Hi. I just joined today. Unfortunately I can't find a way around the problem in the title. I've reduced resolution down to 640 (then back up to 800 as I found the message text illegible at this res). I've also reduced distance and scene levels and put everything else on low that I can find, but still when I move the mouse it causes annoying and disorientating "jerks" which make it hard to pan round and smooth movement is impossible. People in game asked me to read out the average ping and fps and said these seemed normal, but I estimated the fps from a figure that was fluctuating plus or minus 200 to 300 at a time! Someone also suggested it was lag, but I've connected three times today and had the same problem each time.

Does anyone have any ideas? I have cable broadband, 600k, from ntl and am using a NAT router. I regularly play Air Attack and download video etc. so I'm doubtful of the idea that there is a bandwidth limit in effect. I've certainly never noticed any limit.

Thanks.

What computer are you using? Have you tried adjusting the sensitivity of the mouse (controls-mouse)? Have you tried using another mouse? Is it USB, and do you have other USB items hooked up?

If the fps is fluctuating 200 frames at a time, you are getting essentially 0 I believe... Do you even have hardware graphics acceleration?

Please describe your operating system, memory, and video card. That will help us help you.

AMD 2600+
64mb Geforce MX4400
512mb
Xp pro

I'm no gaming enthusiast so I struggle to know what you mean by hardware graphics acceleration! ;-)

Oh, I have a 55Mhz TFT monitor, but it's never given me problems before with high res graphics.

Mouse is USB, and I usually have a USB joystick plugged in as well.

Thanks for any help.

Pye Dog, "FPS" (frames per second) cannot possibly vary in a range of 200. A television displays 30 FPS, which is faster than the eye can detect change (I believe the eye can detect 28 FPS, correct me if I'm wrong).

Computers, however, can generate FPS much higher than that (up to well over 180). However, this acts merely as a buffer and you really can't detect more than 28.

Something varying more than 200 sounds like ping, which is measured in milliseconds. A typical dialup line (56k modem) will get a ping of 230 - 300 ms (.230 - .300 milliseconds). This is called "lag" and represents the delay from when you see the a shot hit to when it actually registers. However, with a cable modem, you can expect a bit of lag (depending on how many people are on).

I'd say that you should fiddle around with the graphics setting until you find one with tolerable FPS. Also, disable either the joystick or the mouse, but having both on could lead to problems.

try setting the resolution to 800 x 600 and graphic qualities at 20/20.
and camps, I can tell the difference between 30 vs 40 vs 60 on some games :P

Actually, a computer has a lot more than 30 required. Less than 50 frames per second and it is very visible. Most people can detect less than 60. Of course, 28 perfectly constant would be technically perfect. However, because of the fact that nothing is constant in the amount of data dropped, 28 perfectly constant frames per second is impossible. What matters more than fps is variance. Every 2 or 3 fps of change is visible and annoying to humans. If it were to change by 200, that would be serious graphic problems. If you don't believe me, well, get a 32MB graphics card, look away from a spinny station, and set to very high textures. Then look at the station. The fps drops from about 50 to about 10. You notice the changes. As you turn and more of the station comes into view, the fps drops. Then goes back up. You notice it all. 200 fps would be... shall we say painful?