James, u say the tic rate must not exceed server fps, I don't have any experience in running source, but on cs 1.6 and other hl1 mods, the tic rate always exceeds the server fps at least on the ones I've seen, is this different in Source?
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of James Tucker Sent: vrijdag 9 september 2005 20:41 To: hlds@list.valvesoftware.com Subject: [hlds] Summary - Tickrate / FPS / Timer Resolution (WMP|PingBooster) Ok. Here's the thing then, you wanted a summary, I will attempt to do this as comprehensively as I can with the time I have available right now. There is a general rule for proper bullet registration and game server performance that essentially is: Your tickrate must not exceed the servers FPS (frames per second). You can find out your servers FPS by using the "stats" command, or from a client "rcon stats". N.B. From a client just "stats" will display local FPS. Now, the next thing to observe is that by default, on the windows platform, srcds rarely (in fact theoretically never for a default install) performs over around 60-68fps. This is due to something called the kernel timer resolution, or in particular, the resolution is too low. Timer resolution is measured either in frequency (Hz) or in time (typically ms, or ns). srcds normally performs at 1/2 the timer resolution, which on windows is around 7.8ms, or 128Hz by default. Combine the two rules above, and you can see that there are potential issues for high(er) tickrate servers. Furthermore, this FPS restriction is generally harmful to server side processing latency, so in general over a couple of hundred FPS is preferable for optimal feel at the client (emprically tested by load). I try to deploy 300fps or higher depending on client requests and purchase. You can rectify the timer problem by loading an application which increases the timer resolution (or decreases the timer latency, or timer length). This can be achieved (most popularly) by loading either Windows Media Player or a Macromedia Flash file. There are other solutions, many of which are currently called "PingBooster" or similar in the srcds/hlds community. It is possible to alter the default timer resolution (pre-boot), detailed resources and more technical information is referenced below. --- Proper resource information regarding windows high res timers: http://www.sysinternals.com/Information/HighResolutionTimers.html How to find out your current timer resolution on windows: http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ClockRes.html --- _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds