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GTA:IV => IV:MP - Liberty City Multiplayer => IV:MP General => Topic started by: Devin on January 13, 2011, 07:12:10 pm

Title: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Devin on January 13, 2011, 07:12:10 pm
I have noticed many players having issues with lag due to old spec systems theyre running it on, so ive done some research and found this.



Quote
Windows is a multitasking system. It means that a lot of various applications are running simultaneously in it. You directly work with some of them, but some of them work invisibly and independently. The priority of an application is a parameter that tells the system which task has priority over other tasks. For example, if there are two programs that are running simultaneously and with the same priority, they will have equal shares of the processor time. But in case you set a higher priority for one of them, the program that has this higher priority will use all the free processor time while the one with a lower priority will use only the rest of it.

For example, if you have an application for rendering a video clip running on your computer, it will use the free processor time sharing it equally with, say, Explorer. It will result in Explorer working jerkily. But if you set a lower priority for the rendering program, it will use only the time that Explorer does not need. Explorer will work more smoothly and faster. It is also convenient to set a higher priority for multimedia players so the playback will be smoother. I also always set a higher priority for Nero when burning a disc so that it doesnt fail and I wont waste a CDR and also when playing games.

You can change the priority of processes on the Processes tab of Task Manager. The problem is whenever you set a process priority, it will reset back to Normal when you restart Windows. Here is a simple way to save the process priority.

Prio (Process Priority Saver) is a compact program that allows you to save the priority you specify for any process. To save a process priority, start the Task Manager, right-click a process and select Set Priority. Set the priority you want for the process. Prio will save the applied changes and each time you start this process from now on, it will set the saved priority for it. You will not have to change the priority manually any more!

(http://www.raymond.cc/images/save-process-priority.png)

Other than that, it also enhances the standard Task Manager by adding useful tooltips containing detailed information about each running process: its name, manufacturer, version and full path to the executable file. It also shows which system services are currently running for svchost.exe. You would also notice that most of the process are highlighted in green. Those green processes are verified because it has a digital signature. For those that dont have one, itll be highlighted in red. If youre sure about the origin of a process while its executable file has no digital signature, you can mark is as valid using the Treat As Valid menu item and it will be highlighted in green.

Prio also adds Services and TCP/IP tab where you can view all installed system services with their statuses, start them, stop them and change the method they are started with. Prio uses the additional TCP/IP tab to display all established TCP connections and all open ports (TCP and UDP). Both statistical data (the number of sent and received bytes) and rate is shown for each connection.

Prio is free for personal use, its small and best part is you dont need to keep it running as it installs a driver. Ive only tested Prio on Windows XP and I am not sure if it will work on Vista. Another great alternative is ProcessTamer which allows you to manually adjust process priorities.

So in short, the aim of this small tool is to save your priority settings for a program as you set it,
By setting the priority of GTAIV higher, it makes more system resources dedicated for the game than for other tasks, therefore better game play as more resources are then used for running the game only.
so to enhance IVMP,
Remember you can only save the priority after you have installed Prio and rebooted your system, it works on XP, Vista and Windows 7.

To download the Prio program for 32bit Windows click Here! (http://download.techworld.com/3214200/prio--process-priority-saver-199-32-bit/)
To download the Prio program for 64bit Windows click Here! (http://www.windows7download.com/win7-prio-64bit/download-lsxrmsgl.html/) - Thanks to Spinflow (Pude)
To view the origional post click Here! (http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2009/02/25/permanently-set-process-priority-in-windows-task-manager-with-prio/)



~Regards
Devin Seville


Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay!
Post by: Pude on January 13, 2011, 08:59:56 pm
You forgot x64 versions of windows, Devin :)

Here it is!
 (http://www.windows7download.com/win7-prio-64bit/download-lsxrmsgl.html/)
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay!
Post by: Devin on January 13, 2011, 09:37:35 pm
You forgot x64 versions of windows, Devin :)

Here it is!
 (http://www.windows7download.com/win7-prio-64bit/download-lsxrmsgl.html/)

Ah thanks for that, I forgot about 64bit.  :)
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Witchking on January 14, 2011, 08:45:12 am
what will this do ?

Make the game run smoother? looks nice due  :)
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Devin on January 14, 2011, 11:21:09 am
Like I had said in short, Windows gives partial system power to each task which is running at the same time, by using this, if makes GTAIV of higher importance than other tasks.
Therefore more system power dedicated to running the game which in turn should make your game run far smoother than before.
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Dexter on January 14, 2011, 11:32:04 am
I use game booster for this :)
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Devin on January 14, 2011, 12:33:16 pm
Yea I suppose that is another option aswell.  :)
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: DellStorm on January 14, 2011, 04:08:03 pm
Hi People! Great little application / Topic

Just to mention though, If you think you will reduce lag by setting the game to a higher priority think again. Don't forget this also affects resources, such as the keyboard & mouse with certain applications so expect weird results depending on what you prioritize!

Happy Gaming! Regards, [TCL]DellStorm
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Void on January 15, 2011, 03:54:52 am
Quality topic.
I will try this, definitely.

