Registered: Feb 2003
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Posts: 70

Direct X 9.0 causing slowdown?

I just recently installed Direct X 9.0 (Thank God it works), and tried to play Freespace with it. It seems to me the FS now runs a bit slower than it usually did, with a few hitches. Note that I do not have a fancy 3D card like most comps do... only a Graphics Driver to keep it tooting (Intel 82810E Graphics Driver). I usually just max out the Graphics Options, but now I find myself reducing the 3D Hardware Textures just to stop the framerate "jittering". Do you think I should just leave the settings as it is untill they come out with a "patch"?

Last edited by sfried on 03-06-2003 at 09:58 PM

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Registered: Feb 2003
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Posts: 70

Direct X 9.0 causing slowdown?

I just recently installed Direct X 9.0 (Thank God it works), and tried to play Freespace with it. It seems to me the FS now runs a bit slower than it usually did, with a few hitches. Note that I do not have a fancy 3D card like most comps do... only a Graphics Driver to keep it tooting (Intel 82810E Graphics Driver). I usually just max out the Graphics Options, but now I find myself reducing the 3D Hardware Textures just to stop the framerate "jittering". Do you think I should just leave the settings as it is untill they come out with a "patch"?

Last edited by sfried on 03-06-2003 at 09:58 PM

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: The Cold Northland!
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Despite the fact that this suggestion may be looked apon with disdain...I would really look at replacing the Intel video card with something else. I'm not sure exactly what the problem with the DX9 may be...because there shouldn't be any major changes for your system on DX9 VS DX8, but the Intel video system is just not capable of dealing with most games...old or new.

I'm glad (and perhaps surprised) that you were able to get it to preform acceptably with FreeSpace 2 and I do realize that high end gaming may not be in-line with your interests but I would highly, highly recommend getting a GeForce 4 MX400 or a ATI Radeon 9000. Both are decent cards, neither are top of the line nor expensive. I believe both can be had between $80 and $150 Canadian (which is even lower in US dollars if thats where you hail from). Mind you, $80 is $80...but I would say its well worth the investment to something more well supported and recongized for its feature set.

On the DX9 front, it may be that the Intel drivers just are not upto spec and that they are not performing with efficiency in the DX9 environment.

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[url=http://www.volitionwatch.com]Volition Watch[/url], [url=http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/blackwater]BlackWater Operations[/url], [url=http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/babylon]The Babylon Project[/url], [url=http://terra.sourceforge.net]Machina Terra[/url], [url=http://www.3dap.com/hlp/hosted/ott/]Over The Top[/url]

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Registered: Apr 2001
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Despite the fact that this suggestion may be looked apon with disdain...I would really look at replacing the Intel video card with something else. I'm not sure exactly what the problem with the DX9 may be...because there shouldn't be any major changes for your system on DX9 VS DX8, but the Intel video system is just not capable of dealing with most games...old or new.

I'm glad (and perhaps surprised) that you were able to get it to preform acceptably with FreeSpace 2 and I do realize that high end gaming may not be in-line with your interests but I would highly, highly recommend getting a GeForce 4 MX400 or a ATI Radeon 9000. Both are decent cards, neither are top of the line nor expensive. I believe both can be had between $80 and $150 Canadian (which is even lower in US dollars if thats where you hail from). Mind you, $80 is $80...but I would say its well worth the investment to something more well supported and recongized for its feature set.

On the DX9 front, it may be that the Intel drivers just are not upto spec and that they are not performing with efficiency in the DX9 environment.

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Registered: Feb 2003
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Dunno... might be more of a RAM problem than a 3D card one... (Plus a 9000 costs $130... I honestly don't belive I have that much money...) But I've already got this chock full of RAM. Might need somemore, though (plays NeverWinter like it has never seen the light of day i.e. choppy).

Anyways, I've got it to run smoother... Dunno how, but after playing a bit of Rogue Spear: Black Thorn, I got it to go back to it's senses...

And it's Freespace 1, not 2. I was lucky enough to get it for a bargain...

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Registered: Feb 2003
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Dunno... might be more of a RAM problem than a 3D card one... (Plus a 9000 costs $130... I honestly don't belive I have that much money...) But I've already got this chock full of RAM. Might need somemore, though (plays NeverWinter like it has never seen the light of day i.e. choppy).

Anyways, I've got it to run smoother... Dunno how, but after playing a bit of Rogue Spear: Black Thorn, I got it to go back to it's senses...

And it's Freespace 1, not 2. I was lucky enough to get it for a bargain...

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: The Cold Northland!
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How much ram do you have? If you've got 512mb (even 384) you should be in good shape. And upgrading RAM is going to cost similar to what its going to cost to get a good video card...in terms of performance in a game like Neverwinter Knights, RAM will only help so much and then the video card ultimately will bog it down.

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- IceFire
Volition Watch Project Manager
[url=http://www.volitionwatch.com]Volition Watch[/url], [url=http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/blackwater]BlackWater Operations[/url], [url=http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/babylon]The Babylon Project[/url], [url=http://terra.sourceforge.net]Machina Terra[/url], [url=http://www.3dap.com/hlp/hosted/ott/]Over The Top[/url]

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Registered: Apr 2001
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Posts: 1901

How much ram do you have? If you've got 512mb (even 384) you should be in good shape. And upgrading RAM is going to cost similar to what its going to cost to get a good video card...in terms of performance in a game like Neverwinter Knights, RAM will only help so much and then the video card ultimately will bog it down.

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