Problem: Random lag type 'hiccups' during offline play.

[old.athon_solo]

Hi all,

/me Kicks Smoothie (www.smoothwall.org) bos for disconnecting just as
he posted and thus losing his long system spec he typed up (and then
retypes system spec & saves it in a txt file)!

Problem:
The following happens frequently and randomly (or seemingly so), all during offline play (haven't played online in a while! - grr @ ntl for not getting cable modem to me yet!):
1. I alternate fire
2. There's a slight pause - often I end up facing a different direction here but I think that's due to a lag-type effect.
3. My weapon switches - usually to the translocator / impact hammer.

As far as I can remember this started after reinstalling Windoze (ERROR: Too much crap on HDD!) - but don't quote me on that!

What I've tried so far:
> Changing video output (OpenGL, DirectX, etc)
> Cleaning both mouse & keyboard
> Completely uninstalling (UT 436 with all the bonus packs, loads of maps, mods & muts) & reinstalling UT at base level only (UT 400 - no mods, mutators, maps, etc).
> Removing the KVM switch from the loop
> Tried a different mouse (without scroll-wheel)
> Switching on DirectInput made the problem alot worse.
> Switching off Mouse Smoothing makes it slightly better.

Thing's I've also done in the meantime which haven't made a
difference:
> Changed Memorex DVD drive and decoder card for Creative Encore Infra 12x DVD drive & decoder card
> Changed fan on CPU requiring all cards and leads to be removed & put back in
> Swapped network card
> Installed new DirectX (8.1)
> Installed new nVidia Detonator drivers (12.81 I believe)

My setup:
1] Drives
> A: Floppy - 1.44MB standard (ie. none of these flash hi-capacity ones)
> C: 40 GB IBM HDD (IDE) - Windoze
> D: 8 GB (I think) (IDE) HDD - Mandrake 8.0 Linux
> E: Creative Encore INFRA 12x DVD (IDE) drive (UT Install Drive)
> F: PlexWriter 8/4/32A CD-RW (IDE) drive

2] Core system
> AMD Athlon 700 MHz (Old Slot type)
> 384 MB PC-133 SDRAM

3] Cards (PCI unless otherwise stated)
> RealTek RTL-8139 Network card
> Creative Encore INFRA DVD Decoder card
> nVidia Geforce 2 MX (AGP)
> Creative Sound Blaster Live! 1024 5.1 Player

4] Other peripherals
> Cambride Soundworks 5.1 3500 surround speaker system
> Creative Encore INFRA Remote Control reciever (COM2)
> OmniView SE 4-port KVM switch
> Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer (wired version) (PS2 mode)
> Standard Keyboard (with APM (not used) and Windows keys) (PS2)
> Palm Vx charger / HotSync unit (COM1)
> HP ScanJet 4100C scanner (USB)
> LAN network (also used for accessing Internet via (dial-up) Smoothie box)

5] Software
> Windows 98 SE (4.10.2222 A) with all relevent patches
> DirectX 8.1
> GLSetup (latest version - but I think it's been overwritten by nVidia drivers)
> nVidia Detonator drivers (12.81 - I think)

I'm using the original version of UT - not GOTY edition.

Please help!

TIA
Allen

 

[Wij]

Hmm, no replies. I think this one's too tricky for our little brains sorry

 

[old.$/\$]

Long Shot

Has been a while since your post .. came across it by accident.

(a) Laser mice (which I believe the Explorer was) are prone to being a pain in the ass. Believe me I know 1st hand. Replaced almost the entire contents of my PC, smashing up 1 case in temper, cos the mouse was damaged and I didnt think to check. In the end it turned out to be the desk I was using had too shiney a surface for its liking - cure was a £1 mouse mat (cloth kind) that works awesome.

(b) Drivers - You mentioned that you installed a variety of drivers, but didnt mention the motherboard. On my PC again, its VIA based ( ) so an install of Via's 4in1 drivers (available from main web site) almost doubled the performance. Perhaps a search and install of the latest ones would help ?

Like I said, might not help, be too late, perhaps you've even binned the PC, but good luck non the less.

$/\$

(edit)
Perhaps also a reinstall of UT would be in order as well. Maybe a key bind has gone screwy ... ?

 

[old.athon_solo]

Didn't bin it, but I'm installing a new PC as we speak. (Gonna use the old one just for games so my friends & cousins can get their asses kicked when they come round my house *g*