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GameEx slowdown problem -lots of detail-

YourCoWorker

By YourCoWorker
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YourCoWorker Member

YourCoWorker

Posted
Posted

First off, GameEx is a beautiful, full featured program and it is my first choice for a MAME32 front end, I just can't get it to run correctly!

Specs:

AMD 2800+ processor

512 MB ram

Integrated video, 64MB shared

MAME32 v.98

latest GameEx

Wells Gardner D9200 monitor running at 640x480, 31.5 Khz

Ok, here is the situation.

I have MAME32 configured and running, no problems on both a regular PC monitor and the Arcade monitor. The games are fast, sized correctly, everything, no problems.

I use GameEx to load the MAME32.exe (as a front end) and the games are about half speed, and the music skips. All other aspects of GameEx are operating correctly. To be more specific, when a game is loaded and the intro screen appears, the video is smooth, but a bit slower than it should be. The music skips, like it is repeating every half second. I don't know if the music is repeating to keep up with the slow video, but it seems like that is what is happening. Anyway, in game, this problem continues.

I am pretty skilled with computers and understand what changing config options in Mame and GameEx will do. Let me just say that I have tried EVERYTHING to fix the speed problems.

I have tried:

-running the arcade monitor at 800x600, 640x480, 32 bit, 16 bit

-throttling back on the hardware acceleration in windows

-turning VSYNC off along with the Reduce CPU Utilization itea from the FAQ

-running in arcade mode

-turning off direct draw (crash of course), turning on direct 3D

-I have tried all the different configuration settings in MAME32 including the audio option for downsampling thinking that it was robbing CPU cycles.

-I have tried every combination of these options. I did read and utilize the FAQ to no avail so I moved into brute force method of figuring out this problem!

What I did learn:

-MAME32 works fine by itself on a regular PC monitor and the arcade monitor.

-Advance Menu works fine with MAME32 on a regular PC monitor and the arcade monitor.

-MAMEWAH works fine with MAME32 on a regular PC monitor and the arcade monitor.

-It is not a CPU problem, MAME32 by itself pegs out the CPU but runs fine

-I don't believe that I need the ArcadeVGA card from Ultimac to run the Wells-Gardner D9200. I could be wrong. Please let me know will all details please. I am using a SlikStik classic and would have to build a custom cable to make the ArcadeVGA work with this monitor. Argh.

Please Help!

Thank You,

Jeff

Tom Speirs GameEx God (Top Rank)

Tom Speirs

Posted
Posted
First off, GameEx is a beautiful, full featured program and it is my first choice for a MAME32 front end, I just can't get it to run correctly!

Specs:

AMD 2800+ processor

512 MB ram

Integrated video, 64MB shared

MAME32 v.98

latest GameEx

Wells Gardner D9200 monitor running at 640x480, 31.5 Khz

Ok, here is the situation.

I have MAME32 configured and running, no problems on both a regular PC monitor and the Arcade monitor. The games are fast, sized correctly, everything, no problems.

I use GameEx to load the MAME32.exe (as a front end) and the games are about half speed, and the music skips. All other aspects of GameEx are operating correctly. To be more specific, when a game is loaded and the intro screen appears, the video is smooth, but a bit slower than it should be. The music skips, like it is repeating every half second. I don't know if the music is repeating to keep up with the slow video, but it seems like that is what is happening. Anyway, in game, this problem continues.

I am pretty skilled with computers and understand what changing config options in Mame and GameEx will do. Let me just say that I have tried EVERYTHING to fix the speed problems.

I have tried:

-running the arcade monitor at 800x600, 640x480, 32 bit, 16 bit

-throttling back on the hardware acceleration in windows

-turning VSYNC off along with the Reduce CPU Utilization itea from the FAQ

-running in arcade mode

-turning off direct draw (crash of course), turning on direct 3D

-I have tried all the different configuration settings in MAME32 including the audio option for downsampling thinking that it was robbing CPU cycles.

-I have tried every combination of these options. I did read and utilize the FAQ to no avail so I moved into brute force method of figuring out this problem!

