Can't get smooth sprite movement @ <50fps

Hi,

I can't seem to get smooth sprite movement at lower FPS rates. Throwing delta timing aside (which I thought was the problem) and using what should be steady(ish) delays, I'm still getting blurred sprites between 30 - 50fps

Surely this shouldn't be happening at anything above 30fps?

Try this and also try changing the delay method between delay, a loop and a timer. When using the Delay & loop method, use '1' and '2' to adjust the delay. Also try without Cls, same happens.

Am I doing something wrong?
Cheers
Tom

Strict


Graphics 800,600,32,60 '60hz

AutoMidHandle True

SetMaskColor(255,0,255)
Global blob:TImage = LoadImage("C:\blitzmax\samples\simonh\fireworks\spark.png")

Global fps:fpsCounter = New fpsCounter
Global pause:Int = 0
Global bx:Int = 0
Global timer:Int = CreateTimer(40)

While Not KeyHit(KEY_ESCAPE)

	Local b:Int,i:Int
	
	'throw in a delay
	Delay pause
	
	'WaitTimer(timer)
	
	'an alternative to Delay
	'For i=1 To pause * 1000000
	'	b=i*i
	'Next
	
	If KeyHit(KEY_1) pause:-1
	If KeyHit(KEY_2) pause:+1
	If pause<0 pause=0 
	
	Cls
	DrawImage blob,bx,100

	bx:+10
	If bx>799 Then bx = 0
		
	fps.update()
	DrawText("use '1' and '2' to alter pause: "+pause,0,0)
	DrawText("FPS: "+fps.currentFPS,0,40)
		
	Flip
	FlushMem

Wend
End

Type fpsCounter
	Field currentFPS:Int
	Field oldMS:Int
	Field counter:Int
	
	Method Update()
		counter:+1
		If (MilliSecs() - oldMS) > 1000
			oldMS = MilliSecs()
			currentFPS = counter
			counter = 0
		End If
	End Method
End Type

This looks to be simply the effect of using `Flip` which automatically synchronizes your program to update every 30 or 60 fps, regardless of whatever else delays you might be using.

Flip has a framerate timing thing built in, unless you call:

SetSwapInterval(0)

(I think) ... which disables it (call it once at the top).

You will be seeing the streakyness/blurriness of sprites moving (the 25-30fps effect) at framerates from 30 to 59 because the Flip command is downsizing the framerate to 30fps all the time. You might be thinking you're running at 30-59 fps but it's really either going to lock on to 30 or 60 (or multiples of that, or 15 or 8 or 4 or 2 etc).

You don't want swapinterval when you have a dx program.

You want to set your refresh rate to -1, which has the same effect as flip 0.

[try this]

Strict

Local D3D7 = D3D7Max2DDriver()
Local OpenGL = GLMax2DDriver()
SetGraphicsDriver(OpenGL)

Graphics 800,600,32,60 '60hz

AutoMidHandle True

SetMaskColor(255,0,255)
Global blob:TImage = LoadImage("C:\Program Files\blitzmax\samples\simonh\fireworks\spark.png")

Global fps:fpsCounter = New fpsCounter
Global pause:Int = 0
Global bx:Int = 0
Global timer:Int = CreateTimer(40)

While Not KeyHit(KEY_ESCAPE)

	Local b:Int,i:Int
	
	'throw in a delay
	Delay pause
	
	'WaitTimer(timer)
	
	'an alternative to Delay
	'For i=1 To pause * 1000000
	'	b=i*i
	'Next
	
	If KeyHit(KEY_1) pause:-1
	If KeyHit(KEY_2) pause:+1
	If pause<0 pause=0 
	
	Cls
	DrawImage blob,bx,100

	bx:+10
	If bx>799 Then bx = 0
		
	fps.update()
	DrawText("use '1' and '2' to alter pause: "+pause,0,0)
	DrawText("FPS: "+fps.currentFPS,0,40)
		
	Flip
	FlushMem

Wend
End

Type fpsCounter
	Field currentFPS:Int
	Field oldMS:Int
	Field counter:Int
	
	Method Update()
		counter:+1
		If (MilliSecs() - oldMS) > 1000
			oldMS = MilliSecs()
			currentFPS = counter
			counter = 0
		End If
	End Method
End Type

I'm beginning to think it's a driver problem here or something.

Shagwana had some delta test code, and if I slow that down (using his coded method) to about 50fps I'm seeing blurred edges on sprites in the direction they're moving. I'll check with him and post it to see if you guys are seeing it.

I'm on nvidia 71.89s at the moment, the latest ones give a 'cannot create D3D' type error trying to boot up my kids lego game!

Tom