@ Coastie - re. FastWrites | Forums

[x6BL_Brando]

Hello m8,

I've been using your suggestions to get the best out of my 'ageing' 9700Pro for a while now with great success. Thanks

The one glitch I've had since the 4.10 Cats is that I was always dropping out of the game (not ctd, just exiting) to the classic "scrambled desktop". It was nothing too freaky - I'd just refresh the desktop - np - but I found one area where it was a real pain....

Building missions in FMB, I found that zooming the map in & out from 2D to 3D and back led to some very annoying anomalies. Some parts of the grid stayed with 3D tex when I changed back to 2D. Also, once this strangeness had started, I would get strange artifacts on pressing "Play" and watching the mission run-through.

Anyway, I tried all sorts of adjustments to settings, both to the control panel and the IL2 setup, but to no avail. Then yesterday I just got the idea of changing the one setting that I'd never tried - disabling Fast Writes. It's a BIOS change on the Abit NF7-Sv2 that I have, and.....to cut a long story short....IT WORKED!!!

I remember a thread (but can't find it) where you asked for feedback on this issue - so there you are mate. It just don't happen anymore & I'm back using your settings with no problems. Here's my rig spec, just for your record:

Abit NF7-S v2.0, Bios:27.
2800+Barton@2.2Ghz (11x200)
2x512Mb-MushkinBlack-PC3200 (2-3-3-11)
Enermax465PSU
1x36Gb WD Raptor SATA-HD
Audigy2 ZS
9700Pro - stock settings - FastWrites OFF! Cat 4.12's
Iiyama VisionMaster 451 - 1152x768x32 - RR 100Hz

Thanks for your input pal

[PF_Coastie]

Brando, Very interesting!

I have never had a problem with fastwrites and to be honest, I have not tested this for a bit.

I have had a FMB bug recently. Not as you describe though. If I use FMB, then go to main menu and fly, my brief map screen will be partially garbled with squares of different textures. This is the only time I have seen any problems.

I will test this with FW off and see what happens.

Have you benched for any possible fps difference before and after?

I will do this also.

Thanks for giving me heads up on this. Please report it to The Cat Feedback Crew.

[JG52Uther]

Yes let us know as i have the same problem with the map screen in FMB (using 4.12 and 9800 PRO)

[x6BL_Brando]

Okay, I have a comparison - however, it's not totally satisfactory because the second set is also 3.03m instead of 3.02bm.

But, whatever, it still shows an interesting difference. I used the Black Death as a test-bed.

Both are using Perfect settings, 4xAF 2xAA, Qualityx2, VSync Off - Coastie settings in IL2 setup


2004-12-10 22:45:39 - il2fb 3.02bm Fast Writes ON
Frames: 4159 - Time: 150000ms - Avg: 27.727 - Min: 12 - Max: 46

2004-12-26 16:26:43 - il2fb 3.03m FastWrites OFF
Frames: 4790 - Time: 150000ms - Avg: 31.933 - Min: 16 - Max: 53

Allowing for tweaks done to v3.03, I still think that turning off fast writes has made a serious difference to FPS. The picture quality is still smooth and stutter-free and the cloudy, evening skyscapes are just stunning!

[PF_Coastie]

OK, I did some quick testing. These are preliminary tests. I have yet to test for FMB bug. Only checked fps. I also need to test with making sure FW are off in bios.

3.03m Patch

FW ON
2004-12-26 12:34:46 - il2fb+PF (Cat Betas/4xAA/No aniso/PERFECT) [9500/9700 FB settings + S3TC/Trilinear/no polygon stipple/no dither]
Frames: 5328 - Time: 145015ms - Avg: 36.741 - Min: 12 - Max: 116
[WATER=1/FORCESHADERS1X=1/EFFECTS=0/MED CLOUDS/LANDSCAPE LIGHTING=HIGH]

FW OFF
2004-12-26 12:43:14 - il2fb+PF (Cat Betas/4xAA/No aniso/PERFECT) [9500/9700 FB settings + S3TC/Trilinear/no polygon stipple/no dither]
Frames: 5364 - Time: 145016ms - Avg: 36.989 - Min: 12 - Max: 117
[WATER=1/FORCESHADERS1X=1/EFFECTS=0/MED CLOUDS/LANDSCAPE LIGHTING=HIGH]

I have never had probs with FW as others have. It has to do a lot with mobo's, bios, chipsets and hardware/software configs. I am just fortunate. That said, I do not see any real advantages with FW either!

Will post back later on the bug.

[x6BL_Brando]

Uther, I forgot to mention that I had the map-screen glitch occasionally also. Like the map turning fluorescent blue or green and suchlike.
That has also gone with FastWrites OFF

@Coastie - I think you will need to do the disabling in BIOS to really be sure it's off. I also noticed (using AIDA) that SBA is now functioning since FW went off.