Why is Winamp AVS (Default visual plugin eyecandy) SO POWER HUNGRY??

[CuriousAndy]

It comes with Winamp by default (latest ver. 2,76)

The graphics are super pretty but it is SO POWER HUNGRY!!! WHY???

Quick Stats:

Tbird 750Mhz Slot A
320 SDRAM (256+64)
Elsa Gladiac GeForce2 GTS

I consider my computer pretty fast. It can crank out 80-90fps on Q3A 800x600 with Maxed out settings

But Advanced Visualization Studio runs so slow on my comp @ full screen..

I only get about 10-30fps with 640x480 32bits on full screen.. (depending on which pick)
Anyone tried running the pick Zen-X - Aztek Temple?

It bring my comp down to its knees at 7-8 fps!!! WTF??? Even with Geforce2

Is AVS supposed to be this power demanding? You guys with 1.3ghz Athlon systems, how does it run?

I've also tried other popular plugins.. such as Geiss and Ebonic.. Both run very well on my comp @ 100-120 fps @ 800x600 or higher..

AVS = our new bench marking system

~mOo

 

[notfred]

AVS doesn't use 3d acceleration and is COMPLETELY processor dependant. If you had to render Q3 in software, it'd be slow too

 

[CuriousAndy]

that's gay.. why make my Geforce goto waste? is there anyway I can make the AVS utilize my vidcard??

~mOo

 

[Fandu]

AVS is completely 2D, your GF has nothing to do with it.

I suppose they could make it 3D, but it was written as a 2D program and they have no intent to change that. I've asked many times. I use AVS on a 20' screen at dances.

I can usually pull ~30FPS@ 640x480. Turn off Wait for Retrace and crank up the performance slider.

 

[Fandu]

O-yea. One other very cool option is to use WA3. The new AVS uses a hardware overlay which means that you can do some very cool stuff. My personal fav is to set my desktop BG to the overlay color. Voila, wicked AVS graphics and good performance. I've also got a way of using the overlay to get good full screen performance, but it's a little more indepth to explain.