Getting back into GP4

Many years ago I was here as Incast but that account has bit the dust, so Inncast (very original) is here seeking your wisdom!

I reinstalled GP4 a couple of weeks back and configured my Xbox 360 controller for it, after getting thoroughly bored of Codemasters' latest efforts. To my amazement with a bit of f1graphics.cfg tweaking and some GPU AA/AF settings the game looks and more importantly still plays amazingly!

Since I'm quite content to play the 01 season, I've followed the 2001 season mod DIY guide to spruce things up a bit (http://www.grandprixgames.org/read.php?4,966471,page=1) and am almost now ready to go on a championship.

However, I'm struggling on two items:

1. CPU Occupancy
This is spiking to 120% on some hairpins. I have an I5 3570k running at 3.4GHz and a Radeon 7850, this setup should be blitzing an 11 year old game. The only guide I have found on here relates to increasing the memory GP4.exe can use which I don't see will help - my cars.wad file is only 120mb even with a 1gb RAM limit on GP4 I can't see any evidence I'm getting close.

My PC does not sound like it's being particularly taxed when the game is running, the fans are not very loud. I am on the max power configuration in Windows.

Can anyone offer any suggestions?

2. Field of Vision
I have set 1920x1080 as the resolution in f1graphics.cfg but I often don't see cars right on the edge of the visible area, they will only magically appear about 50 pixels. This results in a really jarring jumping effect where cars to the edge suddenly appear or disappear.

Is there a parameter that can fix this?

1. GP4 is very badly optimised (if any) for AA settings and when a lot of cars are in sight (like in airpins or at start line) it has great troubles to apply AA. Thus I would suggest to disable AA and see what's happening with your framerate. Maybe if it is the cause, you will be able to enable and increase it again up to a balanced point between graphics and framerate.

2. I have no solution here. I also had this effect but I have no idea if it can be avoided or not. (Maybe forcing best carshapes in TeamEditor/CSM could slightly fixed it if it's lod related but if it's just culling and that the whole car is not displayed in the dead angles, I doubt there's much we can do...

BTW, welcome back in the GP4 community





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2014 09:16PM by Lo2k.

Welcome back.

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PLEASE VISIT: Grand Prix Mods Blog

concerning number 2:

i have set the same resolution and i don't observe the effect you mentioned. so i guess there's another parameter that influences this clipping/culling problem. currently i have no idea which parameter it could be, though. below for reference parts of my f1graphics.cfg:

1 ; f1graphics.cfg controls all settings (default 0)
1920 ; [RELEASE] Game 3D Horizontal Resolution
1080 ; [RELEASE] Game 3D Vertical Resolution
1 ; [RELEASE] Enable 32bit mode if available NB. If Windowed then is forced to desktop format
1 ; [RELEASE] Enable hardware T&L if available
0 ; [RELEASE] Run in a window
16 ; [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
105 ; [RELEASE] AutoPerformance (Automatic Performance Setting)
0 ; [RELEASE] TestedPerformanceLow (Tested Performance Setting)
0 ; [RELEASE] TestedPerformanceHigh (Tested Performance Setting)
1280 ; [DEBUG] Game 3D Horizontal Resolution
960 ; [DEBUG] Game 3D Vertical Resolution
1 ; [DEBUG] Enable 32bit mode if available NB. If Windowed then is forced to desktop format
1 ; [DEBUG] Enable hardware T&L if available
0 ; [DEBUG] Run in a window
16 ; [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
8 ; Number of mipmaps (0 => off) v2
1 ; Use compressed textures if supported
1 ; Full 32bit textures
7 ; Set 0 => no 8bit alpha (all stencil - yuck) 8 => all 8bit alpha (no stencil - nice) else 1-7 as cut off
1 ; If using compressed then ramp 1bit DXT1 to nbit DXT5 to avoid edge bleed v2
1 ; Render targets must match the main formats v2
1 ; Enable Fogging
1 ; Enable AdvancedCarShader v2
1 ; Pre-light track (Update track lighting using CPU)
0 ; Low res geometry track (1 low res, 0 normal)
0 ; Rotate wheels via textures v2
0 ; Bump map track (requires DP3; 0 => off)
4 ; Load balance : Frames over which to sample occupancy
110 ; 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)
133 ; Show own car (0 never, bit 1 trans, bit 2 solid, bit 3 context only bit7-fullpolycar in tcam) v3
1 ; Overide show own car if mirrors set low
100 ; Cockpit zoom (0 to 100) v2
2 ; 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)
16 ; Num overdraws for blur effects (eg reflections) Should be one of {2,4,6,9,12,16}
2 ; 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 ?
60 ; For normal reflections scale LOD (0 to 100%) v3
20 ; 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)
1 ; Enable rain droplets on lens/visor
0 ; Enable visor when in cockpit view
1 ; Enable sky messages
1 ; Enable true type fonts
50 ; Environment map strength (0=>use game default)
0 ; Full dynamic video walls v2
30 ; Velocity m/s at which dynamic video walls are disabled (0 => no cutoff)
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.
24 ; Multiplayer overlays 1n 2:+cockpit 3:+allviews 4:+text 5:+gfx 6:+allcars
4 ; 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
131 ; 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
1 ; 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
92 ; [MAIN VIEW] Mipmap bias (0 => -8 to 200 => +8) -ve=> sharper v2
1000 ; [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)
190 ; [MAIN VIEW] Scale track LOD distance - make larger to force lower LOD earlier
99 ; [MAIN VIEW] Constant min distance in metres for track LOD calcs - make larger to force lower max LOD - else 0 for full LOD range
300 ; [MAIN VIEW] Threshold distance in metres to switch in low LOD track
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Display track shadows
3 ; [MAIN VIEW] Shadow type (under cars) (0=> off, 1=> static, 2=> composite, 3=> projected)
16 ; [MAIN VIEW] Blur shadows (projected shadows only)(should be 0 (no blur),2,4,6,9,12, or 16)
10 ; [MAIN VIEW] Max number of shadow maps that are allowed in view UNDER CAR
10 ; [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)
500 ; [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
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Enable dynamic environment reflections to X metres (for advanced carshader only) v3
0 ; [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)
1 ; [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)
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw crowd camera flashes
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw sky
0 ; [MAIN VIEW] Draw heat haze v3
1 ; [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
1 ; [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
1 ; [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
100 ; [MAIN VIEW] Car lod : scalar
1 ; [MAIN VIEW] If using advanced car shader, then we can also (optionally) use improved wheel lighting

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used to be GPGSL's Nick Heidfeld