Windlight troubles

OK, so I have just installed the latest Windlight viewer. And I discovered it looked like crap on my computer. The sky is ever cloudy and no matter what I do (disable classic clouds, turn on atmospheric shaders) it still stays that way (and if only it was ever sunny rather than ever cloudy!!). The water is also crappy. I can't change anything in Environment Editor and it pisses me off. So I'm thinking it might be my graphics card (ATI RADEON 9550). What do you think?

It definitely sounds like something is amiss with the graphics.....Windlight shouldn't look anything like what you're describing....

But when you say 'finally' downloaded the latest windlight viewer....what do you mean? Windlight has been a part of the main viewer for a while now.....a year anyway..... What were you using before? Also what are the rest of your system specs? I would think ATI should run it just fine. I have nVidia 8800 and windlight is beautiful.

Also, there's a few things you have to do before you can manipulate the environment editor...well...mainly you have to make sure the 'custom' box is checked in your graphics preferences. If, on the other hand, your system wont support windlight....it isn't going to let you adjust those preferences.

But, more details about your puter, and hopefully we can help~ Windlight is amazing....there's no reason it should look so crappy if your system can support it.

I never said "finally". I just said I installed the *latest* Windlight viewer.
System specs
Chip type: RADEON 9550 AGP
Memory: 128 MB

Custom box is checked.

I want normal Windlight...*cries*

Unfortunately, your graphics card is on the extreme low end of ability to run the SL viewer, and probably not really capable of running SL to the point of a satisfactory experience.

Not only are ATI video cards are not well supported in SL, but the Radeon 9000 series is getting pretty long in the tooth. You're probably only seeing the fallback "low quality" graphics without even basic shaders. I would recommend that you try one of the third-party viewers that's got the pre-Windlight rendering engine if you can't afford to upgrade your video card to at least an nVidia gf6800 or gf7600.

Is your graphics card slot AGP 4x or 8x? How big is your power supply?

Computers that still have an AGP graphics card slot are pretty old, 7 years or more, and it is VERY difficult to find cards for them that will adequately run Second Life. It's impossible, to the best of my experience, to get them to run Windlight properly. At least that has been my experience with my work Win XP system, which also has an AGP 4x slot, and a weak power supply.

At the very least, you may have to replace the video card. But if you really want to see Windlight properly, you most likely need a better computer entirely. Sorry.

The best AGP card I have found so far for SL, that will run in an AGP 4x slot and that draws fairly low power (less than 200 watts PS), is the Nvidia Geforce 4 ti 4600, with 128 MB VRAM. That card came out in 2002, and was the "Hot new card that every gamer wanted" back 7 years ago. Today? You'll have to hunt on-line at stores that sell used and reconditioned parts to find one. Expect it to sell for a mere 40 bucks or so, plus shipping, IF you can find one. My last search, I was only able to locate one source for that card, as a used, reconditioned item. That card, in a PC with 2 GB RAM, can bring you 30 FPS performance at best in SL, on maxxed graphics settings. But it will NOT get you full Windlight. It just isn't up to those standards. I have one. It runs SL well, just no Windlight.

Ok sorry.about the 'finally' LOL No disrespect meant, I assure you.

But, on topic.....it's really a matter of not having the right g-card to run SL properly in the first place. This is a huge issue now they have integrated windlight. I'm probably one of the more fortunate ones, but then again, with the way technology and graphics advance so rapidly.....it's impossible to keep up for the vast majority. If you're a serious gamer then this is par for the course....having all the latest and greatest. But, for someone who is just curious and wants to run SL and get their feet wet & explore...this poses a huge problem. (like my family for example, who all would love to check out SL but can't cause noone has a good enough computer or laptop)

Anyway.....you can get a good nVidia card without breaking the bank.....the other things you need to have are lots of memory (again, this can be added) and a really good internet connection. Connection speed is going to affect a LOT of SL's behavior.

If you want to try some of the third party viewers:

http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Alternate_viewers

Oh man. So basically, even if I buy a new graphics card, I'll have to buy better power supply and a better memory card. Jesus, I think a new computer would cost me less. I guess I could try with a new gc. Say, if I buy NVIDIA 7300 will my computer be able to support it? Because I heard it drains a lot of power. I think I *could* afford a graphics card, but anything more would be too much. And I REALLY, but REALLY want Windlight, not the old viewer. I'd like to take artsy photos in SL and I can't do that with the old viewer because it looks like crap.

That was the situation I was in with my Win XP system. EVERY card that would work in an AGP slot and that offered anything better than the nVidia Geforce ti 4600 with 128 MB VRAM sucked down FAR more power than my power supply could handle. In the end, since for me it was a secondary system, I just settled for the best card I could find, and no Windlight.

In your case? Yeah, I know it sucks, but I think you really need to look at buying a new PC. Start saving now, and buy when you have saved enough to pay for what you really need. Aim for at least 2 GB Memory, a fairly fast multi-core CPU, beefy power supply (400 W or better), and the ability to handle PCI-e (PCI Express) 16x or better video cards as an expansion. On a low-cost system you can probably get all of that, but will need to upgrade the memory, and the video card capability it will ship with will probably be a built-in craphics chip that isn't worth considering for SL. Then add a decent PCI-E card that your power supply and expansion slot can handle, like the EVGA Geforce 8800GTS, with 640 MB VRAM. Last year, that card cost about $360.00 US, and the PC probably would cost another $750.00 US, if you shop around. If you build it al from parts, and shop wisely, you might do the whole thing for less than $1,000 USD.

The sad fact is that SL is a power-hungry monster when it comes to hardware requirements. There's a few ways to build a PC or to configure a laptop for less than $1,000.00 US that will be really good for SL. But honestly, it's pretty tough to pull that off. I would recommend searching the forum for recent threads on hardware recommendations for PC's and laptops that work well with SL. You may find some good guidance there.

Jesus, I'd never spend that much on a computer for SL, unless it was a laptop, or a Mac.

For staged shots you don't need a super computer. Any dual core 64-bitter with at least a couple of gigs and a decent GF card of any recent generation will do fine. You should be able to get there for under $500. For $1000 you could get something like this:

AGP graphics cards are pretty old technology now, and the rest of the system is probably dated, too. If your computer has a Pentium 4 CPU as well as AGP graphics, you probably are better off upgrading to a new one. Or gutting your current one and replacing the vital components.

If you want to stick with your current system, you may be able to find an AGP card that will drop in and run. Assuming you don't have a weird case, or exceptionally weak power supply, an Nvidia 7600GS is probably the best easily available graphics adapter that'll work for you. You can find better cards, but you'll pay through the nose for them and they're a lot harder to find new. I ran a 7600GS in an old Sony Vaio with an AGP 4x slot and stock power supply.

If you do go the AGP route, be aware you will probably be back in this situation again sooner rather than later.

The Nvidia 7000 series cards are also limited to two local light sources instead of six in the current viewer. In older viewers, underwater terrain may turn black.

Really good PCIe cards aren't super expensive. You can get a 9800GT for about a hundred bucks. That's not much more than a good AGP card and it's a whole lot faster.