Re: Any tweaks to speed up games under XP?

From: Jimmy S. (Private)
Date: 03/13/04 

Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2004 15:06:38 -0500

Agreed. Especially with pjp's background (DOS 2 indeed!). :-)
Thanks for keeping us posted pjp. I look forward to your follow-up. 

-- 
Cheers,                                 Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S.                               http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
_________________________________________________________
"Chris H." <winxpnews@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:uOU%23eKTCEHA.2404@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
| If you're really interested in what's under the hood, you should nose around
| http://www.microsoft.com/technet/default.mspx and
| http://www.msdn.microsoft.com/.  There is a lot of information on both sites
| which you may find fascinating.
| -- 
| Chris H.
| Microsoft Windows MVP
| Associate Expert
| Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
|
| "pjp" <pjp_is_located_at_@_hotmail_._com> wrote in message
| news:ugGzRBTCEHA.1220@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
| > Hi Jimmy,
| >
| > Had already read about the "hardware profiles" tricks and have sort of
| > gone
| > down that road before as I've run dual-monitor setup since 98 and it's
| > been
| > part and parcel of various work-arounds, especially as video card drivers
| > changed "features" (or bugs, depends on how you look at it :) over the
| > years.
| >
| > I think what I'll have to do is see what's causing the 3-10% cyclic "hit"
| > on
| > the cpu. Figure I should be able to find it by stopping/starting services
| > one at a time while watching task manager's meter. Large desktop with lots
| > of window space helps here :)
| >
| > So you know I'm far from a novice. I've been professionally programming
| > since DOS 2 and started Windows programming under Windows 2!!!. No problem
| > writing directly to the API's here without all the new oops bs, e.g. VB
| > etc.
| > For most of that time I was also the "tech guy" in house. For last few
| > years, I've been semi-retired but still keep my hands in it (so to speak)
| > still writing software etc.
| > (http://www.wingmanteam.com/latest_software/gadgets.htm, JoyIDs is mine
| > going directly into device driver interfaces, Logitech liked it enough to
| > host it). I say all this so you have some "confidence" I understand
| > implications and usually practice "safety first" regarding backups,
| > restoring things etc. etc.
| >
| > 'I usually know what I don't know.' That make any sense to you :)
| >
| > I've already found out in a prior attempt at an XP install that System
| > Restore can't be counted on. I mistakenly installed a sound card driver
| > that
| > screwed up system so bad, couldn't get to any Desktop, normal or safe
| > mode.
| > Booting with XP cd and trying all the various things didn't help. Finally
| > used a 98SE startup floppy (so had no restrictions on what I could do) and
| > manually deleted the sound card driver file in order to get system back
| > (next boot restored it's default driver). That convinced me I want nothing
| > to do with NTFS, especially given dual-booting pc as stand-alone tools
| > don't
| > seem to exist..This is also a disappointment as so much of the security
| > seems to require NTFS partition and that appears idiotic to me at this
| > point, argh!!!!
| >
| > I have resisted XP for so long because I felt it offered nothing for me,
| > still do so far. At the least, I was hoping it'd be a lot more friendly
| > about how to setup and restrict individual users. Instead, I find it's all
| > centered around "Groups" and I can't seem to create any additional groups
| > and dictate their specific set of restrictions. Seems basically everyone
| > has
| > to be either Admin, User or the Guest (I know there are others, my wife is
| > actually a Power User)! I've found no way to indicate "for this user ONLY
| > enforce 'this' restriction".
| >
| > However, can't avoid the fact that time moves on and friends etc. in local
| > area keep calling asking for help (Blaster was fun :). Therefore, I like
| > to
| > know what's "going on" under the hood and find myself continually
| > frustrated
| > by MS's resistance to lack of details (ps, I never charge to help
| > considering it same as helping someone with a flat on side of road). As I
| > had a video card driver go south under 98SE and was rebuilding it anyways,
| > I
| > figured once I had it all "settled down" in it's normal config, I bit the
| > bullet and did the dual-boot. I'm still undecided under which OS my major
| > apps will be installed under (e.g. Office, Photoshop, Autocad, Delphi,
| > C++Builder etc.) but suspect I'll use XP for that. It does look though, as
| > if I should continue using 98SE for both games and all my "ripping needs"
| > and most of my burning needs, e.g. DVD to DivX, MP3's at better than
| > 96Kps,
| > creating a usable working copy of BF1942 :)  etc. and at least am sure no
| > DRM system or such nonsense starts limiting what I can do (e.g. I don't
| > trust MS to tell us that such bs is included in "something else").
