Crysis First Impressions

[Burke888]

Fileplanet had an EXTREMELY limited "first batch" of keys that they released to Founder Club members. They had a link up on their homepage for a couple hours then all of the keys were gone. Usually with something like this they offer a heads up, but this was a complete surprise and many people are unaware that a semi public beta is out there. They openly stated that they will be offering additional batches of keys, whether or not these will be for Founders (higher than regular subscribers) or ordinary paying subscribers remains a mystery.

I am running an Alienware with the following:

Intel Core 2 2.66Ghz
4GB RAM (2.75 recognized with Vista 32bit)
Geforce 8800GTX Stock Speeds
ForceWare 162.22

I am running the game in DX10 mode, with all settings set to "High" (Very High has been disabled), 1280x1024 resolution and 2x AA enabled. There is no in game command so you would have to use FRAPs to measure the FPS. From just guessing at it, it seems to be running around 20-30 fps. I would like to add that, in my opinion, the motion blurr is distracting and gives the illusion that the game is running slower than it actually is. This is also a multiplayer only beta so internet connection is a big variable. In my opinion this is not a very fun game, the only unique thing that is brought to the table is the suit commands. You spawn and can buy weapons and excessories ala Counter Strike. I'm not really impressed with the graphics either. While they are better than anything I have ever seen, they weren't what I was hoping for. Perhaps the disabled Very High setting is what I need to look at, but at my current specs, I doubt I'll be able to run the game.

If anyone has any questions I would be happy to try and entertain them.

 

[KamelRed]

From what I've heard from other beta users is that the beta is DX9 only and no destructible environments?

 

[Burke888]

From what I've heard from other beta users is that the beta is DX9 only and no destructible environments?

There are no destructible environments.

I've heard conflicting reports concerning the DX9 issue on the beta forums. Some say that you can't run the game in DX10, but others say you can. For me, I go into the new games section Vista has, right click on the Crysis icon, then select "PlayDX10". I noticed a performance increase when I chose to play the game this way, perhaps it was because I joined a better server that time around, but there was a noticeable increase in the smoothness of the game.

 

[Miscommunication]

I guess the DX9/DX10 issue is unknown as to which is an option. Other than that, it's still a beta and will be used to shape up the demo and retail copies. Update your drivers if you can/want to. I bet you'll see better performance with the 163.44s or 163.67s. 162s are old , oh and is your CPU an E6700, Quad-core OC'd, etc? You can download fraps btw and see what you're really getting. I hope you don't think 20-30fps is smooth, 20fps is horrible to me so I was hoping you could run fraps and see what you're getting. Thanks for the info, even though it is an early-beta .

EDIT:http://www.incrysis.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=470 <-- That's why I called it an early-beta, since it is.

Also I just talked to a friend of mine with a similar setup to yours (less RAM) and he's getting 55+ fps with the same resolution. Although, he's using the 163.67 drivers and disabled Super-sampling Transparency AA and only uses Mulit-sampling Transparency AA. Using SS TRAA wacks off about 20+fps so using MS TRAA keeps that drop. Therefore, you should be getting much higher than 20-30fps, even with 2x, 4x, and maybe even 8x AA. He hasn't tried 8xAA though, just up to 4xAA.

 

[Burke888]

I guess the DX9/DX10 issue is unknown as to which is an option. Other than that, it's still a beta and will be used to shape up the demo and retail copies. Update your drivers if you can/want to. I bet you'll see better performance with the 163.44s or 163.67s. 162s are old , oh and is your CPU an E6700, Quad-core OC'd, etc? You can download fraps btw and see what you're really getting. I hope you don't think 20-30fps is smooth, 20fps is horrible to me so I was hoping you could run fraps and see what you're getting. Thanks for the info, even though it is an early-beta .

EDIT:http://www.incrysis.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=470 <-- That's why I called it an early-beta, since it is.

Also I just talked to a friend of mine with a similar setup to yours (less RAM) and he's getting 55+ fps with the same resolution. Although, he's using the 163.67 drivers and disabled Super-sampling Transparency AA and only uses Mulit-sampling Transparency AA. Using SS TRAA wacks off about 20+fps so using MS TRAA keeps that drop. Therefore, you should be getting much higher than 20-30fps, even with 2x, 4x, and maybe even 8x AA. He hasn't tried 8xAA though, just up to 4xAA.

My CPU is a 6700 running at stock speeds.
I just downloaded Fraps and I am getting 20-30fps, with 40fps when everything is standing still. How do you disable the super sampling transparency AA and use Multi-sampling instead?

As for the drivers, Nvidia's website still shows the 162.22 as the newest drivers for the 8 series for Vista. Are the newer drivers beta drivers or something?

