15 replies to this topic

[Theguyoverthere]

I bought a gaming laptop that has an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card and an NVIDIA G-Sync monitor capable of going up to 144hz. For some reason, I can't get visual pinball (8,9,or X) to run at a reasonable frame rate on the monitor. It runs fine on the built-in laptop screen. I don't get it... what am I missing? Anyone else have this issue?

[LoadedWeapon]

Need a little more to go on.. show your video settings

[Theguyoverthere]

Updating my NVIDIA driver seemed to have a vast improvement. Still lags like crazy once you get more than three or four balls in play, but I guess that's just because there's a lot going on at once. I'm just surprised that a new laptop from 2019 can't handle a little Visual Pinball from 2006... Just wondering if there's some secret settings I'm missing... it's possible VPX would be better than VP8 I was trying, I'll have to try some more of those tables.

[gtxjoe]

Need a little more to go on.. show your video settings

[Theguyoverthere]

So in VP8 there aren't really any video settings except resolution. Even on windowed mode with smaller resolutions, I can never get a smooth framerate.on my monitor. On my laptop's built in display it's super smooth in 1080x1920. It's only on the monitor that things get choppy.

 

For VPX, for kicks I just chose the "set for high end PC" button. It will not load a table from the editor (it stalls on "initializing visuals, until I have to force quit it). HOWEVER, if I just run it from a table (which is default behavior when you open your first table), it runs buttery smooth!

I've tried the "fix" for the editor bug (which is to uncheck "force exclusion full screen") but then I get really choppy FPS!

 

Does anyone else have these experiences with an NVIDIA graphics card on a laptop with a monitor?

[The Loafer]

As was suggested to you, show us video settings

[Theguyoverthere]

I literally explained what they are. I simply hit "set for high end PC' in VPX. In VP8 there are no video settings.

I'll show them anyway because to save the trouble of seeing what high end settings does...

 

 

Edited by Theguyoverthere, 09 April 2020 - 08:31 AM.

[The Loafer]

Ambient occlusion: update in game quality is a known notorious frame rate hitter, turn that off.

Quality FXAA: is a known notorious frame rate hitter, turn that off.

 

max prerendered frame and FPS limiter/vsync are reset to zero when you select set for low end or set for high end. Both of these settings work better with 1 instead of 0.

 

IF your issue is then fixed from the two changes to "1" instead of "0", THEN try putting quality FXAA back on.  

 

Some advice, if you ask for help and people offer it, try what they ask and provide what they ask specifically.  Granted that you probably were not aware that clicking one of the presets wipes out these two fields but that's exactly why I asked you to provide a pic of your preferences. I don't use the presets so I didn't know myself, only when I tested this just now.  Still, VPX has many difference options so specific info is required.  As it is, your response "I literally explained what they are" comes off really badly.  If you want further assistance, I hope you consider that we are trying to help, so the onus is on you to follow some direction without the snide response.

 

Good luck, hope this helps.

Edited by The Loafer, 09 April 2020 - 02:49 PM.

[Theguyoverthere]

I apologize I shouldn't have been so snarky. I was just super frustrated from debugging this and feeling like I was getting nowhere. Changing any of those video settings still leads to FPS issues on the monitor. The only way I've been able to get smooth FPS on the mointor is by having the "Force Exclusive Full Screen Mode" checked BUT then the table will not play from the editor. Meaning I have to save the table, close it, and reopen it in order to play.

 

Meanwhile, if I use the same settings on my built in laptop screen the FPS is smooth.

 

Aditionally, I wold love to get VP8 working on my monitor but that appears to be impossible as there aren't very many video settings to adjust. Just like VPX though, VP8 works perfect on my built in screen.

 

Is there something funny about the NVIDIA / G-sync / full screen something that's interfering? Why would I only have issues with a monitor? Why would the issues go away in VPX if I play the table straight with "Force Exclusive Full Screen Mode"? Why does checking that box freeze VPX from the editor?

[The Loafer]

Your screenshot had exclusive full screen checked so I didn't bring it up. if I understand correctly, tables that work with exclusive fullscreen work perfectly, you are trying to get perfect frame rates without exclusive fullscreen?

 

If that's the case, you've been asking the wrong question.  Exclusive fullscreen should be on so the question should be "why is table x not working with exclusive fullscreen?".

 

When you say the table won't play from the editor, what table?  Some people have problems with exclusive fullscreen and need to modify VPM entries to disable direct draw. This thread discusses how you can change this quickly for all your existing roms"  https://www.vpforums...ic=26893&page=2, the tool to allow you to change all VPM entries can be found here.  As always, BACK UP YOUR REGISTRY before fooling with it.

 

 

I don't have Gsync but I typed in google:  Visual Pinball exclusive fullscreen Gsync  and got the following link that may assist you (well by disabling Gsync).

https://www.vpforums...showtopic=40525

 

 

For the max prerendered frames and FPS limiter, those should really be set to 1.  In saying that since you are running GSYNC maybe the setting should be different, not sure but I'd try everything with setting of 1, not 0.  

[Theguyoverthere]

Thanks for the helpful info! I'll take a peek at those.

For me, it's just a new table I made with New -> Blank table. It gets stuck at "Initializing Visuals" and just hangs there indefinitely until I force quit the app.

 

The workaround I have isn't too bad though, as I think I can actually run it pretty well with those settings at 1, max resolution, 140hz refresh rate, all the goodies. Just have to launch from outside the editor is all.

 

Unfortunately I don't know what I'm going to do about VP8, but I think I'll just start porting my VP8 table over to VPX since it's long overdue anyway.

[The Loafer]

Vp9: there are a few tables worth playing but vp8? I guess there could be some but imho there are hundreds of tables I would rather play I guess so Id never get around to playing them

If you are getting this issue with a blank table there is another issue at play here.

[Theguyoverthere]

Yeah, it's very odd, I've narrowed it down to the following:

The first time I run a table, it works great. For example, uncheck the "open file dialog on start" in editor settings. Launch visual pinball. Open a table, or create a new one. Click Play. Works great. Quit to editor, then hit play again. Freeze.

[Theguyoverthere]

I remember in VP8 there was a thing called Table Cache, does VPX use anything like that? Is there a way to disable it? Seems funny that it works perfect the first time you run a table, but not each additional time

[The Loafer]

not certain but perhaps you should mention your issue with the editor in the VP10.6 thread for the devs to comment on

[Theguyoverthere]

So while I never solved this for VP8, I was able to solve it for VPX using a strange workaround (for anyone else who might somehow find themselves in my situation...).

I once again unchecked the "exclusive full screen" mode, but the secret to getting the framerate to be good on my monitor was to RESTART MY COMPUTER. Yes, basically now whenever I want to play VPX I need to always make sure my computer has been restarted. I think this is because on a laptop, to press the power button to turn it on, you have to have the laptop open for a brief moment, which maybe makes it thinks you want to use both screens. Restarting it with the laptop closed seems to make the system less confused about there only being one monitor, and it can sync with it flawlessly. For the record I also noticed other full screen games (like Magic Arena) exhibiting this same behavior, so I don't think anything is wrong with VP. Other than that full screen mode hanging when launched from the editor, which now I don't need to use.

Edited by Theguyoverthere, 01 May 2020 - 09:56 PM.