Between Window and Full Screen

[HiiEN]

I don't think it's just me, and it could be a graphics/processor issue. Is there some requirement to be able to run window mode smoothly? Because apparently I lag more in window mode than in full screen. I know this is NOT the case for everyone, it's even reversed for some people, which leads to more confusion for me.

Apparently the game tends to burn more CPU when running in window mode, and it's evident when I show the FPS in game and it randomly jumps to 300 and I get fast to slow to fast etc. FPS jumps. When running in full screen, the FPS remains at a constant 60, which is perfectly smooth and fine. Now I do want to run window mode, but with the issues on it for me right now it's too inconvenient to use. If anyone has any advice on how to fix it, or even just a reason why it's not working the way it should, any and all help would be appreciated. What I don't want is people posting saying "well it works fine for me I dunno about you" without even the slightest hint of a pointer or advice.

Anyways here's a few specs of my laptop, which I bought about two years ago:
Model: HP Pavilion dv8301nr
Processor: AMD Turion 64 ML-34
Speed: 1.79 GHz
RAM: 2.00 GB (upgraded from 512 MB)
OS: Windows XP
Graphics: ATi RADEON XPRESS 200M

[Lylac]

You have a horrible video card that's not suited for gaming.

Not trying to be mean, it's just video cards that use shared memory = gross.

[HiiEN]

I figured as much, but you gotta admit, jeez for a game that's 2D and was made for 12 year olds the requirements are damn high and misleading compared to what's read in the Nexon site. It's nothing compared to the bare minimums. I don't understand how it could require that much effort. I've played Guild Wars and it runs better at times than Maplestory in window mode.

Speaking of which, if you remember it runs fine on full screen and only gets problems when alt+entering to window mode. Does window mode just intentionally burn more memory?

[Lylac]

Speaking of which, if you remember it runs fine on full screen and only gets problems when alt+entering to window mode. Does window mode just intentionally burn more memory?

The program for windowed mode makes your video card render things in the game as well as on your desktop, making the game choppier. It's not noticeable at all with high-end video cards but your video card is an integrated one that shares its memory and doesn't have its own personal memory for rendering games.

[Yoorah]

The reason your FPS varies in windowed mode is because MapleStory does not use vsync then. By contrast, in fullscreen mode, vsync is used, so your frame rate stays the same. This is perfectly normal.

Vsync is a feature that caps the frame rate to the vertical refresh rate of your monitor (60Hz/60FPS in your case). This has been done in games for a long time now, and it helps prevent graphical glitches. However, as with any feature, vsync requires a bit of extra processing power to make it work, so game performance is decreased. How big of a performance cost vsync has depends on your graphics processor.

On the other hand, when you run the game in windowed mode, more processing power is used to render everything else that's on your screen, besides MS -- and your screen is set at a higher resolution, unlike the 800x600 it is in when MS is in fullscreen. It may also use more RAM like you said (I'm too lazy to measure it to verify), but I'm not certain, and it's irrelevant in your case because your 2GB is plenty.

When in windowed mode, does your FPS ever drop below 60? Do you actually feel jitter in windowed mode, or does it play just as smooth as fullscreen? Because if you're only worried by your FPS having a wide range instead of being locked, then that's irrelevant to your gameplay and is perfectly normal; your FPS is supposed to take a dive when there's a lot of stuff on the screen, you just don't notice it in fullscreen because it's capped at a lower number to begin with.

If you actually do feel the jitter in windowed mode, then the only real suggestion I have is that you go to ATI's site and download the most recent drivers for your graphics adapter. It's possible that they've improved support/performance for your usage scenario. You could also try wiping your system and installing a fresh copy of Windows XP - maybe you have something installed that's bogging you down.

[HiiEN]

The interesting thing is that when I switch to window mode, yes the performance degrades (at least I think it does) and it is noticeable because the game speed fluctuates between normal, fast, and slow. However, I know what you're talking about. The thing is, it's reversed. FPS is normal and stays at 60 for the most part in full screen, and only drops to around 20-30 when there's strain with multiple mobs/skills/etc.

However, when switched to window the FPS doesn't drop, it goes up, and very substantially I might add. At times it'll read 60, and at other times it'll read over 400. I'll check my graphics drivers and vsync options in the meantime.

[xCenario]

Just a question... isnt it better to have more FPS?

