Not a Bug Fish a little jerky

Ex_Brit · 10-10-2008, 06:22 PM

This is a brilliant creation, my compliments.

I'm experiencing a little bit of jerkiness in the fish movement.

I've tried so far all fish, all random fish, no bubbles (that only cancelled their sound, not the visual) and no music - still a little jerky.
The screensaver seemed to use a fair amount of CPU resources as my temp sensors showed a marked increase.

Windows version Vista Ultimate SP1 x86
Memory RAM 4gb (Windows sees 3300mb)
Graphics Card/Chipset nVidia GeForce 7600GS (actually PNY Verto - same deal)
Monitor and Resolution Viewsonic VX2240W 22" LCD at 1680 x 1050

Jim Sachs · 10-10-2008, 06:54 PM

There are several things you could try. I'm not sure which type of "jerkyness" you are experiencing, so I'll just try to cover them all. If it's due to a low frame rate, you could try to increase it by switching to a 16-bit resolution. You have a fairly high-end card, so I doubt if that's your problem.

You could also increase the program's "time-slice" by using the down-arrow to decrease the "Sleep()" time for each frame. When it get down to zero or -1, other programs might have trouble getting enough clock-cycles to run.

If overhead from another task is grabbing too much of the Aquarium's share of resources, you can increase the Priority by hitting the Q key. This currently just increses it one step, as my program really shouldn't steal too many clock cycles from more important ones.

Ex_Brit · 10-10-2008, 07:04 PM

Strangely it seems to act that way only if I right-click the .scr and "Install", but if I just "Test" it seems to work fine.

I'll play around with it some more tomorrow. I'm kind of tired right now.

Great work Jim.

Just noticed how many bounces you got to your email, wow, they don't know what they are missing...!

Tiny Turtle · 10-10-2008, 07:27 PM

A 7600GS is actually quite far from a high-end card (It's roughly 25% slower than a 7600GT though the names are so similar). Could you try and lower the resolution to 1440x900 (I know it's not the native resolution so it will be a bit blurry) and see if the jekyness persists. What number of FPS are you seeing right now?

F34R · 10-10-2008, 07:33 PM

I would also check the driver version you are using. There might be a newer driver available for your card that might help.

The culprit might either be low resources or outdated video drivers.

Socrates · 10-10-2008, 10:45 PM

Make sure you aren't using a stripped down oem driver or something. Get the latest driver straight off of nvidia.com. That's the first thing I would check. Since MA3 also uses the audio, I'd say it's not a bad idea to make sure you have latest audio drivers too.

Ex_Brit · 10-11-2008, 05:53 AM

I have all the latest drivers, both video and audio. This beta is different from a normal screensaver in that it isn't a .exe installation file. If I right-click "Test" it's fine with around 120fps, but if I right-click "Install" then the jerkiness happens @ 22-35fps. Jim's tip for increasing the time slice seems to help a bit in that stiuation but doesn't cure it.
It doesn't stay installed by the way. Next time I want it I have to go to where I stored it and start over.

I'm not going to even go there with the reduced resolution, with my eyesight that is not a possibility, sorry.

F34R · 10-11-2008, 06:24 AM

you can put the screen saver and playlist in X:\Windows\System32 and it will stay "installed" in your drop down menu for choosing the screensaver. Your computer should be able to run this saver w/o any problems. I would make sure you are uninstalling previous versions of drivers before installing the newer versions. Also make sure you're using WHQL approved drivers, as beta, or other releases may have issues still unresolved.

Ex_Brit · 10-11-2008, 06:46 AM

Playlist? Please explain. I'm not using anything beta so that's not an issue.

Jav400 · 10-11-2008, 06:49 AM

Remember this IS NOT a final product, only a Beta to test for problems. It has a finite expiration date, a week I think. If you are not very familiar with Windows and folders and so on, do not go to tons of troubles trying to install it as you will need another version shortly.

The final release that goes on sale will have an installer included that will place the program properly on your system.

Ex_Brit · 10-11-2008, 07:23 AM

Of course, I understand that. I wasn't trying to make a bit deal out of it, but Jim did want feedback.
I'm sure all will be fine with the final product.

Jim Sachs · 10-11-2008, 10:38 AM

When you run the program, it creates a file called "Playlist.lst" in the same directory where the Aquarium is. If you add your own music, it gets put into this list. The final version will probably keep this info in the Registry instead of a separate file.

Ex_Brit · 10-11-2008, 10:45 AM

Aha, thanks for explaining that.

