Lag when Switching Viewports (3DSMax 4.2)

[faB]

This problem appeared after I switched to a new harddrive and my configuration must have changed :

I usually maximize the Perspective viewport, and then use the Viewport keys (Left, Right, Front, User, etc..) to switch to other views.

Whenever I do this after 2 or 3 times, I get some serious lag, anywhere from 1 to 5 seconds. The Task Manager shows that 3DSMax uses 95% of the CPU time during the lag. If I Pan the view or do any other operation, everytime I release a mouse button the lag repeats again for 1-5 seconds.,

The only way to get rid of it then, is to un-maximize the viewport, and maximize it again.

This happens with a simple CUBE, and right after starting 3DS MAX, as well !

I'm using the OpenGL driver, and the latest 40.45 or something nVidia drivers (those did change but I doubt this causes the viewport _switching_ lag)

Any ideas ?
Help ! X_X

PS: I'm using Windows XP, 512 MB RAM, and Task MAnager shows Max only uses 75 mb when this problem happens As for XP, I used it before I switched to a new harddrive, and didnt have the problem back then, so XP itself is not the cause.

[jbw]

Actually I'd put down to the video drivers. NVIDIA have decent drivers but some are known to cause niggling little things. Try switching to a different driver version... your previous drivers perhaps?
I've installed an extra HD on fully configured machines a few times and it's never caused any problems.

ta,
jbw

[Net Admiral]

Yep JBW is right !! try to change the driver or switch to heidi
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[kuman]

i've seen this wierd lagging behavior before. however most times if i just save my work and restart max it'll be fine again. does this happen every time? or is this isolated. try restarting max?

-k

[faB]

You're probably right about the drivers.. as for Heidi, isn't that a 'otpimized' software driver ? (aka too slow)

I'll try different versions.. hell on my previous installation I believe I was using a nVidia driver released in 2001 ! I'll let you know what

Yes, it happens all the time

ANOTHER Q. :

I've searched all over, are there actually some specific OpenGL drivers for 3dsmax, for the non-proffessional 3d cards , just something optimized for max viewports ?

Thanks
faB

[faB]

I have tried 43.45, 40.72, and 29.42 nVidia Detonator XP drivers, and the problem remains.

I just create a cube, then maximize and switch to top view and BOOM at least 3 seconds delay.

Now I have switched to Direct 3D rendering, and the viewport lag is gone. So.. this problem is due to OPEN GL driver.

However D3D just plain sucks on 3dsmax4.2, so I need to find a way to change that damned OpenGL DLL I have on my system.

[faB]

ALLELUIA!!!

Finally !!

After much fiddling about, I have narrowed down the problem to this option in Configure OpenGL driver :

Allow Dual Plane Support (opengl extension)

BAD BAD !!

I have unchecked it and restarted max and no more lag !

I hope this is useful to someone else, I'm running a GF3 TI200 in Winxp home, on a athlon 1700 'under' boosted thanks to crappy mboard and still running DirectX 8.

Well who knows.. maybe DX9 drivers would fix the dual plane thingy on my system but I hardly have anything to gain from DX9 on a gf3 ti200 :/

[jbw]

Regarding... 'I've searched all over, are there actually some specific OpenGL drivers for 3dsmax, for the non-proffessional 3d cards , just something optimized for max viewports ?'

No. You've got a GF3 which won't let you run the Maxtreme drivers that Nvidia have developed for the Quadro cards. Though there is a way. Apparently soft-modding your GeForce into a Quadro will allow you to use the Maxtreme drivers. To do this you need to download RivaTuner from guru3d.com and some detonator drivers. You'll find a guide out there somewhere - I remember seeing one on guru3d... I think.
Just so you don't blame me if anything goes wrong... I'm not suggesting you do this.

ta,
jbw

[faB]

thanks jbw
very interesting.. I fear I'm going to look into it ;p

btw regarding your 1st reply, I was actually replacing my harddrive with a larger one, so I partitioned the new one, copied my data over, and reinstalled xp and applications on the new hd, using a more recent driver, and changing some settings in 3ds max in the process

now I keep a list of all the data I have to backup.. in this case I could have saved the 3dsmax.ini file along with the keyboard, quad menu etc..

[faB]

hey thanks,
I had never heard of the whole GeForce / Quadro deal before

I managed to run RivaTuner and SoftQuadro 4 so that my system believes now I have a 'Quadro DCC' plugged, I also have tried a scene with and without the Maxtreme drivers, and the ShowFPS=1 option in Max ini file

the appollo scene with 160000 triangles, I have about 5 fps with OpenGL, while rotating the view, or panning, with the whole object in view, and 11 fps with the MaxTreme custom driver, pretty cool !

Framerate or visuals in Quake 3 didnt seem affected

Pretty much useless for low poly modelling, though there are some additional options like custom dot size (for vertices), AA lines in render and/or wireframe, fog display in the viewport..

[jbw]

Hey faB where do you add the showFPS=1 in the MAX.ini file I'd love to try that with my Quadro 750XGL to see what I'd get!
I have a feeling that even with the softquadro'd geforce you still won't get the same performance as with a true quadro. I've seen benchmarks somewhere...

Unfortunately I've noticed and read about a few bugs with the latest MAXtreme drivers running in MAX 5 so I've had to go back to OpenGL until an update appears.

Framerate or visuals in Quake 3 didnt seem affected...

LOL
I believe OpenGL apps differ to OpenGL games in what functions and commands are used by the card. If you're a serious gamer I think you'll get a better result from a Geforce than a Quadro?

ta,
jbw

[faB]

I've placed it right after the Performance section, like this

[Performance]
ShowFPS=1

it replaces part of the bottom of the screen with 5 boxes, supposedly the first four show the framerate for each viewport, the fifth is the 'overal'

It does go lower with heavier scenes, but for low poly it mostly stays at 100.0 on my PC.. also it doesnt seem to be refreshed unless yo uactively pan or rotate in a viewport. sometime it shows 50 or 33, but when yourefresh the viewport it's back to 100..

as for Quadro indeed I think it does not quite reach the speed of a real quadraosince the GPU's of the Quadros are a little faster. I figured as long as it works and all the rest of my system is not affected might as well use it.. I'm just hoping it makes the UI a little more 'snappy'

I believe OpenGL apps differ to OpenGL games in what functions and commands are used by the card. If you're a serious gamer I think you'll get a better result from a Geforce than a Quadro?

you're right :P so I was just 'relieved' my games weren't broken

well I havent used it much since,

but I had a problem where every few minutes the whole 3ds max app freezes for a second or two.. could be CDilla..
EDIT: by that I meant WITHOUT softquadra and maxtreme.. so now Ill have to spend some time in 'MAXtreme' max to see if it's gone

so Im hoping by changing drivers (through maxtreme etc) this will be gone