Confused about "performance issues"

Just chiming in to support the 'My performance is fine' vibe.

My system is not so great - 2 Ghz processor, 1 Gig Ram, nVidia FX 5500 video card , 2 Mbit DSL - but It seems to be doing as well as can be expected.

Once in a while I am down at like 10 frames a sec, but usually 15 to 20. I do dream of seeing SL on a killer rig, just to get closer to that smooth FPS-type experience.

So what Vlad? You're not having performance issues. That's not the fucking point. It's that THOSE OF US WHO ARE HAVING PERFORMANCE ISSUES are ignored by the Lindens.

(I used big bold italicized letters for the comprehension-challenged out there.)

I think a more accurate analogy would be the guys with hot cars who install 70,000w subwoofers in their car and drive with the windows down.

Do you really think LL are so stupid they're ignoring you?

Actually specs do matter, 'cuz just like any other game, as new versions come out, more features and better graphics are implimented and as such the system requirements go up with them. I do agree there have been a few HORRIBLE updates where pretty much everyone experienced problems. But at this point it would seem that at least as many ppl are quite satisfied with SLs performance as are whining about it, so this leads me to believe that many ppl really need to consider some upgrades if they wish to maintain a satisfactory level of performance.

It's just like when developers come out with new games, like Unreal for instance...yes, a few years ago Unreal was awesome on the currently available equipment but Unreal 2 or Unreal Tournament 2004 cannot run on the same systems that ran Unreal at the same level of performance. It's called progress and if we all want to enjoy it, we must all keep up with it, not whine 'cuz it's no longer as good on our outdated equipment. I mean seriously, why would a company spend tons of money to develop (or continue to develop in SLs case) a game for outdated equipment when the current equipment offers so much more in flexibility and performance and can vastly enhance the user experience?

Now LL IS attempting to keep SL playable for ppl with lesser systems, but it must be understood that they cannot maintain lower requirements forever unless they wish to be shoved out of the market by better games...and there will come a time when you will HAVE to upgrade if you wish to continue playing!

***EDIT***
Specs only matter in playability, posting your specs is only a way of showing off, unless they're relavent to the conversation, which in this case they are quite relavent

Show me a Linden post in these forums addressing the performance problems introduced with 1.6 & beyond. Show me ONE that deals directly with the drastic FPS drop. Show me ONE that deals directly with the acknowledgement that some people are still having texture loading issues even after the last two "fixes".

No responses from support. No responses to "Second Life Answers" posts. No Linden input on issues that, if you look at the forums as a whole, are affecting more and more people, and the Lindens can't even grow the BALLS to say, "You know, something JUST MIGHT BE UP when so many people say they are having problems."

I don't have a lesser system. I have a 3.2GHZ Penitum 4 w/ 2GB RAM and a 256MB nVidia graphics card & a 300GB SATA 10,000 RPM hard drive. Second Life ran BEAUTIFULLY before 1.5. Everything was on, even local lighting, shiny objects, with a draw distance of 256m. It was really very very VERY beautiful, and at 1600x1200 no less. I was paying $75 a month in tier fees because it was worth every dime.

1.5 came and WHAM... I have all details set to the lowest setting, draw distance of 64m, all graphic "extras" off, and even went down to 1024x768 and the performance is absolutely terrible. I've sold
all my land and now just have a regular premium account and my free 512m of land because SECOND LIFE SUCKS RIGHT NOW FOR ME. I don't care how it runs for you. I have a kickass computer that, according to Linden Labs, and you, should be running Second Life fine.

Several of the release notes for new patches have had points saying they're addressing performance issues. I'm not gonna go searching for a statement anywhere, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's at least one floating about outside of the release notes.

Would it make you happy if I posted in the answers forum asking for a "yes we are woking on performance issues" statement?

Your point had a lot more validity before; system specs and settings were tightly related to performance. If you've been reading the threads on this issue as I have, you would be aware that many people with higher end systems have taken a significant hit in performance. These are not newbs unfamiliar with preference settings. Check out the technical issues forum. If you need specific links I will provide them.

I inquired about your monthly expenditures because of your "people just have a need to whine about something" crack. I would hope that if you're going to take a poke at people complaining about their performance that you are at least contributing financially to LL. It would be a far more annoying comment coming from a basic player.

Maybe you don't know anyone ingame having problems because those that have had difficculties don't play as much if at all, having left for the activities that they aren't experiencing performance problems with.

Heh. That's another way of expressing my feelings, Aaron.

Herzog, forget my previous posts; just read this again. lmao.

Actually they've posted many statements regarding the performance problems of the now past. Would you like them to reply to EVERY post about these problems? Would you be willing to pay for the time it would take for them to do that?

By and large they have addressed the problems as they've arisen fairly well given all it takes to do so. It seems to really be boiling down to a lack of suitable equipment/connection on the users end, as well as a lack of understanding what it takes to make SL run.

See? That's the kind of smartass remarks that fucking piss me off. Herzog, did you READ my post where I put my system specs? Or you just one of those "LA LA LA LA WORKS FOR ME SHOULD WORK FOR YOU LA LA LA LA" people?

Perhaps examining the differences between similar systems that do and don't have problems running SL would help the Lindens improve things? Perhaps there's a little bit of code that doesn't work properly with certain particular hardware or something...

Certainly a better idea than just complaining about things.

