Windows 7 and Quake 3 Arena: Performance Issues

[riahc3]

Hey

Im having some performance issues (mainly FPS dropping randomly to 10FPS and getting back up to max) on Quake 3 Arena under Windows 7. Anyway to fix this?

Thanks

[Foo]

try setting pb_sleep 500 at the console.

[Co11ision]

Hey Riahc3,

I would say just trying running Quake 3 in WindowsXP SP2 compatibility mode and see if that helps.
Also, an older version of directx may help (directx9).
Just so you know my setup:

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit Edition

I have Quake III installed on the root drive: C:\Quake3

I have the Quake3.exe running in Windows XP SP2 compatibility mode.

Why is it installed in the root directory? I might be modding later and for programming it is required that this be the directory (I'm talking about mods, not stand alone executables)

I have directX9 installed which you can install here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

Quake 3 works much better now, good luck mate!

Co11ision

[Eraser]

Hey Riahc3,

I found a solution in the Windows 7 Forums since I was having similar issues. Here's our solution (hopefully this can be stickyed):

Add "-dx9" command to the start parameters.

Example: quake3.exe -dx9

Quake 3 works much better now, good luck mate!

Co11ision

This is the biggest nonsense I've ever heard.
Such a startup switch doesn't exist for the Quake 3 executable. Besides, Quake 3 doesn't even use DirectX. At least, not for it's rendering pipeline.

I'm pretty sure Foo's on the right track. It's most probably punk buster being nasty.

[Co11ision]

This is the biggest nonsense I've ever heard.
Such a startup switch doesn't exist for the Quake 3 executable. Besides, Quake 3 doesn't even use DirectX. At least, not for it's rendering pipeline.

I'm pretty sure Foo's on the right track. It's most probably punk buster being nasty.

Your right, it is.

[MKJ]

the source code for q3 has been available for a long time, obviously its easy to tell which switches are and arent available.
rofl..

http://quake.freakygaming.com/pc/action ... ables.html

[Eraser]

Jesus Christ this guy just made my day

[Foo]

Here we go with the flaming...
It's not flaming. He refuted your point, because it's innacurate. Having errors pointed out to you isn't being flamed. He even did it nicely without throwing some insults or sarcasm into the mix.

First of all Eraser, You didn't program Quake 3 Arena so you don't know what all the available switches are, for you to say that 'Such a startup switch doesn't exist for the Quake 3 executable' makes it sound like you are the one who programmed Quake 3 arena, you didn't.
The source code is public. Anybody can look up the exact switches available in the exe.

Secondly, its the graphics cards that make use of directx which controls 'pipelines' and and your fps's (Is that the pipeline your refereing to, clarify), just in case you didn't know what the function of graphics cards was for (which obviously you don't),
Q3 uses OpenGL, not DirectX. This knowledge isn't relegated to the programmers, it's common knowledge for most Q3 players

Thirdly, If your not running Windows 7 32/64bit edition then don't come on here flaming people, since we are the ones that can test it and you can't, we are the ones who know if it works or not, and this solution does work.
It is actually possible that this fix works, but if it is, you're way off base as to the reason. If it does work, it's most likely because throwing an unsupported command line at the Q3 executable causes the RoQ intro video to be skipped. There are definite issues with the RoQ intro vid on Win 7, so this would make some sense. That said, you could throw the command line switch -ilovecock in there and it would have the same effect.

As somebody who is in the Quake community, you need to be part of the solution,not part of the problem, if you can't contribute to this forum in a positive manner then go troll in the Hello Kitty forums and QQ over there.

Complaining that you're being flamed when you're not, then finishing up the post with a childish pout? That's a paddlin'.

[Co11ision]

Yup.

[Co11ision]

try setting pb_sleep 500 at the console.

It might help.

[MKJ]

pb_sleep is a PunkBuster switch, integrated later via a patch. basically you're telling PunkBuster to do something, not Q3.

as for command line switches; they are nothing more than console commands at startup. ergo any console command can be used as a switch. there is no different set of 'switches'.

as said before, Q3 doesnt use DX for rendering (that is graphics). So logic implies there is no switch or variable to tell it what version of DX it should use.
To say its influence is via the Windows OS is unfortunately also incorrect, as Q3 uses a VM and is - other than the executable - fully platform independent.

this could go on and on, the fact of the matter is is that there are a few issues with PunkBuster and the most common one is the stuttering. the pb_sleep command fixes this particular problem 100% of the time.

that is not to say that PB is the only reason Q3 might be stuttering though. if the problem wasn't PB related that fix obviously wouldn't work.

[^misantropia^]

Mmm... don't want to muddy the discussion but there is a DirectX port of Q3A. Don't know if it actually has a -dx9 switch though.

http://www.dxquake3.dsl.pipex.com/

[Co11ision]

*clears throat*

I guess I need to talk about this. I discovered something this evening. After reading what you guys posted about virtual machine, and opengl I did some further research. What you guys are saying makes sense. So I updated Quake 3 from 1.31 to 1.32 and ran Quake 3 as follows: Quake3.exe +set com_hunkmegs 128 (yes without the infamous -dx9 option).

Quake 3 is working excellent (even before the update it was working excellent). I could have sworn that the -dx9 option was helping but how could it? I don't know. Apparently it wasn't. I'm not sure why Quake 3 started working fine, maybe I hadn't rebooted after I installed it and then after I did reboot it worked fine.

Anyway, when I think I am right about something I am not one to easily let it go, and I tend to be bullheaded when I think I am right (as you can probably tell). Also, when I am mistaken I am man enough to apologize for it. I want to apologize to you guys for being an asshole. I would say you all are right, and I am wrong. I hope we can still chat about Quake 3 without further incident.

I'm sure you guys got a good laugh out of my ignorance carrying on about -dx9, I can see why now. I suppose that is where humility (and "Humiliation" to quote the Q3 announcer) comes in to play. But it was my fault and I am actually laughing at myself right now for being so ignorant.

Lets get together and get our Frag on sometime,

Co11ision

[Zyte]

No hard feelings at q3w bro, it's all good

[Eraser]

Well, Ok then.

[Foo]

.

It's all good. I get called out for making assumptions all the time.

[MKJ]

no worries sir, it happens

[Co11ision]

Thanks guys.