 

[avirox]

can you tell us how much vram memory crysis is using without AA? (using vidmemwatcher or rivatuner's video memory plugin)

 

[silent-circuit]

As for the drivers, Nvidia's website still shows the 162.22 as the newest drivers for the 8 series for Vista. Are the newer drivers beta drivers or something?

Yes, they're betas. If you're gaming running 'release' drivers is an increasingly bad idea anymore. Latest betas are the way to go.

www.nzone.com - get the 163.67s, and make sure you're running all the necessary hotfixes for Vista.

 

[Miscommunication]

My CPU is a 6700 running at stock speeds.
I just downloaded Fraps and I am getting 20-30fps, with 40fps when everything is standing still. How do you disable the super sampling transparency AA and use Multi-sampling instead?

Open your Nvidia CP (right click on desktop and see "NVIDIA Control Panel"). Go to "Manage 3D Settings" and find AA - Transparency and try "Multisampling" or "Off". Also check and see if you have vsync on or off (I prefer to play with it on when I can, but with it off you get more fps).

As for the drivers, Nvidia's website still shows the 162.22 as the newest drivers for the 8 series for Vista. Are the newer drivers beta drivers or something?

When you go to the driver selection page, look above it and click on the "BETA Drivers" link, then choose the 163.47s. There's also links to the two mini-Vista SPs that you can install if you want. Within that same link is a memory management fix as well (163.47s complement this issue/fix).

 

[ObscureTerror]

I'm not really impressed with the graphics either. While they are better than anything I have ever seen, they weren't what I was hoping for.

I don't understand that contradictory comment, no offense.

So they're better than anything you've ever seen, but you're still not impressed? If the graphics were that good, better than anything I'd ever seen, I'd certainly be impressed.

My CPU is a 6700 running at stock speeds.
I just downloaded Fraps and I am getting 20-30fps, with 40fps when everything is standing still. How do you disable the super sampling transparency AA and use Multi-sampling instead?

In the nVidia control panel, under 3D settings, there's a drop-down box for levels of AA transparency. It's only going to have an effect if you're using Override mode, however. If you're not using manual 3D settings and only using the slider for quality/performance, it'll have no effect.

Frankly, what I've seen of the screens offered of the beta, I'm definitely not impressed by the graphics... yet. It is a beta, but still, I would have expected more. I definitely wouldn't say they (thus far) look like the best graphics I've ever seen. Compared to screens offered by Crytek (which always look phenomenal), they look nothing alike.

 

[silent-circuit]

When you go to the driver selection page, look above it and click on the "BETA Drivers" link, then choose the 163.47s. There's also links to the two mini-Vista SPs that you can install if you want. Within that same link is a memory management fix as well (163.47s complement this issue/fix).

163.67, not .47.

 

[Miscommunication]

Apparently, the maximum settings aren't available and it seems that the beta demo is forced into DX9 regardless of what a user does to run it in DX10 mode. From those that have it, there's only an ini file for DX9. Also from the reports, this demo isn't utilizing CPUs fully either, those with 3Ghz C2D dual-cores are seeing anywhere from 60-75% load on both cores. All in all it looks like this simply an internet/MP/bandwidth performance test, as labeled again here: http://www.incrysis.com/index.php?op...sk=view&id=470.

 

[ObscureTerror]

Apparently, the maximum settings aren't available and it seems that the beta demo is forced into DX9 regardless of what a user does to run it in DX10 mode. From those that have it, there's only an ini file for DX9. Also from the reports, this demo isn't utilizing CPUs fully either, those with 3Ghz C2D dual-cores are seeing anywhere from 60-75% load on both cores. All in all it looks like this simply an internet/MP/bandwidth performance test, as labeled again here: http://www.incrysis.com/index.php?op...sk=view&id=470.

That would make sense, since we've all seen what the graphics actually look like, at least for single-player.

 

[silent-circuit]

Doesn't make it any less underwhelming.

 

[Miscommunication]

Doesn't make it any less underwhelming.

True, yet it's pre-beta after all. I was hoping that it wouldn't be gimped so much though. I guess they decided to do network testing first. There's probably a hefty amount of debug code running amok in it . It all fits together with it being a very limited test. "Expectations" are better served by the retail copy or at the very least, the demo in 2 weeks.

 

[SPARTAN VI]

Are you allowed to post screenshots? Interested in seeing what the "high" setting looks like.

 

[Miscommunication]

lol gtx users getting 20-30fps on high dx9 1240x1024 lmao what a joke

gts user prob getting lik 20fps on the same settings ahahaha

dx10 would definately be lower speeds

now to post some real kick ass screens and fraps scores with my 2900xt

I'll be back!
lol so glad i didnt get nvidia for this game!

Wow you're everywhere today . I won't post what a beta is again (see above or the other Crysis thread here). Again judging how fast a card can run a beta with debug code is really smart. Even if you wanted to contest what people are getting, there's plenty who are getting higher fps (30-70) at that res with any of the 8800s, Supersampling TRAA knocks off 20fps according to those with it. Still though, it's moot to use a beta to measure performance, I'm sure you'll carry on though.

