Struggling to get decent performance using WinEQ2 vs EQW

[EQNET]

It's been over a month now since I switched from EQW. My computer is more than capable of running 4 sessions of EQ. WinEQ2 to be honest is not up to the task. Using EQW with the exact same detail settings, and also running EQPN, the performance is very good. However, running WinEQ2, simply pressing the Windows Key + D or M to show the destop takes 3-4 seconds before anything actually happens. Switching from each session of WinEQ2 takes the same amount of time before the next session displays, then another 2-3 seconds before that sessions actually becomes active. Then there's this odd mouse issue that is driving me nuts.

I can't work it out. I've been trying to tweak and find out why WinEQ2 does not run as good as EQW. I can't find the solution. I have an old old computer that's a P4 1.8 and run EQ on it with EQW. It runs better than WinEQ2 on my main comp which is a 3.4EE with a X800XT PE video card.

The performance of WinEQ2 with EQPN disabled is better. Switching sessions is quicker but is nowhere as fast as EQW. I tried running WinEQ2 with EQPN disabled and running EQPN seperatley but the program just crashes with this big error lol. This is frustrating. WinEQ2 has alot of nice features, but when it comes down to it, I'm using it to box and get better performance multitasking. EQW in 16bit graphics is looking real good again right about now. It's a pain to have to run in 16bit color but the performance is so much better than WinEQ2 which is frustrating as WinEQ2 is still being developed and EQW died a year ago.



Here's my sysinfo.txt or what is worth.

WinEQ 2 System Information
System:
-----------------------------------
Windows Version: Microsoft Windows XP/Service Pack 1/2600.xpsp1.020828-1920
System Physical RAM: 575/2047MB
Page File: 2521/3944MB
Virtual Memory: 1275/2047MB (Extended: 0MB)
CPU 1: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.40GHz @ 3407MHz
CPU 2: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.40GHz @ 3407MHz
CPU Affinity Mask: 2
Video 1: \\.\DISPLAY1/RADEON X800 XT Platinum Edition
Video 2: \\.\DISPLAY2/RADEON X800 XT Platinum Edition Secondary
Video 3: \\.\DISPLAYV1/NetMeeting driver
Video 4: \\.\DISPLAYV2/RDPDD Chained DD
Monitor 1: \\.\DISPLAY1 (0,0,1680,1050) (1680x1050) PRIMARY
Sound: ¨
DirectX: 4.09.00.0904
Internet Explorer: 6.0.2800.1106
WinEQ: 2.12

Loaded Modules:
-----------------------------------
Module 0: c:\program files\sony\everquest\eqgame.exe
Module 1: C:\WINDOWS\System32\ntdll.dll
Module 2: C:\WINDOWS\system32\kernel32.dll
Module 3: c:\program files\sony\everquest\mss32.dll
Module 4: C:\WINDOWS\system32\USER32.dll
Module 5: C:\WINDOWS\system32\GDI32.dll
Module 6: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ADVAPI32.dll
Module 7: C:\WINDOWS\system32\RPCRT4.dll
Module 8: C:\WINDOWS\System32\WINMM.dll
Module 9: C:\WINDOWS\System32\WSOCK32.dll
Module 10: C:\WINDOWS\System32\WS2_32.dll
Module 11: C:\WINDOWS\system32\msvcrt.dll
Module 12: C:\WINDOWS\System32\WS2HELP.dll
Module 13: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DINPUT8.dll
Module 14: C:\WINDOWS\System32\IMM32.dll
Module 15: c:\program files\sony\everquest\DSETUP.dll
Module 16: C:\WINDOWS\system32\VERSION.dll
Module 17: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ole32.dll
Module 18: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
Module 19: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHLWAPI.dll
Module 20: C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\x86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.10.0_x-ww_f7fb5805\comctl32.dll
Module 21: C:\WINDOWS\system32\comctl32.dll
Module 22: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2.dll
Module 23: C:\WINDOWS\Lavish.dll
Module 24: C:\WINDOWS\System32\PSAPI.DLL
Module 25: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-EQ.dll
Module 26: C:\WINDOWS\System32\MSIMG32.dll
Module 27: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-D3D9.dll
Module 28: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-D3D8.dll
Module 29: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-DI8.dll
Module 30: C:\WINDOWS\system32\mswsock.dll
Module 31: C:\WINDOWS\System32\wshtcpip.dll
Module 32: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DNSAPI.dll
Module 33: C:\WINDOWS\System32\winrnr.dll
Module 34: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLDAP32.dll
Module 35: C:\WINDOWS\System32\rasadhlp.dll
Module 36: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\EQPlayNice.dll
Module 37: C:\WINDOWS\System32\NTMARTA.DLL
Module 38: C:\WINDOWS\System32\SAMLIB.dll
Module 39: c:\program files\sony\everquest\EQGraphicsDX9.DLL
Module 40: C:\WINDOWS\System32\d3d9.dll
Module 41: C:\WINDOWS\System32\d3d8thk.dll
Module 42: c:\program files\sony\everquest\dpvs.dll
Module 43: C:\WINDOWS\System32\HID.DLL
Module 44: C:\WINDOWS\System32\SETUPAPI.DLL
Module 45: c:\program files\sony\everquest\eqmain.dll

