how i got X3 to work on a WORST system then yours!!!

[bengoin]

many people are posting up with different problems, when simple things can be done to play the game. what i would like is for just 1 egosoft programmer to admit that there has been a balls up with it. ok im hoping this might be made sticky, but here is my system specs:


- Processor type/speed AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (2.1 GHz)
- Memory size/speed 512 MB ram @ DDR400
- Motherboard model ASUS K8N
- Graphics card model/memory GeForce fx5950 (256MB AGP)
- Sound card model Onboard
- Joystick model N/A
- Operating system Windows XP Home
- Graphics driver version 81.87


ok so as you can see i dont the the top dog in my system, but i had the game running with no glitching what so ever.... well except for SETA at X10 and i didnt have to switch the HUD off at all. here is what i did.

first thing was disconnect my modem, and shut all network devices down. it not going to be in use so no need for it.

Second thing was create a .BAT file which would run X3 in high memory priority, to do this u need to open up notepad and put in to it "cmd /c start /high x3.exe" without the " " . save it as whateveryouwant.BAT must have the .bat and put it in your X3 folder where the X3.exe can be found, then make a short cut to it on your dest top. use this to start the game and it will have better memory usage (not sure whos post i read that in but thanks)

third thing i did was to CRTL + ALT + DEL and close off everything else thats not being used. under processes i have 39 running, (dont ask what there all for cos i only just opened this in months) i can get it down to 20. and make sure that u finish the explorer.exe. that controls task bar and desktop icons. in game this takes up memory and slows the game down. if u wish to run it again just go file->new task and enter explorer.exe in there. but i just restart the whole comp.

now i know we shouldnt have to do all this but its the only option at the moment. can i have some feedback to if this worked for you?

[WitchSpace]

I'll give this a go tonight when I get home. Out of interest, what frame rates did you get before running it from the batch file and what rates are you getting now?

Thanks.

[bengoin]

i dont know, there isnt a benchmark on X3 so cant test it. with these instruction i give my settings are antialiasing on and medium for both texture quality and shader quality. been doing a few space battles and capturing ships. i shouldnt have to turn everything off like this but it makes a hugh difference. and with details on medium the stations and ships look ace

[CBJ]

Use Fraps to get framerate information.

[Johnny9ball]

I am having sub par performance with a more than adequate system I will try it right now and report.

Here is my sub par post on my bad performance. I am willing to try anything new so ill give this a go.

http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=97664

[Johnny9ball]

How do you get rid of the explorer.exe then launch the game all my icons and stuff are gone.

[Johnny9ball]

Ok did just like you said. I even disabled every possible thing non essential to running the game useing this link.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.as ... -us;331796

Still the same sub par performance on a higher than average system.
3.2P4E 1GB PC3200 X800XTPE I am going to try CBJ's suggestion in my thread about disabling my sound system totally wish me luck.

[esd]

Check the sticky at the top "Tips'n'tricks..." - lots of tips in there, including step-by-step instructions on disabling explorer.

[doomlord]

It is funny that we, the customers, have to even try and handle low frames when it is clearly a ****** up code with the storyline versione of X3 for I have no problem at all playing it if i play the non storyline version of it or the combat sims with lots of ships on screen. Also I have a subpar system but reading all those ppl with very highend machines having the same problem is incredible heh.
I also did several things to get it more playable in storyline version but the mission 2 at the city stage is unplayable. You don't even see where you shoot at and the mouse pointer is slow a shit aswell. No way you can win that unless you use the cheat program mentioned somewhere here and use the kill command but unfortunately it didn't work on version 1.2 lol, figures.

Also I find it funny the thing with the HUD...sure it risens fps but how the .... are you supposed to fight without it? Especially mission 2 in the city rofl.

I think it has to do with the monitors during storyline missions that somehow **** fps. It's a shame that this happened again like when X2 came out unfinished and buggy too. Hopefully this is adressed in next patch.

[SieurNewT]

On my side i dont have a wonderfull system, but i am currently at mission 5 and i have never had any low framerate issue. It's a little slow at the 1rst part of game with the Argon one fullscreen but after that all is ok in 1280*1024 with AA on and all options...

It's also slow when i put seta to *8 but in normal game i have a playable game.

PS : about the city mission i agree with you it's a little slow i was able to kill only 1/3 of the targets and the mission was a success, but i beleive it's only once in game we have to play in a city so it's not a big issue.

[bengoin]

what is sub par? u load the first box of X3 (with the start game button) then close off explorer. this simple thing worked very well for me and in the tips n tricks sticky there was loads, but the is a config that did work with me.

[WitchSpace]

Tried this didn't work. Nice idea though.

In fact, I think it seemed to have the oppositte affect, keyboard responses were very slow and when I would press any of the arrow keys to change heading it would just spin on it's axis permanently. Mad!?

Oh well, back to the drawing board for me.

[SpaceTycoon]

Second thing was create a .BAT file which would run X3 in high memory priority, to do this u need to open up notepad and put in to it "cmd /c start /high x3.exe" without the " " . save it as whateveryouwant.BAT must have the .bat and put it in your X3 folder where the X3.exe can be found, then make a short cut to it on your dest top. use this to start the game and it will have better memory usage (not sure whos post i read that in but thanks)

No. Not the memory usage. This command (start /high) starts a given program with higher CPU priority. In multitasking operating systems the CPU need to switch from one task running to the next one. With all programs running at 'normal' priority each program/task get the same CPU-attention and CPU-time. Programs or tasks running at higher priority earn more CPU-attention and CPU-time.
For X2 and X3 the higher CPU priority give more performance to the game for runnings scripts and other CPU dependend things. Graphical frame rates depend most on the performance of the graphics adapter, not the performance of the CPU.

[PC101]

i dont get why most of u guys have prop's with game it works for me bit laggy when in busy system like argon prime but i only have.

Processor: AMD Athlon(TM) XP 2200+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.8GHz
Memory: 1024MB RAM
Graphics :NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
sound: SB Audigy Audio

[Zakalwe]

Use Fraps to get framerate information.

i'd rather like to activate the start as benchmark button to get some more reproducible results...

[kafiend]

I fail to see why the X3 benchmarking isnt enabled and being used as the primary tool for reporting poor performance.

[PheenixSwiftfire]

I believe one of the developers or moderators mentioned something about wanting to get the stand-alone rolling demo out so that everyone can use it, not just those with the game. I would be suprised if it isn't enabled by the time v1.3 comes out.