 

[snaggletooth]

I'll be back!

lol that's unfortunate lol

 

[ndper]

wow, this pre-beta is more for finding glitches and crashes right now. There releasing a patch hopefully tommorow thats suppost to address a ton of bugs and errors. with my rig (8800GTS 640mb@650/1015 and e6600@3.4) running the game at default settings I get 30-45 FPS before the memory leaks eat me lol. Clicking the run in dx10 option in vista does NOT acctually play in dx10, but it does improve performance for alot of people, including me by as much as 10-15fps.

I think for being a pre-beta this game is amazingly stable and good looking and I think that when they release their demos on the 25th alot of people are going to love it.

 

[Arcygenical]

lol that's unfortunate lol

haahahaha.

Clicking the run in dx10 option in vista does NOT acctually play in dx10, but it does improve performance for alot of people, including me by as much as 10-15fps.

Which means that a single setting can increase fps by almost 25%-30%. Which also means that there's a *lot* of optimization to be had.

lol gtx users getting 20-30fps on high dx9 1240x1024 lmao what a joke

gts user prob getting lik 20fps on the same settings ahahaha

dx10 would definately be lower speeds

now to post some real kick ass screens and fraps scores with my 2900xt

I'll be back!
lol so glad i didnt get nvidia for this game!

Uhhhm yeah... Beta 1, the fact that changing the AA setting can increase your FPS by around 15... The fact that others are scoring around 55fps with similar settings etc.

Go back to whatever ATI endorsed rock you crawled out from under

 

[ndper]

haahahaha.



Which means that a single setting can increase fps by almost 25%-30%. Which also means that there's a *lot* of optimization to be had.



Uhhhm yeah... Beta 1, the fact that changing the AA setting can increase your FPS by around 15... The fact that others are scoring around 55fps with similar settings etc.

Go back under whatever ATI endorsed rock you crawled out from under

Oh absolutly theres lots of opimization to be done still. Hell they don't even have quad core support yet, like already stated this is a glitch/crash hunt and MP netcode testing, which I might add is very good, very little to no lag for me and I have a pretty high ping to start with.

 

[snaggletooth]

Oh absolutly theres lots of opimization to be done still. Hell they don't even have quad core support yet, like already stated this is a glitch/crash hunt and MP netcode testing, which I might add is very good, very little to no lag for me and I have a pretty high ping to start with.

that's the kinda thing i like to hear about netcode.

 

[Droc]

well, if this is just the start of beta testing, then we should expect this no earlier then Q1 08

 

[Arcygenical]

well, if this is just the start of beta testing, then we should expect this no earlier then Q1 08

You'd be surprised what a group of developers can do when they've got a large test base

But I don't think the Nov. target will be honoured...

 

[stoney_titan]

You'd be surprised what a group of developers can do when they've got a large test base

But I don't think the Nov. target will be honoured...

It makes you wonder how they even thought they were going to make their date before the last push.

 

[WickedWeasel]

I would like to add that, in my opinion, the motion blurr is distracting and gives the illusion that the game is running slower than it actually is. .

Does motion blur even make sense? It takes up resources to generate something that looks like ghosting on an LCD. On most LCDs, you get that ghosting for free. So if your LCD ghosts, does the motion blur make the streaks even wider?

Can you switch weapons quickly? The trailer looks like it is a very slowwwwwwwwwww process.

 

[Darkatom]

There have been numerous videos of the beta posted on youtube incase anyone is interested.

 

[Porter_]

Does motion blur even make sense?

IMO the motion blur in MOH:A adds to the game's immersion. I would imagine it will do the same for crysis.

 

[jmackay]

Does motion blur even make sense? It takes up resources to generate something that looks like ghosting on an LCD. On most LCDs, you get that ghosting for free. So if your LCD ghosts, does the motion blur make the streaks even wider?

Can you switch weapons quickly? The trailer looks like it is a very slowwwwwwwwwww process.

If your LCD ghosts, you need to get a better one. Though ghosting was nice in my 3dmax class since it made animations smooth

 

[snaggletooth]

On most LCDs, you get that ghosting for free.

if by most you mean many value-priced, then yes. i can agree.

 

[Lone_Wolf]

If any of you don't want your key anymore I'll gladly take it off your hands

 

[Marvelous]

IMO the motion blur in MOH:A adds to the game's immersion. I would imagine it will do the same for crysis.

It does add something to the game but the motion blur is way too blurry. They need to slow it down a bit. Don't make it too blurry so you can't see where you are going. In real life it is not that blurry when you run 10mph with 50lbs of supplies on your back.

 

[Obi_Kwiet]

From the beta screens I've seen, the dynamic shadows don't seem to be working right and many aren't even drawn.