What happens when a map is loading?

[jesus]

In games, what is the hardware doing? And what hardware is being used the most? I've noticed that it depends on the game and I don't mean just load times. Like for example, in BF2 if I minimize while the map is loading it basically gets paused until I go back in. CoD4, however, loads the map even when the game is minimized. Also things like xfire and steam (and even alt-tab sometimes) become completely unresponsive while the map is loading and only respond again once it's finished.

btw are the forums slow for anyone else right now? ):

[Andrew[XI]]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

The xfire and stuff parts happen to me but i dont know why...

And yes the forums are going slow for me too

[Flt. Sgt. Powderhound]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

During loading, it's the CPU, RAM and hard disk that are doing all the work, since you are taking data from the HDD, decompressing it where applicable with the CPU and then loading it into the RAM ready to be used.

[=98=]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

A lot of it is loading data into your RAM. If you monitor usage whilst loading BF2 (especially PR), you'll see the amount of memory used skyrocket!

[[GCA]Tim270]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

Also things like xfire and steam (and even alt-tab sometimes) become completely unresponsive while the map is loading and only respond again once it's finished.

If you have an FPS counter running while loading the map it usually (for me at least) goes down to 1-2 FPS at some parts.

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

FPS when loading maps is kinda irrelevant... Alex + Powerderhounds posts say it all really.

Hard drive - decompress - ram - PLAY!!

[jesus]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

But are those 3 things getting used to the max? Is that why the FPS drops to 1?

[[USAC]S|Cpl.TinFoil]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

Yes. That question was like asking why you can't do anything right after you log in to a computer. :P

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

But are those 3 things getting used to the max? Is that why the FPS drops to 1?

Because its usually a still image, there is no need to run at 120 odd fps

[jesus]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

Because its usually a still image, there is no need to run at 120 odd fps

But if it wasn't at 1FPS then I could talk to people on xfire, steam or use the in-game browsers.

[AlecJ32]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

Is that why the FPS drops to 1?

....Because I/O is slow, holmes.

[CaptainKirk]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

Or in the case of TF2, the thing gets hung on Retrieving Server Info and Sending Client Info when my net meter shows me damn well that's not what it's doing for all that time. /rage

[jesus]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

Or in the case of TF2, the thing gets hung on Retrieving Server Info and Sending Client Info when my net meter shows me damn well that's not what it's doing for all that time. /rage

oh yeah, TF2 lol. When I first got TF2 I ended the process like 5 times in a row thinking my game kept freezing while loading a map. Then my friend told me that's normal. Does the load time in this case actually decrease with a better computer, or is it just one of those things that are just broken?

But BF2 is the same with that "Verifying client data" thing

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

having a faster computer will only increase the loading times up to the point where the hard drive I/O becomes the bottleneck at which point you would have to move to a 10kRPM/raid/SSD set up to see any further improvements.

[CaptainKirk]

Re: What happens when a map is loading?

Mine hangs a good 10-15 seconds on the retrieving and sending portions. Less if I have already been on a server for a while, then swap. Really annoying.