[SackMaDack]

Just a question... isnt it better to have more FPS?

yes it is, it means you're "missing" less in terms of graphical display on your monitor rather than skipping and missing small movements.

[HiiEN]

I believe there's an "optimal" amount compared to having too much. Plus, it's fine if your FPS stays at a fixed number/rate, however if it's sporadically jumping in multiples of ten then it's noticeable since you're going from fast to slow and it's as if your game is lagging when it really isn't.

[Cardboardsnail]

Windowed mode is a bit heavy on the CPU

A dual-core or quad-core CPU would handle it much better

[CronoRegen]

B> desktop that can handle maple alright -_-
now its just kinda sad with all of the choppiness and such.
I like windowed only because it allows me to go back in forth between MS and Mozilla

[xCenario]

Does laptops accept dedicated vid cards? I heard that if they have the integrated one, you can't put a dedicated one. :f6:

If you can, I'm buying this dell a video card right now. Never liked the shared memory, and integrated card.

[Lylac]

Does laptops accept dedicated vid cards? I heard that if they have the integrated one, you can't put a dedicated one. :f6:

If you can, I'm buying this dell a video card right now. Never liked the shared memory, and integrated card.

Yes, laptops do have dedicated video cards. My video card is the GeForce 8600M GT which does a fantastic job.

[Yoorah]

Yes, laptops do have dedicated video cards. My video card is the GeForce 8600M GT which does a fantastic job.

Just to clarify -- while there are laptops with dedicated video cards, laptops that already have an integrated graphics processor generally cannot be upgraded with a dedicated card! Check with Dell if yours is compatible with the upgrade, first.

[Allen]

Windowed mode is a bit heavy on the CPU

A dual-core or quad-core CPU would handle it much better

Actually Quad/Dual Cores have no effect on the performance on Maple Story at all. I'm using a quad core and Maple Story is not coded to support multi-threading so it all just runs off one core.

[John]

Hmm.. The same problem is happening with me but instead of just windowed mode, it's both. I'll be walking around or talking and my FPS will suddenly drop for a second. I think that this problem could've been caused by a recent server check? I dunno. In the past week though, it ran perfectly, so I don't think it's my computer. So I'm guessing it's Nexon's fault?

[Slip]

Actually Quad/Dual Cores have no effect on the performance on Maple Story at all. I'm using a quad core and Maple Story is not coded to support multi-threading so it all just runs off one core.
I think he means that the faster your CPU is, the better it will handle Windowed Mode.

You're right though, MapleStory isn't programmed to use fully of Duo or Quad processors.

[Five Second Pose]

It also may depend on what programs you have open, some windows make it lag, like chat windows, and occasionally browsers.

[Slip]

It also may depend on what programs you have open, some windows make it lag, like chat windows, and occasionally browsers.
Running Vista with Aero is also hell.

Make sure to turn off the Aero Glass and Transparency when you're doing something that depends on your Video, RAM or CPU.

[kleptophobia]

I don't know for sure, but in my experiences with SDL (which on Windows uses DirectX 7) I found that window-mode applications had a lower average frame rate than Full-screen mode applications (even when both are hardware). So it may be due to the fact that it may have to interact with Windows more than if it were in full-screen mode? I'm not sure, I just learned this from experiments.

[Cardboardsnail]

Yes, laptops do have dedicated video cards. My video card is the GeForce 8600M GT which does a fantastic job.

Most laptops don't have the required slot for dedicated graphics (For laptops, it's an MXM slot)


Actually Quad/Dual Cores have no effect on the performance on Maple Story at all. I'm using a quad core and Maple Story is not coded to support multi-threading so it all just runs off one core.

I meant it will be faster when you alt+tab or switch between programs while using windowed mode


I don't know for sure, but in my experiences with SDL (which on Windows uses DirectX 7) I found that window-mode applications had a lower average frame rate than Full-screen mode applications (even when both are hardware). So it may be due to the fact that it may have to interact with Windows more than if it were in full-screen mode? I'm not sure, I just learned this from experiments.

Yeah, windowed mode needs more resources
In windowed mode, your computer is handling your desktop and MS at the same time

[HiiEN]

Well thing is I wasn't using Vista, I hate it and I'm using XP. But yeah the answer I figured was that window mode is more intensive considering your comp is going more than it can handle. Thanks for the input, everyone.