Black Shark and Windows 7 Beta Test.

Computerworld article:

FAQ: How to get the Windows 7 beta

Microsoft this week is putting the new OS in everyone's hands

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9125380&source=NLT_PM

From the article:

-----------------------------------------------------

The Windows 7 beta is actually an upgrade, not a full new install. You need to have a machine running Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) to install the beta.

So if you're still running Windows XP -- which a lot of people are, what with Vista's problems, real or imagined -- you're up a creek sans the proverbial paddle.

-----------------------------------------------------

Please post any expiriences, framerate chahnges, etc in comparisson with Windows Vista or Windows XP.

I would be interested if any gain is achieved using Windows 7.

TIA

That article is flawed Cyberkut, they obviously don't know what they are talking about.

You can install Windows 7 standalone fine...

Hi

I tried Black Shark under Windows 7 Beta 64 bit. I encountered two problems.

1. The launcher menu wouldn't display properly with the Aero desktop running. Disable Aero and it was fine.

2. Second problem was that the program didn't want to store changes done in options. When clicking ok nothing happened and the sim launched only with default settings. I didn't manage to solve that one, but it might be because I'm not used to Vista and the installing game regiments before (running xp pro 64bit). I still think I installed it alright with administrator status, turned Uac down to minimum and even edited the right for BS exe. Still no go. Seemed like something stopped the program to write to the correct config or lua files, although no error reports showed. Anyone have an idea what to do or try?

Performance seemed solid, although I could only run it in windowed mode. Loading times were much faster! Fps very stable with the core affinity trick.

cheers porphyr

I just posted my Windows 7 preliminary benchmark comparisons in the Benchmark thread:

It's quite impressive, and worth a look!

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=614161&postcount=28

For details on what settings I was running, see post 24 in that thread.

Nice benchmark TX-EcoDragon. I really want BS to run properly with Windows 7 beta now!

Did you use the 64 bit version of windows 7?

What is the proper way to install the sim in windows 7? (Did you encounter any of the problems i had?)

EDIT: All is fine now, running like a clock with BS and Windows7

cheers Porphyr

Thanks alot TX-EcoDragon.

Though I would be more interessted in Vista vs Windows 7 performace differences.

I have already WinXP and Vista (both 64bits) and Vista is performing better due affinity trick.

Win 7 ATI Drivers if anyone would like. (Cat 9.1 Beta I believe?)

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=39069

:)

I thought I read on another forum that you couldn't install BS due to the starforce drivers?

Eco-Dragon or anyone else... It would be marvelous to have benchmarks for other sims like FS9 and IL-2

Yes??? Please???

where can i download the beta?

thanks!

where can i download the beta?

thanks!

Hey aledmb,

Here.

Win 7 ATI Drivers if anyone would like. (Cat 9.1 Beta I believe?)

 

http://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&questionID=39069

:)

While labelled as 8.12 in some places, they seem to be 8.11

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx ..................... Beta download

http://blog.hznet.nl/2009/01/10/how-to-receive-a-valid-windows-7-key ................. self explanatory

The main beta page is open again and keys are being issued normally now. Microsoft has also temporarily removed the 2.5 million limit on the beta for the next two weeks...:crash:

Thanks alot TX-EcoDragon.

 

Though I would be more interessted in Vista vs Windows 7 performace differences.

I have already WinXP and Vista (both 64bits) and Vista is performing better due affinity trick.

I hear ya. . .but I don't have Vista, and when the 7 beta came out, well, I decided I'd pass on buying Vista just for BlackShark!

Eco-Dragon or anyone else... It would be marvelous to have benchmarks for other sims like FS9 and IL-2

 

Yes??? Please???

I'm not planning on doing FS9, but I did some testing in FSX, nothing real scientific yet, but overall it plays similarly to how it did on my XP install (so certainly no showstopping performance loss). There is a slight fps boost running the DX10 preview vs not, but it would take a real benchmark to get absolute answers. Certainly it's a lot better than Vista SP1 was, but might not be much/any better than SP2. It also loads much much faster in 7, though I have more addon aircraft and scenery in my xp install. [Edit]: Preliminary XP vs 7 benchmark results in FSX: http://www.txsquadron.com/forum/index.php?topic=2674.0

As far as IL-2, now that I have done. Since we are in the Black Shark Forums I won't post all of that here, but you can see those results here: http://www.txsquadron.com/forum/index.php?topic=2673.msg13688#msg13688

Compare that to the SimHQ OS shootout between Vista and XP - nothing much has changed there: http://www.simhq.com/_technology2/technology_110c.html

I thought I read on another forum that you couldn't install BS due to the starforce drivers?

I'm playing BS on the Windows 7 Beta right now, and it seems to work perfectly, starforce drivers and all. This is with the english download version. And I'm happy to report a roughly 25 fps improvement over XP 64.

Cool will give it a go on my macbook pro.

I've read that Windows 7 is almost exactly the same kernel as the vista one... Just tweaked out a bit. I think they are looking for a way to charge another 200 dollars to everyone that bought Vista instead of releasing a major service pack.

That aside, I think it would be more relevant to compare Windows 7 benchmarks to Vista benchmarks to see if there are any real improvements?

 

That aside, I think it would be more relevant to compare Windows 7 benchmarks to Vista benchmarks to see if there are any real improvements?

Agreed!

Saw my min FPS jump from 25 - 41 from the move to Vista from XP. Overall quality/performance a 100% improvement on XP with the Vista Ultimate 64-bit.......Cannot honestly see how Windows 7 will significantly improve Black Shark for me personally.

Hi

 

I tried Black Shark under Windows 7 Beta 64 bit. I encountered two problems.

 

1. The launcher menu wouldn't display properly with the Aero desktop running. Disable Aero and it was fine.

 

2. Second problem was that the program didn't want to store changes done in options. When clicking ok nothing happened and the sim launched only with default settings. I didn't manage to solve that one, but it might be because I'm not used to Vista and the installing game regiments before (running xp pro 64bit). I still think I installed it alright with administrator status, turned Uac down to minimum and even edited the right for BS exe. Still no go. Seemed like something stopped the program to write to the correct config or lua files, although no error reports showed. Anyone have an idea what to do or try?

 

Performance seemed solid, although I could only run it in windowed mode. Loading times were much faster! Fps very stable with the core affinity trick.

 

cheers porphyr

probably because Vista (and most likely Windows 7) protects the program file directory. ED should be writing files to User Specific folders (My Documents (XP) and UserName/Something (Vista)) rather than the program directory. I think you can work around this by either A) "Run as Administrator" or B) Adding your specific user to the permissions of this directory?

This is what I see when I launch and close DCS in Windows 7 Beta Build 7000

This is what I see when I launch and close DCS in Windows 7 Beta Build 7000

I had that problem on my first try, but I didn't install the sim the right way I think.

Be sure to run the install exe as administrator + always run the BS exe as administrator as well. After doing this I had no problems with Black Shark under Win 7.

oh yeah I forgot that I still have to disable that feature of windows... I'll try later, thanks

This is what I see when I launch and close DCS in Windows 7 Beta Build 7000

I had similar blank screen then upgraded vid drivers (ATI) to 8.12Vista then to the Win7 beta drivers and fixed it.

Increase in FPS 8-9 over all (min,avg and max) with Win7 32 bit from Vista 32 bit. Avg fps went from 45 to 53. :thumbup:

e8500@3.8ghz,Sapphire x2 4850's. 4xAA and AF. All game settings on high except shadows and heat haze. Water 2 and haze 1.