Low FPS with Intel HD

Discuss problems related to FTL here. If you are having a problem or experiencing a bug PLEASE READ THE "MUST READ" POST.
StebCH
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:06 pm

Low FPS with Intel HD

Postby StebCH » Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:12 pm

Hi everyone,

First of all, let me really, really thank you for this game! IT'S probably one of the best games I have ever played so far (and I played a lot of games).

While it is running smoothly on my desktop at home, I'm not able to play it on my laptop - even if it has some very good specs:

Intel i7-2620 @ 2.7 Ghz
8 GB of RAM
Intel HD 3000

The most annoying issue is the mouse lag, probably due to low FPS.

All drivers are up to date obviously :)

Any help?
Snow_Cat
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2012 12:33 pm

Re: Low FPS with Intel HD

Postby Snow_Cat » Thu Sep 20, 2012 2:29 pm

Turning vertical-syncronization off by enabling 'Asynchronous Filp' fixed this on my laptop. (Though my machine is a 1.8GHz Centrino-GMA900 w/ 1GB ram.)

I was already using alternative drivers from http://9xxssf.info/, so your results may vary.
These other drivers handle most of the missing-memory buffer situations that Intel's GPU/Memory Controller doesn't, so white text/sprites and most of the overlay textures appearing as white blocks in other games (like Minecraft) are fixed.

Instructions (XP)
    Note: These images have been intentionally desaturated and blurred to better highlight areas of intrest in orange.
  1. Open the Intel Graphics [s]Media Accelerator for Mobile control[/s] panel by selecting Graphics Properties from the context menu summoned by
    1. Right clicking on the 'Intel(R) Graphics Accellerator for Mobile' icon in the task-bar notification area.Image
        --OR--
    2. Right-clicking on your desktop.
      Image
  2. From the [s]Intel[/s] Graphics panel open the '3D Settings' dialog by left-clicking.
    Image
  3. Left clicking on the 'Asynchronous Flip' item in the list should summon a combo-box with the options {'on','off'}.
    Click 'on'.
    Image
  4. Click OK (or) Apply and test to see that this has worked.

Links:
StebCH
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:06 pm

Re: Low FPS with Intel HD

Postby StebCH » Thu Sep 20, 2012 2:34 pm

thanks for the reply: any instructions for Windows 7?
Snow_Cat
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2012 12:33 pm

Re: Low FPS with Intel HD

Postby Snow_Cat » Thu Sep 20, 2012 3:03 pm

I've quoted the relevant section of the Intel Support page linked above, with extra formatting for readability.
On Microsoft Windows Vista* and Windows 7*:
  1. Start
  2. Control Panel
    1. Personalization
        --or--
    2. Appearance and Personalization)
    1. Display Settings
        --or--
    2. Display
      • Adjust resolution
  3. Advanced Settings
    1. Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator Driver
        --or--
    2. Intel(R) Graphics and Media Control Panel tab
  4. Graphics Properties... button
  5. select Advanced Mode (if prompted to select an application mode)
    1. select OpenGL
        --or--
    2. 3D Settings
        --or--
    3. 3D
      • enable Custom Settings
Note:
To disable vsync on older Intel® graphics products, set Asynchronous Flip to On and click Apply.
With newer Intel graphics products, set Vertical Sync to No and click Apply.
StebCH
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:06 pm

Re: Low FPS with Intel HD

Postby StebCH » Thu Sep 20, 2012 3:08 pm

Snow_Cat wrote:I've quoted the relevant section of the Intel Support page linked above, with extra formatting for readability.
On Microsoft Windows Vista* and Windows 7*:
  1. Start
  2. Control Panel
    1. Personalization
        --or--
    2. Appearance and Personalization)
    1. Display Settings
        --or--
    2. Display
      • Adjust resolution
  3. Advanced Settings
    1. Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator Driver
        --or--
    2. Intel(R) Graphics and Media Control Panel tab
  4. Graphics Properties... button
  5. select Advanced Mode (if prompted to select an application mode)
    1. select OpenGL
        --or--
    2. 3D Settings
        --or--
    3. 3D
      • enable Custom Settings
Note:
To disable vsync on older Intel® graphics products, set Asynchronous Flip to On and click Apply.
With newer Intel graphics products, set Vertical Sync to No and click Apply.



Thanks for the reply - but I actually do not have that Intel Graphics tab :)

Probably because my laptop manufacturer is Sony?
I do not have the Intel software installed by default on my system...
Snow_Cat
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2012 12:33 pm

Re: Low FPS with Intel HD

Postby Snow_Cat » Thu Sep 20, 2012 3:16 pm

:oops: Sorry I should have done more research.
http://communities.intel.com/message/148721 (and many other threads on that forum) indicates that for all Intel HD cards V-Sync is application controlled and should remain off unless activated once; and since ATi/AMD cards require it, FTL might be activating it by default.

I'll post again in an hour after I've had a chance to search for a solution.


http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/cs-030506.htm (maybe?)

YouTube ???
  • right-click on desktop
  • "properties" from context menu
  • "Settings" tab from "display settings" window
  • "Advanced..." button from "color quality" pane
  • "Intel(R) Extreme Graphics" tab from ??? window
  • "Graphics Properties..." button from ??? driver like tab-pane.
  • "Open GL" tab from Intel ??? Graphics Properties window.
  • "Asynchronous Flip" from "Open GL" tab
  • "On" from combo box

CTRL+ALT+F12 from desktop???


Unfortunately I cannot find any driver specs for an Intel Mobile HD 3000, so I cannot reccommend an alternative driver.

And I've not found a Vista/Win7 GLWrapper/Debugger that can change the VSYNC behaviour.

This OpenGL wrapper may be able to help - but I can't reccommend something I've not used.
http://titaniumgl.tk/