Aquarium "Tweaking" Trick - Page 2

Tiny Turtle · 03-01-2004, 06:52 AM

If you can't spot the difference between uncompressed and compressed textures, what difference does it make which is theoretically better?

/Tiny Moot

Darkness2k · 03-01-2004, 06:54 AM

Not a great deal, but I have the power.. so I might as well use it :P

Yellow Tang · 03-01-2004, 09:50 AM

As far as I can remember, the "compressed textures" option was a workaround for 3dfx cards (the famous white textures bug).

Darkness2k · 03-01-2004, 10:00 AM

Oh I see... well its in the registry entries for the 3 current fish screensavers (marine, goldfish & shark) along with the CalcNormals entry :P
At least I can turn Vsync off in the registry too :P

cjmaddy · 03-01-2004, 10:16 AM

My first thought after reading your first two questions was, - You are joking aren't you!

But then to answer those two questions ........

Yes, - and yes! ..... but you don't need to go into the registry, the 'N' key toggles it On/Off.

(......... read the forums!!! )

ps, - Where have you been since Mar 2002?

feldon34 · 03-01-2004, 10:25 AM

The textures are already DXT3 compressed. All that feature does is decompress them before passing them off to the 3D card. You gain nothing except compatibility with weird 3dfx drivers.

Darkness2k · 03-01-2004, 11:40 AM

Ah right... I'll turn it back on then :P

Darkness2k · 03-01-2004, 11:41 AM

I don't visit often... plus, as far as I knew the N key toggles it, but does not set it to on permenantly. This way, its on every time the screensaver starts up.

Originally posted by cjmaddy
My first thought after reading your first two questions was, - You are joking aren't you!

But then to answer those two questions ........

Yes, - and yes! ..... but you don't need to go into the registry, the 'N' key toggles it On/Off.

(......... read the forums!!! )

ps, - Where have you been since Mar 2002?

cjmaddy · 03-01-2004, 12:15 PM

If after reading Jim's explanations (you have looked at them haven't you? ), you still see no difference in the shading, reflections and speculars (shine), then one sure fire way of instantly knowing if the effect is on or off, is to look at the caudal peduncle, (... the bit between the body and the tail! ) - particularly on the Emperor Angelfish, though on most others it's still very obvious.

If that doesn't convince you, then it's time for a new monitor, - or/and an optician visit!

ps, - The setting has always been permanent, - to the best of my knowledge!

Wizwad · 03-01-2004, 12:18 PM

You could toggle it to on, but then you had to hit the space bar twice to make it permanent. At least I think that's what I read, though that was a year ago now.

Jim Sachs · 03-01-2004, 12:19 PM

I made the program remember the setting around v1.0.

Darkness2k · 03-01-2004, 01:40 PM

Well I've set it in the registry anyway, so I know its on now. I don't usually take the programs word for it :P

I do notice the difference on one of the fish, the part between the top tail and the body is either shiny in parts or not at all.

Anyway, i get like 200fps as it is, so I need to use the excess up somewhere :P (like adding another 30 fish maybe lol)

Jim Sachs · 03-01-2004, 01:42 PM

Or just set the Limit Frame Rate and turn all those extra clock cycles back to the operating system.

Darkness2k · 03-01-2004, 01:49 PM

Well seeing as the OS is doing nothing important while the screensavers running, I don't see much point. Plus the screensaver is smoother when not limited to 62fps. Maybe limiting to 85 fps would be fine (but obviously, the bar doesn't go up that high).

Jav400 · 03-01-2004, 01:55 PM

Other than the fact that you are building up heat running your system flat out for no apparent gain.

feldon34 · 03-01-2004, 02:08 PM

I do wish the Aquarium FPS limit could be set to 75.

Darkness2k · 03-01-2004, 02:12 PM

My system only runs at 30 degrees, even when left on for nights at a time. I'm not too fussed how much extra heat is generated by running a 3d fish screensaver at high framerates!

Nice of you to care so much about my computer though.

Jav400 · 03-01-2004, 04:00 PM

Depending on setup we have had people in the past running to hot because of the rendering and cpu usage. Glad you are not suffering from this problem.

