ApexMods Posted September 9, 2020 Author Share Posted September 9, 2020 Oh wow! Thanks mate, just a little over 21,000 to go to catch up with you. 😉 1 hour ago, die7 said: which application are you using for texture up-scaling? It's based on this, which you can find here. But if you want to go all-out, read this, and this, and then grab this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 9, 2020 Author Share Posted September 9, 2020 There's a neat comparison gallery to see the differences in image scaling algorithms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 Just a heads-up. We’re approaching 50 GB installed size... and will probably surpass that. I just cannot stop myself. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeslaDev Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Excited for the next release! 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
die7 Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Orig.game with extensions has 1.7GB where are this 48GB coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 12, 2020 Author Share Posted September 12, 2020 350 maps and counting. Plus texture work. Upscaling will take the next HU to 60 GB installed size, if my calculations are correct. So far they seem to be spot on. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 It looks like we’re hitting another engine limit. Apparently, over 512 MB of video memory usage are a no go (CTD), which puts a huge roadblock in front of retexturing efforts (and that’s not even close to full 2K map textures). It also stops any plans to upgrade character textures, as they contribute the most to total VRAM consumption (which I‘ll explain in the next dev notes). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 Limit may actually be 768 MB. Still testing things here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 Yep. On a GeForce GTX 1050TI 2GB it is possible to run 700 MB VRAM maps, but not 1GB (which CTD). Seems the game engine is the bottleneck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
die7 Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 6 hours ago, ApexMods said: Limit may actually be 768 MB. Still testing things here. Under which mode (compatibility) , win xp, did you try win10? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 I don‘t think that’s the problem. I‘m hitting the same bump in the VM (Win 7 emulation), as others in Win 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 Ok, I've found the source of the problem. Apparently, DirectX 9 and earlier (as used by Ghost Recon) need to duplicate all used graphics memory in standard memory space, meaning to use just 512MB of VRAM will consume an additional 512MB x2 = 1GB of RAM, using 1GB of VRAM would (theoretically) consume 2GB of RAM. The problem is, 32-bit applications under Windows (irrespective of version) are limited to a total RAM address space of just 2GB. This would put the theoretical(!) maximum allowable VRAM budget for Ghost Recon at 960MB, to leave at least the bare minimum requirement of 128MB RAM for the game itself. However, in practice, anything over 512MB VRAM usage is prone to cause trouble. This is a major issue, as e.g. having many characters on the map (like in XXL game types or some missions) can easily push character video memory requirements alone to well above 300MB, leaving very little for map textures etc. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 Problem solved. Details later. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 Just so much: NOW we can REALLY upgrade the game. 😎 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Wachter Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 It's hard to get excited without the details on what is now possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 Looks like >1 GB video memory can be used, after all. Retexturing is back on. 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 I‘ll have to do more testing, but this change has huge potential. Even on my old Mac, inside the VM, the game currently screams along with 900 MB of texture memory loaded, and it should go up to over 1 GB if my calculations hold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 A reminder: When Ghost Recon was released back in 2001, it required a 16 MB graphics card. Now the game can shovel nearly a hundred times that amount of VRAM without breaking a sweat. Ike is a beast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeslaDev Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 That's exciting. Pump those textures up! 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 Yes, this allows much nicer textures in the future. System requirements will go up considerably, of course. 4 GB RAM, 1 GB VRAM will be the new minimum. Installed size currently stands at 65 GB for the next version of HU. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 On 24/07/2020 at 19:11, Jeza said: Beat it!! 😈 And good to see you return with your amazing wares. You may get your wish, eventually. 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 15 hours ago, ApexMods said: Ike is a beast! Haha this is great reading. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 Food for thought: In HU’s XXL game modes, character texture memory alone easily surpasses 300 MB VRAM usage on average, and theoretically could reach a maximum of almost 2 GB, all while still using the original size of 512x512 pixel character textures. Turns out that this may have contributed to CTDs in XXL games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted September 15, 2020 Author Share Posted September 15, 2020 Lots of calculations required. Memory budgeting will still be a major concern going forward, albeit a lot more relaxed with the solution I found. One gigabyte of VRAM is nothing to sneeze at, but with hires map texturing that amount can easily be exhausted, and it may leave (too) little for e.g. character textures if we go all-out. Still, a huge amount of beautification is possible now, and going from an average 128 MB texture memory in the original game to 1 GB in Heroes Unleashed will allow for some nice visuals in the future. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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