is my pc that bad?

I just changed WinME to WinXP Pro a couple of weeks ago and GP4 didn't like it.

Running on WinMe, I never got more tan 19 FPS!!!!!! and now, with the same LOD i can't even get 10 FPS #!*@?$&.

My PC (i think it's not so old):

Athlon 1.2GHz
ASUS A7A266
256MB DDR
ATI All In Wonder 32MB
SoundBlaster Live MP3

am I getting a reasonable performance?


Here is my actual f1graphics.cfg. I've spent hours tweaking it (no result):

- i didn't post the MIRROR VIEW and VIDEOWALL VIEW sections; mirrors are set very low and i'm not even using the videowalls
- i'm not using EAX sound either.
- gpxpatch 3.32 and GP4NOCD first release (i've tried newer gp4.exe's)

any ideas??
thanks in advance for your help

1 ; f1graphics.cfg controls all settings (default 0)
1024 ; [RELEASE] Game 3D Horizontal Resolution
768 ; [RELEASE] Game 3D Vertical Resolution
0 ; [RELEASE] Enable 32bit mode if available NB. If Windowed then is forced to desktop format
0 ; [RELEASE] Enable hardware T&L if available
0 ; [RELEASE] Run in a window
0 ; [RELEASE] Number of multisamples if available (0-16 :: 0 => off, 1 unused)
0 ; [RELEASE] Force use of reference rasterizer
0 ; [RELEASE] Vsync (0=>off, or every nth frame) v2
153 ; [RELEASE] AutoPerformance (Automatic Performance Setting)
0 ; [RELEASE] TestedPerformanceLow (Tested Performance Setting)
0 ; [RELEASE] TestedPerformanceHigh (Tested Performance Setting)
800 ; [DEBUG] Game 3D Horizontal Resolution
600 ; [DEBUG] Game 3D Vertical Resolution
0 ; [DEBUG] Enable 32bit mode if available NB. If Windowed then is forced to desktop format
1 ; [DEBUG] Enable hardware T&L if available
1 ; [DEBUG] Run in a window
0 ; [DEBUG] Number of multisamples if available (0-16 :: 0 => off, 1 unused)
0 ; [DEBUG] Force use of reference rasterizer
0 ; [DEBUG] Vsync (0=>off, or every nth frame) v2
153 ; [DEBUG] AutoPerformance (Automatic Performance Setting)
0 ; [DEBUG] TestedPerformanceLow (Tested Performance Setting)
0 ; [DEBUG] TestedPerformanceHigh (Tested Performance Setting)
0 ; Texture quality : 0 => max 2 => half 4 => qtr 8 => eigth
1 ; Increase car texture quality (1 on, 0 off)
0 ; Low track geometry (1 on, 0 off)
0 ; Crude quadtree cull only (0=> off, 1=>always, 2=>only for TNL); recommended for fast gfx, low cpu
0 ; Number of mipmaps (0 => off) v2
1 ; Use compressed textures if supported
0 ; Full 32bit textures
8 ; Set 0 => no 8bit alpha (all stencil - yuck) 8 => all 8bit alpha (no stencil - nice) else 1-7 as cut off
5 ; If using compressed then ramp 1bit DXT1 to nbit DXT5 to avoid edge bleed v2
0 ; Render targets must match the main formats v2
1 ; Enable Fogging
0 ; Enable AdvancedCarShader v2
0 ; Low res geometry track (1 low res, 0 normal)
1 ; Rotate wheels via textures v2
1 ; Bump map track (requires DP3; 0 => off)
4 ; Load balance : Frames over which to sample occupancy
105 ; Load balance : Start load decrease if occupancy over this
90 ; Load balance : Start load increase if occupancy under this v2
75 ; Load balance : Speed of load decrease ( < slower > faster)
33 ; Load balance : Speed of load increase ( < slower > faster)
1 ; Enable mirrors
2 ; Angle left mirror 0(in)-16(parallel)-32(out) v2
2 ; Angle right mirror 0(in)-16(parallel)-32(out) v2
16 ; Magnify mirror (16 => normal <16 wide >16 zoom)
0 ; Show own car (0 never, bit 1 trans, bit 2 solid, bit 3 context only bit7-fullpolycar in tcam) v3
0 ; Overide show own car if mirrors set low
70 ; Cockpit zoom (0 to 100) v2
1 ; Enable external view mirrors (0 0ff, 1 onboard, 2 all external views) v2
0 ; Enable track map (0 off, 1 arcade views only, 2 all non trackside)
2 ; Num overdraws for blur effects (eg reflections) Should be one of {2,4,6,9,12,16}
0 ; Reflect effect (0 => none-very sharp reflections), 1 => mipmapfilter, 2 => overdraw(best), 3 => hardwareboxfilter, 4 => swmungefilter(2nd best-best for 16bit), 5 => jitter(GP3 stylee) v3
512 ; If Jitter, how many ?
100 ; For normal reflections scale LOD (0 to 100%) v3
100 ; For blured effect reflections scale LOD (0 to 100%) v3
0 ; Maximum allowed heat hazes in a single view v2
0 ; Haze size in pixels : 0 => auto as proportion of main resolution (recommended)
0 ; Enable rain droplets on lens/visor
0 ; Enable visor when in cockpit view
0 ; Full dynamic video walls
0 ; Size of video wall textures (dynamic) 0=>auto scale to game resolution
200000 ; Number of particle time slices per second.
0 ; TV style overlays on track cameras.
1 ; Multiplayer overlays 1n 2:+cockpit 3:+allviews 4:+text 5:+gfx 6:+allcars
1 ; Multiplayer overlays - show for N closest
0 ; Enable user-defined gamma ramp v2
100 ; Gamma ramp for Reds (min value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v4
200 ; Gamma ramp for Reds (max value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v4
200 ; Gamma ramp for Reds (pow value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v4
100 ; Gamma ramp for Greens (min value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v4
200 ; Gamma ramp for Greens (max value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v4
200 ; Gamma ramp for Greens (pow value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v4
100 ; Gamma ramp for Blues (min value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v4
200 ; Gamma ramp for Blues (max value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v4
200 ; Gamma ramp for Blues (pow value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v4
0 ; Enable cockpit gamma 0 off,1 player for all, 2 player for player only, 3 driver specific. Bit 7 (only when visor on) v2
100 ; Cockpit Gamma ramp for Reds (min value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v3
190 ; Cockpit Gamma ramp for Reds (max value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v3
190 ; Cockpit Gamma ramp for Reds (pow value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v3
100 ; Cockpit Gamma ramp for Greens (min value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v3
190 ; Cockpit Gamma ramp for Greens (max value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v3
