Shockwave applets randomly freeze in Firefox
Asus A8V Deluxe
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core
1.4 GB DDR 2100 RAM
2x 80GB 7200 rpm Seagate SATA HDDs in RAID 0
Nvidia Geforce 6600GT 256mb
Windows XP Pro SP2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180
Firefox 1.5.0.6
Latest shockwave installed
I have two questions, the first being the more important one.
1. Since upgrading my motherboard and CPU two weeks ago, certain Shockwave applets keep freezeing in Firefox after a random amount of time, whereas in Internet Explorer I have no problem (I only use IE if I have to).
2. I have also noticed sluggish 2d graphics performance in Shockwave on both browsers when my display is set to 32-bit colour. When I switch to 16-bit it's a lot faster. Here are the results using a shockwave based benchmark.
16-bit colour.. 32 bit colour..
Math 180.2 180.2
Text 158.6 76.0
Pixels 98.2 70.9
Sprites 215.3 69.9
Vector 231.6 94.3
3D 268.8 267.7
Average 192.1 125.7
All the 2D drawing tests are a lot slower in 32-bit.
Compared to the reference computers, the average of the 32-bit results only just beats the Dell Dimension 8100 (1400mhz, 256mb ram, Geforce 2 GTS), but the 16-bit average is off the chart. I know that 32-bit colour is more demanding, but that is no reason for 2D results similar to a Geforce 2 :(
Thank you for your patience!
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core
1.4 GB DDR 2100 RAM
2x 80GB 7200 rpm Seagate SATA HDDs in RAID 0
Nvidia Geforce 6600GT 256mb
Windows XP Pro SP2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180
Firefox 1.5.0.6
Latest shockwave installed
I have two questions, the first being the more important one.
1. Since upgrading my motherboard and CPU two weeks ago, certain Shockwave applets keep freezeing in Firefox after a random amount of time, whereas in Internet Explorer I have no problem (I only use IE if I have to).
2. I have also noticed sluggish 2d graphics performance in Shockwave on both browsers when my display is set to 32-bit colour. When I switch to 16-bit it's a lot faster. Here are the results using a shockwave based benchmark.
16-bit colour.. 32 bit colour..
Math 180.2 180.2
Text 158.6 76.0
Pixels 98.2 70.9
Sprites 215.3 69.9
Vector 231.6 94.3
3D 268.8 267.7
Average 192.1 125.7
All the 2D drawing tests are a lot slower in 32-bit.
Compared to the reference computers, the average of the 32-bit results only just beats the Dell Dimension 8100 (1400mhz, 256mb ram, Geforce 2 GTS), but the 16-bit average is off the chart. I know that 32-bit colour is more demanding, but that is no reason for 2D results similar to a Geforce 2 :(
Thank you for your patience!
jvuz
Uninstalling Shockwave, rebooting and reinstalling shockwave doesn't help?
ASKER
No jvuz, I also tried uninstalling firefox, backing up its program folders, deleting them and reinstalling a fresh copy.
I've just downloaded BitBlt - a standalone 2D benchmark from here: http://www.karpfenteich.net/colorful/bitblt.html The results are also way slower in 32-bit, so the slowness doesnt only seem ralated to Shockwave.
16-bit..
BitBlt:
avg: 664.8 fps [779.0 MB/sec]
max: 941.5 fps [1103.3 MB/sec]
min: 83.8 fps [98.2 MB/sec]
ReverseBlt:
avg: 156.6 fps [183.5 MB/sec]
max: 179.3 fps [210.1 MB/sec]
min: 132.4 fps [155.1 MB/sec]
32-bit...
BitBlt:
avg: 51.7 fps [60.5 MB/sec]
max: 58.0 fps [68.0 MB/sec]
min: 38.6 fps [45.2 MB/sec]
ReverseBlt:
avg: 155.2 fps [181.9 MB/sec]
max: 163.1 fps [191.2 MB/sec]
min: 145.3 fps [170.3 MB/sec]
I've just downloaded BitBlt - a standalone 2D benchmark from here: http://www.karpfenteich.net/colorful/bitblt.html The results are also way slower in 32-bit, so the slowness doesnt only seem ralated to Shockwave.
16-bit..
BitBlt:
avg: 664.8 fps [779.0 MB/sec]
max: 941.5 fps [1103.3 MB/sec]
min: 83.8 fps [98.2 MB/sec]
ReverseBlt:
avg: 156.6 fps [183.5 MB/sec]
max: 179.3 fps [210.1 MB/sec]
min: 132.4 fps [155.1 MB/sec]
32-bit...
BitBlt:
avg: 51.7 fps [60.5 MB/sec]
max: 58.0 fps [68.0 MB/sec]
min: 38.6 fps [45.2 MB/sec]
ReverseBlt:
avg: 155.2 fps [181.9 MB/sec]
max: 163.1 fps [191.2 MB/sec]
min: 145.3 fps [170.3 MB/sec]
Check to be sure that correct and up to date drivers are installed for your video card. (see manufacturer website).