| >
| > In any case, if I find what's hitting the cpu so much I'll post.
| >
| > "Jimmy S." <Private> wrote in message
| > news:ePp0rfSCEHA.596@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
| >> Hi pjp,
| >>
| >> I echo Chris's caution.  You should upgrade to a P4 instead of tweaking.
| >> You found one good trick already though, (run high) here's some more...
| >>
| >> USE THE FOLLOWING INFO AT YOUR OWN RISK!
| >>
| >> I don't really want to provide a tweaking guide, however it's
| >> clear that there's a demand, so I'll share some tricks I've used
| >> as long as you promise to set a restore point right now. Is that
| >> a fair deal? ;-)  Here's how to use Windows XP System Restore:
| >>
| > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/gethelp/systemrestore.asp
| >>
| >>
| >> I use these methods only for special games such as grudge matches.
| >>
| >> A:  Setup Hardware Profile for Gaming
| >>     Control Panel / System
| >>         Hardware Tab / Hardware Profiles button
| >>             Copy Profile 1 and rename it Gaming Profile
| >>                 Leave Profile 1 at the top of the list
| >>                     Set to Select the first profile in 5 seconds
| >>
| >> B:  Disable Services for Gaming.
| >>     Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Services
| >>         For each service listed below do the following:
| >>             Right Click / Properties / Log On Tab
| >>                 Click on Gaming Profile / click Disable Button
| >>                     Click Apply but Do NOT disable for Profile 1
| >>
| >> List of Services:  Alerter / Automatic Updates / Computer Browser
| >> Cryptographic Services (Will cause "Logo" Errors when installing SP1 or
| > DX9)
| >> Fast User Switching Compatibility / Help and Support / Messenger
| >> Print Spooler / Remote Registry / Secondary Logon (Run as... will not
| > function)
| >> System Restore Service / Task Scheduler / Terminal Services / Themes
| >> Upload Manager / VMWare Authorization Service (These services only appear
| > if
| >> you use VM Ware) / VMWare DHCP Service  " " / VMWare NAT Service   " "
| >> Windows Image Acquisition (I won't be scanning while playing) / Windows
| > Time.
| >>
| >> * You cannot expect to install games and use windows everyday with the
| > above
| >>     services disabled.  Those are just safe services to disable *WHILE*
| > you're in
| >>     a game.  After the games are over, reboot and use the original
| > Profile 1 again.
| >>
| >> C:  Disable Page File
| >>     Since I have 512 MB Ram I find it faster to use RAM than to page to
| > the HD.
| >>         Control Panel / System / Advanced / Performance Settings /
| > Advanced Tab
| >>             Virtual Memory Change / Select each drive / click No Paging
| > file and
| >>                 click SET.  ****If you do not click Set it will not
| >> accept
| > your change.
| >>
| >> *  Once you're finished your games turn back on the System Managed page
| > file!
| >>
| >> D:  Use XP's Firewall Instead of 3rd Party Firewalls
| >>     We've already disabled your firewall (Norton's, Zone Alarm, etc.) by
| > disabling
| >>     Startup programs in step D.  Check your services using the method in
| > step A to
| >>     see if the firewall or antivirus program has services you should
| > disable, i.e. Zone
| >>     Alarm installs a True Vector service you can disable for the Gaming
| > Profile.
| >>
| >> E:  Improve Framerates by Lowering Game Eyecandy and Sound
| >>     I found that by setting my resolution in Halo to 800x600, and
| >> lowering
| > the
| >>     visual effects, I was able to improve my framerate from 24 to 52 FPS!
| > :-)
| >>     This is more improvement than any of the other tweaks provided.
| >>     Sound is something that you don't need.  Only keep sound settings
| >> that
| > will
| >>     help keep you alive, for example to hear a tank rumbling near you.
| > Music and
| >>     the sound effects made when you fire your weapons are expensive ear
| > candy.
| >>
| >> F:  Set Performance Options for Best Performance
| >>     Control Panel / System / Advanced / Settings / Visual Effects
| >>         Adjust for best performance (remember to change it back after
| >> your
| > games).
| >>
| >> G:  Disable Startup Programs
| >>     Start / Run / type msconfig / Startup Tab / Click Disable all button.
