This will allow you to run GP3 on Windows 10 (and perhaps Windows 7) without needing to dual boot Windows XP, or using a very old computer.
Follow this guide ONLY if you have major FPS issues when running in Hardware Mode. You will still need a high-end graphics card to achieve acceptable FPS.
My 1GB Radeon HD5870 gives 25fps at all times, except at the start of races and from the back of the grid, where it can drop as low as 14fps, but usually stays around 20-21fps. If your card is less powerful than this, expect lower FPS still.
Instructions
1. Install GP3 as normal, update to GP3 1.13 and put the NOCD patch into the GP3 folder.
Downloads here: [www.grandprixgames.org]
2. Download the latest version of dgvoodoo2 (as of June 2016, it's v2.52)
[dege.freeweb.hu]
3. Copy dgvoodoosetup.exe into your main GP3 folder (the same as where the GP3.exe is stored).
4. Then, from the dgvoodoo zip, also copy the three DLL files which are in the MS folder into the GP3 folder. These will be labelled DDraw.dll, D3D8.dll and D3DImm.dll
5. Run dgvoodoosetup.exe from within the GP3 folder. Go to the DirectX tab, make sure the following settings are in place:
Videocard: dgvoodoo Virtual 3D Accelerator Card
VRAM: 1024MB
6. Make sure the following checkboxes are ticked: No mipmapping; Fast video memory access; Application controlled fullscreen/windowed state
7. Uncheck anything I haven't mentioned. You may now close the dgvoodoosetup program, it does not need to run anymore.
8. If you get a blank screen when you load GP3, right click on the EXE and set the Compatibility Mode to Windows XP (Service Pack 3)
9. Once loaded, you should be able to set the resolution within GP3 to 1280x1024 if you have a very fast, modern computer. If the FPS is too low, reduce the resolution lower to suit. I have a computer that was average/fast in 2009 and it struggles above 1024x768.
The first corner is especially slow FPS if I'm at the back of the grid, after that it's fine. Perhaps someone with a faster PC can verify whether they have any better performance. Remember dgvoodoo2 is a DirectX wrapper/emulator and the reason this game is slow out of the box on Windows 10 is because DirectX7 apps are not supported natively anymore.
Notes
For even higher performance, try the following:
1. Go into Catalyst Control Centre or the nVidia Control Panel and make sure all AA and AF settings are set to OFF
2. Set Mipmap level and Texture Filtering to "High Performance" if on ATI, or look for similar settings in nVidia Control Panel
3. Try the 4GB Patch! [www.ntcore.com]
Cheers
Follow this guide ONLY if you have major FPS issues when running in Hardware Mode. You will still need a high-end graphics card to achieve acceptable FPS.
My 1GB Radeon HD5870 gives 25fps at all times, except at the start of races and from the back of the grid, where it can drop as low as 14fps, but usually stays around 20-21fps. If your card is less powerful than this, expect lower FPS still.
Instructions
1. Install GP3 as normal, update to GP3 1.13 and put the NOCD patch into the GP3 folder.
Downloads here: [www.grandprixgames.org]
2. Download the latest version of dgvoodoo2 (as of June 2016, it's v2.52)
[dege.freeweb.hu]
3. Copy dgvoodoosetup.exe into your main GP3 folder (the same as where the GP3.exe is stored).
4. Then, from the dgvoodoo zip, also copy the three DLL files which are in the MS folder into the GP3 folder. These will be labelled DDraw.dll, D3D8.dll and D3DImm.dll
5. Run dgvoodoosetup.exe from within the GP3 folder. Go to the DirectX tab, make sure the following settings are in place:
Videocard: dgvoodoo Virtual 3D Accelerator Card
VRAM: 1024MB
6. Make sure the following checkboxes are ticked: No mipmapping; Fast video memory access; Application controlled fullscreen/windowed state
7. Uncheck anything I haven't mentioned. You may now close the dgvoodoosetup program, it does not need to run anymore.
8. If you get a blank screen when you load GP3, right click on the EXE and set the Compatibility Mode to Windows XP (Service Pack 3)
9. Once loaded, you should be able to set the resolution within GP3 to 1280x1024 if you have a very fast, modern computer. If the FPS is too low, reduce the resolution lower to suit. I have a computer that was average/fast in 2009 and it struggles above 1024x768.
The first corner is especially slow FPS if I'm at the back of the grid, after that it's fine. Perhaps someone with a faster PC can verify whether they have any better performance. Remember dgvoodoo2 is a DirectX wrapper/emulator and the reason this game is slow out of the box on Windows 10 is because DirectX7 apps are not supported natively anymore.
Notes
For even higher performance, try the following:
1. Go into Catalyst Control Centre or the nVidia Control Panel and make sure all AA and AF settings are set to OFF
2. Set Mipmap level and Texture Filtering to "High Performance" if on ATI, or look for similar settings in nVidia Control Panel
3. Try the 4GB Patch! [www.ntcore.com]
Cheers
