Issue with GTT

[nentendo]

Been using GTT off and on for a while now. My biggest problem is the lag it seems to cause. I get it under 2 conditions.

1 - When a text trigger goes off. The lag seems to persist the entire time that text is overlaid on my screen. I did get some minor relief on this when I upgraded my video card driver (strangely my system had loaded the windows version of my Radeon 9800 driver.) I am now using Driver Version 8.593.100.0 dated 9/29/2009 on WinXP Pro SP3. That is the latest version I can find, but not getting much more responsiveness than I was before.

2 - When a timer is triggered. Makes me not want to utilize the timer system, because it lags my computer badly. We're talking about 1 - 3 fps in either a group or raid environment. Only timer trigger I have set up at the moment is for shaman epic click at 3 minutes.

I don't have the best computer in the world, but I would think that since EQ runs well enough to produce ~ 20 fps normally on raids and ~ 40 fps in normal group zones that there must be something going on with the resources required by GTT to cause my computer to want to kill itself.

For reference, I have a self-built computer with the following specs:
AMD Athlon 64 3500+
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB
2GB DDR RAM

If you need any further info for troubleshooting, please let me know what I can provide.

[Gamanern]

Firstly, I have made a test version previously which lowers the update rate of the timers, which will go a long way to helping your timer issue, but I think you have a larger issue to deal with. If you want, you can try the version on the link:

http://gambosoft.com/GamTextTriggers/GamTextTriggers_1_0_0_7_No_Installer_LowUpdateRate.zip

All it does is update the timer only once per second, instead of 20 times. I was a little over zealous with trying to make the process as smooth as possible.

I think your bigger issue is in how your graphics card handles having an overlay covering the DirectX 3D area. I had very similar issues with an older computer that when anything covered the game area, the computer would also grind to a halt. To test that theory, try overlapping the game area with other windows to see if that also hurts your frame rates. Try things like opening the menu over the game, placing a program above it, and if possible, a program that stays on top even when the game is the active task. To get something that will stay 'on top' use Windows Task Manager, Right-click on your task bar and select "Task Manager" and then click back into the game and the task manager should remain on top.

Let me know if your computer handles those situations differently to how it behaves when running GTT.

[nentendo]

Okay, I downloaded and installed the zip file, got it up and running, copied my .INI file, and tested for a bit right after logging in.

I have EQ running as the "active window" at between 30 - 35 FPS in the Guild Lobby. I started up GTT and EQ continues to run between 30 - 35 FPS. I opened the Windows Start Menu using the Window key, and no noticeable lag in FPS. I open Mozilla Firefox in my second monitor and tab over to it so EQ is a background process. FPS drops to about 29. I open Task Manager and Alt-Tab to EQ so that Task Manager overlays EQ, but EQ is the active window. FPS remains between 30 - 35.

I now fire off my shaman's epic click which brings up a text trigger over my screen stating "Shaman Epic ON." FPS drops to 4 from 33 with the text overlay and 3-minute timer. When the text overlay disappears, FPS shoots back up to 17 while the timer is still running. Vast improvement from previous, since while the timer ran before, it was staying around 1 - 5 FPS. I am not sure how long the text overlay lasts, but can not find any options to tweak it.

After the 3-minute timer elapses, another text overlay appears stating "Click Shaman Epic." FPS drops from 17 to 5. After the text overlay disappears, it skyrockets back up to 33 FPS.

Clicking shaman epic again, I count to see how long it takes for the text overlay to disappear. Seems to be about 20 seconds. This is a lot longer than I need it on the screen. Personally, I only need it up for about 5 seconds. I do realize others may need it up for longer.

Potential solution for all involved would be to set how long the overlay displays? Just throwing out ideas. I'm not a coder/programmer, so not sure how involved it would be for you to do something of this nature.

Again, I want to thank you for the effort you've put into this program, maintaining it, making it better, and even for the nice fix you've already made for me on the timer issue.

[Gamanern]

Are you running as a "Fader" or "Scroller"?

Fader is a MUCH lower resource option as it does very few updates to the screen. Setting the speed on the "Fader" just makes it stay up a shorter time.

Also for the speed issues, it appears that it is the transparency that is disagreeing with your GFX card, not just the overlay as other programs don't have such a hard time with it.

Generally, you will likely have issues with either kind of overlay with your current set up. You can still use the sound options, either playing a sound file, or using text-to-speech, but that defeats the purpose of the overlays. Still, it causes less lag that the in-game audio triggers if you have a lot set.

[nentendo]

I am using "Fader". I have tried changing the "Speed" from Regular to Fast, but I don't see a noticeable difference between the two. Looks like I'll just have to use mostly audio triggers until I can get a faster system. Thanks for the help.