| >>     You will be prompted to restart, when it restarts you'll have 5
| > seconds to pick
| >>     Gaming Profile or it will default to Profile 1 instead.
| >>
| >> WARNING - DO NOT CLICK THE SERVICES / DISABLE ALL BUTTON!
| >> *Never touch the Services Tab in msconfig! It allows you to disable ALL
| > services
| >> for ALL profiles with the click of one button and Windows won't startup
| > again!!!
| >>
| >> Okay, so now I've shared some of the tweaks I've used on my own system. I
| >> hope this information will be helpful, and if used properly help you pwn
| > your opps!
| >>
| >> -- 
| >> Cheers,                                 Windows XP MVP Shell / User
| >> Jimmy S.                               http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
| >>
| >> Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
| >> Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call /
| > Contact
| >> MS Support at:
| >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
| >> My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty;  nor do I confer any
| > rights.
| >> _________________________________________________________
| >>
| >> "Chris H." <winxpnews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
| > news:eZBPqzRCEHA.3348@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
| >> | Have you tried, instead of "tweaking" what you might think is necessary
| > in
| >> | Services, to run the default?  Indexing, for instance, when turned off
| > will
| >> | actually stop some games in their tracks.  It is there for a purpose,
| > and
| >> | that is to make things run smoother and faster.  There are a couple web
| >> | sites and a PC magazine article which make recommendations to "speed
| >> up"
| > XP
| >> | for gaming, but they don't tell the consequences - like turning off
| >> | Cryptographic Services.
| >> | -- 
| >> | Chris H.
| >> | Microsoft Windows MVP
| >> | Associate Expert
| >> | Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
| >> |
| >> | "pjp" <pjp_is_located_at_@_hotmail_._com> wrote in message
| >> | news:u3fQ0uRCEHA.3024@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
| >> | > XP Pro with integrated sp1 plus all criticals from Update site
| > applied.
| >> | > Latest VIA 4-in-1;s applied as first install after OS up and going.
| >> | > DirectX9.0b, passes all DXDiag tests and there's "No Problem ..." all
| >> | > around.
| >> | >
| >> | > Tyan Trinity 400 S1854 motherboard
| >> | > PIII at 733Mz (to spec)
| >> | > 512 megs ram running at 133mz fsb (to spec)
| >> | > Radeon 64 DDR VIVO (7200)
| >> | > Xpert98 (2nd display multi-monitor)
| >> | > two wd hd's, 15 & 40 gigs with plenty free space on each
| >> | > Creative SB-PCI128 sound card
| >> | >
| >> | > 2 Logitech Rumblepads
| >> | > 2 Logitch wheels (MOMO Force & Racing)
| >> | >
| >> | > Mustek flatbed scanner "Twain", (lpt port pass thru model)
| >> | > Creative Webcam (also appears as a Twain scanner)
| >> | > Fuji digital camera as webcam or Mass Storage Device
| >> | >
| >> | > 3 printers, 2 Epson inkjets and an old Canon laser
| >> | >
| >> | > Logitech mouse
| >> | > Wacom pressure sensitive tablet
| >> | >
| >> | > Ethernet card connected to four other older 98SE pc's in-house
| >> (TCP/IP
| > and
| >> | > Netbuie as protocols, including XP)
| >> | > USR Robotics 56K external modem
| >> | >
| >> | > 2 self-powered external four port USB hubs for all the USB devices.
| > Does
| >> | > provide 500Ma spec to every port simultaneously, e.g. no attached
| > device
| >> | > shows any kind of  problem in use..
| >> | >
| >> | > The hardware seems stable an there was/is specific XP drivers for it
| > all
| >> | > (I
| >> | > was surprised I found scanner driver). The ethernet is up and running
| > with
| >> | > printers and folders being shared as expected from both sides. I even
| >> | > managed to get the Guest account to be able to use a proxy server on
| > one
| >> | > of
| >> | > the other pc's to connect to the net after giving up in frustration
| >> at
| >> | > it's
| >> | > refusal to allow use of the dialup modem connection even though it's
| >> | > specified as "shared by all" by the "Admin" account that set it up
| > (Users
| >> | > are ok and can use it). The only problem hardware wise is, I can't
| >> get
| > the
| >> | > back speakers working off the sound card as there appears to be only
| > XP's
| >> | > built-in support for the card.