Darkness2k · 03-01-2004, 04:06 PM

Thanks for letting me know... I'll keep a finer eye on things... planning on upgrading my pitiful 1800+ cpu one day anyway :P

cjmaddy · 03-01-2004, 05:23 PM

Originally posted by Darkness2k
... planning on upgrading my pitiful 1800+ cpu one day anyway :P

Darkness2k,
By comparison with mine, your CPU is a king! - You may know from forum entries that I am still running an AMD K6-II 500. I have a reasonable video card (GeForce FX 5200 Ultra) and a decent monitor (Sony flat screen CRT), I only achieve FPS in the mid 20s, but I rate the quality I get as superb! - The CPU and FPS are not the be all and end all, - IMHO!

.......... but I still wish for a better CPU - some day!

03-01-2004, 06:52 AM	#21
Tiny Turtle is pleased Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 7,365	If you can't spot the difference between uncompressed and compressed textures, what difference does it make which is theoretically better? /Tiny Moot Thanks to Morgan, Tiny Snapshots is up and running again with "Tiny Järvafält" as the latest addition – Go have a look and tell me what you think. "We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that, one way or another." /Robert Oppenheimer on witnessing the first thermonuclear detonation in history.

03-01-2004, 06:54 AM	#22
Darkness2k The Lord of Darkness Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Torquay, Devon, England Posts: 51	Not a great deal, but I have the power.. so I might as well use it :P Welcome to the Darkness http://www.darkness2k.dsl.pipex.com/Shared/TagMini.jpg (Visit it manually)

03-01-2004, 10:00 AM	#24
Darkness2k The Lord of Darkness Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Torquay, Devon, England Posts: 51	Oh I see... well its in the registry entries for the 3 current fish screensavers (marine, goldfish & shark) along with the CalcNormals entry :P At least I can turn Vsync off in the registry too :P Welcome to the Darkness http://www.darkness2k.dsl.pipex.com/Shared/TagMini.jpg (Visit it manually)

03-01-2004, 10:25 AM	#26
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,938	The textures are already DXT3 compressed. All that feature does is decompress them before passing them off to the 3D card. You gain nothing except compatibility with weird 3dfx drivers. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

03-01-2004, 11:40 AM	#27
Darkness2k The Lord of Darkness Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Torquay, Devon, England Posts: 51	Ah right... I'll turn it back on then :P Welcome to the Darkness http://www.darkness2k.dsl.pipex.com/Shared/TagMini.jpg (Visit it manually)

03-01-2004, 09:50 AM	#23
Yellow Tang YT Join Date: Jan 2002 Tournaments Won: 1 Location: Germany Posts: 729	As far as I can remember, the "compressed textures" option was a workaround for 3dfx cards (the famous white textures bug).

03-01-2004, 10:16 AM	#25
cjmaddy Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 7,854	My first thought after reading your first two questions was, - You are joking aren't you! But then to answer those two questions ........ Yes, - and yes! ..... but you don't need to go into the registry, the 'N' key toggles it On/Off. (......... read the forums!!! ) ps, - Where have you been since Mar 2002?

03-01-2004, 11:41 AM	#28
Darkness2k The Lord of Darkness Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Torquay, Devon, England Posts: 51	I don't visit often... plus, as far as I knew the N key toggles it, but does not set it to on permenantly. This way, its on every time the screensaver starts up. Originally posted by cjmaddy My first thought after reading your first two questions was, - You are joking aren't you! But then to answer those two questions ........ Yes, - and yes! ..... but you don't need to go into the registry, the 'N' key toggles it On/Off. (......... read the forums!!! ) ps, - Where have you been since Mar 2002? Welcome to the Darkness http://www.darkness2k.dsl.pipex.com/Shared/TagMini.jpg (Visit it manually)

03-01-2004, 12:15 PM	#29
cjmaddy Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 7,854	If after reading Jim's explanations (you have looked at them haven't you? ), you still see no difference in the shading, reflections and speculars (shine), then one sure fire way of instantly knowing if the effect is on or off, is to look at the caudal peduncle, (... the bit between the body and the tail! ) - particularly on the Emperor Angelfish, though on most others it's still very obvious. If that doesn't convince you, then it's time for a new monitor, - or/and an optician visit! ps, - The setting has always been permanent, - to the best of my knowledge!

