Prey & Dual Core

[Syphadeus]

I had a little search for this but only turned up topics in other forums, so I figured I'd go ahead and ask.

Activision/Raven released a patch for Quake 4 that massively improved performance on the Doom 3 engine running Quake when used on Intel and AMD multi-cpu systems.

I know that Prey uses a heavily modified version of the D3 engine, but will it be taking advantage of dual-core CPUs out of the box and if not, are there any plans in the future to release updates that could make this possible? I was absolutely amazed at the performance increase on my X2 4400+, 7800GTX system playing Quake 4, and it'd be great if Prey could take advantage of this too.

[Kristian Joensen]

Yes, it will take full advantage of dual-core. This was mentioned in one of the article's in 1up's week of prey feature.

I too saw a HUGE performance increase with the dual core patch(x2 3800 @ 2.5ghz) and have been wondering the same thing.I have been trying to get a straight answer from the devs on that qustion,and on if the game will properly support wide screen resolutions and aspect ratios,but have had NO luck.... questions@prey or whatever that email address was,is dead in the water.... a simple yes or no would suffice from one of he devs.I cant get that those q's answered,and have been asking for a while.Long before crunch mode began in earnest in the last month or so.

[Tim Gerritsen]

We don't want to answer if we don't have a definitive answer. Both of these issues are on the table but we don't know yet whether they will make launch or be post launch features. We don't want everyone to report one thing and then have it change in the final days. Once we have a definitive "Yes it will be in there for launch" or "No it won't be in there for launch, but will be in there for a patch" we'll let you know for sure. We have a lot of things on the list and these are secondary priority right now to bug crunching. We want them in, and may have them in, but we just don't know yet. At the bare minimum, assume everything that was supported in Doom3 1.3 and Quake 4 launch are supported in Prey. Beyond that, we'll let you know when we know for sure.

Unfortunately that's the kind of half baked answer I wanted to avoid, but I don't want to have you keep hanging on.

[hell-angel]

Thanks Tim, this answer is better then no answer IMO.

[Syphadeus]

Indeed, a response of any kind from the guys developing the game is great really, if only to show their acknowledgment of what fans are talking about.

Thanks for the replies, other board members included. Shame we don't know for sure yet, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that dual-core support will show up at some point in time.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Syphadeus

Thanks for the replies, other board members included. Shame we don't know for sure yet, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that dual-core support will show up at some point in time.

It should do. The two options given by Tim are:

"Yes it will be in there for launch" or "No it won't be in there for launch, but will be in there for a patch"

We know that the tech is already there:

Prey will proudly support dual-core setups and more.

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager....=1&cId=3147653

It's just a question of whether it will make launch or not.

[Babe]

Now I know you developers are now focussed on the game demo. I was wondering if you guys are trying now to put the dual core support in the main version now ? Or it has already been postponed for a future patch release ?

[Yatta]

One of the weekly updates in Prey said there would be dual core support.

I dont think 3DR/HH want to be promising anything bout MT/DC support. I think it will be like with Quake 4 that they release a patch. It has dual core support as you say, but i think its hard to optimize n tweak dual core that will fit everyone. There are so many different types. I would love 2 patches, one "INTEL" for their HT/Dualcore cpu´s, and one for us with AMD X2/Opteron Dualcore cpu´s. This would be most optimal for everyone...??? Im not a CPU wizz, but i think there is some major difference´s in handling info, and ofcourse difference in performance...

[Nessus]

To me I dont see Widescreen support as optional anymore, too many gamers have them and not supporting it is bad not only for your game but the whole industry.

[Tim Gerritsen]

To clarify for Nessus, we already support wide screen format. The question was whether or not we'd support native resolutions like 1680x1050 that some wisescreens support rather than the way Quake IV did it, which is choosing a widescreen format based on a standard resolution like 1280x1024 and changing the view for 16x10 or 16x9 aspect ratios. We hope to get native resolutions in as well before launch but it's lower priority right now.

[Babe]

@ Tim, do you now know if the retail launch will include the Dual Core support ? Or will it come out in a patch ? Just wondering since the release date is coming so nearer every day so just in case you have some new updated info ?

I think he already answered in a earlier post. But I too am intrested in the dual core/Multithread development! Tim, is there any news on this front???

[hell-angel]

The official statement is that they will try to get it in on release, if that is not possible they will include it in a patch. Check the box in the store on released day if it is supported.

Yeah well thats kind of obvious?? That we already know, asking if there were anymore news since last post...

[hell-angel]

Then your answer is:
NO.

[Babe]

Come one 3dr/HH ,with he retail version now very near to going gold, tell us whether Prey retail will have support for Dual Core processors now, or in the form of a patched update later ?

[Brian Karis]

The retail version will not have dual core optimizations. There simply wasn't enough time. It will instead come in a patch. Multi-threading is being worked on right now. We will continue to work with the processor manufacturers to make sure to get the most out of it we can.
-Brian

Now when i tried out the Demo, and i "Alt+tabbed" to desktop, and i popped up the task manager, prey seemed to be using both core´s?? But that is perhaps because of the Dual Core Hotfix from MS???

[aviel120]

or jast ask the demo has an optimization to dule core? and my qustion is will this mode is for HT to?

[vipeness]

ummmm, by default, dual core processors, are always used, you gotta turn them off

[Boinky]

Just to bump this. Is there anyway to set the core affinity for Prey? Im having strange issues w/ the game, and I want to see if it has anything to do w/ my running DC.

[Benmandude]

Ok, is there any eta on the patch, as I am not going to buy it until the patch is out and i can take full advantage of my dual core.

[FireFly]

Why? You shouldn't be CPU limited anyway.

[brock2621]

Ok what EXACTLY does the MS hotfix patch do? I have a +4400 and from what i understand, game stuttering happens when the processes keep being switched from one core to the other and it's having trouble deciding where to allocate the processes. Doesn't the MS patch just set the affinity to one core when opening applications to eliminate stuttering but that would defeat the purpose of dual cores?

Clarification for the ill-informed would be great

[neilsouth]

Originally Posted by Boinky

Just to bump this. Is there anyway to set the core affinity for Prey? Im having strange issues w/ the game, and I want to see if it has anything to do w/ my running DC.

IF you are talking about the frame skipping then no its nothing to do with dual core its something that is happening thats specific to this type of engine and SOME people's computers.

[brock2621]

Anybody?

[Boinky]

Well whats happening to me is random crashing. No real reason, its happened the most when loading new games.. My video just dies.. I have absolutely no problem w/ any other games. Ive tried turning my settings down and it still crashes. I know some games have issues w/ having multiple CPUs, so I just wanted to eliminate that as a problem :\

[hamwbone]

while in the game, alt+tab to pull up the task bar on the bottom, on my pc i have to mess with the mouse to get it to show up on the task bar, i cant completly alt tab out of the game. anyways, right click on the task bar and pull up the task manager. check the processes tab and look for Prey.exe, right click on that and click set affinity. uncheck one of your cpu cores, hit OK, then close the task manager. click on prey on the task bar and you should be back to full screen.

let me know if ya need more help

[Montresor]

Anyone play with forcing open gl threading in the new nvidia drivers?

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_91.31.html

[hamwbone]

i installed the new drivers a few days ago, any idea where it is in this new fangled control panel?

[hamwbone]

never mind i found it, gona go run some tests