190 ; Cockpit Gamma ramp for Greens (pow value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v3
100 ; Cockpit Gamma ramp for Blues (min value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v3
190 ; Cockpit Gamma ramp for Blues (max value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v3
190 ; Cockpit Gamma ramp for Blues (pow value) range signed : 0-200 => -1 to 1 v3
64 ; Size in texels for shadows over each car v2
256 ; Size in texels for projected shadows under each car
256 ; Size in texels for blurred projected shadows under each car
0 ; Attempt to page the over shadows
0 ; Attempt to page the under shadows
0 ; Animation rendering mode. (0 - cheap lighting, 1 - proper lighting, 2 - VS) v2
3 ; [MAIN VIEW] Texture filter quality (0 => none, 1 => point, 2 => bilinear, 3 => anisotropic, 4 => flatcubic, 5 => gaussiancubic) v3
3 ; [MAIN VIEW] Texture filter quality for mipmaps - if any - (0 => none, 1 => point, 2 => bilinear, 3 => anisotropic, 4 => flatcubic/quincunx, 5 => gaussiancubic) v3
7 ; [MAIN VIEW] Max anisotropic filtering (1 => off, to max 7) v2
0 ; [MAIN VIEW] Mipmap bias (0 => -8 to 200 => +8) -ve=> sharper v2
0 ; [MAIN VIEW] Distance cull ALL track objects past this distance (overides LOD, 0 => off) v2
5 ; [MAIN VIEW] Fade out (cull) track objects band depth as % of cull distance (0 => immediate at cull point)
500 ; [MAIN VIEW] Scale track LOD distance - make larger to force lower LOD earlier
100 ; [MAIN VIEW] Constant min distance in metres for track LOD calcs - make larger to force lower max LOD - else 0 for full LOD range
250 ; [MAIN VIEW] Threshold distance in metres to switch in low LOD track
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Display track shadows
2 ; [MAIN VIEW] Shadow type (under cars) (0=> off, 1=> static, 2=> composite, 3=> projected)
9 ; [MAIN VIEW] Blur shadows (projected shadows only)(should be 0 (no blur),2,4,6,9,12, or 16)
4 ; [MAIN VIEW] Max number of shadow maps that are allowed in view UNDER CAR
4 ; [MAIN VIEW] Max number of shadow maps that are allowed in view OVER CAR
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Enable wet weather reflections (if main view is disabled, then all views are disabled)
300 ; [MAIN VIEW] Reflect static objects within this distance (0 => off) v3
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Reflect cars in wet track
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Reflect car particles (broken subassemly) in wet track v3
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Enable static environment reflections (0=>off 1=>on) v3
200 ; [MAIN VIEW] Enable dynamic environment reflections to X metres (for advanced carshader only) v3
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Max number of dynamic envmaps to use (1 to 22(!), 0=>off - for advanced carshader only) v3
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw Particles
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw rain (0 => off, 1 => on)
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] DrawBrakeGlows (0 => off, 1 => on)
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] DrawExternalSteering (0 => off, 1 => on)
0 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw crowds (0 => off, 1 => on, 2 => on and animating)
11 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw X objects in pit lane (0 => off, else max number of 'teams' to draw)
0 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw crowd camera flashes
0 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw sky
0 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw heat haze v3
0 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw lens flare (0 => off, 1 => 'real' camera views only, 2 => all views but cockpit, 3 => always)
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw Bushes
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw trackside cameras
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw trackside cranes
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw distant buildings
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw near buildings
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw horizon strips
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw trackside photographers
2 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw track (0 => off, 1 => basic, 2 => with detail maps)
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw trackside platforms
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw videowalls
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw Misc. trackside objects
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw trackside fences
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw trackside walls
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw track kerbing
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw bridges
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw Near stands
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw Far stands
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw Near land
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw Far land
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw track marshalls
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw large trackside signs
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw small trackside signs
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw Near trees
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw Far trees
0 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw video-wall screens
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw shadows on track v2
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw Required trackside buildings
70 ; [MAIN VIEW] Car lod : load balance as % of notional max possible number of car polys (at highest LOD) v9
100 ; [MAIN VIEW] Car lod : maximum LOD (scalar 100=>1) v2
1000 ; [MAIN VIEW] Car lod : distance at which to cull cars in view (metres) v3
50 ; [MAIN VIEW] Car lod : scalar
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] If using advanced car shader, then we can also (optionally) use improved wheel lighting




