Using 3D accelerated applications such as the Urban Engine with laptop docks can yield poor performance, even when using a high powered laptop.
This is due to laptop docks utilising a software graphics driver instead of the Graphics Card installed in the laptop, resulting in poor frame rates.
To improve performance when using a laptop dock, try the following.
- Only run the Urban Engine on the laptops display
- Only run the Urban Engine on displays plugged directly into the laptop via HDMI or DisplayPort, not the dock
- Disconnect the dock from the laptop
- Reboot the laptop
If you are still experiencing poor performance, determine if the Urban Engine is utilising the graphics card by performing the following steps:
- Start the Urban Engine
- Load a model, and take note of the frame rate
- Close the Urban Engine
- Click Start->Programs->Urban Circus 64->UC Data, this will open Windows Explorer
- Enter the logs folder
- Sort logs by the latest date, and open the most recent log in notepad.
- Search the log for the words “Rendering Device”, it should take you to a line that displays the following:
- D3D9 : RenderSystem Option: Rendering Device = Monitor-1-NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
- If the Rendering Device displays your graphics card, it is being used correctly. Poor performance may be indicative of insufficient specifications for running your model. Ensure your laptop meets the Urban Engine System Requirements.
- If it displays an Intel Graphics Device, the Urban Engine is using the integrated graphics built into your CPU, rather than a dedicated graphics card. This will result in poor performance. Check your graphics card settings to see that High Performance Graphics are enabled, then re-test your models frame rate in the Urban Engine.
- If it displays a device related to your laptop dock, the Urban Engine is trying to use the dock and will not perform correctly. Move the Urban Engine to a display not using the dock, or disconnect the dock completely, then re-test your models frame rate in the Urban Engine.