What I did learn:

-MAME32 works fine by itself on a regular PC monitor and the arcade monitor.

-Advance Menu works fine with MAME32 on a regular PC monitor and the arcade monitor.

-MAMEWAH works fine with MAME32 on a regular PC monitor and the arcade monitor.

-It is not a CPU problem, MAME32 by itself pegs out the CPU but runs fine

-I don't believe that I need the ArcadeVGA card from Ultimac to run the Wells-Gardner D9200. I could be wrong. Please let me know will all details please. I am using a SlikStik classic and would have to build a custom cable to make the ArcadeVGA work with this monitor. Argh.

Please Help!

Thank You,

Jeff

Ok, to help troubleshoot.

After running a MAME32 game from GameEx that has slowdown, close GameEx, and Select Run Last Game from the GameEx program group.

This will identify if the issue is GameEx or MAME32.

Tom.

Tom Speirs GameEx God (Top Rank)

Tom Speirs

Posted
Posted
First off, GameEx is a beautiful, full featured program and it is my first choice for a MAME32 front end, I just can't get it to run correctly!

Specs:

AMD 2800+ processor

512 MB ram

Integrated video, 64MB shared

MAME32 v.98

latest GameEx

Wells Gardner D9200 monitor running at 640x480, 31.5 Khz

Ok, here is the situation.

I have MAME32 configured and running, no problems on both a regular PC monitor and the Arcade monitor. The games are fast, sized correctly, everything, no problems.

I use GameEx to load the MAME32.exe (as a front end) and the games are about half speed, and the music skips. All other aspects of GameEx are operating correctly. To be more specific, when a game is loaded and the intro screen appears, the video is smooth, but a bit slower than it should be. The music skips, like it is repeating every half second. I don't know if the music is repeating to keep up with the slow video, but it seems like that is what is happening. Anyway, in game, this problem continues.

I am pretty skilled with computers and understand what changing config options in Mame and GameEx will do. Let me just say that I have tried EVERYTHING to fix the speed problems.

I have tried:

-running the arcade monitor at 800x600, 640x480, 32 bit, 16 bit

-throttling back on the hardware acceleration in windows

-turning VSYNC off along with the Reduce CPU Utilization itea from the FAQ

-running in arcade mode

-turning off direct draw (crash of course), turning on direct 3D

-I have tried all the different configuration settings in MAME32 including the audio option for downsampling thinking that it was robbing CPU cycles.

-I have tried every combination of these options. I did read and utilize the FAQ to no avail so I moved into brute force method of figuring out this problem!

What I did learn:

-MAME32 works fine by itself on a regular PC monitor and the arcade monitor.

-Advance Menu works fine with MAME32 on a regular PC monitor and the arcade monitor.

-MAMEWAH works fine with MAME32 on a regular PC monitor and the arcade monitor.

-It is not a CPU problem, MAME32 by itself pegs out the CPU but runs fine

-I don't believe that I need the ArcadeVGA card from Ultimac to run the Wells-Gardner D9200. I could be wrong. Please let me know will all details please. I am using a SlikStik classic and would have to build a custom cable to make the ArcadeVGA work with this monitor. Argh.

Please Help!

Thank You,

Jeff

Jeff, Could you please provide the GameEx Log.

YourCoWorker Member

YourCoWorker

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for the quick reply.

I did what you wrote and had the same problem, but I have since had and epiphany and figured out the problem.

My mame machine is a shuttle SK43G, and while it is a great computer, the integrated graphics suck!

I moved all of my mame file over to another shuttle that I have (main gaming machine) that has an ATI X700 PCIE card in it, intalled GameEx and launched it. Everything runs great, no problems at all.

I am headed to Fry's to pick up a mid range AGP card for the shuttle!

Jeff

YourCoWorker Member

YourCoWorker

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Log from integrated graphics computer: You will notice I have the ArcadeVGA turned on. This was the only way I could get Galaga to load, it must be related to the poor onboard graphics. I did not have to use this setting when I got it working with the ATI x700 card in another machine.