Saludos desde Colombia.

I have the same motherboard rev.1.04 with a Duron 1.2ghz 320mb sdram and a Radeon 8500le and I would get 14fps with everything off except the mirrors and then the automatic setting.Downloaded major toms graphics file from this site and fps went up to 20 but I dropped it down to 17.You could upgrade to a Xp 2600 266fsb if you have a rev.1.10 board might work with a rev.1.04 and maybe with a rev. 1.03 a faster video card would help and more memory too.

You guys think my computer is ok?

p2 400 geforce 2 ... ?

I think you should be able to do better. With the following equipment I play with 21 FPS @ 1024x768, but it recommends 30 or so:

1339 Mhz AMD Thunderbird
Asus A7V KT-133
384 MB of 133-SDRam
Asus GF2 GTS 32 MB of ram
SBLive! 1024 Player
WinMe

I dunno why you wouldn't get performance similar to mine.

---

It's only after we've lost everything, that we are free to do anything.

Switch off mirrors. I know its sad, but that's what you have to do. With a gf4 MX and xp2000 I get 50fps (new drivers, and no mirrors) at 1024x768 most things on high. Major tom's config file is the key. Also OS. I switched to Win98SE, and tho I got XP, I hesitate to install it, cos it'll run much worse.



-----------------

She says brief things, her love’s a pony
My love’s subliminal

This is what I get:

1.1 gig proc amd
512 ram
geforce3

win98se

30.82 driver


31 FPS

mostly everything max
only car in the morror

1024x768

I get 32 fps on my P3 overclocked 868mhz and GF4mx vidcard with quincunx aa turned on.

I have mirrors ON with car and track at 1024x768.

I am upgrading my rig and cannot decide on P4 2.4ghz or XP2400 (2.0ghz)

but with either I should sincerely hope my fps will jump to something like 50fps with the same settings.

Am I dreaming ? sh*t I hope not !



P4 2.85gig Albatron mobo 512mb Corsair3200LL Ram 19&quot;Auriga Mon. SBLive! + 4point surround spkrs. Thrustmaster F1 FF Wheel. Radeon9500pro Cat3.4 drivers. GP4 55fps 1024*768 - No VideoWalls/HeatHaze - Mirrors On.

Readme.txt in Grand Prix 4 folder:

4.2 Reducing CPU hit for audio
------------------------------
Some sound cards and drivers can have a detremental effect on the performance of the game. When you have no hardware acceleration available or selected in the audio menu, windows will be mixing all the sounds for the game in software. This can reduce the speed of the game considerably. You can adjust windows audio system settings in the windows control panel.

*In windows 98/Me look at Control Panel->Multimedia->Advenced Properties->Performance

*In windows 2000/XP look at Control Panel->Sounds and Audio Devices->Speaker Settings) Advanced->Performance.

Here you will find two sliders. The top slider is the amount of hardware acceleration windows will try to use for the sound. The bottom slider is the output quality of the sound.

If you put the top slider to "Full" windows will try to use all the features of your sound card. i.e. hardware acceleration and EAX (if supported). If you put the slider all the way to the left windows will use a very basic way of creating the sound. (On some machines this will not replay the sound correctly in the game). If you are having problems with the sound try adjusting this slider until you find a satisfactory result.

The bottom slider is useful to adjust the sound reproduction quality. If you do not have any hardware acceleration available in the game you can adjust this to use less CPU time at the expense of sound quality. In windows XP the default value for this slider is "Best". This will render the highest interpolated quality sound (at a high CPU hit). Reducing this down to a lower level will help to ease the CPU hit significantly and therefore speed up the game.


I have Duron 800MHz GF4 MX4600, 256MB and I get about 20fps and PO 90.
Before I changed audiosettings described above I got only 10-15fps with less details. Try if you already haven't

well, thanks everybody. i'll try and i'll let you lnow.




Saludos desde Colombia.

@ sega, or change your graphic card, because with 32mb it's a bottleneck for your system...



WYSIWYG / F1: Overtaking has become a strategy!