I'm not sure if Shockwave 3D stuff uses DirectX acceleration. I do know if the driver in use doesn't support Direct3D your performance will greatly suffer. Sometimes the drivers installed by Windows do not support more advanced features of your card.
Other question: after the hardware upgrade, did you move to a CPU with a smaller cache size, less / slower RAM, etc?
Also, if you use onboard graphics the motherboard upgrade would almost certainly affect that. Incorrect drivers could be the culprit here if you kept the same install of Windows from before to after the upgrade.
I'm not sure if Shockwave 3D stuff uses DirectX acceleration. I do know if the driver in use doesn't support Direct3D your performance will greatly suffer. Sometimes the drivers installed by Windows do not support more advanced features of your card.
Other question: after the hardware upgrade, did you move to a CPU with a smaller cache size, less / slower RAM, etc?
Also, if you use onboard graphics the motherboard upgrade would almost certainly affect that. Incorrect drivers could be the culprit here if you kept the same install of Windows from before to after the upgrade.
ASKER
312admin
I have tried old and new drivers. The slowness is not related to Shockwave, as I have tried a standalone benchmark as I stated in my previous post. Have a look at the difference in MB/sec in 16 and 32 bit modes, its huge.
I don't see that Direct3D is related to it either as its only the 2D performance that is lacking. DirectDraw is more likely to be involved.
I upgraded from an Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe with XP2500+ to an Asus A8V Deluxe with XP3800+ X2 Dual Core. Nothing else has changed. Not using onboard graphics.
I did repair install XP Pro SP2 with the original XP Pro, so i had to put SP2 and windows updates back in. I admit it is not a very clean install. I have a separate HDD with a clean install of XP Home that i can test with tomorrow if i get time.
I think i have a similar problem to this guy:- http://forums.nvidia.com/lofiversion/index.php?t1142.html and in the end he found out his card was faulty because the replacement worked.
I have tried old and new drivers. The slowness is not related to Shockwave, as I have tried a standalone benchmark as I stated in my previous post. Have a look at the difference in MB/sec in 16 and 32 bit modes, its huge.
I don't see that Direct3D is related to it either as its only the 2D performance that is lacking. DirectDraw is more likely to be involved.
I upgraded from an Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe with XP2500+ to an Asus A8V Deluxe with XP3800+ X2 Dual Core. Nothing else has changed. Not using onboard graphics.
I did repair install XP Pro SP2 with the original XP Pro, so i had to put SP2 and windows updates back in. I admit it is not a very clean install. I have a separate HDD with a clean install of XP Home that i can test with tomorrow if i get time.
I think i have a similar problem to this guy:- http://forums.nvidia.com/lofiversion/index.php?t1142.html and in the end he found out his card was faulty because the replacement worked.
ASKER
Sorry about the delay, i have tried putting the Graphics card into another PC with an Asus A7N8X-VM/400 motherboard and it draws at a respectable pace.
32-bit results..
BitBlt:
avg: 433.4 fps [507.8 MB/sec]
max: 469.6 fps [550.4 MB/sec]
min: 162.4 fps [190.3 MB/sec]
ReverseBlt:
avg: 105.5 fps [123.7 MB/sec]
max: 129.1 fps [151.3 MB/sec]
min: 42.9 fps [50.2 MB/sec]
So that makes me think it's a hardware or bios configuration problem, but i have no idea where...
32-bit results..
BitBlt:
avg: 433.4 fps [507.8 MB/sec]
max: 469.6 fps [550.4 MB/sec]
min: 162.4 fps [190.3 MB/sec]
ReverseBlt:
avg: 105.5 fps [123.7 MB/sec]
max: 129.1 fps [151.3 MB/sec]
min: 42.9 fps [50.2 MB/sec]
So that makes me think it's a hardware or bios configuration problem, but i have no idea where...
Is it possible you have some sort of garbage (spyware, viruses, poorly written software which uses memory / CPU incorrectly), etc causing the problem? Try running spyware / virus scanners (for spyware Spybot Search and Destroy comes to mind).
You might also try a reinstall of XP as well (as you mentioned it wasn't a clean install). If your windows install is botched, that could well be the problem there.
You might also try a reinstall of XP as well (as you mentioned it wasn't a clean install). If your windows install is botched, that could well be the problem there.
ASKER
Nope I have tried clean installing Windows XP Pro without any service packs on a spare hard disk. Only the via hyperion drivers and latest nvidia drivers were installed. Exactly the same slowness in 32-bit colour mode. The card works fine in another PC.
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ASKER
Will try and get in contact with Asus. Fingers crossed. Thanks for help so far!