registered Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Philippines Posts: 7	thanks for the reply. i'm upgrading because my brother will be getting my old pc so i'm getting a new one. you mentioned that my card could do 170 fps. i'm only getting 70-85; what would you recommend i do to get to 170 fps?

12-29-2001, 02:05 AM	#4
formerlysane Registered Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Philippines Posts: 7	forgot to include this... piii 750 mhz win me 576 mb ram

12-29-2001, 05:59 PM	#6
formerlysane Registered Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Philippines Posts: 7	you might have a point there that my eyes can't tell the diff from 80 fps and up. however, i'm just concerned that it's only doing 50% of whatever its potential is. not just that, i try installing other 3d-accelerated games and i also get blue screens, i'm not sure where the problem lies here...

12-30-2001, 09:44 AM	#9
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,947	Ick, that definately sounds wrong on the GeForce 2 GTS. You should be running circles around the Voodoo 3. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

12-30-2001, 11:18 AM	#10
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,816	I get 75-80 with my G-Force 2 GTS at 1024x768. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

12-30-2001, 12:57 PM	#11
Spyder Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 36	formerlysane...you're right. the vid card isn't running at max potential because your CPU is the limiting factor at the moment. your vid card will pump stuff out faster when you upgrade your CPU. Another factor will be refresh rate on your monitor. The aquarium (and any game that has vertical sync turned on) can't surpass whatever refresh rate you have your monitor set at. I'm guessing you've got it at 85?

12-30-2001, 01:58 PM	#12
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,947	A 233 MHz Pentium II would produce 200-300 frames per second no problem. It is definately a driver issue preventing you from getting more than 30fps. I'm not quite sure what point of reference Spyder has, but a Pentium III 533 is NOT an old processor. It's capable of many thousands of frames per second for the Aquarium. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

12-30-2001, 02:03 PM	#13
ajay Registered Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: England Posts: 1	What I love most about this screensaver, is that even on my modest p3500 with voodoo3, I can still run it at 1600x1200 and get 40+ fps. To many apps, games and screensavers these days only work on certain cards, or run poorly on others, this one gives good performance on a range of setups, which, even without it's other qualities, would set it apart from other software.

12-30-2001, 05:38 PM	#14
formerlysane Registered Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Philippines Posts: 7	hey, it's the man himself--mr. sachs. great work on the screensaver! thanks to all your replies people, appreciate the inputs. i guess i'll just have to be content at the fact that i get 70-80 fps, unless anyone has other suggestions.. i've tried using other drivers, nvidia's latest reference releases, elsa's latest gladiac mx's latest and believe it or not, i my system usually hangs when do this. right now i can only use the default drivers that comes with the card and nvidia's old reference releases... (sigh). i've already disabled v-sync (from the opengl tab on my display settings console) and my refresh rate is set to optimum... happy new year to all!

12-30-2001, 09:36 PM	#15
Socrates Sage Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 1,529	FPS before and after upgrade. OK As long as some one brought up about CPU's holding it all back.... This week I did a real-world model of before and after upgrade. Before: GeForce2 MX 32MB (12.41 driver; AA set to auto) AMD K6-2 500 MHz 256MB PC-100 SDRAM U100 / 7200 Hard Drive WinME Full Screen fps: around 65 @ 1152x864 - 100 refresh Windowed fps: around 70 to 75 depending on window size After: GeForce2 MX 32MB (12.41 driver; AA set to Auto) AMD Athlon 1133 MHz 256 MB PC2100 DDR Ram (266 MHz FSB) U100 / 7200 Hard Drive WinME Full Screen fps: precisely 100 @ 1152x864 -100 refresh Windowed fps: 105-369 depending on window size The Program does not really look that much different (there is a slight diff), but the big deal is that I can run other stuff without crushing the aquarium. Bat rays? We don't need no stinking bat rays!

12-30-2001, 09:42 PM	#16
Socrates Sage Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 1,529	Originally posted by formerlysane you might have a point there that my eyes can't tell the diff from 80 fps and up. however, i'm just concerned that it's only doing 50% of whatever its potential is. not just that, i try installing other 3d-accelerated games and i also get blue screens, i'm not sure where the problem lies here... OK What kind of blue screens. Please write down what you see there and pass them along to me. This could actually be a bad piece of hardware. The fps sounds about right, but blue screens don't. Bat rays? We don't need no stinking bat rays!

12-31-2001, 06:23 AM	#17
formerlysane Registered Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Philippines Posts: 7	hey socrates, thanks for the reply. i'll post them as soon as i encounter them again...

01-01-2002, 01:36 AM	#18
Ick Registered Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 9	I've noticed a fps reduction on other applications ever since I downloaded Nvidia's reference drivers. I'd like to revert to the drivers that shipped with my system (Dell) but I've been told that once you update video drivers you can't go back. I have a feeling that Dell has a proprietary version of the GeForce and NVidia's driver updates aren't quite compatible. I can't wait until I have to buy a new computer. TiVo good.

01-01-2002, 10:49 AM	#19
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,947	Wow, another TiVo fan. Ick, did you check out the drivers at my website? https://www.feldoncentral.com/Sachs/help.html "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

01-02-2002, 01:12 AM	#20
Spyder Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 36	my point of reference was my own PC. My 1Ghz Athlon is the limiting factor for my Geforce 3.. when doing benchmarks, all resolutions are at the same max framerate. His P3 533 will be the limiting factor as well since a GF2 can pump things out faster than the CPU.