3DSmax 7 performance with Space Navigator

Buzzz · Post by **Buzzz** » Tue May 08, 2007 7:05 am

marcore wrote:I have to agree with Buzzz, the new 3.3.2 drivers for 3ds max are worse then the previous version, in viewports user/perspective/up/right/left, etc..

But if you make a camera from a viewport(Ctrl+C) the jerk goes away but then again you cant use the Zoom extends....strange

3DS max 9
win Xp sp2

I tried using a camera view, and it doesn't switch mode/name like it does for the perspective or user view. But the performance is poor in camera view too.

Buzzz · Post by **Buzzz** » Tue May 08, 2007 7:10 am

agoenczi wrote:Hi Buzzz

Yes, both of them.

The first one has a lenght of 6.854 KB and the second one 5.607 KB (Windows Explorer).

You should be able to see them in WMP. They are just uncompressed avi videos.

agoenczi · Post by **agoenczi** » Tue May 08, 2007 7:21 am

Hi Buzzz

Please send the files to the following address:

******************

Edit: removed E-mail address

Buzzz · Post by **Buzzz** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:18 am

Files sent.

It seems that the behaviour I met with 3.3.2 drivers is similar to the one described in the following topic :
viewtopic.php?t=917

What is the estimated release date for this fix?

agoenczi · Post by **agoenczi** » Wed May 09, 2007 12:56 am

Hi Buzzz

It seems to be a problem with the files you sent. I couldn't play the files either with Windows Media Player, nor with VLC and DivX Player. A collegue of mine tried also: the result was only blank (black) screen.

agoenczi · Post by **agoenczi** » Wed May 09, 2007 1:03 am

Hi Buzzz

I had to download a codec package: I saw the videos. The difference is huge, altough I need some details about the settings you used. Could you specify, please?

Buzzz · Post by **Buzzz** » Wed May 09, 2007 1:54 am

Hi,

I must precise that what is seen on the "navigator look" video is not what I see but what the recording program sees. What I see is just that the FPS count is lower.

What settings do you need? The problem remains whichever the settings of my navigator are. It's not moving slow, it' simply jerky.

agoenczi · Post by **agoenczi** » Wed May 09, 2007 2:00 am

Hi Buzzz

Thank you, I don't need any more details because I could reproduce the issue with 3DStudio Max 9. I have seen a flickering in the right-lower corner (the group which is view-related).

Buzzz · Post by **Buzzz** » Wed May 09, 2007 2:46 am

OK thanks for the support
But I think there are two different problems :
1) the low FPS with high polycount scenes.
2) the flickering which appeared with the 3.3.2 driver.

I really hope that the problem Nr1 will be solved with the problem Nr2

marcore · Post by **marcore** » Wed May 09, 2007 3:08 am

So it seems the 3.3.2 drivers where released a bit prematurely and/or not tested thoroughly, let's wait for fix or revert to the previous version.

Post by **ngomes** » Wed May 09, 2007 3:31 am

The flickering issue is a known problem in release version 3.3.2. Please refer to this thread.

Buzzz · Post by **Buzzz** » Thu May 10, 2007 2:42 am

What about the performance hit?

Does it come from the fact that 3DS seems to allways switch the render mode of the active window while moving with the navigator?
Isn't it possible to imitate the interaction of a simple mouse?

Buzzz · Post by **Buzzz** » Fri May 25, 2007 4:33 am

Yesterday, I did some experiments.

I opened the task manager on the second monitor.
Then I ran 3DSmax and opened a scene I currently work on.

Again, I moved the view using two methods : space navigator on one side, and mouse + keyboard on the other side.

Here what I noticed :
1) when I don't move, the CPU is used below 5%

2) with space navigator : 3DSmax.exe takes up to 100% of my CPU time when moving the view.

3) with mouse : 3DSmax.exe takes from 25 to 30% of the CPU time.

The poor performance surely comes from this difference in CPU usage. Do 3Dconnexion know why there is such a CPU hit? Are there investigations made to find out why 3DSmax reacts so badly to space navigator inputs?

agoenczi · Post by **agoenczi** » Fri May 25, 2007 6:18 am

Hi Buzzz,

Today a new release (3DxSoftware v3.3.6) was published on our driver-download page. It contains a fix for 3D Studio Max. Please test it and post your experience here.

Buzzz · Post by **Buzzz** » Sat May 26, 2007 1:58 am

I'm sorry but it's still the same.

3DSmax takes up to 95% of the CPU time. 3Dxware taking the 5% remaining...

It's better than with 3.2.2 though

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