10-10-2008, 06:22 PM	#1
Ex_Brit Geordie Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 114	Fish a little jerky This is a brilliant creation, my compliments. I'm experiencing a little bit of jerkiness in the fish movement. I've tried so far all fish, all random fish, no bubbles (that only cancelled their sound, not the visual) and no music - still a little jerky. The screensaver seemed to use a fair amount of CPU resources as my temp sensors showed a marked increase. Windows version Vista Ultimate SP1 x86 Memory RAM 4gb (Windows sees 3300mb) Graphics Card/Chipset nVidia GeForce 7600GS (actually PNY Verto - same deal) Monitor and Resolution Viewsonic VX2240W 22" LCD at 1680 x 1050 Peter Toronto, Canada

10-10-2008, 06:54 PM	#2
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,789	There are several things you could try. I'm not sure which type of "jerkyness" you are experiencing, so I'll just try to cover them all. If it's due to a low frame rate, you could try to increase it by switching to a 16-bit resolution. You have a fairly high-end card, so I doubt if that's your problem. You could also increase the program's "time-slice" by using the down-arrow to decrease the "Sleep()" time for each frame. When it get down to zero or -1, other programs might have trouble getting enough clock-cycles to run. If overhead from another task is grabbing too much of the Aquarium's share of resources, you can increase the Priority by hitting the Q key. This currently just increses it one step, as my program really shouldn't steal too many clock cycles from more important ones. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

10-10-2008, 07:04 PM	#3
Ex_Brit Geordie Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 114	Strangely it seems to act that way only if I right-click the .scr and "Install", but if I just "Test" it seems to work fine. I'll play around with it some more tomorrow. I'm kind of tired right now. Great work Jim. Just noticed how many bounces you got to your email, wow, they don't know what they are missing...! Peter Toronto, Canada

10-10-2008, 07:27 PM	#4
Tiny Turtle is pleased Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 7,365	A 7600GS is actually quite far from a high-end card (It's roughly 25% slower than a 7600GT though the names are so similar). Could you try and lower the resolution to 1440x900 (I know it's not the native resolution so it will be a bit blurry) and see if the jekyness persists. What number of FPS are you seeing right now? 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.

10-10-2008, 10:45 PM	#6
Socrates Sage Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 1,529	Make sure you aren't using a stripped down oem driver or something. Get the latest driver straight off of nvidia.com. That's the first thing I would check. Since MA3 also uses the audio, I'd say it's not a bad idea to make sure you have latest audio drivers too. Bat rays? We don't need no stinking bat rays!

10-10-2008, 07:33 PM	#5
F34R Registered Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 52	I would also check the driver version you are using. There might be a newer driver available for your card that might help. The culprit might either be low resources or outdated video drivers.

10-11-2008, 05:53 AM	#7
Ex_Brit Geordie Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 114	I have all the latest drivers, both video and audio. This beta is different from a normal screensaver in that it isn't a .exe installation file. If I right-click "Test" it's fine with around 120fps, but if I right-click "Install" then the jerkiness happens @ 22-35fps. Jim's tip for increasing the time slice seems to help a bit in that stiuation but doesn't cure it. It doesn't stay installed by the way. Next time I want it I have to go to where I stored it and start over. I'm not going to even go there with the reduced resolution, with my eyesight that is not a possibility, sorry. Peter Toronto, Canada

10-11-2008, 06:24 AM	#8
F34R Registered Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 52	you can put the screen saver and playlist in X:\Windows\System32 and it will stay "installed" in your drop down menu for choosing the screensaver. Your computer should be able to run this saver w/o any problems. I would make sure you are uninstalling previous versions of drivers before installing the newer versions. Also make sure you're using WHQL approved drivers, as beta, or other releases may have issues still unresolved.

10-11-2008, 06:46 AM	#9
Ex_Brit Geordie Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 114	Playlist? Please explain. I'm not using anything beta so that's not an issue. Peter Toronto, Canada

10-11-2008, 06:49 AM	#10
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	Remember this IS NOT a final product, only a Beta to test for problems. It has a finite expiration date, a week I think. If you are not very familiar with Windows and folders and so on, do not go to tons of troubles trying to install it as you will need another version shortly. The final release that goes on sale will have an installer included that will place the program properly on your system. Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

10-11-2008, 07:23 AM	#11
Ex_Brit Geordie Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 114	Of course, I understand that. I wasn't trying to make a bit deal out of it, but Jim did want feedback. I'm sure all will be fine with the final product. Peter Toronto, Canada

10-11-2008, 10:38 AM	#12
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,789	When you run the program, it creates a file called "Playlist.lst" in the same directory where the Aquarium is. If you add your own music, it gets put into this list. The final version will probably keep this info in the Registry instead of a separate file. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

10-11-2008, 10:45 AM	#13
Ex_Brit Geordie Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 114	Aha, thanks for explaining that. Peter Toronto, Canada