Direct3D9:
-----------------------------------
Driver: RADEON X800 XT Platinum Edition /ati2dvag.dll/6/14/10/6553
Adapter Display Mode: 1680x1050 D3DFMT_X8R8G8B8
Game Display Mode: 1280x960 D3DFMT_X8R8G8B8
Current Adapter: 0
Available Texture Memory: 405MB
Direct3D8:
-----------------------------------
Adapter Display Mode: 0x0 D3DFMT_UNKNOWN
Game Display Mode: 0x0 D3DFMT_UNKNOWN
Current Adapter: 0
Available Texture Memory: (not currently available)
DirectInput8:
-----------------------------------

EverQuest:
-----------------------------------
Profile 4: WinEQ 4 (1280x960)
EQ Path: c:\program files\sony\everquest\
EQClient.ini: c:\program files\wineq2\eqclient-1280.ini
Patch: OFF Test Server: OFF Locale: us
Video Adapter: Application Controlled
Luclin models: 11 (+55 min RAM)
Texture Compression: ON (+0 min RAM)
Texture Caching: ON (+0 min RAM)
Texture Quality: INVALID VALUE 3
Calculated minimum RAM: 338MB (BASE+55MB)
Level of Detail: 1
MaxFPS: 25
Additional setting: HardwareTnL=TRUE
Additional setting: VertexShaders=0
Additional setting: 20PixelShaders=0
Additional setting: 1xPixelShaders=0

EQPlayNice:
-----------------------------------
EQ Version: eqgame.exe Sep 20 2005 10:06:42
Foreground
Mode: FPS Limiter
Max FPS: 25
Rendering: 1/25
Background
Mode: CPU Limiter
Max FPS: 1
Rendering: 1/1

[Lax]

WinEQ 2 download page:

System Requirements
# WinEQ 2 requires Windows 2000 or later with the latest service packs. If you use Windows XP and do not have Service Pack 2, WinEQ 2 may not function correctly!

your sysinfo.txt:

Windows Version: Microsoft Windows XP/Service Pack 1/2600.xpsp1.020828-1920

Unless you can update to Service Pack 2, I'm not testing on the same level as you're running, and I certainly cant guarantee that it's going to perform correctly on your system. The only logical reason I can think of that anyone would not be running SP2 at this point is if their copy of windows is pirated -- im not accusing you of anything here, just explaining that I see no other reason why you should not update your copy of Windows to SP2.

[EQNET]

My copy of windows is a purchased copy. SP2 is a headache and due to it's increased memory hogging, I reverted back to SP1. If you're telling me that my problems are possibly due to running SP1, then I'd have to laugh. SP2 offers nothing over SP1 apart from built in firewalls and other such useless ware. Granted there are many fixes and so forth in SP2, but the majority of them are todo with internet security and so on. WinEQ2 is a simple program and should run perfectly fine on Sp1 or Sp2 or any other NT system apart from Winnt 4.0

[Lax]

Well, if you're the expert and you laugh at my assistance, then you dont need me to help you figure out why your system takes too long to switch tasks

[EQNET]

The key to boxing is having toons running using as little memory as possible. SP2 has more system overhead than SP1. Thus it doesn't make any sense to run SP2 over SP1 if none of "features" of that update are of any use. If you are using a new version of MSXML or some other component of SP2/Windows XP then of course it makes sense to upgrade. You assume that the only reason someone is running SP1 is because they have a pirated version. If that's the case then you better notify Microsft of all the companies worldwide who are still using Win2K. Clearly they have no reason to be doing so as they too according to your logic have pirated versions.

