Trying to optimize NFL Blitz

[mikeveli20]

Hello,

I am trying to optimize NFL Blitz so it plays a little smoother. This is the original version of Blitz. I am running Windows XP SP3 32-Bit, with a 3.71GHz E8400 Core2Duo (overclocked from 3.0), with 2GB RAM. It runs at above 100% before I start a game, but once I get in game it drops to about 80%. There is not too much noticeably lag in the gameplay, but the audio announcer stutters and skips a bit.

I've tried adding the -mt parameter when launching the game and that helps a bit. I've tried various frameskips and they don't seem to help at all, only make it worse.

Any ideas on how I can improve the performance of this game with my current hardware setup?

[joeH]

I believe that blitz runs faster on the 64 bit version of Mame as compared to the 32 bit version.  Also, like most games, raw horsepower is king.  I have my 8400 overclocked to 4.0ghz with an aftermarket cooler.  I think, if I recall taz's thread, that blitz runs almost 100% completely at 4.0ghz.

[massive88]

You definitely need a 64 bit OS and the 64 bit binary.  On Blitz2k I saw about a 25% speed increase on the same hardware just by going 64-bit.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=72776.msg826587#msg826587

[mikeveli20]

I have considered going to 64-bit, but I have the feeling that it may cause more problems. This machine is for my cab, and I also have two EMS TopGun II, a Logitech MOMO steering wheel, Model 2 emulator, Zinc, and nullDC Naomi. I am worried that if I make the jump to 64-bit, I may get some compatibility and driver issues with my current setup. I'm also running MameWah as well. If I'm wrong about these compatibility/driver issues, please let me know. Last time I checked though the EMS TopGun II didn't work on 64-bit XP.

In response to joeH, 3.7 was the highest I could get without my heat going up too much. Right now at 3.7GHz, my CPU temp goes to 56-58 degrees under load and that's with an OCZ Vendetta cooler as well and two case fans. I think my processor's OCing capabilities are limited. I've overclocked a E7200 from 2.66 to 3.7 with the same heat output as my E8400 OCed to 3.7. What is the heat output you get on your processor under load?

[Paul Olson]

I have an e8400 clocked at 4GHz and my temps hit 62 while testing with Orthos. It is stable, so I am letting it go. I had a Zalman 9700pro, and I couldn't get above 3.7 stable with it. The true black is supposed to be one of the best coolers, so you may want to give that a shot. I am running XP64 since Soft15KHz does not run on Vista 64. You may have driver issues, it is pretty common when moving to 64 bit. Wireless cards were the hardest for me to get drivers for. Maybe you could set up a dual boot to try it.

At 4GHz, Blitz runs well, but I still hear a stutter from the announcers once in a while.

[mikeveli20]

Another reason why I haven't went with the 64-bit OS is because I patch my mame source with the hi score diff so that hi scores are saved for all the games that have it. As far as I know the 64-bit MAME source is unavailable to the public. Also, I just double-checked and the EMS TopGun II still does not support a 64-bit OS.

So I guess the question becomes, is there any way for me to optimize Blitz on my current setup (32-bit OS and 3.7GHz overclocked CPU)? If others are still having stuttering even on the 64-bit OS with a 4GHz CPU, I doubt there will be anything I can do to improve this. The game is definitely playable so that's a plus. Are there any other parameters besides -mt that I could add to the commandline to increase the performance of the game? As stated before I've tried frameskip already but that made it worse.

[FrizzleFried]

You definitely need a 64 bit OS and the 64 bit binary.  On Blitz2k I saw about a 25% speed increase on the same hardware just by going 64-bit.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=72776.msg826587#msg826587

Same here.  Blitz on XP 32 bit sucked....switched to 64 bit...silky smooth!

[FrizzleFried]

Another reason why I haven't went with the 64-bit OS is because I patch my mame source with the hi score diff so that hi scores are saved for all the games that have it. As far as I know the 64-bit MAME source is unavailable to the public. Also, I just double-checked and the EMS TopGun II still does not support a 64-bit OS.

So I guess the question becomes, is there any way for me to optimize Blitz on my current setup (32-bit OS and 3.7GHz overclocked CPU)? If others are still having stuttering even on the 64-bit OS with a 4GHz CPU, I doubt there will be anything I can do to improve this. The game is definitely playable so that's a plus. Are there any other parameters besides -mt that I could add to the commandline to increase the performance of the game? As stated before I've tried frameskip already but that made it worse.

