Microsoft Freelancer on Windows Vista - VSync issue

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:50:33 Z

I ran into a problem trying to play Freelancer (v1.0) on my new Windows Vista System.
I am certainly not able to deactivate VSync, my FPS are locked to 60. There's no ingame option and I've already set VSync to 'Always off' in my Catalyst Control Center, which worked fine on my old XP system. (I got about 170 FPS with an AMD Dualcore at 2x2.3 GHz)
With Vsync though, the game encounters mouselag, which hardens playing.

This is my System:
- Windows Vista Home Premium 32 Bit Service Pack 2
- Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (4x2.4GHz)
- Radeon HD 4850 (with Catalyst v9.6)
- 3 GB Ram

This seems to be a general issue with games running on DirectX8 or below in Vista.

Regards, darealprof

Microsoft Freelancer on Windows Vista - VSync issue

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:06:14 Z

Try running the game for compatibility mode for XP

Microsoft Freelancer on Windows Vista - VSync issue

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:44:31 Z

Doesn't make a change. I'm also running i as administrator, no changes there.

There is a DirectX8 to DirectX9 converter out (http://narod.yandex.ru/100.xhtml?boris-vorontsov.narod.ru/enbconvertor_dx8_dx9_v0014.zip), but it didn't help me either.

Latest information I got, is that the latest Forceware Beta Drivers(185.66), which are unfortunately just for Nvidia graphic cards, fix the bug.
Will ask Catalyst Support then. :S

Microsoft Freelancer on Windows Vista - VSync issue

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:57:51 Z

Hi darealprof,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Answers Vista Forums.

You may try these steps:
* I would suggest you to uninstall and re-install the display driver.

* You may try to disabling the firewall.

* Try to launch the game from Clean boot mode.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796

Let us know if that helps.

Thanks and Regards,

Chethan Kumar.

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer. Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Microsoft Freelancer on Windows Vista - VSync issue

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:06:12 Z

Tried all of the solutions above, though none worked.
I asked for this issue in the catalyst forums, I hope it can be resolved like nvidia obviously did.

Microsoft Freelancer on Windows Vista - VSync issue

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:30:33 Z

Hi darealprof,

After researching on the issue, I would recommend you to update the Direct X. You can download the Direct X from the link:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/gms

This link speaks about the FAQ about Freelancer, I hope that might be helpful for you.
http://support.microsoft.com/freelancerfaq

The KB 814552 speaks about the system requirements to run Freelancer game.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/814552

Let us know if that helps.

Thanks and Regards,
Chethan Kumar.

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer. Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Microsoft Freelancer on Windows Vista - VSync issue

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:37:30 Z

I updated DirectX, didn't help. I also meet the system Requirements, except for my Windows Vista not being in the list of supported OS.
I have also searched the FAQ for suiting problems, but found no solution.
Another hint that maybe help: I ran Half Life 2 Episode 2 yesterday, getting an average of 140 FPS without any issues.

I believe that this vsync issue maybe occurs because of the interaction between DirectX8 and the graphics driver. As no DirectX 8 game I know has an option for disabling/enabling vsync in the ingame menu, the mistake might be somewhere there.
I remember that I played without vsync a long time when I had a Radeon 9000 Pro on an even older PC with XP. Then a driver update suddenly brought vsync and I had to disable it in the driver. When I finally got Vista with a new PC some weeks ago, disabling it per driver didn't work anymore.

There are two options now: either ATI solves the issue per driver as Nvidia did, or there is some hidden setting in Windows which helps me ^^

Microsoft Freelancer on Windows Vista - VSync issue

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:14:29 Z

Hi darelprof,

Try to send the report of the Direct X from your computer. That might help us.
- Click on Save Information button in the Direct X Diagnostic Tool window.
- You may upload the saved file in skydrive.
www.skydrive.live.com
- After uploading the file, you may paste the link in the post.

Meanwhile, I would suggest you to create a System Restore Point and then uninstall the graphic drivers and re-install.
Also try re-installing Direct X 10 by downloading it from the link:
http://www.microsoft.com/games/en-US/AboutGFW/Pages/DirectX10-a.aspx

Let us know if that helps.

Regards,
Chethan Kumar.

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer. Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Microsoft Freelancer on Windows Vista - VSync issue

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:03:02 Z

Use the softmodded drivers from techpowerup.com, their CCC has always been better at forcing VSync settings despite application behaviour.

You can also get utilities (such as RivaTuner) that give even better control over any ATI card, including on-the-fly overclocking as well as stress testing.

My condolences for having chosen an ATI card.