Optimal Gothic Cache settings for 2GB systems

2 opposing goals ->

1) minimize stuttering
2) minimize the appearance of "smart heap library - out of memory" error

After a lot of testing I can play for hours now - tweak the ge3.ini:

;use these cache settings (25% more):

Cache.SizeImage=160000000
Cache.SizeMaterial=80000000
Cache.SizeMesh=87500000
Cache.SizeSound=100000000
Cache.SizeCollisionMesh=50000000
Cache.SizeAnimation=50000000
Cache.SizeSpeedTree=12500000


;and these maxmem settings for medium resource cache:
;settings tweaked towards high

ResourceCache.u32ImageMaxMemUsage_Medium=96000000
ResourceCache.u32MeshMaxMemUsage_Medium=60000000
ResourceCache.u32SoundMaxMemUsage_Medium=20000000
ResourceCache.u32MaterialMaxMemUsage_Medium=21000
ResourceCache.u32CollisionMeshMaxMemUsage_Medium=1 7000000
ResourceCache.u32AnimationMaxMemUsage_Medium=35000 000
ResourceCache.u32SpeedTreeMaxMemUsage_Medium=80000 0

;comment this one out:
;ResourceCache.u32ImageMaxMemUsage_TextureQualityH igh=350000000
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Play with resource cache and texture quality on medium
Before gothic starts your windows memory load should not go over 350 MB -
use msconfig to disable unneccessary service and starting- programs.
Play with a 2GB (min=max) swap file.

And, to be safe, use Shiron's mem-tool:
http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/showp…2&postcount=16

__________

PS: ignore the spaces in the numbers !

I am playing Gothic 3 and have a lot of fun with it

Tweaking, error correcting, bug fixing is my real life job - I am a system analyst and software designer.

So I like tweaking, too.

comment it out with the semicolon ";"
the line will be ignored by Gothic then - everything after a ";" is a comment

Join PB and fix the memory crashes lmao.

I am more into massive multi user databases and applications than in games, but if they want me - I live only 50 km away from Essen - the headquarter of PB.

Ok i tried it again with those tweaks but i didn't do anything to that line and i'm on high cache and high textures.

Like I said before this tweak is for medium resource cache and texture details !!!
If you want to tweak the high resource cache - you have to set

ResourceCache.u32ImageMaxMemUsage_High=96000000
ResourceCache.u32MeshMaxMemUsage_High=60000000
ResourceCache.u32SoundMaxMemUsage_High=20000000
ResourceCache.u32MaterialMaxMemUsage_High=21000
ResourceCache.u32CollisionMeshMaxMemUsage_High=170 00000
ResourceCache.u32AnimationMaxMemUsage_High=3500000 0
ResourceCache.u32SpeedTreeMaxMemUsage_High=800000

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I can't help with the Guru-error, because this one never happened to me.

I tried the tweaking, and it didnt boost performance really at all. So I'm using the original .ini minus a few other changes.

I think there's other things that decides your "optimal" memory setting than the physical ram. For example, your custom hardware's software, custom settings in your graphiccard/soundcards driver control utilities, your amount of video memory, your operating system, your resolution in windows, your resolution in Gothic 3, what area you stand in when you try to save/load, your distance settings etc.

I run the game in absolutely best setting and 1920x1440 resolution, with a desktop in even higher resolution. I have special software for my Audigy 2 soundcard, my G15 keyboard, my mx510 mouse and my GeForce cards as well as some vital programs running in the background that is simply difficult for me to turn off everytime I restart the computer (like my defrag schedule, autobackup, fraps and no-ip checker/updater).

@Arexen

I tried the tweaking, and it didnt boost performance really at all. So I'm using the original .ini minus a few other changes.

This tweak is not for performance only - then I would have set the maxresource settings much higher. I wanted a setting that is slightly faster than the original with a minimum of memory wasting, because if more memory is allocated, the smartheap error occurs faster.

@JemyM
your are right - everyone has to find his personal best settings - I just want to give ideas.

My System:
AMD 2600 XP
2 GB Ram (2x1GB Dual Channel)
ATI x850 pro 256 MB
Catalyst 6.10
2GB permanent swap file
ALC 650 Soundstorm OnBoard Sound
Minimum processes running in the Background - Windows uses less than 300 MB.

Gothic 3 Settings
Postprocessing off
Shadow Quality off
Vegetation low
Texture Details Medium
Object Quality high
Resource Cache Medium <tweaked>
Distance High
Resolution 1280x1024

ATI Settings
Catalyst AI <disabled>
AntiAliasing <Application managed>
AnisotropicFiltering <Application managed>
MipmapDetail Level <Performance>
WaitForVerticalRefresh <off>
Enable geomety instancing <on>
Support DXT Texture formats <on>
Adaptive AntiAliasing <off>
VPU Recover <off>

Originally Posted by HiddenX
@JemyM
your are right - everyone has to find his personal best settings - I just want to give ideas.

I mean no offense. I like your help. Some of your posts have been very helpful to me. I like what you are doing. I just felt the topic was a bit misguiding. It might be optimal for some, but you should have published your hardware info and game settings to compare with at once.

My windows after restart take up 450mb, and I have yet to find the thief that takes up all my memory. I couldnt kill my system ini files since there are vital hardware drivers started from within them.

G3 usually is taking up around 1.2 GBs when I check my taskmanager during gameplay

@Arexen

this tweak can't work good for you, beause you have only 1GB System-Ram.

I see. Thanks, HiddenX.

Hello..
A simple way to improve Gothic 3's performance is to download and install the gothic 3 community patch from www.strategyinformer.com
with this patch i'm able to reach 97 fps on medium settings and with a minimum 39 fps,and my system is not all that fast..also don't forget to keep updating your drivers cause it will increase your performance quite well.