You sure as heck can re-compile a 64 bit version.  I've been running MK's HS patch for months now on XP x64.

You're ass-out as far as EMS Top Gun though I think.

[mikeveli20]

You sure as heck can re-compile a 64 bit version.  I've been running MK's HS patch for months now on XP x64.

You're ass-out as far as EMS Top Gun though I think.

I found out that there is a beta 64-bit driver for the EMS Top Gun, but apparently it has a lot of calibration issues. I think I'm going to hold out on the jump to 64-bit for now until they hopefully release a working driver for it. I'll just have to live with Blitz stuttering a bit. It's the only game that does so, so it won't be too bad.

As far as compiling the 64-bit version of MAME, do you know where I can get the source? On the MAME website there is only an executable binary for the 64-bit version and no source code. Thanks.

[FrizzleFried]

You sure as heck can re-compile a 64 bit version.  I've been running MK's HS patch for months now on XP x64.

You're ass-out as far as EMS Top Gun though I think.

I found out that there is a beta 64-bit driver for the EMS Top Gun, but apparently it has a lot of calibration issues. I think I'm going to hold out on the jump to 64-bit for now until they hopefully release a working driver for it. I'll just have to live with Blitz stuttering a bit. It's the only game that does so, so it won't be too bad.

As far as compiling the 64-bit version of MAME, do you know where I can get the source? On the MAME website there is only an executable binary for the 64-bit version and no source code. Thanks.

The source is the source is the source.   You use the same source to compile 32 bit and 64 bit versions.  It's all in the switches (and,  of course you need to compile a 64 bit version using a 64 bit OS).

[massive88]

I dont know about the topgun or steering wheel.

Imo, with that setup and 64bit mame theres no longer a need for Zinc, but Zinc works fine in XP64

NullDC also works just fine in XP64

[joeH]

I have considered going to 64-bit, but I have the feeling that it may cause more problems. This machine is for my cab, and I also have two EMS TopGun II, a Logitech MOMO steering wheel, Model 2 emulator, Zinc, and nullDC Naomi. I am worried that if I make the jump to 64-bit, I may get some compatibility and driver issues with my current setup. I'm also running MameWah as well. If I'm wrong about these compatibility/driver issues, please let me know. Last time I checked though the EMS TopGun II didn't work on 64-bit XP.

In response to joeH, 3.7 was the highest I could get without my heat going up too much. Right now at 3.7GHz, my CPU temp goes to 56-58 degrees under load and that's with an OCZ Vendetta cooler as well and two case fans. I think my processor's OCing capabilities are limited. I've overclocked a E7200 from 2.66 to 3.7 with the same heat output as my E8400 OCed to 3.7. What is the heat output you get on your processor under load?

I'm running at about 32C idle and about 47C under load.  If I really stress test it (IntelBurnTest) or orthos, I'm at about 59-60C.  I have a E0 stepping chip (compared to the older C0), which may have something to do with it.  I'm feeding the chip 1.28V.  Hope that helps.

[xtravbx]

Can someone upload or host the 64 bit MAME?

I totally am lost when it comes to this.

Can someone compile a 64 bit installer? Thanks

[mikeveli20]

I'm running at about 32C idle and about 47C under load.  If I really stress test it (IntelBurnTest) or orthos, I'm at about 59-60C.  I have a E0 stepping chip (compared to the older C0), which may have something to do with it.  I'm feeding the chip 1.28V.  Hope that helps.

My idle temps are about 40C. I'm using about 1.31V to power the chip and that's only to a 3.7GHz. I believe my chop as the E0 stepping as well. Like I said before, I believe I just got a lemon chip as far as overclocking goes. Well maybe not a lemon since I was still able to get to 3.7 but still not ideal. As I also stated, I've been able to clock a 2.66 to 3.7 no problem. I guess it all depends on the chip.

I temporarily clocked my 3.7 to a 4.0 just to see the difference in performance and it was only about 2% and not enough to get rid of the stuttering. I had to change it back to 3.7 though because after about 2 seconds of stress testing at 4.0, one of my cores failed.

The solution I have found for the time being (or could be permanent if EMS never releases a 64-bit driver for the TopGun II and it looks like they aren't), is to lower the graphics quality from the in-game MAME menu. The graphics kinda look like crap now but I can run the game at an average of 97% speed with little to no stuttering of audio so I'm happy with that. To me it's more about the gameplay anyways and I'm not too pick about the graphics since I am running some very primitive games on this cab anyways