I use GameBooster too.
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Soph on January 15, 2011, 08:05:12 am
I dont have as many processes to use game booster, just like 47 or so.
I did set affinity on both my cores and set high priority to my GTA SA. Still it gives me a low frame rate as before. I use the lowest settings possible and its a fresh install from my CD. I don't have any mods, just one or two skin mods.
I never had this lag in 0.3b or in single player, and my game uses to run in "Medium" setting in SAMP 0.3b and SP[ still does in SP]

Ever since 0.3c came, my game is giving a very bad FPS of 7 or so - sometimes jumps to 21 but back below 13. Is there anyone who can help me fix this? I've tried all the methods so far, from re-installing SAMP/GTA to not using mods. My ping remains the same as before. I use windows XP.

Primary thing is, my game never shows FPS problem on SP or 0.3b. And if it helps, I dont lag in the new MTA SA 1.04, it works just how my 0.3b used to work.


 :ps: I do know this is placed in IV:MP thread, but I was wondering if anyone could help me out in fixing my FPS in SA-MP 0.3c
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Devin on January 15, 2011, 09:08:59 am
The only reason I can think of which would cause FPS drop on a new client is more details/functions which it has to load.

Since its nothing really new besides a few functions and some setups, I would say you should look at buying perhaps some more Ram as lag if it is caused by more details on the client will get worse and worse with new updates if they continue in the same direction.
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Soph on January 15, 2011, 09:26:17 am
I have 2GB of RAM. Should I get more ?
I also have an old graphic card, but SAMP is the only game I play for now. Nvidia 8400 SE - 512 MB.
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Devin on January 15, 2011, 09:29:14 am
Well that technically should be enough, I only have 2Gb ram and a Nvidia 9600GT 512mb and I run GTA IV, but the thing is the speed of the ram, its more than likely old ram.

Perhaps upgrading your system will help.
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Soph on January 15, 2011, 09:39:43 am
Well that technically should be enough, I only have 2Gb ram and a Nvidia 9600GT 512mb and I run GTA IV, but the thing is the speed of the ram, its more than likely old ram.

Perhaps upgrading your system will help.

Yes, it indeed is an old PC.. but then upgrading my PC just for SAMP.. :<
I won't bother upgrading it as the processor is old too..  :lol: I may drag this system on for a while and get a new system in coming months or next year.


Thanks for your help! Appreciate it alot =]

Have a muffin!

(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSpo0KkmbPD6I_pH0bmECdh35l4Nf34yR0RaQ3TrxdS75CZsDJC2g)
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Devin on January 15, 2011, 10:04:32 am
Aww but its so small, I want one this size  :redface:

(http://www.tensionnot.com/pics/albums/Automobile/Accidents/Giant_Muffin_Crushes_Car/Pics_Giant_Muffin_Crushes_Car_1.jpg)
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Soph on January 17, 2011, 09:28:52 am
Oh by the way Madboi, I have directx 9.0c currently. Will upgrading to Directx 10 improve FPS ?
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Devin on January 17, 2011, 10:34:39 am
Well it might, depending on your OS and hardware, what system are you running currently? Windows XP, Vista or 7?
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Soph on January 17, 2011, 10:52:03 am
Windows XP SP2
Pentium 4 HT [ Pentium 4 Dual Core thingie ] 3.00Ghz
2 GB Ram
512MB Nvidia GeForce 8400 SE
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: shakal7 on January 17, 2011, 02:05:22 pm
No way to install true DirectX 10 driver on XP
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Devin on January 17, 2011, 03:42:24 pm
That is not entirely true, there are alpha versions of DirectX 10 for XP but those are still in testing, I would rather stick to DirectX 9 for now.  ;)
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: shakal7 on January 17, 2011, 03:46:47 pm
Can I have some links to this alpha DirectX 10 on XP?  :)
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Soph on January 17, 2011, 03:48:59 pm
what is this 9.0c I have? I see others not having "c" - is "c" a test version ?
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Devin on January 17, 2011, 03:59:20 pm
Directx 9c is just the last version of directx 9 which was produced, the "c" has nothing to do with a test version.

And I would suggest you do not try directx 10 on XP unless you have made a system backup, I do not know what sort of risks there is but some say it may cause problems.
You can find a link if you just search for "directx 10 for xp"  ;)

Oh and I thought I would just point out DirectX 10 is not the latest version if you where wondering, there is now DirectX 11 which is awesome. Unfortunately only for Windows Vista and Windows 7  :redface:
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: shakal7 on January 17, 2011, 04:04:18 pm
Oh and I thought I would just point out DirectX 10 is not the latest version if you where wondering, there is now DirectX 11 which is awesome. Unfortunately only for Windows Vista and Windows 7  :redface:

It will be awesome if games would use DirectX 11 API in 100%, now it's some medium tesselated models and DoF which is working on D10 also.
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Wayne on January 17, 2011, 06:02:22 pm
Well that technically should be enough, I only have 2Gb ram and a Nvidia 9600GT 512mb and I run GTA IV, but the thing is the speed of the ram, its more than likely old ram.

Perhaps upgrading your system will help.
What processor you have?
Title: Re: Simple solution to create better gameplay
Post by: Devin on January 17, 2011, 06:30:38 pm
Well an Intel E8400 3Ghz Core 2 Duo..
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