Future Pinball low framerate with AVGA2 (AGP)

[dekar24k]

Hey guys,

Just setting up Future Pinball on my cab and it runs super-sluggish even at 640x480 with all/most settings on low.

My system specs are as follows:

Intel Core 2 Duo E7600 @ 3.06GHz
2gb DDR2
ArcadeVGA2 (AGP)
Running nlited version of WinXP Pro SP3.

Now, I know that the AVGA2 is a crappy 3D card (it's a Radeon 9250), but shouldn't it be sufficient to run Future Pinball at 640x480 (or 800x600) with no AA/AF and low settings in general? I was told that the AVGA2 PCI-Ex version runs FP perfectly so I was surprised when it kneeled on the AVGA2 AGP version.

Future Pinball is awesome and if there's no way to make it run smoothly (stable 40-50+ FPS) with my current card, then I'll have to get the PCI-Ex version of AVGA2 instead.

Your input is appreciated a lot. Thanks!

[Hoopz]

I wonder if it could be the modified version of XP affecting the frame rates?

[dekar24k]

I wonder if it could be the modified version of XP affecting the frame rates?

That's highly unlikely. I've only removed services and applications which are not needed on an arcade cab and they are unrelated to graphics performance. I'm starting to think that the AGP version of AVGA2 is too weak to run Future Pinball.

In that case I have two options; get the AVGA2 Pci-Ex version or just get a decent PCI-Ex 3d card and use it for Future Pinball. The motherboard I'm using has both AGP and PCI-Ex slots, so I can use two graphics cards.

[Space Fractal]

it ran around 16-30fps here when I used it, but not sure which settings it was? I think 30fps is still fully playable and is now comon used today.

[dekar24k]

I just tested Visual Pinball and every table I tried ran super-smooth. But, bleeh.. Future Pinball is 10 times cooler (no offense VP devs)..

[Loafmeister]

Future Pinball needs a half-decent 3d video card. There's a reason why it was called "Future" .

[DJ_Izumi]

The AGP AVGA2 is a Radeon 9250, it's just ooooold.  My five year old laptop is running a Radeon 9000 and the 9250 is just a minor variation on that.

The Radeon HD2400 in the PCI-E version would have a lot more kick.

[dekar24k]

The AGP AVGA2 is a Radeon 9250, it's just ooooold.  My five year old laptop is running a Radeon 9000 and the 9250 is just a minor variation on that.

The Radeon HD2400 in the PCI-E version would have a lot more kick.

Indeed. I will try to get my hands on a PCI-Ex version.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Why not try a better video card while you're at it?  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125277

That's the one that I got and it's guaranteed to work with soft 15 khz.  (I have that running on my arcade).

But I'm assuming that you have a MD that supports PCI-e correct?

D

[dekar24k]

Why not try a better video card while you're at it?  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125277

That's the one that I got and it's guaranteed to work with soft 15 khz.  (I have that running on my arcade).

But I'm assuming that you have a MD that supports PCI-e correct?

D

I have a Sapphire Radeon HD4870 laying around here, but I have everything set up perfectly now with avga so I don't want to go through the "hassle" of setting everything up again with soft15khz.

I'm trying to get my hands on an AVGA2 PCI-Ex as we speak.

[DeLuSioNal29]

When I swapped my AVGA2 card out with the newer ATI Radeon card, I didn't have to change any of my settings for MAME.  Really.    I just left the inis as they were.  All I had to do was uninstall the AVGA2 drivers, shut down.  Install the card.  Fire it up.  Install ATI Catalyst drivers.  Reboot and install Soft 15 KHz.  Couldn't have been easier.  I was pleasantly surprised.  And it now plays SFIV perfectly which is graphically intensive.

D

[dekar24k]

When I swapped my AVGA2 card out with the newer ATI Radeon card, I didn't have to change any of my settings for MAME.  Really.    I just left the inis as they were.  All I had to do was uninstall the AVGA2 drivers, shut down.  Install the card.  Fire it up.  Install ATI Catalyst drivers.  Reboot and install Soft 15 KHz.  Couldn't have been easier.  I was pleasantly surprised.  And it now plays SFIV perfectly which is graphically intensive.

D

Hmm... Very tempting.. I'll look into soft15khz later today. If it's just install and go then I might just give it a shot!