It wasn't meant as a smartass remark, just an observation. Yes I did read your specs, but you left out your connection type/speed and also need to keep in mind that even tho you may have a more than adequate system that there are MANY factors to consider, like what other programs are running in the background; is there any spyware on your system; viruses; network problems with your ISP; etc...

Also, not one word I've said has been intended to offend or upset anyone, I just speak frankly and often that upsets ppl, sorry 'bout that, it's just how I am.

Herzog, thank you SO MUCH for enlightening me on what it takes to make an online game run.

I'll just delete everything in my brain from my 20 years of computer industry experience as an IT manager during the 90s and the last 9 years of my life as a computer shop owner. I'll delete all my certifications and years of computer degrees to replace it with your covers-it-all explanation.

Thank you SO MUCH for teaching me how computers work.

Ya know, I've not been nasty or a smartass here at all, seems to me you are quite upset and I have to wonder why you keep playing and/or posting here if it upsets you THIS much? Perhaps you are one of those that simply enjoys complaining? Also, I never once implied that ANY of my statments were "covers-it-all" explanations, as you've put it. I'm merely stating some of the many possible causes of problems, hence my use of etc...

I'm still here in body only. I haven't created anything new in Second Life since the 1.5 downgr... I mean upgrade. In fact, I've dumped all my land. I stick around in hopes that something will change. With each new update, I get my hopes up that it will be better, but it keeps getting worse. Eventually, I will leave, as has the BULK of Second Life's "130,000" members. Yah, right -- 130,000... it's borderline fraud to advertise that I think.

As for complaining -- what are people who are unhappy with the service they receive SUPPOSED to do, bend over and take it? If you buy a new car and it breaks down the first few months you have it, what are you supposed to do? Stand around and listen to people like you who say, "You just don't know how to have a new car. It broke down because you're stupid and don't how to use your new car. Look at my car -- it's not broken down, so yours shouldn't be either."

No, I don't like complaining. But complaining is how things are made right in this world. Women couldn't vote. They complained and got the right to vote. Blacks were slaves. They complained and got their freedom. Somewhere along the line, those groups were heard by people who agreed with them, then more people, then more people, and then more people... and then change happens. If all the people with problems in Second Life are supposed to shut up and enjoy their 5 FPS, fine, I guess that's what Linden Labs wants, but then again, that would be aligning themselves with people who didn't want women to vote and blacks to remain slaves.

Yes, extreme -- but complaining, and MAKING A SOUND is what enacts CHANGE.

Ok first, black ppl didn't complain and then get their freedom...white ppl complained and then FOUGHT for their freedom in the Civil War (alongside many black ppl as well)...

Second, I never, NEVER stated that "it works for me so it should work for you" or "you're just stupid"...I started this thread in an effort to understand WHY it works for me and not for you.

Third, YES I think ppl that are having issues should complain, but should do so CONSTRUCTIVELY, not just piss and moan about it, that never accomplishes anything but making yourself look like a whiner. Take notes, screenshots, etc, regarding your problems...send as much information as you can to LL and continue to do so until they're able to help resolve any problems that are actually on their end while continuing to try to make sure all your own ducks are in a row. If after sufficient time has passed and you still have problems, perhaps it's time to reconsider that it may indeed be some sort of hardware incompatibility and you need to change/upgrade something on your end instead of pointing the finger at LL.

Nevermind, you don't understand or choose not to... you have blinders on. Everything you listed in your latest attack on my intelligence I've done. You just assumed I haven't. I've been in SL longer than you and have been through more client updates thtn you. You are rude and like your forum title SAYS, are a wise(ass).

Bottom line. Second Life doesn't work for me like it used to, or how its working for other people with lesser systems than my own. End of discussion.

I have amusing visions of a Windows backdrop featuring my phoenix plastered onto the monitor screen "from the inside" with an "OMG LET ME OUT" look.

And like others have stated above, specs are not the solution. My "better" machine at work chokes on SL and it's superior to my home machine.

Looks like 90% of the people in this thread are thinking of "grey textures" which is a server side performance issue. Then things are further muddled by the fact most people confuse lag with rendering performance.

Right now though things seem to have been better than the past few months server side, although there's still the ever present occassional slow loading of textures, where you have to stare at a blurry object for five minutes before it loads. Client side has gotten slightly better with the avatar LOD but still totally awful compared to nearly anything else you can think of, which is a big issue for a social world as a lot of users won't have gaming setups.

Wow, you really need to look at yourself before pointing fingers at others. I've never once attacked your intelligence, only ever stated some suggestions. If you've already done them and still have problems I'm sorry, but don't take it out on me 'cuz you're unhappy and PLEASE stop misreading my posts as personal attacks which they are NOT.

2.6ghz intel P3 512 rambus ram ati 9600 w/ 256 mb ram cable connection.

my graphics performane is atrocious. Yes i need mroe ram but rambus being screwed me over on the upgrading thing.

Now from what i understand my performance is ok compared to most other SL users. Thing is tho, i compare my graphics to maybe castle wolfenstien 3d. Yeah my av looks prettier, but really compared to any other pc game out there... well there is no comparison.

but that is the comparison most new users will make. I knew coming in this was a different kind of "thing" (is it a game? is it not? bah) but the graphics really need to improve for SL to gain any more acceptance than it already has.

except it shouldn't be a streaming issue if the sound is already cached locally... both of your solutions involve restarting SL which also fixes it for me .

what sort of trouble shooting have you done?