FPS Hit: It's the water...

[Coonskin]

An addendum to the "FPS Weirdness" thread:

Apparently large bodies of water cause CPU load.

Case in point: In RE I removed four of the seven 200FtSilverBridge spans thinking perhaps I could regain enough FPS for smooth scrolling by using more of the less ornate 60 Viaduct deck girder approach spans. (Past experiments indicate one of 200FtSilverBridge spans = -2 FPS on my system.) Took the same train across. Bam: Still at about 7 FPS.

Next, I toggled off the water for the river. Reran the same train (sans the above removed spans). Presto: FPS at 28. Subtract about 2 FPS per each span I had removed, and you're back at 20-21 FPS, which is what I was getting BEFORE this weirdness.

According to the infamous MSTS "pause/hitch", there's a "loading point" just as I enter the bridge when northbound. With water on, my system never recovers. The FPS stays low across the bridge, then jumps right back up to 28. It apparently chokes loading the info AND drawing the bridge.

Why it's able to stay in the lower 20's southbound across the bridge, well, I guess it's that loading point I mentioned above. Southbound there's no loading point, so the CPU can concentrate on drawing the water, bridge, and moving the train across it. For some reason it bogs excessively if having to load info in an already intensive graphic area.

Thus, it's just an unfortuate situation of several critical things converging at that one loading point when northbound.

This is somewhat disconcerting. Having no water in the Arkansas River is not an option. I feel I've already pared down my bridge scene as much as possible and it still have the feel of a sizable structure. Removing tree blocks really won't recover the FPS I want.

SO... time for a thoughtful "Hmmmmmm".

I'll figure something out.

Andre

[TrirailF40PHL]

As a substitute for MSTS water, try creating two layers of large one-sided faces, animated to move up and down, and texture them with the default textures, like this:

http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3e5011ba1b2e4106.jpg

My guess is that Kuju made their water in such a way that the "waterbot.ace" textures wouldn't look over-pixelated by having multiple polygons to texture on. Unfortunately, this also creates the low FPS that you are experiencing.

By using the "homemade water" technique with large polygons and a high-resolution 512X512 waterbot.ace texture, you should be able to have water + acceptable framerates....

Hope this helps!

Kurt

[landnrailroader]

I have noticed this on the KP sub. as well. AT 40mph, maximum freight speed, I have an fps around 22 as long as there is no water. When water is in the image, it drops to around 15, and if there is a bridge, or trees, or whatever, it drops to around 10. Although these sound low, the image is smooth except at the famous "hitch/load" points, but so far, my system is able to recover.

J. H. Sullivan

[Coonskin]

Hi Kurt...

Thanks for the tip/idea.

I'm going to have to do something. The default water has taken a scene that I pervioulsy enjoyed traversing and ruined it with choppy/jerky motion.

I think the FPS plunge would have still remained in the "acceptable" range if it weren't for the "loading point" just as you enter the bridge. Unfortunately, during route building you cannot anticipate "loading points" in this sim.

Andre

[Tree Frog]

Andre,

Not good news. My route without water? Yikes!

I will have to change the name from Sea View to Dried Up Ocean View. x(

Guess I'm just stuck with bad frame rates.

Bill Burnett

[dmikulec]

Interesting news indeed. I guess it's a good thing that the largest body of water on the Ohio Southeastern consists of farm ponds and creeks (or is that crick).

Thanks for the news Andre.

Dave Mikulec (dmikulec@bellsouth.net)
Ohio Southeastern System - a freelanced route
http://www.rdimages.com/OSE/

[Coonskin]

LOL on the "Dried Up Ocean View". I don't have but 2 or 3 add-on routes by other authors, and one of those is a beta. So, I don't know what the FPS is like on your imaginative and creative "Sea View".

This water vs FPS hit comes as a great surprise to me, too. I was flabbergassed to see my frames go from the low 20's to 6 or 7 because of the addition of a semi-large body of water! Thought I was "home free" on that scene!

Still though, for some reason it has to do with the poor timing of reaching a loading point right as my machine is drawing the water/objects when I near the area northbound. Going southbound, the framerates are still around 21. Go figure.

I have three things I can do at this area:

1. Live with it.

2. Replace the default water with scenery objects. (i.e. Flat plates w/water textures.)

3. Replace the default water with custom terrain patches.

Seeing as #1 is not an option given my "druthers", I'm debating between the last two.

Andre

[Tree Frog]

Andre,

I believe you should use your first option "Live with it." Water can add a lot of beauty, interest, and realism to a route. I think it is worth the frame rate trade off.

Bill Burnett

http://www.trainsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3e51669441078b2e.jpg