Keyclone, Maximizer, windowed mode, FPS and PIP - questions.

[EvilSqueegee]

This is my current maximizer layout. Four windows split one monitor into quadrants, while the fifth window (generally the one I control from due to larger screenspace) is run in windowed mode on the main monitor. I'm running all 5 copies of WoW with every graphical setting turned to it's lowest possible setting on one computer using Keyclone's maximizer. I'm using an Nvdia 8800, I believe it's a 512 card. My system specs:



I used to run that windowed mode as a maximizer window that took up the whole monitor. However, I managed to accidentally stumble across the fact that running WoW in windowed mode for the main screen greatly increases my FPS (the one kind of lag that -really- gets under my skin - PVP at 4 FPS with unpredictable system lockups is a pain in the rear.) I still can't hit shattrath in the middle of the day, though it runs smooth as a dream around 3 in the morning. Not exactly sure why, aside from having less character models to graphically load/process.

I load all my copies of WoW using the command line feature, to be sure they always maximize into the right spots. The fifth, windowed mode window does not have Region, because it's in windowed mode rather than being maximized.

With that said, on to the questions!

One: How does this even *work*? is it simply that the computer needs to do less processing in order to present a smaller window's graphics? If so, would running a non-full-screen maximizer window give better FPS than running one copy in windowed mode? Or would running all 5 copies in windowed mode further increase FPS?

Two: Having just recently switched to the focusless, leaderless setup, PIP sounds like a feature I may want to start using. But before I start choking my processor to death with maximizing/un-maximizing using PIP, I was curious as to whether or not mixing PIP with a non-maximized window is a good idea, or even possible.

And finally, three: Aside from splitting the five accounts across two computers (which I'm slowly getting around to doing anyways), what are the main things I could do to further increase FPS and game processing to prevent large lockups and inability to use major cities during the afternoons? More RAM I'm guessing, but I have never been much of a hardware person. If there are some obvious upgrades that can be made, where do I go looking to see what I'm capable of doing/changing?

I appreciate the help in advance.

EvilSqueegee

[Vunpac]

a nice shinny new gfx card I have crossfire ATI's both 512 and I run my 5 wows on my comp at about 50 fps with maximizer and I only have 2 gigs of regular ram and same processor as yourself. so I'd look into more graphics memory and don't let virtual memory fool you it's crap imo.. also a little more regular ram never hurts either :P I wanna get more myself

[ahi]

Mr. Squegee-

Definately put another1-1.5 G ram in. I did it (my set up looks almost the exact same single computer 4 on one monitor with main on seperate monitor)

Are you using the keyclone feature of limiting FPS for your main vs. the slaves ? iTs helped me alot.

I will try to answer your q, but I am not an expert either.

1) how does this work (that switching one from maximizer to nonmaximizer windowed).

Hopefully Mr. Keyclone will comment, but I think that 'unmaximizing' might give your main a standard resolution.
try going back to maximizer with it and set it to the exact same resolution as in full screen.

If your maximixer was set to the wrong x/y ratio, it was calculatiing a sheet load more than it needed to and going windowed stopped it (my guess )

2) I think you are using pip, but maybe you mean that you will set up maximizer to have your slave displays inside your main?
There are some you tube tutorials I used, I followed tidomann
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZFfHFQfAFQ

setting your displays insid eyour main will just make them even smaller. I tried to use my system to hotswitch between characters in battle, but there is DEFINATELY
a one second lag between switching screens, so it is not helpful in the heat of battle.

3) RAM RAM RAM but please do the maxdps for background keyclone instances, as I think that will help also.

Best of luck, let me know how it goes as I am trying to do the exact same setup.

Ahi

[Vunpac]

If your maximixer was set to the wrong x/y ratio, it was calculatiing a sheet load more than it needed to and going windowed stopped it (my guess )

forgot about that and yes I too have exact same thing 4 on 1 and 1 on my main screen.. my main screen is widescreen where as my other is not but I set all my reses to the widescreen the small windows are small so it doesn't matter where as performance wise. HUGE difference!

thanks for the reminder ahi

[EvilSqueegee]

Mr. Squegee-

Definately put another1-1.5 G ram in. I did it (my set up looks almost the exact same single computer 4 on one monitor with main on seperate monitor)

Are you using the keyclone feature of limiting FPS for your main vs. the slaves ? iTs helped me alot.

I will try to answer your q, but I am not an expert either.

1) how does this work (that switching one from maximizer to nonmaximizer windowed).

Hopefully Mr. Keyclone will comment, but I think that 'unmaximizing' might give your main a standard resolution.
try going back to maximizer with it and set it to the exact same resolution as in full screen.

If your maximixer was set to the wrong x/y ratio, it was calculatiing a sheet load more than it needed to and going windowed stopped it (my guess )

2) I think you are using pip, but maybe you mean that you will set up maximizer to have your slave displays inside your main?
There are some you tube tutorials I used, I followed tidomann
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZFfHFQfAFQ

setting your displays insid eyour main will just make them even smaller. I tried to use my system to hotswitch between characters in battle, but there is DEFINATELY
a one second lag between switching screens, so it is not helpful in the heat of battle.

3) RAM RAM RAM but please do the maxdps for background keyclone instances, as I think that will help also.

Best of luck, let me know how it goes as I am trying to do the exact same setup.

Ahi

Is there a method I can use to check how many ram slots I have left, what kind of ram to get, and so on? Yes, I am that much of a nub. :P

As far as maximizer's resolution for the main window, I'm running 1280x1024 - the exact resolution my main window was set to before I started running it in windowed mode. My max FPS is set to 30, and my max background FPS for the 'inactive' windows is set to 10. I'm really hoping to get the FPS to at least 25 or so during BG's, when it hurts the most to have a low FPS (and usually when the computer starts chugging and loading things the most. Murphey's Law and so forth. -.-)

As far as PIP is concerned, I was thinking about other possible setups. If shrinking the resolution of the drone screens will increase FPS, then I could reduce them and use PIP for quests and so on - as far as 1 second lag is concerned, I would probably just start pre-emptively switching screens when one of the shamans gets dangerously close to dying, allowing me to have my 'leader' switched before the one I have goes down. Could always pop a mass chain heal before hitting the hotkey for the switch, as well, so I'm not wasting time. >.>

[Bot]

Is there a method I can use to check how many ram slots I have left, what kind of ram to get, and so on? Yes, I am that much of a nub. :P

you open your box and look for these



usually theres 4 like that but seems like ive seen it with only 2 before. anyway if theres only 2 slots just buy 2 2gig memory sticks and take out the old ones, and if theres 4 slots you could buy 4 1 gig sticks and replace the old ones. although if only 2 of the 4 slots are being used you only need to buy 2 1gig sticks. that looks confusing but its really just common sense so i think you can figure it out.