03-01-2004, 12:18 PM	#30
Wizwad Only me... Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 2,584	You could toggle it to on, but then you had to hit the space bar twice to make it permanent. At least I think that's what I read, though that was a year ago now. Mark ----------- Intel i7 12700K \| Aorus Z690 Pro \| Corsair DDR5 5600 32GB \| Asus Dual RTX3060ti 6GB v2 Mini OC \| Corsair RM850 Gold PSU \| 1TB NVMe M.2 WD Black SN850 \| 4TB Seagate BarraCuda HDD \| Corsair Airflow 5000D Case \| HP 32QHD 4K Monitor \| Windows 11 x64 Professional

03-01-2004, 12:19 PM	#31
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,771	I made the program remember the setting around v1.0. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

03-01-2004, 01:40 PM	#32
Darkness2k The Lord of Darkness Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Torquay, Devon, England Posts: 51	Well I've set it in the registry anyway, so I know its on now. I don't usually take the programs word for it :P I do notice the difference on one of the fish, the part between the top tail and the body is either shiny in parts or not at all. Anyway, i get like 200fps as it is, so I need to use the excess up somewhere :P (like adding another 30 fish maybe lol) Welcome to the Darkness http://www.darkness2k.dsl.pipex.com/Shared/TagMini.jpg (Visit it manually)

03-01-2004, 01:42 PM	#33
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,771	Or just set the Limit Frame Rate and turn all those extra clock cycles back to the operating system. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

03-01-2004, 01:49 PM	#34
Darkness2k The Lord of Darkness Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Torquay, Devon, England Posts: 51	Well seeing as the OS is doing nothing important while the screensavers running, I don't see much point. Plus the screensaver is smoother when not limited to 62fps. Maybe limiting to 85 fps would be fine (but obviously, the bar doesn't go up that high). Welcome to the Darkness http://www.darkness2k.dsl.pipex.com/Shared/TagMini.jpg (Visit it manually)

03-01-2004, 01:55 PM	#35
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	Other than the fact that you are building up heat running your system flat out for no apparent gain. Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

03-01-2004, 02:08 PM	#36
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,938	I do wish the Aquarium FPS limit could be set to 75. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

03-01-2004, 02:12 PM	#37
Darkness2k The Lord of Darkness Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Torquay, Devon, England Posts: 51	My system only runs at 30 degrees, even when left on for nights at a time. I'm not too fussed how much extra heat is generated by running a 3d fish screensaver at high framerates! Nice of you to care so much about my computer though. Welcome to the Darkness http://www.darkness2k.dsl.pipex.com/Shared/TagMini.jpg (Visit it manually)

03-01-2004, 04:00 PM	#38
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	Depending on setup we have had people in the past running to hot because of the rendering and cpu usage. Glad you are not suffering from this problem. Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

03-01-2004, 04:06 PM	#39
Darkness2k The Lord of Darkness Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Torquay, Devon, England Posts: 51	Thanks for letting me know... I'll keep a finer eye on things... planning on upgrading my pitiful 1800+ cpu one day anyway :P Welcome to the Darkness http://www.darkness2k.dsl.pipex.com/Shared/TagMini.jpg (Visit it manually)

03-01-2004, 05:23 PM	#40
cjmaddy Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lancashire, UK Posts: 7,854	Originally posted by Darkness2k ... planning on upgrading my pitiful 1800+ cpu one day anyway :P Darkness2k, By comparison with mine, your CPU is a king! - You may know from forum entries that I am still running an AMD K6-II 500. I have a reasonable video card (GeForce FX 5200 Ultra) and a decent monitor (Sony flat screen CRT), I only achieve FPS in the mid 20s, but I rate the quality I get as superb! - The CPU and FPS are not the be all and end all, - IMHO! .......... but I still wish for a better CPU - some day!