Zippy Graphics Card?

Hi,

I just recently purchased a new computer with an Intel X6800 Duo Extreme (2.93 GHz), 2 GB Ram, 2 74 GB SATA 10000 RPM (Raid 0) HDD, and an nVidia 7950 SLI (1 GB) graphics card. While I'm getting much better frame rates than in the past, the system still isn't performing as well as it should with SL (I'm pulling between 30 and 40 fps on a sim with average loads), but I'm pulling over 200 fps in more graphics intensive games. (Yes, there's a difference between OpenGL sourced games and something like EQII, but still. . .)

I suspect there are two problems here. ONE is that my CPU isn't yet supported by the client, and honestly, I don't expect it to be for some time. The second problem, I suspect, is that the limit on memory available from the preferences tab is 512Mb, half of what my card is capable of using. Is there a setting in the Debug Settings window I can tweak to up the amount of memory my card will use? If so, what is it?

Thanks.

(Bet you never thought you'd hear someone complain about getting ONLY 30 fps, but hey, look who you're dealing with. LOL)

Hey Kamael! I'm not a graphics card expert but sounds like what you're describing is correct--also it's good to remember that CPU matters heavily in determing FPS in Second Life too. Nice setup, it sounds like. I know there've been past comparisons of FPS like this which may help you:

/120/ff/49391/1.html

Most scenes in Second Life don't even use up to 128 MB of graphics card memory, but as 1 GB (wow) cards like yours become more common, it's logical we'll add an option for it and to have it recognized, just like we did for 512 MB ones previously.

I'm going to move this to Technical Issues for more suggestions.

Sli memory dont add up 2 on 512 > 1 gig total will still be 1024/2 = 512 in games settings not 1024mb total.

Each card in a Sli need excactly the same texture cause it doesnt copy them to eachother when its needed, nor does it know who needs it, thats why it does this.

2x256 = 512 , but only 256
4x256 = 1024, still 256
4x512 = 2048, still 512

The speeds you are seeing are about as good as SL gets. It just isn't optimized for insane frame rates the way that some first-person shooters are. Besides, frame rates higher than the refresh rate of your monitor buy you absolutely nothing, so anything more than 60-80fps is wasted.

You could possibly improve your frame rate somewhat by running SL in a smaller window. But I wouldn't do that; I'd rather see more of the world. I don't think there is any hardware that you could go out and buy that would improve your SL experience significantly; your system is already state of the art.

I am running my new just built system. ninvidia 7900 GS KO. 2 gig memory and a Pentium D805 (dual core). If i set the affinity for sl to run on one core rather than both my frame rate increases by double. i have seen as high as 37. most of the time 20 to 25. I set the affinity of sl in task manager to run on core #1. does any one know how to make thiis affinity setting automatic when i start sl? as it is i have to change it manualy each time i run sl.

Just out of curiousity, what do you have your draw distance set to? while you are getting that 30 to 40 f;s

Hey everyone...I'm new at this so go easy!
I've got the same problem as many of you here, I'm running a 2.8 dual core with 3gigs of RAM and Nvidia's 7900 gtx (512MB card) and I feel like I only am experiencing a slight difference in the before and after comparisions. I can read most of the Stat Bar (I've had to learn in order to understand what it is that I'm trying to tweak!) and despite me not knowing any technical jargon I am willing to learn if someone out there is gracious enough to lend a hand, I've been dealing with this issue for two week's and I thank you in advance for your assistance.


-Cure

Okay, this is weird, but it's working for me with absolute consistence:

Go in world. Let everything rezz around you. Then teleport to a relatively empty sim (I use the Korea Sims for this.) Fly to the very edge of the sim. Face the ocean and zoom to it so that the water is all you can see. Now wait. You'll notice your fps jump from whatever it was to over 100 in about a minute or two. Now, teleport back to your orignal location.

When I do this, I see a 200 to 300 percent in overall performance throughout the world. I've gone from as little as 6 fps to over 40 fps on my return to the same spot. And the improved framerate has held up to 12 hours for me.

I have NO idea why this works, but there you are. I can stand in my original rezz spot for 20 minutes and see nothing approaching this kind of improvement. If anyone has a CLUE why this should work, I'm willing to entertain all guesses.

Kam

Lots of good advice here, but everyone's missed an important fact here.

You're not running SL in SLI mode.

SLI requires a profile be present for any graphical application that you want to run in SLI mode. Currently SecondLife is not one of the games innately supported by Nvidia's drivers. Here's a list of supported games.

But you can make your own profile. Here's a page that will tell you how. Now there are three types of SLI:

Split frame rendering
Alternate frame rendering 1
Alternate frame rendering 2

I don't know which is the best as I don't have an SLI capable machine, so I'd reccomend trying SL with each and seeing which provides the best experience.

I hope this helps.

Whoa! Can't believe I missed that. Set up the SLI and suddenly I'm pulling 107 fps with a 512 draw distance. That's much more like what I expected.

(Of course, I can't actually SEE that kind of refresh... 85 is what my monitor will do. But it's awfully nice having a cushion.)

Kam

................fill in the blanks, PLEASE! by the way what kind of setup are u running? (Kamael)

Made my own SLI profile as suggested. (Using Alternate Frames)

very very similar config. how do you tell sl to run on only one of the cores?

Ctrl-Alt-Del to bring up the Task Manager.

Go to the Processes tab.

Find SecondLife.exe

Right-Click choose Set Affinity...

Uncheck one of the cores.

thanks, sis. trying that way.

prob really is i have four nvidia desktops, vmware with freebsd inside it, and trying to get it to wash the dishes too.

Oh, I forgot to mention. This is not permanent. You'll have to do this every time you launch SecondLife if you want.

please dont tell me you run anything smaller then 1600x1200 resolution on that ; p

Think id croak on smaller then 2048x1536 for building cant have enough.


Core affinity proggie
http://www.majorgeeks.com/WinLauncherXP_d870.html

WinLauncherXP is a free application launcher for Windows 2000 and Windows XP

Features:
AFFINITY: for SMP (multi-processors system), you can select on which processors (up to 8 processors) each applications are run

APPLICATION PRIORITY: You can configure your applications priority on your system. You can boost applications and games performance (depends of your hardware and software configuration)

WINDOW STATE: You can choose the state of any launched programs (normal,hidden,minimized,maximized)

TRANSLUCENCY: You can set any applications windows to be translucent so you will be able to see-through them. You can define the translucency level for each application.

When I see these post it makes me think......
1.) how fast is your internet speed
2.) second only read max 2084 memory ( i have 3 giga memory and it reads this . The client is just not smart enough to read higher then 2 giga.)
3.) MB drivers are they resent updated....I know your using a new system but REVISED versions area lways coming out.
4.) Power Supply does it have enough power to make your system stable.

Line speed and bandwith is always a problem for many on sl......The higher your speed is stronger the game play is. Ok many say thats not so but.........I use to play on a below spec system BUt i had a very fast and stable line.