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What is this called in FPS games? Can a card be too fast for a game?

F

FluxCap

Golden Member
I have a 9800 Pro and when I play FPS games I notice something. I was just in UT2K3 running 4xAA and 16AF at 1280, everything looks great except when I come to a wall corner and move back and forth quickly and see the game or card struggle to draw the corner. I wish I had a screenshot but I don't. It looks like it tries to draw the wall in segments and a few pieces are like "blocks" trying to catch up let's say. It isn't as prounounced in UT2K3 as it is in the original Half Life which really does it almost anywhere if you spin around too fast. What is this called and can it be fixed?
 
Enabling vsync may produce a whole lot of new issues so before you turn it on, make sure your refresh rate is as high as possible. Make sure it isn't running at something low like 60 Hz.
 
Well, there wasn't a vsync option in the UT2K3 menu so I still have the problem. I also assume that the refresh rate is based on my current desktop refresh rate? If that is the case, it is set to 85hz and I would think this kinda thing wouldn't be an issue?
 
There may be a Vsync option in your Video Drivers control panel. I remember seeing it for my old Voodoo 3 3000, but I haven't looked for it recently on my Radeon. Try that.
 
Yeah, I figured I would try that next but I won't be able to until tonight. I wonder if anyone here knows if Vsync is an option in the Cat 3.5 control panel?


Enabling vsync may produce a whole lot of new issues so before you turn it on, make sure your refresh rate is as high as possible. Make sure it isn't running at something low like 60 Hz.
Click to expand...

Question. What other issues will occur? Do you suggest just living with the "tearing" in most cases?
 
yes, vsysnc is, right click on the desktop, click properties, goto settings, then click advanced, then click direct3d, and turn vsync to always on. then click ok and play.
 
You need to install the ATI Control Panel to have access to the various Radeon options. Once you do, its under "OpenGL" and/or "Direct3D", the specific slider bar to set is "Wait for Vertical Sync", set it to "Default On" or "Always On" depending on your preference.

The issues that can occur is that your framerate will be a fraction of your refresh rate in certain scenes in a game. So, if your refresh rate is 80Hz, in some graphically intensive scenes the framerates can drop to 40FPS or even 20FPS. Other than that, the only "problem" about it is that you're not fully utilizing the speed of the graphics card, but that's not really a problem.
 
Thanks for the replies. I guess with my new card I have been fixated on the AA and AF sliders and not anything else. I will try it out tonight.
 
I enabled vsync for OpenGL and Direct for all applications and it fixed the issue without any other problems occuring. It looks great, thanks for the tip.
 
What other issues will occur?
Click to expand...
Problems include a reduced framerate (usually in divisions of your refresh rate) and mouse lag.

Do you suggest just living with the "tearing" in most cases?
Click to expand...
Yes but absolutely make sure you're running at your monitor's maximum refresh rate at any give resolution. Like I said before, you should double-check your refresh rate while playing the game.
 
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