extreme frame rate drop

extreme frame rate drop

Sylvarant

Member #7,886

October 2006

So I'm started using openlayer and one of the first things I wanted to do Is check my framerate, when I just did this :

1int main()
2{
// step 1 : setup the sytems     
 setup();
// step 2 : load stuff
 TextRenderer arial = load_font("Fonts/Arial.ttf",10,15,Rgba::WHITE);
// actual game loop    
while(!keypressed())
{
// start counting fps  
  FpsCounter::NewFrameStarted();
12// fill screen   
  Canvas::Fill( Rgba::BLUE ); 
14// print fps    
  float fps = FpsCounter::GetFps(); 
  string frame_string = "FPS : "+ToString(fps);
  arial.Print(frame_string,20,20 ); 
// Refresh the contents of the active canvas // 
  Canvas::Refresh();
}  
21}END_OF_MAIN()

I got an average framerate of about 470

then I decided that it would be better to make a print fps function for the sake of keeping my main loop tight.
the function looks like this :

void print_fps(TextRenderer var)
{  
  float fps = FpsCounter::GetFps(); 
  string frame_string = "FPS : "+ToString(fps);
  var.Print(frame_string,20,20 ); 
}

and in my main I replaced the old code by print_fps(arial);

these actions downed my framerate from 470 to 37 fps average?
I know I must be doing something wrong but I have no clue what.

CursedTyrant

Member #7,080

April 2006

Shouldn't it be like this?

1int main()
2{
// step 1 : setup the sytems     
 setup();
// step 2 : load stuff
 TextRenderer arial = load_font("Fonts/Arial.ttf",10,15,Rgba::WHITE);
// actual game loop

FpsCounter::Start(85); //or other value

while(!keypressed())
{
// start counting fps  
  FpsCounter::NewFrameStarted();
15// fill screen   
  Canvas::Fill( Rgba::BLUE ); 
17// print fps    
  float fps = FpsCounter::GetFps(); 
  string frame_string = "FPS : "+ToString(fps);
  arial.Print(frame_string,20,20 ); 
// Refresh the contents of the active canvas // 
  Canvas::Refresh();
23}  
24}END_OF_MAIN()

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HoHo

Member #4,534

April 2004

FPS doesn't change linearly with added scene complexity. How low does your FPS drop when you call the print_fps function two or more times?

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Sylvarant

Member #7,886

October 2006

@cursedtyrant
I already do that in the setup function :

void setup() 
{ 
  // Sets up the devices needed
  Setup::SetupProgram(true, false, true);
  // Sets up the screen dimensions  
  Setup::SetupScreen(480,320,WINDOWED);    
  set_window_title("Project - Metroid Version 0.1");
  // Set up the delta time routines with the default fps of 100.0 //
  FpsCounter::Start( 100.0 );
}

@HOHO
it drops to 22.71

Ariesnl

Member #2,902

November 2002

Do you have an AMD Dual core 64 bit ??

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Richard Phipps

Member #1,632

November 2001

Comment out each line in the print_fps function and see how each line affects the FPS.

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piccolo

Member #3,163

January 2003

I have an AMD Dual core 64 bit. dose it have something to do with the fps. I had some similar problem to what this person is having.
edit:
i would like to know what the amd could be at fault i notes that the the allegro cpu split dose not work as well on my cpu as it dose on a Intel single core of higher Mhz

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Ariesnl

Member #2,902

November 2002

I have a AMD Dual core 64 bit processor.And I had speed/ timing/framerate problems with my own games and with professional games.
A few days ago I read an artickle about this it's a problem with timing (timestamps) and AMD Dual cores..

You should install AMD's Dual Core Optimizer!!!

It fixed everything for me and al games run a lot smoother with much higher and more stable FPS

Perhaps one day we will find that the human factor is more complicated than space and time (Jean luc Picard)
Current project: [Star Trek Project ] Join if you want ;-)

HoHo

Member #4,534

April 2004

Quote:

A few days ago I read an artickle about this it's a problem with timing (timestamps) and AMD Dual cores..

Actually it should be a problem with XP, not specifically with AMD (or Intel) dualcores.

Ariesnl

Member #2,902

November 2002

It had something to do with correcting the timing for the fact you have 2 processors.

but that optimizer is a true gem.. Oblivion runs like a dream now

Perhaps one day we will find that the human factor is more complicated than space and time (Jean luc Picard)
Current project: [Star Trek Project ] Join if you want ;-)

Sylvarant

Member #7,886

October 2006

Ariesnl: said:

Do you have an AMD Dual core 64 bit ??

no I'm using an Intel pentium 4 .
what makes this really strange is the fact I've never had these problems in allegro.

Kauhiz

Member #4,798

July 2004

Quote:

what makes this really strange is the fact I've never had these problems in allegro.

Allegro and OpenLayer have little in common in this respect.

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Kris Asick

Member #1,424

July 2001

Try this...

void print_fps(TextRenderer *var)
{  
  float fps = FpsCounter::GetFps(); 
  string frame_string = "FPS : "+ToString(fps);
  var->Print(frame_string,20,20 ); 
}

And call the routine with:

print_fps(&arial);

Just a wild guess, but it couldn't hurt.

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monkeyCode

Member #7,140

April 2006

// or by reference :P
void print_fps(TextRenderer& renderer)
{  
  float fps = FpsCounter::GetFps(); 
  string frame_string = "FPS : " + ToString(fps);
  renderer.Print(frame_string, 20, 20); 
}

piccolo

Member #3,163

January 2003

thanks for the link i'm going to try it out now.

when i had a fps problem it was because i did not completely separate the update from the drawing

edit:
did you get it fixed i only get 170 max fps on my game i need more.

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-------------------------------
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HoHo

Member #4,534

April 2004

Quote:

i need more.

With what HW and how many details? I wouldn't worry about speed bofore betatesting and when it is too slow with all the details. With empty gameworld any kind of benchmarking is meaningless

piccolo

Member #3,163

January 2003

i want it to run faster on slower computers im thinks that my main cpu load is the tile animation and layers world 100*100 32bit tile. 4 layers

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HoHo

Member #4,534

April 2004

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Ariesnl

Member #2,902

November 2002

Quote:

You think or you profiled? Never ever think anything. Profile!

Assumption is the mother of all fuckups

Perhaps one day we will find that the human factor is more complicated than space and time (Jean luc Picard)
Current project: [Star Trek Project ] Join if you want ;-)

Fladimir da Gorf

Member #1,565

October 2001

Quote:

void print_fps(TextRenderer& renderer)
{
float fps = FpsCounter::GetFps();
string frame_string = "FPS : " + ToString(fps);
renderer.Print(frame_string, 20, 20);
}

Yeah, use a reference (or a pointer) to a TextRenderer, otherwise it'll regenerate all the character images and reload them to the video memory every frame...

Quote:

I already do that in the setup function

I'd recommend starting the FpsCounter right before the game loop, or otherwise it'll think that the first frame takes a long time to render and adjusts itself accordingly... Which means that you'll get a hiccup at the start of the game if you use the delta time.

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