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: GameEx: Version 4.61: Starting Log

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Operating System Name: Windows XP

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Running Randomize()

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Running Misc startup tasks

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Hiding Cursor

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Setting Menu types

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Opening Configuration File

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Getting Configuration Values

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Using Theme: Default - GameEx

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - GameEx

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Text/Language: English

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Applying Language/Text

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Snap Delay set to: 6

16:38:30.8 7/29/2005: Is Media Center running?

16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: Media Center Mode 2

16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: Get other settings

16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: SlikStik support enabled

16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: Using DirectInput for keyboard input

16:38:30.9 7/29/2005: Launching HideOS.exe

16:38:31.3 7/29/2005: Hiding Taskbar

16:38:31.3 7/29/2005: Start work for Form

16:38:31.3 7/29/2005: Getting Original Screen Size

16:38:31.3 7/29/2005: Loading ICON

16:38:31.4 7/29/2005: Initializing Component

16:38:31.4 7/29/2005: Using General Font: HandelGothic BT

16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Using Title Font: HandelGothic BT

16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Initialising DirectDraw

16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Applying GameEx is Loading Image

16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Creating DirectDraw Device

16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Using Device: VIA/S3G KM400/KN400

16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Setting Resolution to 800x600 16 bit color

16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces

16:38:31.5 7/29/2005: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode

16:38:31.6 7/29/2005: Creating Back Buffer

16:38:31.6 7/29/2005: Loading graphic surfaces

16:38:32.0 7/29/2005: Creating Fonts

16:38:32.0 7/29/2005: Creating Menu Font

16:38:32.5 7/29/2005: Creating Game Font

16:38:32.8 7/29/2005: Creating Menu Font Standard Size

16:38:33.2 7/29/2005: Creating Font Black

16:38:33.3 7/29/2005: Creating Font Black Small

16:38:33.3 7/29/2005: Creating Game Font Faded

16:38:33.7 7/29/2005: Creating Title Font

16:38:34.4 7/29/2005: Initialising Windows Media Player Component

16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: MAME Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32

16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: MAME EXE file is: mame32.exe

16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: ROM Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\roms

16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini

16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\data\controls.ini

16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\history.dat

16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini

16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat

16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: Loading Controls.ini map file

16:38:34.5 7/29/2005: Loading Custom Emulators

16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Snap Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\snap

16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: AVI Snap Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\snap

16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Flyer Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\flyers

16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Cabinet Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\cabinets

16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Title Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\titles

16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Panel Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\cpanel

16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Icon Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\icons

16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Marquee Path is: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\marquees

16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Using Ultimarc AradeVGA

16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Using Ultimarc AradeVGA

16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: MAME CMD options: -skip_disclaimer -skip_gameinfo -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy

16:38:35.0 7/29/2005: Attempting to load game list

16:38:35.2 7/29/2005: Running: mame32.exe -help

16:38:35.3 7/29/2005: Running: C: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\mame32.exe -help > C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\help.txt

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005:

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: Now Outputing mame32.exe - Help

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005:

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005:

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: --BEGIN--

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: M.A.M.E. v0.98 (Jul 10 2005) - Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: Copyright © 1997-2005 by Nicola Salmoria and the MAME Team

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005:

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: MAME is an emulator: it reproduces, more or less faithfully, the behaviour of

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: several arcade machines. But hardware is useless without software, so an image

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: of the ROMs which run on that hardware is required. Such ROMs, like any other

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: commercial software, are copyrighted material and it is therefore illegal to

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: use them if you don't own the original arcade machine. Needless to say, ROMs

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: are not distributed together with MAME. Distribution of MAME together with ROM

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: images is a violation of copyright law and should be promptly reported to the

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: authors so that appropriate legal action can be taken.

