Test Method

1. The frame rate was set in DOS using GPFPS and the command gpfps -period x (where x is the period of the FPS).

2. The game was opened in a Win98 DOS box.

3. A quick race was started at Hockenheim with me starting at the back of the grid. The occupancy of the processor was noted (by holding down the "O" key) when the race first started.

4. The above was repeated for all the different frame rates tested.

Test Machine Specs

• Intel 450MHz Pentium III Processor (overclocked to 558Mhz)
• Voodoo Banshee 16Mb Graphics Card
• 64Mb of SDRAM
• Windows 98

Analysis

Running the game with a high a frame rate makes the game play better, however running the game in a high FPS has some very strange effects on certain areas of the game.

From the GPFPS readme file:-

Using a FPS setting which is too high can have a dramatic effect at the start of a race. As soon as you move away, the car will slide left, and then enter an unending spin. My Pentium 90 will only tolerate period values down to 8 (that's 37.5 FPS) before it goes nuts.

From the F1Ed help file:-

I run my copy of F1GP at 27 FPS. If I go any higher than this, computer cars have mysterious accidents, replays show a whole new version of the truth, and very often you'll end up with only one or two cars running by the end of a race. The functionality is there if you choose to use it, but it is unreliable above 25 or 27 FPS.

I found that on my PIII 450 I can run the game at 30 FPS (period = 10) without too many adverse effects. It is not possible to run the at greater than 60 FPS (period = 5) since the game crashes after the language selection screen. According to the GPFPS readme this is probably a "hard-wired game limitation".

Conclusion

It is very useful to increase the frame rate of the game since it gives better handling of the game but it can cause lots CC car accidents if it is set to high.

Each machine will have a different optimum frame rate so the best way to find it out is by trial and error. I suggest starting around a period value of 8 and then increasing this until the game starts to behave strangely. Remember that if you have a slow machine (less than P100) then make sure that the occupancy never reaches 100% as you increase the frame rate.

Go ahead and experiment with the FPS - you will be amazed how only an extra 5 FPS makes a lot of difference to how the game plays.

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