| >> | >
| >> | > This is the one thing I've found really makes a difference for games
| > is,
| >> | > use
| >> | > batch files to start the game so you can elevate it's priority, e.g.
| > "cmd
| >> | > /c
| >> | > start /High LinksLauncher.exe" is noticably faster (as I'd expect).
| >> | >
| >> | > I feel the basic problem is background "tasks" as Performance under
| >> | > Ctrl-Alt-Del shows cpu bouncing from 2 to 13% continually (but
| > randomly in
| >> | > magnitude). I've tried to determine exactly what all these various
| >> | > services
| >> | > do but when you try to research them it seems like the answer becomes
| > a
| >> | > circular reference and it's never really explained. In particular,
| > it's
| >> | > undetermined what's going on in the background regarding the
| >> ethernet.
| >> | > There
| >> | > seems to be a number of various services that might be doing some
| >> type
| > of
| >> | > "polling" for shares or something but as they're not really
| >> documented
| > I
| >> | > have no idea what one's I can turn off etc. at no risk to basically
| >> | > mucking
| >> | > up what works now (the Guest account can connect to web using a Proxy
| >> | > server
| >> | > running on one of the other pc's as it "refused" anything to do with
| > the
| >> | > dialup miodem connection). Basically, I'm very wary of blindly
| > changing
| >> | > things under any version of Windows because as often as not
| > "un-changing"
| >> | > it
| >> | > doesn't bring the system back to what it was (e.g. unknown
| >> inadvertant
| >> | > consequences).
| >> | >
| >> | > For example, I have no idea what the "Alerter" service REALLY does,
| > what
| >> | > "other features" absolutely require it to be running in order to
| > function
| >> | > correctly nor what these "other services" also do. Ask help for
| >> "them"
| > and
| >> | > you get another reference etc. which eventually seems to lead
| >> no-where
| >> | > usefull.
| >> | >
| >> | > I have turned off the obvious, e.g. disk performance monitoring
| > service,
| >> | > indexing and the like.
| >> | >
| >> | > As usually MS's help isn't helpfull, just frustrating.
| >> | >
| >> | > "Chris Catt" <notknown@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
| >> | > news:uhM4JnPCEHA.712@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
| >> | >> Hi, all depends upon your hardware specs, we really need to know
| >> your
| >> | >> hardware specs before we can give you advice. What we need are cpu -
| >> | >> type/speed. motherboard, ram - amount/type, video card. If you have
| > any
| >> | >> problems finding this out then here
| >> | > http://www.aida32.hu/aida32-download.php
| >> | >> is a good tool to use. Suffice to say that XP hardware requirements
| > are
| >> | > much
| >> | >> higher than those of win98, therefore if you've not much ram, say
| > 128mbs,
| >> | > XP
| >> | >> will really need twice that before you get reasonable game
| > performance. I
| >> | >> expect Jimmy S will have more to say on this, over to you Jimmy :-)
| >> | >> Chris C
| >> | >> Chris
| >> | >> "pjp" <pjp_is_located_at_@_hotmail_._com> wrote in message
| >> | >> news:OiF0SEHCEHA.2308@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
| >> | >> > Just installed XP Pro as dual-boot with existing 98SE.
| >> | >> >
| >> | >> > Same game (NFS:U) running from same folder (e.g. just created new
| >> | > shortcut
| >> | >> > under XP) is basically unplayable under XP it's running so slow
| > (slow
| >> | >> > motion) at 640x480 where-as under 98SE I can run it acceptably at
| >> | >> 1024x768.
| >> | >> > All other settings the same including under Properties DirectX
| >> | >> > settings.
| >> | >> > Links 2003 and Flight Sim 2004 seem the same but not so
| > exaggerated,
| >> | >> > probably because they're not high speed "action" type games.
| >> | >> >
| >> | >> > Is this typical? I'm running same revision drivers for the Radeon,
| > e.g.
| >> | >> Cat
| >> | >> > 4.3.
| >> | >> >
| >> | >> > I'm hoping it's all the crap running in the background so
| >> wondering
| > if
| >> | >> > there's any site(s) document what all that crap actually does as
| > MS's
| >> | > help
| >> | >> > doesn't even try to explain what they actually "do" in most cases.
| >> | >> >
| >> | >> >
| >> | >>
| >> | >>
| >> | >
| >> | >
| >> |
| >> |
| >>
| >>
| >
| >
|
|
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