I run my systems with as little overhead as possible. Nothing is out of the ordinary. Services not used are turned off to free up additional memory as well. Ever other game I've played including EQ2 runs as good as possible. The computer is stable and doesn't crash.

WinEQ2 functions correctly. However the speed at which is does it is not comparable to EQW. WinEQ2 without EQPN enabled is still slower than EQW with EQPN running. I have no complaints or issues at all running EQW and EQPN. Were it not for the 16bit graphic issue I wouldn't be posting here or trying to find the solutions to why WinEQ2 is lethargic. I can narrow it down to the built in performance of EQPN in WinEQ2. When it's disabled it's alot better, but of course no CPU limiting is occuring. What happens is if you press the global enable hotkey or whatever it's called, that goes to the corresponding window, it acts quicker than if you hit the key that simply toggles to the next WinEQ2 session. If I press it several times the window switching speeds up. But if I havn't switched to a window in a few mins, it goes to sleep basically and takes the 3-5 seconds to fire back up again before and commands or the mouse can be used.

[Lax]

If that's the case then you better notify Microsft of all the companies worldwide who are still using Win2K. Clearly they have no reason to be doing so as they too according to your logic have pirated versions.

I'm sorry, I was referring to personal copies of the operating system, not corporate rules.

WinEQ2 functions correctly. However the speed at which is does it is not comparable to EQW. WinEQ2 without EQPN enabled is still slower than EQW with EQPN running

Then in fact, WinEQ 2 is not functioning correctly on your system. If it took everyone 3 to 5 seconds to switch sessions, they simply wouldnt use the software, and I would have no paying customers. Session switching happens instantly on every system I have tested.

I do not doubt that you are having this problem, but since it is an issue specific to your system (e.g. it doesnt happen to all users), then it needs to be determined what is different on your system than others that perform properly. The most obvious difference is simply that I am running SP2, and you are not. As mentioned previously, I state in the system requirements that it may not perform correctly on XP without SP2, and you have not ruled out the possibility that installing SP2 would solve your problem. Instead, you would prefer to tell me that SP2 is just a security update and has nothing to do with anything. I'm not here to make that judgement, nor do I think you should make that judgement. Have you tried it with the same results on SP2? No? Then that isnt ruled out, is it?

The only thing I can think of is that perhaps the WinEQ 2 tray program is not idling properly on your system. You should check your CPU usage in the task manager, and make sure that it is not. If WinEQ2.exe appears to be taking basically any CPU time at all, then let me know. Additionally, if you have changed any thread/process priority levels (e.g. setting something to "Below Normal" or something else to "Above Normal", etc), that can cause problems too.

[Agripa]

I am just now investigating the use of wineq 2 to replace eqwindows since the patch on the 27th made it unusable and faced a possibly related issue which I resolved.

I did not have any problems switching between instances of EQ however when EQ was in the background running under wineq 2 it's framerate was lower then I found acceptable even though CPU usage was very low. I have resisted SP2 for unrelated reasons until now and only installed it to cover all bases but to my surprise, it fixed this problem.

[Slippery]

For what its worth, I box three accounts on my P 2.8ghz machine. I have 2k physical RAM. 256mb 9800pro w/ newest default ati drivers with ati tray tools.

I don't mess with pointless overclocking, and my system is extremely stable.

I use WinEQ2 for my three accounts and switching in and out between them is seamless. Split second and I'm moving the other toon. I get an average of 25-30 FPS on my focused window.

I use XP SP2.

I don't know where this thread was headed from the first post, honestly. If it doesn't work for you, don't use it, if it works for you, use it. Lax does his best and that's all I ask for, I've yet to have a single complaint.

If we are comparing the difference in speed of EQW + WinEQ2, where are we going with it? What's the objective? Is Lax going to suddenly decide he has to revise his stable WinEQ2 to compete with obsolete EQW?

I'm not battling what clunky Microsoft service pack is best, all I know is Lax has tested his program on an SP2 machine, and SP2 is in the system requirements for WinEQ2.

I can't tell you why it works better with SP2 than SP1, if that truely is the reason your machine is lagging between task switching. The bottom line is, Lax's program is serving quite a few people that box flawlessly.