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005:

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005: Usage: MAME gamename [options]

16:38:35.6 7/29/2005:

16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: MAME -list for a brief list of supported games

16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: MAME -listfull for a full list of supported games

16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: MAME -showusage for a brief list of options

16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: MAME -showconfig for a list of configuration options

16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: MAME -createconfig to create a mame.ini

16:38:35.7 7/29/2005:

16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: For usage instructions, please consult the file windows.txt

16:38:35.7 7/29/2005:

16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: --END--

16:38:35.7 7/29/2005:

16:38:35.7 7/29/2005:

16:38:35.7 7/29/2005: Loading last used Game List

16:38:36.1 7/29/2005: Initialising Bass Audio Library

16:38:36.4 7/29/2005: Creating DirectSound Device

16:38:36.4 7/29/2005: Trying: Primary Sound Driver

16:38:36.4 7/29/2005: Loading Sound Files

16:38:36.4 7/29/2005: DirectSound Device Created Successfully

16:38:36.4 7/29/2005: Creating ICONS

16:38:37.0 7/29/2005: Gamepad/Joystick disabled

16:38:37.0 7/29/2005: Initialising DirectInput for Keyboard support

16:38:37.1 7/29/2005: Playing Startup Video

16:38:37.1 7/29/2005: Playing intro sound file

16:38:37.1 7/29/2005: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!

16:38:37.1 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame

16:38:37.1 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Getting Tick count

16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Checking for song change

16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Checking Keyboard for Input

16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Front buffer exists?

16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Surfaces need restore?

16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Checking Joystick for input

16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Drawing Background

16:38:37.3 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Drawing Logo

16:38:37.4 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Flipping Surfaces

16:38:37.4 7/29/2005: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully

16:39:16.7 7/29/2005: 224-288-V-True-640-288

16:39:16.7 7/29/2005: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\mame32.exe galaga -rompath C:\Emulation\Mame32v.98\Mame32\roms -skip_disclaimer -skip_gameinfo -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy -resolution 352x256 -hwstretch -effect sharp

16:41:21.2 7/29/2005: Exiting GameEx!

16:41:21.2 7/29/2005: Saving Settings

16:41:21.4 7/29/2005: Writing Game List to disk

16:41:23.7 7/29/2005: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

16:41:23.7 7/29/2005: Media Center was not open when starting GameEx, so not launching

Tom Speirs GameEx God (Top Rank)

Tom Speirs

Posted
Posted

I think if you turn off the -triplebuffer in the MAME CMD line options (in gameex) your onboard gfx will work.

Also go get the latest version of GameEx theres been a ton of speed improvements since version 4.61

YourCoWorker Member

YourCoWorker

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I updated and turned off the -triplebuffer and it is working smoothly again.

Thanks for the support, I really appreciate it.

One last question, is the -triplebuffer removal, or the lack of a better AGP card hurting the visual clarity of the games? I would still consider getting a card if it would improve the visuals. As it stands, the games and gameEx look great, I don't think that any clarity is diminished, but can't me sure without a side by side comparison.

Jeff

P.S. I am off to the donate page!

Tom Speirs GameEx God (Top Rank)

Tom Speirs

Posted
Posted
I updated and turned off the -triplebuffer and it is working smoothly again.

Thanks for the support, I really appreciate it.

One last question, is the -triplebuffer removal, or the lack of a better AGP card hurting the visual clarity of the games? I would still consider getting a card if it would improve the visuals. As it stands, the games and gameEx look great, I don't think that any clarity is diminished, but can't me sure without a side by side comparison.

Jeff

P.S. I am off to the donate page!

Hey Jeff,

It does not affect the clarity, but without it sometimes you get what is known as a tearing affect. This is where MAME is drawing to the screen when your physical display is updating the screen itself, therefore one frame is being drawn while its still displaying another. Its mostly noticable in vertical scrolling games.

It basically makes scrolling games a bit smoother.

Taken from MAME help file:

Enables or disables "triple buffering". Normally, MAME just draws

directly to the screen, without any fancy buffering. But with this

option enabled, MAME creates three buffers to draw to, and cycles

between them in order. It attempts to keep things flowing such that one

buffer is currently displayed, the second buffer is waiting to be

displayed, and the third buffer is being drawn to. Unfortunately, due

to some DirectDraw issues, this doesn't always work out as well as it

should. This is still being investigated. The default is OFF

(-notriplebuffer). This option required -ddraw and -nowindow.

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