Fast Writes - another dilema...

~~MonarchX~~ · Nov 3, 2003, 04:45 PM

I receive some chaotic information about this options.

I have nForce 2 motherboard that supports Fast-Writes and until CoD - having it enabled caused NO problems whatsoever.

I also have a Radeon 9700 Pro using OMEGA HYBRID Catalyst 3.9 drivers (LOL, I simply took OMEGA's latest pack and replaced files from Catalyst 3.9 BETA drivers - this way tweaks are saved, and drivers are newer!)

OMEGA, and a whole bunch of other people (including some ATi guys) are saying that Fast Writes does NOT increase performance in ANY WAY. It only causes instability issues is what they say.

OK, so I did some benchmarking, and 3DMark2001SE, with Fast Writes I get 200-300 marks more. I get 1-2fps higher score in a Quake 3 benchmark.

So, fast writes DO affect performance but just not in some EXTREME way.

I asked a few people to test Fast Writes and it also gave them a boost.

So, why do they say Fast Writes does NOT affect performance? (BTW my AGP is at 8x).

Fuzzylojik · Nov 3, 2003, 04:54 PM

Mate, my9600 pro will not work unless I enable fast writes. this only happens on 9600 series cards as far as I know and I was advised in a readme file in a driver release to enable them. As far as performance goes i Can't complain.

**MIG-31** · Nov 3, 2003, 04:55 PM

with call of duty and soldier of fortune 2 both have lock ups with fw on for me.

but bear in mind both those 2 games use the same game engine.

but fine with quake 3 also the same engine.

so most would say try both settings as it can be effected also by various setups.stable for one but not for another.

its just a bit of trial & error tactics at the end.

that has only happend with the rig in my sig due to only having this one for around 6 weeks.

~~MonarchX~~ · Nov 3, 2003, 04:58 PM

I am not talking about stability but PERFORMANCE. Yes, I know of 9600, but it has to relationship to what I am saying. Its one card that has such a bug. ATi suggests turning FW off.

BBThumper · Nov 3, 2003, 05:25 PM

.........actually Omega has always said that fastwrites "does" increase performance minimally but can cause instability. The increase is so small that it doesn't justify the instability. Your comparsion cannot be used, run your benches ten times and you'll different numbers everytime using the same drivers and system........"WE" say to disable it because a stable system is the goal here...........

Dyre Straits · Nov 3, 2003, 05:37 PM

I was getting lockups and VPU Recover on my new 9600 Pro until I installed the latest 'leaked' Omegadrivers. I haven't had such a problem since. (Still evaluating, though.)

However, on both my 8500 and my new 9600, I've always kept FW ON....and still do.

~~BMG_Cya=-~~ · Nov 3, 2003, 05:37 PM

My two cents....
I have always used and had enabled Fastwrites. Both my 9700 Pro and 9800 Pro
work flawlessly with Fastwrites ON. Any game, anytime, anywhere.
Fastwrites are the friggin' bomb as far as I'm concerned!!! Love 'em!!!!!

I don't know why or where this got started, but even if ATI says they don't work,
I have two Radeons and about 50 games that say they do.

Sheeeesh...I'm about as tired of this topic as I am of listening to the CS punks
whine about their fuggin framerates.

BWX · Nov 3, 2003, 05:50 PM

Fastwrites works for me fine too- but I don'y gain any performance, and at times have noticed slight stuttering with it enabled.. I turn it on once in a while when I change drivers just to see, but I always seem to turn it right back off because bug I find I tend to blame it on FW-- My rig just runs games smoother with it off.

wait, let's see- I'll turn it on again to see what happens and report back-- what the hell.